Striving For the Mastery! – 2 Timothy 2:5-7


Summary:

“Strive for masteries” is a metaphor for boxing. The only other time the phrase is used, Paul speaks about running in a race and then says “I therefore so run” (I Cor. 9:24-26), then talks about someone who strives for the mastery and says, “so fight I” (ICor.9:25,26). See how he defines it as fighting? We know he meant boxing because he said he didn’t fight as one that beat the air (v.26), an allusion to shadow boxing.

These passages speak of boxing with two different opponents. The Corinthian passage is about boxing with their physical bodies (v.27), something the Corinthians struggled with (ICor.6:13). Paul wrote this to a church because this is a struggle all Christians must deal with. When Paul says he beat his body into subjection (ICor.9:27), a word that means he made his body his servant (cf.Jer.34:16).

But once you learn to beat your body into submission, you are ready for another boxing opponent. When Paul talked to Timothy about striving for the mastery, he was talking to a pastor, so he was talking about boxing an opponent only pastors and those involved in the work of the ministry would face, the defense of the truth of the gospel (Phil.1:7,27,30). You’ll notice that Paul spoke to the Corinthians about striving for the “mastery” singular, but to Timothy about “masteries” plural. That’s because you have only one body to subject, but many false teachers and doctrines to fight.

At the Isthmian games that were held in Corinth, athletes competed for “corruptible” crowns (ICor.9:25). It is said they were given olive leaf crowns. But we strive for the mastery for “incorruptible” crowns (ICor.9:25). In the context, this crown refers to reigning with Christ (IITim.2:12). “We shall judge angels” (ICor.6:3), though we may not wear literal crowns. Adam had dominion over the world, so he was king of the world, but he wore no crown that we know of. When the Jews were good they were kings of the world, but they wore no literal crowns. But when they “sinned,” we read that “the crown is fallen from our heads” (Lam.5:16). Similarly, our crowns will be symbolic of our right to rule and reign with Christ.

In the Isthmian games, “one receiveth the prize” (ICor.9:24), but “every one” can receive a prize when we strive for the mastery (IITim.4:7,8). Paul is drawing a contrast, not a comparison! If there was only one prize, Paul would get it!

But we must strive “lawfully” (IITim.2:5). Since we are not under the law (Rom.6:14,15), it must mean striving according to some other law. The Jews had the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law (Rom.2:17-20), but we have the form of truth in Paul’s epistles (IITim.1:13). These are the rules by which we must strive lawfully.

Paul uses another metaphor when he speaks of the “husbandman” or farmer (IITim.2:6). This is speaking of pastors and others who do the work of the ministry by planting and watering the seed of the Word (ICor.3:6). Men in the ministry must partake of the “fruit” that results from their labor, i.e., the financial fruit (ICor.9:7,11). Paul didn’t want Timothy to think that eternal rewards could be his only rewards. And he must “first” be partaker of this fruit. It’s only right, but too often people give God what is left, not what is right. What’s left after all the other demands on their money. God says His work should come “first.”

Paul told Timothy to “consider” these metaphors because when he spoke to the Corinthian “babes” (ICor.3:1), he explained the metaphors. But in speaking to a “man of God” like Timothy (ITim.6:11), he didn’t explain the metaphors, he expected Timothy could meditate on them and understand the point, as we’ve done in this message. Paul would also like us to understand that if the Isthmian athletes trained and abstained from rich foods and put all that effort into their games, shouldn’t we put that much effort and more into striving for the mastery?

Eye Hath Not Seen

“In 1 Corinthians 2:9, what is ‘the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him’ referring to?”

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him” (1 Cor. 2:9).

This verse is commonly interpreted to refer to the glories of heaven which none has seen nor heard. Once we get a meaning for a verse in our minds, it is often difficult to dislodge it and consider any other meaning.

However, here Paul wrote about the truths of the Mystery that have been revealed to those who love the Lord in this dispensation of grace. “The things which God hath prepared for them that love Him” were not seen nor heard in the past, and they never “entered into the heart of man” because they were “hid in God” (Eph. 3:9) and were never before revealed. But Paul writes in the next verse in 1 Corinthians 2:10: “But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit.” Now the Mystery has been fully revealed! Now we see and know the things God has prepared for us as members of the Body of Christ through the Holy Spirit via illumination to His Word.

