Day 33 September 11 - I Timothy 6 - Hebrews 1

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Discussion

[KeithLBrown]

The Qualifications of a Bishop

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; - 1 Timothy 3:2

Scripture Reference: Titus 1:6-9

6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon dangry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the bgainsayers.

From Gospel Topics: Bishop

A man who has been ordained and set apart as the presiding high priest for a ward, or congregation. He has overall responsibility for ministering the temporal and spiritual affairs of the congregation.

The Bishop and His Counselors

President Boyd K. Packer, “The Bishop and His Counselors,” Ensign, May 1999, 57

“A bishop,” Paul wrote to Timothy, “must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach.”

Those words apt to teach have special meaning. Apt means “inclined, ready, prepared.”

In all the world there is nothing quite like the office of bishop in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Except for parents, the bishop has the best opportunity to teach and to cause to be taught the things that matter most. And a bishop has the remarkable opportunity to teach parents about their responsibility; then he must allow them time to teach their children.

The bishop is responsible for the young men of the Aaronic Priesthood and for the young women as well. He receives and accounts for tithes and offerings. He is responsible for the temporal affairs of the Church, to seek out the poor, and he has many other duties.

The bishop is “to judge his people by the testimony of the just, and by the assistance of his counselors, according to the laws of the kingdom which are given by the prophets of God.” He is to judge them as to their worthiness to receive the ordinances and serve in offices.

He is to counsel and correct and to preach the gospel to his flock, individually and collectively. In all of this, he is to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Crucifixion, the Atonement, the Resurrection, the Restoration.

I have heard this described as voluntary service because neither the bishop nor his counselors are paid for what they do. They too pay their tithes and offerings, and they devote endless hours to their calling. They are paid only in blessings, as are those who serve with them.

But one does not exactly volunteer or aspire to be bishop. He is called to be bishop, “called of God, by prophecy.” Then he is both ordained and set apart “by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.” 3

A man is ordained a bishop, an office in the priesthood; then he is set apart and given the keys to preside over a ward. He with his two counselors form a bishopric—a type of presidency.

Once ordained, he is a bishop for the rest of his life. When he is released from presiding over a ward, his ordination becomes dormant. If called again to preside over a ward, his previous ordination is reactivated. When he is released, it becomes dormant again.

Inherent in the ordination to be bishop is both the right and the obligation to be directed by inspiration. The bishop has the power to discern by the Spirit what he is to do.

Revelation is the one credential that all bishops have in common. Bishops come from many cultures, many occupations. They vary in experience, personality, and age, but they do not differ in their right to be guided spiritually.

The Shepherds of Israel

President Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Shepherds of Israel,” Ensign, Nov 2003, 60

Let me now speak directly to the thousands of bishops who are in attendance tonight. Let me say first that I love you for your integrity and goodness. You must be men of integrity. You must stand as examples to the congregations over which you preside. You must stand on higher ground so that you can lift others. You must be absolutely honest, for you handle the funds of the Lord, the tithes of the people, the offerings that come of their fasting, and the contributions which they make from their own strained resources. How great is your trust as the keepers of the purse of the Lord!

Your goodness must be as an ensign to your people. Your morals must be impeccable. The wiles of the adversary may be held before you because he knows that if he can destroy you, he can injure an entire ward. You must exercise wisdom in all of your relationships lest someone read into your observed actions some taint of moral sin. You cannot succumb to the temptation to read pornographic literature or even in the secrecy of your own chamber to view pornographic films. Your moral strength must be such that if ever you are called upon to sit in judgment on the questionable morals of others, you may do so without personal compromise or embarrassment.

You cannot use your office as bishop to further your own business interests lest through some ensuing financial mishap accusation be placed against you by those who succumbed to your persuasiveness.

You cannot compromise your qualifications to sit as a common judge in Israel. It is a fearsome and awesome responsibility to stand as a judge of the people. You must be their judge in some instances as to worthiness to hold membership in the Church, worthiness to enter the house of the Lord, worthiness to be baptized, worthiness to receive the priesthood, worthiness to serve missions, worthiness to teach and to serve as officers in the organizations. You must be the judge of their eligibility in times of distress to receive help from the fast offerings of the people and commodities from the storehouse of the Lord. None for whom you are responsible must go hungry or without clothing or shelter though they be reluctant to ask. You must know something of the circumstances of all of the flock over whom you preside.

You must be their counselor, their comforter, their anchor and strength in times of sorrow and trouble. You must be strong with that strength which comes from the Lord. You must be wise with that wisdom which comes from the Lord. Your door must be open to hear their cries and your back strong to carry their burdens, your heart sensitive to judge their needs, your godly love broad enough and strong enough to encompass even the wrongdoer and the critic. You must be a man of patience, willing to listen and striving to understand. You are the only one to whom some can turn. You must be there when every other source has failed.

