The Doctrine of Paul

268 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Ti 3:10-11, “But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra--what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. (2 Tim 3:10,11) Timothy first hooked up with Paul in Lystra and Paul invited Timothy to accompany him on his missionary journey. From this point on Timothy would have first hand exposure to the teachings of Paul, his manner of life, his purpose, his faith, his longsuffering, his love, his perseverance, persecutions, and afflictions. This exposure would go along way in helping Timothy pass the faith along and prepare subsequent followers for the things they would have to endure. Jesus said in Joh 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." We are told here that Timothy carefully followed the doctrine or the teachings of Paul. We certainly could not name all these teachings in this short devotional, but I think it's important that we understand that these are not teachings invented by Paul. He was merely handing down the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles as handed down to Him. Even as Paul and Timothy set out, we read of what they did in Ac 16:4, “And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.” But not only the Apostles teachings but the teachings of Jesus which Paul would receive directly from Jesus as was explained to him at his conversion: Ac 22:14 "Then he (Ananias) said, 'The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth.” Armed with this knowledge, we ought to take the teachings of Paul far more seriously than many do. He had much to say about what we must believe about Jesus, and how we should live as Christians! He preached repentance toward God and faith toward Jesus (Acts 20:21) He preached Christ crucified! He was a champion of salvation by grace, but never cheapened it as he told us how to live righteously. Timothy followed the teachings of Paul closely, because they were in reality the teachings of Jesus, ought we not do the same?