Paul’s point here is not the things in heaven God has prepared for us. Rather, it is that God has fully revealed to us His formerly-hidden wisdom, the Mystery and the dispensation of grace. God has revealed to us our heavenly calling and our blessed hope (Phil. 3:20; Titus 2:13) which He “hath prepared” and “ordained before the world unto our glory” (1 Cor. 2:7), and we can see it, know it, and enjoy it right now!

To the Reader:

Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles."

To this we would add that the same is true for the articles written by others that we continue to add, on a regular basis, to the Two Minutes library. We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.


Two Minutes with the Bible lets you start your day with short but powerful Bible study articles from the Berean Bible Society. Sign up now to receive Two Minutes With the Bible every day in your email inbox. We will never share your personal information and you can unsubscribe at any time.

The Wise and the Otherwise

An excerpt from Pastor John Fredericksen’s commentary on Matthew

Who did Christ say was a wise man, or what made one wise? Matthew 7:24-27

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”

Our Lord is Master of all things, including the use of illustrations. In this instance, the Lord Jesus gave an illustration, with the meaning so obvious, that all who heard Him understood. Yet, He could also lay within that illustration a much deeper meaning that only those who paid close attention and knew the Scriptures would fully comprehend. Let’s examine both.

  • The obvious meaning of this illustration was our Lord urging these disciples not to be merely “hearers” of His words but “doers.” (James 1:22).
    • Those who chose to “seek…first the kingdom of God” (Matt. 6:33), and “enter” through the “straight gate” of strict obedience (Matt. 7:13), would enter the Kingdom and receive eternal life.
    • These obedient followers would be, figuratively, like a wise man building his house on a solid foundation. The foundation here would be His doctrine. Their obedience would keep them forever safe and secure in eternal life.
    • Those who would not continue to obey His doctrine were likened to one building a spiritual house on sand. As that house would crumble and fall, so would they, without obedience that brought eternal life or entrance into the Millennial Kingdom that awaited Israel.
  • We discover the deeper meaning of this illustration by looking closely at the symbolism of several key words and tracing their usage elsewhere in Scripture.
    • The word “Rock” in Scripture consistently refers to the Lord.
    • Moses sang of the Lord saying, “He is the Rock…a God of truth…” (Deut. 32:4).
    • David wrote, “The Lord is my rock, and my fortress…” (Psa. 18:2).
    • Peter quoted to fellow Jews, “It is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded” (1 Pet. 2:6; see also Acts 4:11). Peter was calling Christ God, and the Father’s provision for life.
    • When Christ said, “Whosever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them…[he is like] a wise man, which built his house upon a rock” (Matt. 7:24), He was urging His listeners to build their hope for eternal life on Him, the rock of their salvation (Psa. 95:1).
  • The word “house” consistently represented Israel.
    • This is a figurative term that we use in this sense to this day. For example, the House of Windsor represents the family by that name. Likewise, in 1 Tim. 3:5, an elder is to “rule his own house.” Obviously, it is not the house, but who it represents, that is in view.
    • Quite frequently, the Lord referred to the entire nation of Israel as the “house of Israel” (Compare Ex. 16:31; 40:38; Lev. 10:6; 17:3).
    • In Matthew 7:24, our Lord has a subtle implication to the house of Israel needing to build their spiritual house upon Him. They would be safe if they did, in peril if they did not.
  • The “winds” that would blow and the “rain” and the “floods” represented the coming tide of God’s judgment ready to fall on Israel in the Tribulation. Since the days of Daniel and the prophets, this time had been predicted.
    • The entire twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew deals with the Tribulation that will precede Christ’s Kingdom being established. There, the Lord referred to the trials of these days being “as the days of Noe” (Matt. 24:37).
    • The first thing that comes to our minds when we think of Noah is God’s judgment of a world-wide flood (Gen. 6-9). Surely, it was the same for each Jew who heard our Lord refer to Noah. From long ago, this man had come to represent God’s judgment.
    • Therefore, in the context of the Sermon on the Mount, Israel would only be safe during God’s coming judgment in the Tribulation if they built their spiritual life upon Christ.

To the Reader:

Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles."

To this we would add that the same is true for the articles written by others that we continue to add, on a regular basis, to the Two Minutes library. We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.


Two Minutes with the Bible lets you start your day with short but powerful Bible study articles from the Berean Bible Society. Sign up now to receive Two Minutes With the Bible every day in your email inbox. We will never share your personal information and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Good Soldier of Jesus Christ – 2 Timothy 2:3-4


Summary:

You’d think that the ability to wield a sword would make you a good soldier, but Paul says it is your ability to endure hardness. So it is not your ability to wield the sword of the Spirit that makes you a good soldier of Christ, it is your ability to endure the hardships that life and Satan send us. We’re all soldiers of Christ, the only question is if we are “good” soldiers. The same is true for being “ambassadors for Christ” (IICor.5:20). We all represent the Lord, the only question is, how well.