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1 Timothy 6:10 the love of money is the root of all evil

Gordon B. Hinckley

“’For the love of money is the root of all evil.’ That's true. You get your mind on the things of the world and you lose the Spirit of the Lord in your work. It isn't money that He's talking about, it's the love of money, it's the covetousness, it's the greed, it's the desire to have more than you need which becomes the root of all evil. I hope you'll remember that all the days of your life.” (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1997], 708 - 709.)

Dallin H. Oaks

“There is nothing inherently evil about money. The Good Samaritan used the same coinage to serve his fellowman that Judas used to betray the Master. It is ‘the love of money [which] is the root of all evil.’ (1 Tim. 6:10; italics added.) The critical difference is the degree of spirituality we exercise in viewing, evaluating, and managing the things of this world and our experiences in it.

“If allowed to become an object of worship or priority, money can make us selfish and prideful, ‘puffed up in the vain things of the world.’ (Alma 5:37.) In contrast, if used for fulfilling our legal obligations and for paying our tithes and offerings, money can demonstrate integrity and develop unselfishness.” (“Spirituality,” Ensign, Nov. 1985, 63)

Heber J. Grant

“The great criterion of success in the world is that men can make money, but I want to say to you Latter-day Saints that to do this is not true success. . . .What is the matter? Why, the appetite for money grows upon a man, increases and strengthens unless he is careful, just as much as the appetite for whiskey, and it gets possession of him, and he loves the money instead of loving it only for the good that he can do with it. He does not estimate properly the value of things. (CR, October 1911, p. 23-24.)” (Roy W. Doxey, comp., Latter-day Prophets and the Doctrine and Covenants [salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1978], 1: 61)

Gordon B. Hinckley

“I think of a friend. He was, and I still think he is, a good man. He had a good home and a good family, and plenty to take care of his needs and the needs of his family. But he became consumed by a yearning for yet greater riches. I think he also was sincere in his desire to help his friends get more. One thing led to another, until when a drop in the economy occurred, he found himself in a trap from which he could not extricate himself. Those who wanted him to make them rich, and who initially professed love for him and admiration for his acumen, have become his violent and hateful accusers. I think it was not the money itself which destroyed them. They could live without it. It was the love for money which took hold of them and drove them until they found themselves in difficulty and failure. (University of Utah Institute of Religion Fireside, May 21, 1989.)

“I wish every one of you might have some of the good things of life, but I hope your desire will not come of covetousness, which is an evil and gnawing disease. (University of Utah Institute of Religion Fireside, May 21, 1989.)

“Let not selfishness canker your relationship. Let not covetousness destroy your happiness. Let not greed, for that which you do not need and cannot get with honesty and integrity, bring you down to ruin and despair. (University of Utah Institute of Religion Fireside, May 21, 1989.)” (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1997], 252.)

Spencer W. Kimball

“Book of Mormon history eloquently reveals the corrosive effect of the passion for wealth. Each time the people became righteous, they prospered. Then followed the transition from prosperity to wealth, wealth to the love of wealth, then to the love of ease and luxury. They moved then into spiritual inactivity, then to gross sin and wickedness, then on to near destruction by their enemies. This caused them to repent, which brought back righteousness, then prosperity, and the cycle had begun all over again.

“Had the people used their wealth for good purposes they could have enjoyed a continuing prosperity. But they seemed unable for a sustained period to be simultaneously wealthy and righteous. For a limited time some people can ‘hold the line,’ but they deteriorate spiritually when money is abundant.” (The Miracle of Forgiveness [salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1969], 47-48)

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1 Timothy 6:10 while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows

Gordon B. Hinckley

“It is when greed takes over, when we covet that which others have, that our affliction begins. And it can be a very sore and painful affliction.

“’Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house.’ We all need shelter. We all need a roof over our heads with warmth in the winter and a measure of comfort in the summer. This is not evil. It is important. But when we go to wild excess, as some are prone to do, our folly can become as a trap to destroy us.

“Thou shalt not covet the kind of clothes and jewels thy neighbor wears. Oh, what slaves we become to fashion. It can be a possessive and monstrous thing. It can destroy individuality and resourcefulness. It seems that most of us want to look alike, to live in the same circumstances, rather than give some play to our own individuality.

“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s car. The modern automobile is a wonderful machine. It is almost indispensable in the society in which we live and work. But when I see persons borrowing heavily to buy cars with exorbitant prices, I wonder what has happened to our values.

“It is so with boats and other fancy toys. When one family in the neighborhood gets a boat, others think they need one. To satisfy our desires, we go into debt, dissipate our resources in the payment of high interest, and become as slaves working to pay it off. Please do not misunderstand me. I repeat that I wish everyone might have some of the good things of life, but I hope our desire will not come of covetousness, which is an evil and gnawing disease. I think of many of our younger single and married members; I hope that you will be modest in your physical wants. You do not need everything that you might wish. And the very struggle of your younger years will bring a sweetness and security to your later life.

