And This is His Commandment

John encourages them to live a sinless life and this is because Jesus Christ is our advocate. Jesus not only paid the price for our past sin, he is interceding on our behalf even now. So, the condemnation of sin has been done away and now, we are to walk in the light, to love those around us and let that love shine. There is a warning of those antichrists that would come but this is not a warning of fearful dread as some might think. John tells them they have an anointing, the Holy Ghost, that “remains in you” and “teaches you about all things”. Jesus commandment to us is not burdensome with condemnation as some would have you believe, or a fearful avoidance of the ungodly, instead, it is a commandment to love which comes with joy and peace and a clear conscience. 

We Have An Advocate With the Father, Jesus Christ

1 John 2:1–11
John says in 1 John 2:1 he is “writing these things to you in order that you may not sin”. And it is right that we live a sinless life, in fact, Jesus said to the man he healed in John 5:14 “Look, you have become well! Sin no longer” and Jesus also said to the woman caught in adultery, in John 8:11 “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more.” So, we might think we do not sin but John also said in 1 John 2:1b-2 “And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one, 2 and he is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. It is true that we are forgiven and covered by the blood of the cross. It is also true that we ought to live a sinless life. But John is trying to move beyond this consciousness of sin of the old covenant in 1 John 2:7 to the clear conscience that comes with love in 1 John 2:10 where “there is no cause for stumbling”.

You Have Known the One Who is From the Beginning

1 John 2:12–17 

You Have an Anointing from the Holy One

1 John 2:18–27
We naturally think that John who is the apostle would be writing to teach them or tell them something they do not know but this isn’t what John says. In 1 John 2:21 “I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it”. And we also naturally think that John is telling them it is the last time and that there are antichrists in 1 John 2:18 so they can be aware of the trouble they face, but that isn’t the important part of the message. The important part is that they have an anointing that teaches them and God is with them in these two statements:

1 John 2:20 And you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.

1 John 2:27 And as for you, the anointing which you received from him remains in you, and you do not have need that anyone teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you reside in him.

Now We Are Children of God

1 John 2:28–3:10 

And This is His Commandment

1 John 3:11–24
People have many ideas about how to please God. And there are those that portray God as a hard task master. But in

1 John 3:23 “And this is his commandment: that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another”.

Jesus said this, in

Matthew 11:28–30 Come to me, all of you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke on you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to carry and my burden is light.”

The truth is that we are burdened by the cares of life and if we will learn of him and take on his yoke, his commandments, it will lighten our burden.

By this You Know the Spirit of God

1 John 4:1–6

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • 1 John 2:1-29
  • 1 John 3:1-24
  • 1 John 4:1-6

This is My Beloved Son

John lays out the testimony of Jesus Christ. There are the eyewitnesses, the apostles. There was the voice of God from heaven when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. And there is the prophetic word written many years before and handed down through the children of Israel. Even so, there will be false prophets and false teachers that will seek their own way to their destruction and the destruction of those that follow them. And, there are those that will say, there is no judgement or may go even farther and say there is no God. But God is not slack, judgement will come after this age of grace. Until then, God knows how to keep the godly from destruction. 

This is My Beloved Son

2 Peter 1:16–21
This testimony of Jesus Christ as savior, mediator between God and man, is not in 2 Peter 1:16 “by following ingeniously concocted myths” that are prevalent among other religious systems. This testimony is first, “by being eyewitnesses of that one’s majesty” where the Apostles lived with Jesus and were witness to the miracles done throughout his life, his death on the cross, and his resurrection from the dead. Second, there is the witness of the voice of God from heaven saying in 2 Peter 1:17 “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And Thirdly this testimony was given by the word of prophecy written years before in

2 Peter 1:19 and we possess as more reliable the prophetic word, to which you do well if you pay attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,

And this testimony has not changed from the beginning, in

Romans 10:8–10 But what does it say? “The word is near to you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim), 9 that if you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation.