To be a good soldier, you first have to know your leader’s objective. Ours is to help “all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (II Tim. 2:4). Just as it is sometimes hard to give birth (Gen. 35:16), some-times it’s hard to give birth to a new believer, but we have to endure that hardness. It’s hard because pride makes people think they don’t need a Savior, and pride can harden a heart (Dan.5:20). Pride hardened Pharaoh’s heart when he refused to believe the God of his slaves was greater than his god (Ex. 8:32), and pride will harden a Muslim or Buddhist from believing your God is greater than his.

Jewish hearts can be just as hard as Egyptian hearts (Isa.6:6), and today they don’t want to admit the God of the Gentiles is where they have to look to be saved. Pride in their heritage causes them to kick against the pricks of con-science, as it did for Saul, and that’s “hard” for them (Acts 9:5), but it is hardness we must endure to reach them. And it can get frustrating, especially since many never believe. But God says we can declare victory as good soldiers if we present the gospel either way (IICor.2:14,15).

When it comes to leading believers to a knowledge of the truth, we must sometimes endure the hardness of those who don’t even want to hear it (cf. Jer. 19:15). You also have to be able to endure the hardness of “hard questions” (cf. IIChr.9:1) by being able to answer them. Even if you can answer their questions, you sometimes have to endure the “hardness” of heart the Lord ran into (Mark 3:1-5). Theirs was caused by pride in their law over the sabbath, and we have to endure that kind of hardness from 7th Day Adventists and Baptists and others who cling to the Law if we want to bring them to a knowledge of the truth. We some-times even have to endure the hardness of those that speak against us (Acts 19:9), but love “endureth all things” (I Cor. 13;4-7). The Lord loved people enough to endure the cross for them (Heb.12:3), can’t you endure a little hardness?

A good soldier also can’t get entangled in the affairs of this life (IITim.2:4). He’s talking primarily about politics and government. The Greek word for “warreth” is used in IPeter 2:11, where resisting the government (v.13) wars against your soul. The word for “affairs” is pragmateiais, from which we get pragmatism, which are things “pertain-ing to business, specially civil or government business.” The first time “affair” is used is about affairs of state (IChron.26:32), as it is in Daniel 2:49.

“Entangle” is also used in connection with governmental things (Mt.22:15-17; II Pe.2:10,20). The reason Paul has to warn us about this is because it has always been easy for God’s people to get entangled in these things (cf.Pr.24:21). But politics are not your fight. God told Israel not to fight the Edomites (Num.20:14-22) because they were just pass-ing through, their home was not Israel’s home (Deut.2:2-5). Well, this world is not our home, we are just passing through. It is undispensational to try to fix the government, for God has a plan to do that at the 2nd Coming of Christ, a plan that won’t even begin until our dispensation ends.

We must avoid all entanglements of life, for we are doing the great work of edifying the Body of Christ with a knowledge of the truth, and we dare not come down from that to lesser causes (Cf. Neh.6:2-4).

When I Say Goodbye

When to this world I say goodbye, Whether Christ shall come or I shall die;
I shall not fear my future state, Nor yet resign my soul to fate;
‘Tis neither boast no carnal pride, Nor natural worth I have inside;
My trust is not in human creeds, Nor in my good religious deeds.

If man, by works, could heaven gain, Then ‘tis true, Christ died in vain.
There was no power on earth could save, Nor offer hope beyond the grave.
Salvation is from heaven above; God’s book declares that God is love.
God loved the world and sent His Son To die for sinners, for every one.

Christ tasted death for every man: It was God’s own redemption plan.
On Calvary’s cross the debt was paid, For there on Christ our sins were laid.
In death the Saviour bowed His head, There His precious blood was shed.
God has for sin no other cure. By Christ’s shed blood the way is sure.

When Christ had put our sin away, In Joseph’s tomb His body lay.
But on the third day Christ arose To conquer thereby all His foes;
Then He ascended through the sky To take His Father’s throne on high.
Now in the Father’s presence there Unceasing is the Saviour’s prayer.

Still He prays, “All Thine are Mine,” Forever kept by power Divine.
Christ promised to prepare a place For all who will receive His grace.
Some day the age of grace will end; The Lord from heaven shall descend.
The dead in Christ will hear the shout, And from their graves they will come out.