“In 1831, the Lord spoke to the Saints in Ohio. His words are applicable to us today: ‘Now, I, the Lord, am not well pleased with the inhabitants of Zion, for there are idlers among them; and their children are also growing up in wickedness; they also seek not earnestly the riches of eternity, but their eyes are full of greediness.’ (D&C 68:31.)” (“Thou Shalt Not Covet,” Ensign, Mar. 1990, 4)

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2 Timothy Introduction

“This is possibly the last epistle Paul wrote. As a prisoner in Rome, his martyrdom seems imminent (2 Tim. 4:6–7), but he rejoices in his testimony of Christ and in the privilege of suffering for Christ’s sake. He faces his final hours with the sure knowledge that he has ‘fought a good fight, and kept the faith,’ for which a ‘crown of righteousness’ is laid up for him (2 Tim. 4:7–8). His concerns are not alone, nor even primarily, for himself. He is deeply concerned over the growing threat of corruption and apostasy in the Church. To Timothy he gives solid encouragement and further counsel concerning both his personal life and his leadership role in the Church.” (J. Lewis Taylor, “New Testament Backgrounds: 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus,” Ensign, Apr. 1976, 57)

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2 Timothy 1:5 thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice

“The word ‘grandmother’ appears in the Bible but once—in connection with Lois, the grandmother of Timothy. Paul addressed this same Timothy as ‘my dearly beloved son.’ (2 Tim. 1:2.) The one verse in the Bible that mentions Lois and her daughter Eunice, Timothy’s mother, is surpassingly beautiful, illuminating not only the faith of Timothy but eloquently painting a picture of family fidelity for three generations. Paul writes, ‘When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. …’ (2 Tim. 1:5.)

“The hope of every mother and grandmother is underscored in these few words. As a woman seeks to increase in faith and good works she does so not to her own glory, but to fashion a legacy for her children and her children’s children to inherit. Lois and Eunice lived in a generation when the gospel was a fresh, bright gift, newly restored from God in the person of his son Jesus Christ. How they must have rejoiced as they received its truth into their lives. Their home was Lystra, a city in the Roman province of Galatia. Eunice was a Jewess married to a Greek, whose name is not given. We may infer that she was a widow much of her life. Ties of kinship strengthened the family in that day where a grandmother and mother joined forces and faith to train their choice son.

“Paul gives evidence of the teachings of Timothy’s youth when he says to him, ‘from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.’ (2 Tim. 3:15.) He also suggests, ‘continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.’ (2 Tim. 3:14.)

Timothy was converted by Paul in Lystra at a young age and may have been as young as 15. How difficult it must have been for his mother and grandmother to send him away with Paul at such a tender age. His further training was completed by Paul, who loved him as his own son and spoke of him always with great pride. Although only one verse tells of Timothy’s grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice, we see their likenesses reflected in the man he became. His loyalty and devotion, his willingness to consecrate his all to the cause of Christ, his capacity for selflessness, gentleness, and love—all were qualities present in this youth who left his home to become a champion for Christ. These same qualities allowed his mother and grandmother to send him away with their confidence and trust. Paul planted gospel seeds in fertile ground that had been prepared by two loving women. (Ann N. Madsen, “Cameos: The Women of the New Testament,” Ensign, Sept. 1975, 43)

Jeffrey R. Holland

We give thanks for all the mothers and grandmothers from whom such truths have been learned at such early ages. (“Because She Is a Mother,” Ensign, May 1997, 35)

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2 Timothy 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord

Gordon B. Hinckley

I wish that every member of this church would put those words where he might see them every morning as he begins his day. They would give us the courage to speak up, they would give us the faith to try, they would strengthen our conviction of the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe that more miracles would happen over the earth. (“Be Not Afraid, Only Believe,” Ensign, Feb. 1996, 5)

Gordon B. Hinckley

It is not God who has given us the spirit of fear; this comes from the adversary. So many of us are fearful of what our peers will say, that we will be looked upon with disdain and criticized if we stand for what is right. But I remind you that “wickedness never was happiness” (Alma 41:10). Evil never was happiness. Sin never was happiness. Happiness lies in the power and the love and the sweet simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We need not be prudish. We need not slink off in a corner, as it were. We need not be ashamed. We have the greatest thing in the world, the gospel of the risen Lord. Paul gives us a mandate: “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord” (2 Tim. 1:8).

As deacons, teachers, and priests ordained to the holy priesthood, we can stand tall and, without equivocation or fear, declare our testimony of Jesus Christ.

Further from Paul, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed” (2 Tim. 2:15).