 

The Lord Knows How to Rescue the Godly

2 Peter 2:1–11
There have also been false prophets in 2 Peter 2:1 “as there will be false teachers among you also, who will bring in destructive heresies”. These are described by their motivation in 2 Peter 2:3 “in greediness they will exploit you with false words” and greediness is a concept that we easily understand even though we may be taken in by “false words”. But “licentious ways” in 2 Peter 2:2 is not so easy because this is not a common word. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, licentious means “lacking legal or moral restraints; especially : disregarding sexual restraints” or “marked by disregard for strict rules of correctness”. And if we read on in 2 Peter 2:4-8 we find examples including Noah and Lot who were delivered while those around them were destroyed. So, it is not for us to judge or destroy the ungodly, God will in 2 Peter 2:9 take care of “the day of judgement”. And until then, in 2 Peter 2:9 “the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials”.

They Have Escaped From the Defilements of the World

2 Peter 2:12–22
It is “through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” in 2 Peter 2:20 that we “have escaped from the defilements of the world”. But some become entangled again. There is a, in 2 Peter 2:15 “straight path” which is Gods way, the way of righteousness and holiness. 

The Lord is Not Delaying the Promise

2 Peter 3:1–13
In the short span of our lives we can easily lose the context of eternity that is the time-line of God and his plan for not only mankind, but also for the angels and all of creation. Or, as it says in 2 Peter 3:5 “it escapes their notice that the heavens existed long ago”. People forget that in 2 Peter 3:6 “the world that existed at that time was destroyed by being inundated with water” and today, rather than mist from the ground we have rolling thunder and clouds that pour down rain with the covenant sign of the rainbow in the sky.

But it is also this same word of God that in 2 Peter 3:7 “by the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly people”. So it is not a forgetful or uninvolved delay on God’s part, it is intentional for the good of generations in

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not delaying the promise, as some consider slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not want any to perish, but all to come to repentance.

Make Every Effort

2 Peter 3:14–18

1 John Introduction

The early church came out of the culture of Judaism. Much of the new testament is about the difference between the keeping of the Law and grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Here in 1 John, “everything turns on one simple contrast: divine life in communion with Christ; death in separation from Him, as appears from his characteristic phrases, “life, light, truth; death, darkness, lie.””1

Eternal Life Which Was With the Father and Was Revealed

1 John 1:1–4

The Blood of Jesus His Son Cleanses Us

1 John 1:5–10

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • 2 Peter 1:16-21
  • 2 Peter 2:1-22
  • 2 Peter 3:1-18
  • 1 John 1:1-10

References

  • 1. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 525). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Contend for the Faith

When Jude says “contend for the faith”, he doesn’t mean be contentious. Jude adds this admonition, “keep yourselves in the love of God”. There is a truth we have been given that Jude describes as “the faith delivered once and for all to the saints”. There is a part of our calling that requires us to “stand firm” as defenders of the faith against those that would present some other way of salvation. However, there is a more important work, certainly for elders as they are to take on the character and nature of God and “shepherd the flock of God”. But Peter suggests that all of us “make your calling and election sure” by taking on the fruit of the Spirit. 

Shepherd the Flock of God Among You

1 Peter 5:1–11
This is an open letter to Christians of the dispersion so we can also take much of this as general instruction to the Church. In particular, Peter writes here to the elders, and not privately to them. It is important for Church leaders and “the flock of God” in 1 Peter 5:2 to know the responsibility of the elders and the behavior that is expected from godly “shepherds”. First, they are to take this position willingly, they must want it. Second, they must not expect greedy gain, but to live the lifestyle of their sheep. And last, they are to be eager about the work, I think because people can wear you out.

In the world, people take authority through force of will, “lording it over” as it says in 1 Peter 5:3. But elders in the Church are “being examples for the flock”. So, “When people enter the eldership, no small honour is conferred upon them, for they are entering the oldest religious office in the world, whose history can be traced through Christianity and Judaism for 4,000 years; and no small responsibility falls upon them, for they have been ordained shepherds of the flock of God and defenders of the faith”.1

This is the True Grace of God

1 Peter 5:12–14
Peter, like Paul, knew those that labored in different churches and commends here Silvanus, and “She who is in Babylon”, and Mark making them also known among all of the churches. But more importantly in his close he encourages them to “stand firm in it”, “the true grace of God” in 1 Peter 5:14.

