The Bible Year

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 7, 1916

Assignment for December 10 to 16

December 10: Titus. December 11: 2 Timothy. December 12: Jude, 1 John 1, 2. December 13: 1 John 3 to 5. December 14: 2 John, 3 John. December 15: Revelation 1, 2. December 16: Revelation 3 to 5.

The Epistle to Titus

“This epistle was written by Paul, A. D. 64, to Titus, his own son after the common faith. Titus was the son of Gentile parents, and was converted to Christianity by the apostle’s ministry. He accompanied Paul in several of his journeys, and was with him during a portion of his second imprisonment at Rome. When this letter was written, Titus was in the island of Crete (Candia), being left there to ‘set in order the things that were wanting, and to ordain elders in every city.’ It is probable that this island was visited by Paul after his first imprisonment at Rome, when a Christian church was established.

“The special object of this epistle is to exhort Titus to great ministerial faithfulness and zeal, to warn him not to give heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men, and generally to give directions concerning the regulation of the churches in Crete, where Titus is supposed to have remained a considerable time, in fact, to have died there at an advanced age. After a loving salutation, Paul explains the cause for which he was left in Crete, describes very fully the qualifications for elders, and gives cautions concerning the Judaizing teachers. He then gives important counsels respecting aged men, aged women, and young men, urging Titus himself to set a pattern to the believers in doctrine and conduct, declaring the fulness of the salvation in Christ, and writing that in purity and righteousness of life the believer should be ‘looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.’ Obedience to rulers and gentleness of spirit are then enjoined, in connection with some important doctrinal teaching, cautions against foolish and unprofitable disquisitions are given, and the epistle closes with sundry requests and salutations. The style of this epistle is very similar to the first epistle to Timothy, plain, pointed, and earnest.

“Note especially the minute directions as to morals and doctrine for the young evangelist’s guidance; also, the allusion to the coming of the Lord as the church’s blessed hope.”—J. Anderson.

The Second Epistle to Timothy

“This epistle was written by Paul to Timothy about A. D. 65 or 66, under very solemn circumstances. The apostle was now a prisoner at Rome, expecting martyrdom, and the special object of his writing this letter was to inform his dearly beloved son of the position in which he was placed, requesting him to come and see him. But in the uncertainty of life, owing to impending martyrdom, he takes the opportunity of giving Timothy a number of important counsels, charges, and encouragements for the more efficient and faithful discharge of his responsible ministerial duties, alluding in the most touching manner to his own personal experience in reference to the past, and his bright hope for the eternal future.

“The style of this letter is similar in many respects to the first epistle, but more tender and affectionate perhaps, written, as it was, in prospect of a painful death daily expected. Note especially the prediction of the perilous times of the last days, the absolute declaration of the divine inspiration of all Scripture, and the allusion to the Lord’s appearing.”—Id.

Jude

This brief but important epistle is usually attributed to the Jude who was the brother of Jesus, and also the brother of James who wrote the epistle bearing that name. Probably Jude “is addressing the same audience that James addressed,—the depressed Jewish Christians, whom he urges to hold fast to the faith in spite of false teachers and many temptations.”

Adam, Cain, Enoch, Moses, Korah, and Balaam are mentioned, together with the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the deliverance from Egypt, thus indorsing the Old Testament record of these persons and events. The vital subjects of translation and resurrection are introduced; Enoch’s beautiful prophecy of the second advent is here alone preserved to us; the believers are exhorted to keep themselves in the love of God, and to work for others; and finally “glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever,” are attributed to him who “is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.” This brief letter abounds in beautiful figures of speech, used not to decorate but to emphasize the great truths presented.

First John

“This, ‘the most independent of place and time and circumstance of all the writings of the New Testament,’ is an appendix to the Gospel of John, being a further unfolding of many of the unique truths there set forth. John probably wrote it at Ephesus toward the close of his long life; that is, in one of the last years of the first century. It was quite certainly written for the churches in Asia, to which the apostle ministered.”—Wells.

Second John

“This very brief letter repeats some of the teachings of the first epistle. It is addressed to ‘the elect lady and her children,’ by which some think John meant the church, and others think he meant an actual person. Neither explanation is wholly satisfactory. Date and place of writing are also unknown, though probably the same as those of the first letter.”

Third John

“Several persons named Gaius or Caius are mentioned in the New Testament, but none of these can be identified with the person to whom John wrote this letter. There is no reason for assigning it to a date or place different from those of the first two epistles.”—Wells.