If we were called upon to stand before God and give an accounting of ourselves, could we do it without embarrassment? This is Paul’s great plea to his young friend. It is his plea to each of you. (“Converts and Young Men,” Ensign, May 1997, 49)

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2 Timothy 3:1 in the last days perilous times shall come

Howard W. Hunter

“In this last dispensation there will be great tribulation. (See Matt. 24:21.) We know that there will be wars and rumors of wars (see D&C 45:16) and that the whole earth will be in commotion (see D&C 45:26). All dispensations have had their perilous times, but our day will include genuine peril. (See 2 Tim. 3:1.) Evil men will flourish (see 2 Tim. 3:13), but then evil men have very often flourished. Calamities will come and iniquity will abound. (See D&C 45:27.)

“Inevitably the natural result of some of these kinds of prophecies is fear, and that is not fear limited to a younger generation. It is fear shared by those of any age who don’t understand what we understand.

“But I want to stress that these feelings are not necessary for faithful Latter-day Saints, and they do not come from God. To ancient Israel, the great Jehovah said:

‘Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. …

And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.’ (Deut. 31:6, 8.)” (“An Anchor to the Souls of Men,” Ensign, Oct. 1993, 71)

Dean L. Larsen

“The challenging conditions we find in the world today should be no surprise to us. As we approach the time of the Savior’s return, wickedness will increase. There will be more temptations in our daily lives, and they will become more intense. It will become more acceptable in the world to break the laws of God or to disregard them altogether. The stigma attached to immoral, dishonest behavior will disappear.

“In this difficult environment we will be expected to steer our own course in an upward direction. As President Kimball has warned us, it will neither be acceptable nor safe to remain on the plateaus where our present conduct has kept us. Abrupt downward forces, represented by increasing wickedness in the world, can only be offset by forces that move correspondingly upward. Our lives must be better than they have ever been before. This simply means that we will become increasingly different from those around us whose lives follow the world’s way. It is not easy to be different. There are intense pressures that work against us. But we must clearly understand that it is not safe to move in the same direction the world is moving, even though we remain slightly behind the pace they set. Such a course will eventually lead us to the same problems and heartaches. It will not permit us to perform the work the Lord has chosen us to do. It would disqualify us from his blessing and his protecting care.” (“A Royal Generation,” Ensign, May 1983, 34)

Neil L. Andersen

“Ours is a day long foreseen. We live in the perilous times spoken of by the Apostle Paul…And yet, we should not be intimidated or overly alarmed. These events have all been foreseen. In this deteriorating situation, the kingdom of God will strengthen. President Brigham Young prophesied, ‘It was revealed to me in the commencement of this Church, that the Church would spread, prosper, grow and extend, and that in proportion to the spread of the Gospel among the nations of the earth, so would the power of Satan rise’ (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1978, p. 72).” (“Teaching Our Children to Love the Prophets,” Ensign, Apr. 1996, 44-45)

Elray L. Christiansen

“Now, despite these conditions that Paul described, this is a favored time and a favored day of the Lord. We ought to be thankful that we live in this particular day, notwithstanding all the fears and the troubles and the anxieties which come upon us because of unsettled conditions that prevail in the world. Our gratitude comes mainly because we are the glad recipients of the restored gospel brought back to earth in the fulfillment of prophecy, in its fulness as a prescription for successful living and for salvation. There is no need to walk in darkness or in uncertainty. In our day the Church has the vision and the inspiration and the word of the Lord to give to the people to keep them from the pitfalls of life, from sorrow, regret, and failure.” (Conference Report, April 1963, Afternoon Meeting 68 - 69.)

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2 Timothy 3:15 the holy scriptures…are able to make thee wise unto salvation

Ezra Taft Benson

“The Apostle Paul also saw our day. He described it as a time when such things as blasphemy, dishonesty, cruelty, unnatural affection, pride, and pleasure seeking would abound. (See 2 Tim. 3:1–7.) He also warned that ‘evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.’ (2 Tim 3:13.)

“Such grim predictions by prophets of old would be cause for great fear and discouragement if those same prophets had not, at the same time, offered the solution. In their inspired counsel we can find the answer to the spiritual crises of our age.

“In his dream, Lehi saw an iron rod which led through the mists of darkness. He saw that if people would hold fast to that rod, they could avoid the rivers of filthiness, stay away from the forbidden paths, stop from wandering in the strange roads that lead to destruction.” (“The Power of the Word,” Ensign, May 1986, 79-80)

Ezra Taft Benson

“Paul’s message is the same as Lehi’s. After portraying the terrible wickedness of future times—future to him, but present to us!—he said this to Timothy: ‘

‘But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned…

From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation.’ (2 Tim. 3:14–15; italics added.)