The living saints shall with them rise, And meet the Saviour in the skies;
And we shall then His glory see, And like the Saviour we shall be.
When we reach our heavenly home, Throughout the ages yet to come,
God’s grace in Christ the saints shall know, For God has promised this to show.

Eternal life, God’s gift, is free ‘Tis all by grace for you and me.
So in God’s Word I rest my case, Trusting His unfailing grace.
God cannot lie, His Word is sure; And in His Son I am secure,
Because Christ’s work has satisfied, And by that work I’m justified.

God has pardoned every sin; My hope of glory, Christ within.
I am prepared my God to meet, For in His Son I am complete,
And sealed unto redemption day. So if by death, or I’m caught away.
I shall not fear my future state, But, loving Christ, I’ll serve and wait.

To the Reader:

Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles."

To this we would add that the same is true for the articles written by others that we continue to add, on a regular basis, to the Two Minutes library. We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.


Two Minutes with the Bible lets you start your day with short but powerful Bible study articles from the Berean Bible Society. Sign up now to receive Two Minutes With the Bible every day in your email inbox. We will never share your personal information and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Changing Our “Want-To”

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Rom. 6:1,2).

Some people think, “You can’t tell someone they are under grace, because they’ll live however they want to!” But Paul shows here that grace is to change our “want-to”! Grace makes us “want to” live a life pleasing to the One Who saved us by His grace. God’s grace changes hearts and lives. It transforms how we think, act, and speak. It changes our motivation and desires, from living for only self and temporal pleasures to living for the glory of Christ and for the eternal. The grace of God through the Cross should forever change us.

Pastor Bill White wrote this: “Recently I witnessed an unusual accountability partnership at my church. In an effort to break his habit of using profanity, Paul started meeting with another guy from church, and they set up an aggressive plan for holiness. Each Sunday, Paul would report to William how many times he cussed during the week, and he’d put $5 in the offering plate for each incident. The first week cost Paul $100. Although following weeks improved somewhat, he wasn’t having the success he wanted and was losing a lot of hard-earned cash.

“After the fourth week, William told Paul he had totally changed the deal for the coming week, but he wouldn’t tell Paul how. Paul wanted to know, but all William would say was, ‘Trust me. It will cost you both less and more.’ The following Sunday before worship, Paul was looking a bit down, obviously having failed again. William put a hand on his shoulder and said, ‘Paul, this will cost you both less and more. It’s called grace.’ With that he took out a check made out to the church, dated and signed by William. Only the amount was blank. ‘Your sin still costs, but for you it’s free. Just fill in the numbers. And next week there will be more grace.’ That first week of grace cost William $55, but the second only cost him $20. The third week cost him nothing. It cost Paul too much to fill in those checks, so he quit swearing.” (Friends Grace Motivates Change, www.preachingtoday.com)

God’s Word shows us that grace does not give us license to sin, but instead, as we think of our Savior and His sacrificial payment for our sins at the Cross, that grace should discipline, motivate, and soften our hearts to obey Him and turn from sin. Grace gives liberty to practice grace and power to live a life free from the bondage of sin. It’s the grace of God and the love of Christ that are to motivate us to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4) and live a life pleasing to Him.

To the Reader:

Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles."

To this we would add that the same is true for the articles written by others that we continue to add, on a regular basis, to the Two Minutes library. We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.


Two Minutes with the Bible lets you start your day with short but powerful Bible study articles from the Berean Bible Society. Sign up now to receive Two Minutes With the Bible every day in your email inbox. We will never share your personal information and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Be Strong in the Grace That Is In Christ Jesus – 2 Timothy 2:1-2

Summary:

Paul tells Timothy to “be strong” (2:1) because so many hadn’t been (1:15). Moses told Joshua to be strong in the law (De.11:8), but Paul told Timothy to be strong in grace. If Joshua was strong in the law, Israel would conquer their enemies (Lev.26:3-7). But Paul tells Timothy to be strong in grace because we’re not in the business of conquering God’s enemies in the dispensation of grace.

The Canaanites were the seed of the fallen angels in Genesis 6 and so had to be exterminated (Deut. 20:16). You have to be strong in the law to believe God when He said to kill even women and children. But we’re told to be strong in grace because God expects us to save His enemies, not kill them.

That’s why Paul told Timothy to be strong “in the grace that is in Christ” (2:1). What did the grace that is in Christ do to an enemy named Saul? Saved him! (ITim.1:13,14). The grace that is in Christ saves, it doesn’t kill, and that’s the grace we’re to be strong in.