Jude Introduction

 

Contend for the Faith

Jude 1:1–4
We not only have an obligation to be heralds of the gospel as Paul called himself in

1 Timothy 2:7 for which I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am speaking the truth, I am not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

but we are also to contend for the faith “not intimidated” as Paul said in

Philippians 1:27–28 Only lead your lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent I hear your circumstances, that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one soul contending side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not letting yourselves be intimidated in anything by your opponents, which is a sign of destruction to them, but of your salvation, and this from God,

Because what we call “our common salvation” in Jude 3 is “the faith delivered once and for all to the saints”, we now are “ambassadors” in 2 Corinthians 5:20 “on behalf of Christ … imploring … be reconciled to God.

These Persons Blaspheme All That They do not Understand

Jude 5–16

Keep Yourselves in the Love of God

Jude 17–25

2 Peter Introduction

You May Become Sharers of the Divine Nature

2 Peter 1:1–7
God has not only revealed himself to the world, he has provided everything we need in

2 Peter 1:3 because his divine power has bestowed on us all things that are necessary for life and godliness, through the knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence of character,

Through his promises in 2 Peter 1:4 “you may become sharers of the divine nature after escaping from the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire”. 

Make Your Calling and Election Secure

2 Peter 1:8–15
Peter says in 2 Peter 1:8 “if these things are yours and are increasing …”. Then in 2 Peter 1:10 “if you do these things, you will never ever stumble”. And in

2 Peter 1:11 For in this way entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly supplied for you.

But what things is he talking about? He is talking about 2 Peter 1:4 “sharers of the divine nature” and all of the attributes listed in 2 Peter 1:5-7 beginning with diligence, including godliness, and ending with love. This is what Paul called the fruit of the Spirit in

Galatians 5:22–23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self control. Against such things there is no law.

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • 1 Peter 5:1-14
  • Jude 1-25
  • 2 Peter 1:1-15

References

  • 1. Barclay, W. (2003). The Letters of James and Peter (3rd ed. fully rev. and updated, pp. 305–306). Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press.

The Spirit of Glory and of God Rests on You

We read in 1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. God sees everything, and did you get this part, God listens to the prayer of the righteous. We are to turn from evil, to pursue good. We are to be “ready to make a defense to anyone who asks you for an accounting concerning the hope that is in you”. If trouble still comes our way, we not only have a ” good conscience” toward God but “the Spirit of glory and of God rests” on us.

The Eyes of the Lord are on the Righteous

1 Peter 3:8–12
It is not only true that God sees everything, He is looking to see and when he sees the righteous, he listens for their prayer in

1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

And just as God is for the righteous, he is also against the evil. Now let me ask, did you hear the promise Peter offers here? In 1 Peter 3:9 he says “so that you could inherit a blessing”. But what action is needed to “inherit a blessing”? It is in 1 Peter 3:8-9 “be harmonious, sympathetic, showing mutual affection, compassionate, humble, 9 not repaying evil for evil or insult for insult, but on the other hand blessing others”. God wants to bless and He will bless those that bless others. But first, it is up to us to, in

1 Peter 3:11 And he must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.

When we set ourselves to do good, when we let God repay those that do evil, we “inherit a blessing”.

Set Christ Apart as Lord in Your Hearts

1 Peter 3:13–22
Peter tells them in 1 Peter 3:14 “who will harm you if you are a zealous adherent for what is good?” and in the world, this is generally true that no one interferes when you are doing good. But he also says in 1 Peter 3:17 “it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for doing evil”. And we know there are times when evil and corrupt people go so far as to oppress even those that are doing good. We might say it this way, that we first are to be zealous for what is good. Then in

1 Peter 3:15 but set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts, always ready to make a defense to anyone who asks you for an accounting concerning the hope that is in you.

And when we give “an accounting concerning the hope” in the right way, in 1 Peter 3:16 “the ones who malign your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame” but even if we don’t see our vindication now, we have in 1 Peter 3:21-22 “a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who is at the right hand of God”.

Equip Yourselves With the Same Way of Thinking

1 Peter 4:1–6

If Anyone Speaks, Let it be as the Oracles of God

1 Peter 4:7–11

The Spirit of Glory and of God Rests on You

1 Peter 4:12–19
Peter explains that, just as the world did not accept Christ, but crucified him, so we should expect opposition to the message of the gospel. As Peter says in

1 Peter 4:12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, when it takes place to test you, as if something strange were happening to you.