“My dear brethren, this is an answer to the great challenge of our time. The word of God, as found in the scriptures, in the words of living prophets, and in personal revelation, has the power to fortify the Saints and arm them with the Spirit so they can resist evil, hold fast to the good, and find joy in this life.” (“The Power of the Word,” Ensign, May 1986, 80)

Ezra Taft Benson

“Immerse yourselves in the scriptures. Search them diligently. Feast upon the words of Christ. Learn the doctrine. Master the principles that are found therein. There are few other efforts that will bring greater dividends to your calling. There are few other ways to gain greater inspirations as you serve.” (“The Power of the Word,” Ensign 16 (May 1986): 81.)

Spencer W. Kimball

“Besides the almost constant encouragement and promptings which we receive from our present-day leaders, the prophets of old seem to cry out to us in almost every page of the scriptures, urging us to study the word of the Lord, the holy scriptures, ‘which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.’ (2 Tim. 3:15.) But we do not always hear, and we might well ask ourselves why.

“Sometimes it seems we take the scriptures too much for granted because we do not fully appreciate how rare a thing it is to possess them, and how blessed we are because we do have them. We seem to have settled so comfortably into our experiences in this world and become so accustomed to hearing the gospel taught among us that it is hard for us to imagine it could ever have been otherwise.

“But we need to understand that it has only been 165 years since the world emerged from the long night of spiritual darkness that we call the Great Apostasy. We need to sense something of the depth of the spiritual darkness that prevailed before that day in the spring of 1820 when the Father and the Son appeared to Joseph Smith—a darkness which was foreseen by the prophet Nephi and described as ‘that awful state of blindness’ in which the gospel was withheld from man. (See 1 Ne. 13:32.)” (“How Rare a Possession—The Scriptures,” Ensign, July 1985, 3)

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2 Timothy 4:3 after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears

Itching ears are ears which long to hear that which is pleasing to ‘the carnal mind’ (Alma 30:53). The terrible itching can only be soothed with the salve of doctrinal flattery spoken of in the Book of Mormon (Jacob 7:4). Samuel the Lamanite described this phenomenon among the people of Zarahemla saying, ‘ behold, if a man shall come among you and shall say: Do this, and there is no iniquity; do that and ye shall not suffer; yea, he will say: Walk after the pride of your own hearts; yea, walk after the pride of your eyes, and do whatsoever your heart desireth—and if a man shall come among you and say this, ye will receive him, and say that he is a prophet…because he speaketh flattering words unto you, and he saith that all is well’ (Hel. 13:27-28).

George A. Smith

“These false teachers have a strong hold on the minds of the people; the rulers bear rule by their means, and most of the people love to have it so. If anybody comes to change this order of things, almost every man is up in arms against him. They are so perfectly organized that it takes but a few devils to keep them in subjection.

“This makes me think of an old Chinese fable. A man travelling through the country came to a large city, very rich and splendid; he looked at it and said to his guide, ‘This must be a very righteous people, for I can only see but one little devil in this great city.’

“The guide replied, ‘You do not understand, sir. This city is so perfectly given up to wickedness, corruption, degradation, and abomination of every kind, that it requires but one devil to keep them all in subjection.’” (Journal of Discourses, 26 vols. [London: Latter-day Saints' Book Depot, 1854-1886], 5: 363.)

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2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith

Elder Alma Sonne

“I think of Paul, the apostle. We are told he was a little man, like the soldier boy, but intellectually he was a giant. He towered head and shoulders above his fellows. He shook the very foundations of skepticism and complacency in the cities and provinces which he visited. He carried light and truth to a heathen people. He appeared on the scene fourteen or fifteen years after the crucifixion of the Savior. The unbelievers and the cynics found it very difficult to dispose of him. He had no ulterior motives. He laid his worldly treasures and his earthly ambitions on the altar for the gospel's sake, as he put it.

“His penetrating testimony has baffled his foes, past and present. It is reverberating throughout the world and is rankling in the souls of those who deny and will not believe in the true and living God. Finally, he stood before the bar of Nero, a blood-thirsty tyrant who had murdered his own mother, his wives, and his best benefactors. The scene illustrates the irony of human life. On the judgment seat sat the wickedest man in a wicked world. Before him stood the prisoner Paul, the servant of God, probably the best man the world contained. The execution was ordered and carried out, but how empty, after all, was the victory.

“Paul still lives in the hearts of millions. His light still shines. His letters and admonitions are still read. They are the very heart and center of the Christian faith. His valedictory, my friends, is magnificent:

‘I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness . . .’ (2 Tim. 4:7-8)

“That is not the strain of the vanquished. It is a triumphant shout of victory. Paul lives. His testimony lives, and the light which emanated from him and from God is still shining in the world.”

Marvin J. Ashton

“Greatness is best measured by how well an individual responds to the happenings in life that appear to be totally unfair, unreasonable, and undeserved. Sometimes we are inclined to put up with a situation rather than endure. To endure is to bear up under, to stand firm against, to suffer without yielding, to continue to be, or to exhibit the state or power of lasting.

