Sunday, October 9, 2022
/Proper 23
Jeremiah 29: 1, 4-7; Psalm 66: 1-11; 2 Timothy 2: 8-15; Luke 17: 11-19
The Rev. James M.L. Grace
In the Name of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. AMEN.
2 Timothy is one of those short little letters that you find towards the end of the New Testament. The letter is only four chapters long, and the section we hear today comes from about the middle of it. If you were to read all four chapters of this New Testament letter, you would discover that it is a letter written by the Apostle Paul near the end of his life and it is addressed to a younger apostle named Timothy.
This is the second letter from Paul to Timothy, hence the rationale for calling this entire letter “Second Timothy.” The purpose of the letter, it seems, is encouragement. Paul is inspiring Timothy to persevere in the rigorous work of leading a Christian community in which there appear to be division and factions. Can you believe that in a church? People arguing?
It appears that Paul is writing from prison, and there is evidence of this in verse 8 where Paul describes “being chained like a criminal” and enduring “everything” for God. As Paul endures his imprisonment, so Paul encourages Timothy to endure and persevere in proclaiming a message of love to God’s people who seem to be doing little more than arguing and “wrangling over words.”
It would be nice if all this explanation I just offered were true – but unfortunately it very likely is not. Credible biblical scholars strongly doubt that 2 Timothy was even written by Paul, even though it says it is. These same scholars also cast doubt that this letter was addressed to a younger apostle named Timothy. It is believed that “Timothy” is instead a placeholder – a name used to represent a larger Christian community in Ephesus. The letter then, was not addressed to one person (Timothy) but likely to a community (Ephesian Christians). Such is the confusion of New Testament epistles: 2 Timothy was likely written for Ephesians, not Timothy, and the book of “Ephesians” also in the New Testament, was like not addressed to Ephesian Christians, but to a Christian community elsewhere. Confusing, right
So why preach on a letter to Timothy (but not really addressed to him) written by Paul (again, not really) and addressed to an Ephesian community (which was not who the New Testament letter “Ephesians” was really addressed to)? Such is the quandary of choosing to preach on the Epistles. I mean, I am maybe seven minutes into this sermon is almost over, and I haven’t really said much of anything.
How is 2 Timothy relevant to us today? I offer two responses. Number 1 – this letter is purposeful because of its inclusion in the Bible, even though most people don’t believe it was written by Paul. It has value, purpose, and substance, that is not dependent upon the name of whomever wrote it.
Second – it is a reminder to us that scripture need to be rational to be purposeful and enlightening. If it is rationality you are looking for, don’t pick up the Bible. Don’t even pick up a newspaper, for rationality is in short supply. The Bible should not be approached rationally. Think about it - if the Bible were rational, the reading today would be called “A letter to the Ephesians” not 2 Timothy. Many are afraid of accepting the irrational in the Bible, as if doing so robs the Bible of its power or authority. I really don’t believe it does.
Accepting the Bible’s irregularity and loving it for its humanness takes something special. It takes faith. AMEN.