We are blessed when we have this kind of opposition,

1 Peter 4:14 If you are reviled on account of the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

But suffering for wrong doing as a “murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler” as described in 1 Peter 4:15 is simply judgement and God is a righteous judge. And God’s judgement begins with “the household of God” in 1 Peter 4:17. Certainly we who are not “disobedient to the gospel” are not living in wrong doing but are living “according to the will of God” in 1 Peter 4:19.

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • 1 Peter 3:8-22
  • 1 Peter 4:1-19

His Great Mercy Has Caused Us to be Born Again

Peter had personal challenges to his faith and even denied Christ three times yet still became a pillar in the church. It is the grace of God that protects us and strengthens us and he has given us his Holy Spirit, as Peter says, “the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience”. So when Peter says, “the genuineness of your faith, more valuable than gold” we know that Peter is speaking from personal experience and he is speaking by the unction of the Holy Spirit who is cleansing us and leading us. But the point of all of this is not just our eternal hope, but that in 1 Peter 2:5 And you yourselves, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. We are living with grace and love before the world.

1 Peter Introduction

Peter, also called Simon and Cephas, is a well known disciple and apostle of Jesus mentioned often in the four gospels and also in the book of Acts. Peter walked on water toward Jesus, Peter recognized Jesus as the Son of God, Peter denied Jesus three times, and after the resurrection, Peter said “I am going fishing” and the other disciples followed him back to their old way of life. But Peter became a great leader, a great preacher of the gospel to “Cornelius” and God worked miracles by his hand. 

His Great Mercy Has Caused Us to be Born Again

1 Peter 1:1–12
Peter is reaching out to the region where the Christians under persecution in Jerusalem would have fled, but he doesn’t mention Macedonia where Paul had a vision of a man asking him to come and help. These “in the dispersion” in 1 Peter 1:1 would have understood Peter’s history and experience not only with Jesus but also in building the early church after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Peter opens in 1 Peter 1:2 with “the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and for sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ” which are reconciliation through the blood and “sanctification”, the power to live for God. Then in 1 Peter 1:3 he focuses their attention on being “born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” and in 1 Peter 1:4 the “inheritance imperishable” and that now we “are being protected by the power of God through faith” in 1 Peter 1:5. But all of this is to get to the overcoming power, the strength being developed in us, the one thing most precious to God, our faith in

1 Peter 1:6–7 in which you rejoice greatly, although now for a short time, if necessary, you are distressed by various trials, 7 so that the genuineness of your faith, more valuable than gold that is passing away, but is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

 

The One Who Called You is Holy

1 Peter 1:13–25
This is not an idle statement in

1 Peter 1:15 but as the one who called you is holy, you yourselves be holy in all your conduct,

We have been given the Holy Spirit, the teacher, the comforter, the guide, and in 1 Peter 1:13 he says “when you have prepared your minds for action by being self-controlled” which tells us that it is not only up to the Holy Spirit for us to live the sanctified life. There is a “washing with the water of the word” as it says, not just about husbands and wives, but about Christ and us as the church in

Ephesians 5:25–26 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for her; 26 in order that he might sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word;

The way we think, what we know about God, what it means to be holy, these are not just thoughts for philosophers to debate. These things we learn are actions as we just read, “when you have prepared your minds for action”, then we in 1 Peter 1:18 “know that you were redeemed from your futile way of life”. We then begin to walk in 1 Peter 1:22 “by your obedience to the truth for sincere brotherly love”. 

You Yourselves, as Living Stones, are Being Built Up

1 Peter 2:1–12
God is, and has been, revealing himself to mankind through the ages. Now, it is not a type and shadow as it was with Israel and the tabernacle. Now, through the church, in

1 Peter 2:5 And you yourselves, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

We are his witness to those in the earth. We, sealed with his Holy Spirit, with the veil of the heavenly temple torn, have free access “to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ”.

By Doing Good to Silence the Ignorance of Foolish People

1 Peter 2:13–25

They May be Won Over Without a Word

1 Peter 3:1–7

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • 1 Peter 1:1-25
  • 1 Peter 2:1-25
  • 1 Peter 3:1-7

The Grace of God Has Appeared Bringing Salvation

Paul writes to his disciple and son in the Lord with instruction to establish order in the churches of the region. Titus is to go from town to town and “appoint elders in every town”. But not just anyone was qualified to be an elder so this was a challenge for Titus to find those that were not only willing, but also “able both to exhort with sound instruction and to reprove those who speak against it”. For Titus, his charge was to be an example and to “exhort with sound instruction”, raising up people where that was needed.