“Day by day we can make the effort to gain the power to last and to suffer without yielding. Inspiration and motivation are found in many places…I pray that God will help us to endure well, with purpose and power. When we so do, the meaningful declaration in "2 Timothy 4:7 will take on a new dimension:

’I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.’

“When heartaches, tragedies, disappointments, injury, unusual attention, fame, or excessive prosperity become part of our lives, our challenges and responsibilities will be to endure them well. God will assist us in our quest to conquer, triumph, and continue if we humbly rededicate ourselves to the meaningful declaration ‘We have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things.’ (Articles of Faith 1:13.)” (Be of Good Cheer [salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1987], 22.)

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Titus Historical Background

“Sent from: Paul, possibly in or near Greece.

Sent to: Titus, directing the Church in Crete.

Date: Probably between A.D. 63 and 66.

“Titus was an early convert from the Greek world who became a trusted associate in Paul's missionary work and direction of the Church…

“Out of many inevitable conflicts over the gospel, Titus's trial at the Jerusalem Council stood out. Jewish brethren teaching circumcision insisted that Titus become a full Jewish proselyte in addition to becoming a Christian. But Paul would not even consider such a compromise for a Gentile (Gal. 2:3), and Titus was not ‘compelled to be circumcised’ (Gal. 2:3). Further presiding or missionary assignments surely followed, though there is no record of such service. But Titus emerges as a seasoned assistant in disciplining the Corinthian branch of the Church. The story is found here and there in 2 Corinthians. Paul had expected to meet Titus to hear his report in Asia Minor (2 Cor. 2:12-13) but crossed to Northern Greece, where his fears were replaced with the comforting news that the branch as a whole had repented (2 Cor. 7:7). Titus obviously had done his work with courage and capacity, but Paul goes further to show another critical ingredient in his success—his love for the people that he sought to help. ‘And his heart goes out all the more to you, as he remembers the obedience of you all, and the fear and trembling with which you received him’ (2 Cor. 7:15,). Paul says literally that Titus was not covetous toward the Corinthians—that he sincerely worked for their interests and not his own (2 Cor. 12:18).

“…The opening chapter of Titus shows that confused conditions in Crete demanded strong leadership and that Paul had complete confidence that Titus would measure up to the task. Some five years earlier, Titus had well earned Paul's solid description of him as ‘my partner and fellow worker’ ("2 Cor. 8:23).” (Richard Lloyd Anderson, Understanding Paul [salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1983], 341-342.)

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Titus 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete

“After many years of Titus's proving and growing, Paul assigned him to direct the work in the branches on the large island of Crete. His choice obviously rested on Titus's faithful experience but no less on the ‘earnest care’ for the Saints that continued in ‘the heart of Titus’ ("2 Cor. 8:16). The opening chapter of Titus shows that confused conditions in Crete demanded strong leadership and that Paul had complete confidence that Titus would measure up to the task…

“On his Roman voyage Paul inched around the eastern point of Crete and sailed slowly past the high cliffs of the southern side of that long island (Acts 27:7-8). While debating about whether to winter there, he no doubt learned more about Crete and its people. The decision was made to put in to a harbor in Crete protected from winter gales, but sudden winds overruled and forcibly sped the apostle west to shipwreck at Malta (Acts 27:12-15). But after Roman release, he evidently revisited Crete. He ‘left’ Titus in Crete ‘that you might straighten out what was left unfinished’ ("Titus 1:5), which opens a clear possibility that Paul first labored with Titus there and built up Church membership but not the full Church organization. Missionary work there would resemble that in Greece, inasmuch as early migrations to Crete had established cities with the same proud traditions of the mainland. Moreover, there were Jewish groups in the major centers of the island…

“When Titus was assigned to ‘set in order’ or ‘straighten out’ Church affairs, a great part of his job was to choose strong bishops or presiding elders: ‘Appoint elders in every city as I commanded you’ ("Titus 1:5). The Church had been in Crete long enough to have branches in many cities, but it was under attack of the ‘gainsayers,’ an archaic King James term meaning literally those ‘speaking against’ or ‘opposing.’ They were so combative that Paul said not to continue to debate with them—‘after the first and second admonition’ they were to be ignored ("Titus 3:10). In this verse the opposer is a ‘heretic,’ which word ties to the ‘heresies’ Paul opposed in the Corinthian and Galatian branches (1 Cor. 11:19; Gal. 5:20). All these words adapt the Greek for ‘divisions,’ and Paul used ‘heretic’ in that exact sense of a believer causing factions within the faith. At the end of Paul's life these reorganized Christians were everywhere. In Crete there were ‘many unruly’ (Titus 1:10) or ‘many insubordinate’ ("Titus 1:10), the latter translation exactly mirroring the Greek. The apostates would not stay in the ranks or submit to authority. In 1 Timothy such conditions were rampant around Ephesus as Paul directed Timothy to take vigorous measures to defend the faith. An island might be thought to be immune to such trends, but identical conditions in both places show that apostasy was the major problem everywhere at the end of Paul's life. So he wrote Titus not merely to have bishops appointed but to ensure that men would be called who would face the cross fire of the most dangerous enemies of the apostles—the rebels against their teaching and authority.