Do you know what God says about conquering our enemies under grace? He says they’re more likely to conquer us (Rom.8:36,37). But if you can lead them to Christ, you are “more than conquerors” of God’s enemies. The Lord could have conquered Saul, but all He would have gotten out of that was a dead enemy. When He instead saved him, He more than conquered him, He got an apostle to spread grace to the world. Of course, you have to be strong in grace to send missionaries to Muslim countries where they are killing Christians, but that’s what Things To Come Mission is doing! And what we must do if they start killing us “all the day long” in this country.

In the context, we must also be strong in grace to believers who depart from the faith (1:15). Timothy was sickly (ITim.5:23), so he needed to be strong in the grace that is sufficient when we are sick (IICor.12:7-9). Since there is a natural tendency to let grace turn into lasciviousness (cf.Jude 4), we must be strong in the grace that teaches us to deny ungodliness (Tit.2:11,12). We don’t want to presume on God’s grace as the Jews did. They received grace through animal sacrifices, but God had to tell them to stop bringing them while keep sinning (Jer.7:9,10,21-23). God originally told them to obey and only gave them the sacrifices system as a safety net in case they sinned, but they were using the safety net as a hammock to lounge in sin. We dare not lounge in sin and presume on the grace God gave us through the blood of Christ. Christ died for us to deliver us from sin, not to sin (Jer.7:9,10 cf. Gal.1:3,4).

We must also be strong in the grace of giving (IICor.8:1-7). Then tell others to be strong in grace (IITim.4:2). You have to be strong in grace to remind someone in the hospital of IICorinthians 12:7-9.

Catholic theologians use II Timothy 2:2 to say that what we have “heard” in oral traditions should be passed on to men as well as what we read in Paul’s epistles (cf. IIThes.2:15). But even oral traditions dating back to Christ can be wrong in no time (John 21:21-23). The only reason Timothy passed on the traditions he heard is because he knew he heard them from Paul (IITim.3:14).

When Paul committed the grace message to Timothy, that’s a strong word in Scripture. Any time the Bible isn’t talking about committing a sin, a commitment in God’s Word is a serious thing. Joseph’s master committed all that he had to him (Gen.39:4-8). The psalmist committed his spirit to God (Ps.31:5). The Lord committed Himself to the Father to judge our sins on Him (IPet.2:21-23). So when God committed the message to Paul (ICor.9:17; IICor.5:19; Gal. 2:7; ITim.1:11; Tit.1:3) who committed it to Timothy (IITim.2:2), I have to conclude it is just as serious a thing.

Don’t choose not to get involved in the ministry thinking you can’t be “faithful” (IITim.2:2). Moses killed a man and ran from God for forty years but God called him faithful (Heb.3:5). Sarah laughed when God told her she’d have a son in her old age, but God called her faithful (Heb.11:11). Being faithful doesn’t mean you never fall, it means you never quit, you never give up!

Why No Replacement for James?

“If the apostles picked a replacement for Judas when he died, why didn’t they pick a replacement for James when he was killed?”

We know that the Lord told the Twelve that “in the regeneration” they would “sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” in the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 19:28). So when Judas betrayed the Lord and took his life, it was necessary that he be replaced, as Peter explained in Acts 1:15-26.

But had the apostles replaced James when he was killed (Acts 12:1,2), there would be thirteen apostles in the resurrection and only twelve thrones on which for them to sit. Remember, James will rise in “the first resurrection” (Rev. 20:5) to assume his throne with the rest of the Twelve, but Judas will not.

This is similar to how Job lost “seven sons and three daughters” (Job 1:2 cf. 1:18,19) and lots of livestock (1:3 cf. 1:14-17). Later, when “the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before” (42:10), He doubled Job’s original number of animals (42:12) but only gave him an additional “seven sons and three daughters” (42:13). You see, he hadn’t lost his family eternally. They will rise with him in the resurrection, where he will have twice as much family as he had while here on earth. And the Twelve hadn’t lost James eternally either, so there was no need to replace him. With the kingdom program in abeyence, a twelfth apostle would not be needed before the resurrection.

To the Reader:

Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles."

To this we would add that the same is true for the articles written by others that we continue to add, on a regular basis, to the Two Minutes library. We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.


Two Minutes with the Bible lets you start your day with short but powerful Bible study articles from the Berean Bible Society. Sign up now to receive Two Minutes With the Bible every day in your email inbox. We will never share your personal information and you can unsubscribe at any time.