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NASB | 2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. |
Subject: Theology of Glory versus the Cross |
Bible Note: Dear Cheri, The pattern that we seek to emulate is set in Scripture. In your study of Galatians, for example, you will see a clear instance of one apostle calling another to public account for misbehavior. Those who elevate themselves to a public ministry require that they be corrected in a public fashion. Private, interpersonal correction has its place among individual believers who hold no ministerial office. Furthermore, we eschew things like euphemisms, since they are fundamentally deceptive. We must honor and reflect the character of our Lord. The example of Scripture is to call a spade a spade without equivocation. Off the top of my head, here are some examples we have from Scripture in which rebuke was public and explicit. I'm sure there are others. "For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica." (2 Timothy 4:10a ESV) "Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message." (2 Timothy 4:14-15 ESV) "I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church." (3 John 1:9-10 ESV) Remember, the distinction is that public figures require public rebuke for error, and public commendation for righteousness. It is all about teaching -- both in word and in deed. I also think the old Puritans had it right when they said, "Being kind to the wolf is being cruel to the sheep." In Him, Doc |