“Priesthood organization is clearly behind the letter to Titus, though not as obviously as in 1 Timothy. Direction by the general authority is evident in Paul's assignment of Titus to Crete, and regional authority is evident in Titus's appointment of the elders to direct congregations as bishops.” (Richard Lloyd Anderson, Understanding Paul [salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1983], 344 - 345.)

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Titus 2:14 that he might… purify unto himself a peculiar people

Russell M. Nelson

I looked [peculiar] up in a modern dictionary. It is currently defined as “unusual” or “eccentric”; “strange,” “queer,” “odd”; “standing apart from others”; “exclusive” or “unique.” But the term peculiar as used in the scriptures means something quite different. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew term from which peculiar was translated is cgullah, which means “valued property,” or “treasure.” In the New Testament, the Greek term from which peculiar was translated is peripoiesis, which means “possession,” or “an obtaining.”

With that understanding, we can see that the scriptural term peculiar does not mean “queer” or “odd” at all. It signifies “valued treasure,” “made” or “selected by God.” Thus, for us to be identified by servants of the Lord as his peculiar people is a compliment of the highest order. (“A More Excellent Hope,” Ensign, Feb. 1997, 62–63)

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Titus 3:9 avoid foolish questions… and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain

Dean L. Larsen

Jacob speaks of people who placed themselves in serious jeopardy in spiritual things because they were unwilling to accept simple, basic principles of truth. They entertained and intrigued themselves with “things that they could not understand” (Jacob 4:14). They were apparently afflicted with a pseudosophistication and a snobbishness that gave them a false sense of superiority over those who came among them with the Lord’s words of plainness. They went beyond the mark of wisdom and prudence, and obviously failed to stay within the circle of fundamental gospel truths, which provide a basis for faith. They must have reveled in speculative and theoretical matters that obscured for them the fundamental spiritual truths. As they became infatuated by these “things that they could not understand,” their comprehension of and faith in the redeeming role of a true Messiah was lost, and the purpose of life became confused. A study of Israel’s history will confirm Jacob’s allegations.

It seems to me that every generation faces its challenges with “looking beyond the mark.” The Apostle Paul worried about those whom he had helped to develop a testimony of Jesus Christ. Paul advised Titus to “avoid foolish questions … and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain” (Titus 3:9). (“Looking beyond the Mark,” Ensign, Nov. 1987, 11)

Dallin H. Oaks

At some time or another, most Latter-day Saints have been involved in an argument over a gospel subject. But, as Professor Richard Lloyd Anderson has said, “Argument is a poor tool for discovering truth because it defends a narrow position but usually lacks breadth. Anyone can make a 'case' for or against anything.”

Argument is never an appropriate way to resolve differences about the content or application of gospel principles. It is Satan who stirs up the hearts of people to contend over points of doctrine. (D&C 10:63.) Elder Russell M. Nelson has taught, “Divine doctrine of the Church is the prime target of attack by the spiritually contentious. . . . Dissecting doctrine in a controversial way in order to draw attention to oneself is not pleasing to the Lord.” (The Lord's Way [salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1991], 148.)

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Hebrews Introduction

“Sent from: Paul, in Italy and probably at Rome.

Sent to: ‘The Hebrews,’ possibly those who helped Paul in the Judean imprisonment.

Date: Possibly A. D. 62.

Purpose: To warn Jewish Christians against falling from the faith and to reconvince them that Christ and his gospel are above the law of Moses.

Main themes: Christ's authority and mission; faithfulness and first principles; Melchizedek priesthood; Christ's atonement; faith and endurance.

Background: Reason for Writing

“…Who were these Jews who first read this letter? The answer must come from the letter itself, since no information on the circumstances of writing is in Acts or early Christian sources…Like the Corinthians, the Hebrews had to go back and relearn the ‘first principles’ at a time when their gospel growth should have been advanced (Heb. 5:12-14). They were ‘dull of hearing’ (Heb. 5:11), which shows that Paul had particular information that worried him. What were their problems? One was living the gospel, a problem common to most branches of the Church in the letters. But the long arguments of reconversion center around Jewish ritual. The Hebrews overstressed the Levitical priesthood that operated the temple and the daily sacrifices that were superseded by Christ's great sacrifice. Chapters 7 through 10 are written for Jews who did not believe that Christ's coming outdated temple sacrifice. After the third journey Paul returned to Jerusalem and shared in temple sacrifice to show that he respected his Hebrew heritage (Acts 20). But it was another thing to believe that sacrifices were part of Christ's gospel, the Jewish heresy that this book combats.” (Richard Lloyd Anderson, Understanding Paul [salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1983], 195 - 196.)