Titus Introduction

Titus was Greek so had no connection to the Jewish faith or traditions unlike Timothy whose mother was Jewish and his father was Greek. This is why “The first reference to Titus in the New Testament occurs in connection with the controversy over whether Gentile converts needed to be circumcised as well as baptized. The Judaizers were evidently bringing pressure to bear on Paul to circumcise Titus, whom he and Barnabas had brought with them to Jerusalem.12 A little later Paul did circumcise Timothy, as a concession to the demands of the mission.13 But the case with Titus was different. It was a question now of principle, not policy, since ‘the truth of the gospel’ was at stake. In consequence, ‘we did not give in to them for a moment’,14 he wrote, and Titus was ‘not … compelled to be circumcised’.15”1

Paul is now writing to Titus who he has left in Crete with responsibility for the church. And while “Cretans were among those listed as present in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:11), and the gospel may first have reached the island through them”,2

Titus was faced with overcoming the culture of the region. It is said that “The national character of the Cretans was low in the extreme, as EPIMENIDES, quoted in Tit 1:12, paints it. LIVY [History, 44.45], stigmatizes their avarice; POLYBIUS [Histories, 6.46.9], their ferocity and fraud; and [Histories, 6.47.5], their mendacity, so much so, that “to Cretanize” is another name for to lie”3 

In the Hope of Eternal Life

Titus 1:1–4
God has “disclosed his message in Titus 1:3 which in Titus 1:2 is “the hope of eternal life” which is part of the “common faith” in Titus 1:4. Paul described the message this way in

Acts 17:30–31 Therefore although God has overlooked the times of ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has set a day on which he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man who he has appointed, having provided proof to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

and then the way of faith in

Romans 3:21–22 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified about by the law and the prophets—22 that is, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. For there is no distinction,

 

Exhort With Sound Instruction

Titus 1:5–16
But Titus is not there just to preach the gospel, Paul has left him with the responsibility “that what remains may be set in order and you may appoint elders in every town” in Titus 1:5. And this was no small task because “Crete was an island of many cities. Homer called it ‘Crete of the hundred cities’. It was Paul’s principle that his little churches should be encouraged to stand on their own feet as soon as possible”4 and while there was urgency to establish leaders, there was also a requirement for service that they are living their own life well, that they are hospitable and gentle, and that they are strong and articulate enough to reprove when necessary as he says in

Titus 1:6–9 If anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not ⌊accused of dissipation⌋ or rebellious. 7 For it is necessary for the overseer to be blameless as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain, 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, prudent, just, devout, self-controlled, 9 holding fast to the faithful message according to the teaching, in order that he may be able both to exhort with sound instruction and to reprove those who speak against it.

 

The Grace of God Has Appeared, Bringing Salvation

Titus 2:1–15
Titus has heard Paul deliver the message, the gospel of the kingdom, Jesus Christ crucified and raised from the dead, seated in authority at the right hand of God. But now he must find men to appoint as leaders and Paul give him this simple direction in

Titus 2:1 But you, speak the things which are fitting for sound instruction.

There is a place in the Kingdom for men, and many will be “Older men” for Titus, and for women and for slaves. But it is not just in words that Titus is to exhort people, it is also in behaviour in

Titus 2:7–8 concerning everything showing yourself to be an example of good deeds, in your teaching demonstrating soundness, dignity, 8 a sound message beyond reproach, in order that an opponent may be put to shame, because he has nothing bad to say concerning us.

When the accuser comes our way, let us not have left any reason for their accusations to stick.

Renewal by the Holy Spirit

Titus 3:1–7

People Must Learn to Engage in Good Deeds

Titus 3:8–15

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Titus 1:1-16
  • Titus 2:1-15
  • Titus 3:1-15

References

  • 1. Stott, J. R. W. (1996). Guard the truth: the message of 1 Timothy & Titus (pp. 170–171). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
  • 2. Hemer, C. J. (2003). Crete. In C. Brand, C. Draper, A. England, S. Bond, E. R. Clendenen, & T. C. Butler (Eds.), Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (p. 365). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
  • 3. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 430). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
  • 4. Barclay, W. (2003). The Letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon (3rd ed. fully rev. and updated, p. 263). Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press.