“Eternal life means to know and experience you as the only true God, and to know and experience Jesus Christ, as the Son whom you have sent.”—JESUS THE DISCIPLE MAKER (John 17:3 TPT)
AIR STUDIES – INTRODUCTION
GENERAL STUDY PRACTICES OF A DISCIPLE
STUDY THEME: 2 TIMOTHY CHAPTER 3, VERSES 16 AND 17
WELCOME to the start of an incredible journey. Over the subsequent 20+ sessions, we will not only study the Bible and discover some amazing truths in its pages but also unpack its revelation application. The modern world has posed new challenges and questions, but we know those questions have age-old answers. We get the honor of becoming disciples of the only one who can bring accurate restorative solutions to a broken world. We become Jesus’ disciples to ensure the rest of the world gets to see those answers firsthand in us.
A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.—Luke 6:40 (NKJV)
BEING A DISCIPLE
To understand the concept of being a disciple, we must understand what it meant to be a disciple in the first century. After all, that is when the roles of rabbis and disciples became important in our realm of study. And when Jesus started using these concepts to help us understand our role in applying what He had taught us.
Reconstructing some of the context implicit in first-century disciples allows us to make some observations regarding disciple-making and spiritual formation today.
QUALITIES OF A FIRST-CENTURY DISCIPLE
The essential qualities of first-century disciples were:
- A desire to emulate and REVEAL ANSWER to their rabbi.
- An assumption that emulation, biblical literacy, community, transparency, and a willingness to REVEAL ANSWER with God’s word were a “given.”
- A passion for discovering the more profound REVEAL ANSWER of God’s Word.
- A zeal to REVEAL ANSWER any of their notions of how to live one’s life.
- To embrace the behavior that their rabbi deemed best to REVEAL ANSWER God.
It was a radical, willing, and conforming submission to the interpretive authority of their rabbi.
THE WAY OF A DISCIPLE
Wrestling with the Word of God, groups of disciples (Yeshivas) would intensely dialogue over an aspect of life and Scripture’s governance.
Discussion and debate were standard parts of rabbinic teaching methodology.
Studying their rabbi’s view of Scripture and wrestling with the texts to comprehend God’s way for the conduct of their life was the main priority of a disciple and the yeshiva experience.
Since all disciples had memorized most of their Hebrew Scriptures in preparation for their Bar Mitzvahs at age 13, the issue was not what God’s word said but rather what it meant and how it was to be lived out or applied.
Asking real-life questions was considered the best way of searching the Scriptures for authoritative direction.
The rabbi would authoritatively address these daily real-life questions concerning righteous living. That response was understood as coming through Scripture as defined and interpreted by the rabbi, or in Jesus’ case, being Scripture and an infallible presentation of the Word of God.
Jesus’ answers to our everyday lives should not be questioned or interpreted. We can discuss what questions we should ask, but once the answer is given, it is not open for further discussion!
Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.—I John 2:3 (NKJV)
THE THREE PARTS TO OBEDIENCE
inspiration (in·spuh·ray·shn)
noun
a. the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative – a sudden brilliant, creative, or timely idea.
revelation (reh·vuh·lay·shn)
noun
a. the divine or supernatural disclosure to humans of something relating to human existence or the world.
application (a·pluh·kay·shn)
noun
a. the action of putting something into operation – sustained effort, hard work – the desire to take what was learned or discovered and see it at work.
The desire (inspiration) to take what was learned or discovered (revelation) and put it to work (application).
Disciples remained completely obedient to the Scriptures. Obedience to Scripture meant they sought Scripture for their inspiration. They sought revelation from Scripture and applied exactly what Scripture directed them to do.
ALL SCRIPTURE
A lesson from 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
Let us study these two verses using the three elements of obedience (inspiration, revelation, and application).
Reading the verse in an easy-to-read version of the Bible is always best. Just because it is an easy-to-read version does not mean that the words will have less impact. Here is the Passion Translation:
God has transmitted his very substance into every Scripture, for it is God-breathed. It will empower you by its instruction and correction, giving you the strength to take the right direction and lead you deeper into the path of godliness. Then you will be God’s servant, fully mature and perfectly prepared to fulfill any assignment God gives you.—2 Timothy 3:16-17 (TPT)
Now let’s use the New King James Version to study these verses.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.—2 Timothy 3:16-17 (KJV)
A GREEK STUDY
Let’s look up the greek meaning of the keywords in this verse.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
ALL
…every manner, anything to do with
SCRIPTURE
…the written Scripture, whole or in part – the Bible
GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD
…given by inspiration and received by revelation from God.
PROFITABLE
…has a cumulative force to help or be advantageous
DOCTRINE
…precepts upon precepts that prevail against the belief systems of the day. Read 2 Timothy 4:3 and Matthew 15:9.What you believe matters. Aligning what you believe takes an intentional desire for revelation.
REPROOF
…conscientious conviction evidence brought to change your beliefs.
CORRECTION
…to adjust to the reproof. Align to new beliefs. Not just draw the line but straighten it – improvement of life or character
RIGHTEOUSNESS
(Instruction in) the justifying process of being made holy. That which cultivates the soul through the correction of mistakes and the curating of aimless passions.
MAN
…human being – not plants or animals, angels, God or Christ – pity because of brokenness that there is hope because of Jesus (son of man)
OF GOD
Theos – all three. Man = broken – of God = man is healed, made holy, and righteous
COMPLETE
…always ready, perfected, made whole. see Matthew 5:48
THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED
…perfected in ability – more than Jesus accomplished. The strength to take authority back despite losing it in MAN’s brokenness.
EVERY GOOD WORK
…none left out, anything and everything, for all – the sharing of our redemption to that which is upright, righteous, and joyful.
SUMMARY QUESTIONS
Why is it essential to understand discipleship in the first century?
What are the three parts of obedience?
What does it mean to “know God”?
Why is it important to use multiple versions of the Bible?
What was your inspiration from 2 Timothy 3:16?
What was your revelation from 2 Timothy 3:16?
What was your application from 2 Timothy 3:16?
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