Bruce R. McConkie

“Paul is at his theological best in Hebrews…as an inspired theologian, Paul takes the revelations of the past, the dead letter of the ancient law, and ties it into the living Christianity of the present. He shows how the gospel grew out of the preparatory law which prevailed in Israel and which in fact had as its purpose the preparing of the way before the coming of that Prophet who led Israel of old and was the Author of both covenants.

“…In Hebrews we learn that Jesus was made a little lower than Elohim; that he has precedence over the angels; that he took upon himself mortality to bring salvation to man.

“In Hebrews our understanding is refreshed with the knowledge that salvation is available through his intercession; that he sacrificed himself for the sins of the world; that by his blood the saints are sanctified.

“In it we are taught that the Mosaic ordinances prefigured his ministry; that his gospel was offered to ancient Israel; that he is the Mediator of the new covenant.

“There is no other Biblical source for detailed knowledge of the Holy Priesthood; of Christ's status as the great High Priest and the Apostle of our profession; of the oath which God swore that his Son would be a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

“And nowhere else in the Bible do we find the oath and covenant of the priesthood set forth; or that through this priesthood the gospel is administered; or that it is the power whereby eternal life is gained.” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1965-1973], 3: 133-135.)

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Hebrews 1:2 by whom also he made the worlds

Neal A. Maxwell

“John and Paul tell us that before His mortal ministry, Jesus was the Creator of this and other worlds. (See John 1:3, 10; Eph. 3:9; Heb. 1:2.) …It is interesting that some sincere Christians do not think of Christ in those, perhaps galactic, terms, thus ignoring this dimension of Jesus’ divinity.” (“The New Testament—A Matchless Portrait of the Savior,” Ensign, Dec. 1986, 22)

Bruce R. McConkie

“We are blessed with the knowledge that ours is not the only inhabited earth. Rather, Christ acting under the direction of the Father is the Creator of worlds without number. Moses was permitted to see many of these earths, to learn that they are inhabited by the spirit children of the Father, and to receive the revelation that it is the Lord's work and glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of the inhabitants of all these earths. (Moses 1:27-41; D. & C. 76:22-24; John 1:1-5; Heb. 1:1-4; Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, pp. 72-74.)” (Mormon Doctrine, 2d ed. [salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966], 212.)

Neal A. Maxwell

“The Restoration gives us few details concerning the universe, of course, but from what we are given we know that we are not alone, and that we are in the midst of meaning and of unfolding, divine purposes.

“Though understandably desiring to know more, we do not presently possess the capacity to absorb more. Nor do we have an adequate ‘security clearance.’ This was the case with Moses: ‘But only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you. For behold, there are many worlds that have passed away by the word of my power. And there are many that now stand, and innumerable are they unto man; but all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them.’ (Moses 1:35.)

“Physicist Paul Horowitz of Harvard University is paraphrased as saying that ‘if the recent discovery of a planet circling a nearby star is a normal, mundane consequence of the ordinary star-making process, it is likely that millions of stars within our own Milky Way galaxy have Earthlike planets.’ Enoch, we remember, in speaking of God's creations, mentioned ‘millions of earths like this’ (Moses 7:30).” (If Thou Endure It Well [salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1996], 81.)

Neal A. Maxwell

“’Worlds without number’ have been created (Moses 1:33; see also John 1:3; Heb. 1:2; Heb. 22:3; D&C 93:10). These gospel truths are very significant assurances for us, situated as we are on this tiny ‘speck of sand’ at the outer edge of a minor galaxy, the Milky Way. Without the gospel's fulness, we would appear to be living during one tick of the geological clock and in the midst of unexplained vastness.

“Nevertheless…a universal God is actually involved with our small, individual universes of experience! In the midst of His vast dominions, yet He numbers us, knows us, and loves us perfectly (see Moses 1:35; John 10:14).” (Ensign, November 1987, p. 30.)

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Hebrews 2:6 What is man, that thou art mindful of him?

Boyd K. Packer

“There is a question in both the Old and the New Testaments: ‘What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?’ (Psalm 8:4; see also Hebrews 2:5-7.) The answer is taught most simply in the song we sang together at the intermission of the meeting:

I am a child of God,

And he has sent me here,

Has given me an earthly home

With parents kind and dear.

I am a child of God,

Rich blessings are in store;

If I but learn to do his will

I'll live with him once more.

-Hymns, no. 301

“Those lyrics teach a basic doctrine of the Church. We are the children of God. That doctrine is not hidden away in an obscure verse. It is taught over and over again in scripture. These clear examples are from the Bible: ‘All of you are children of the most High’ (Psalm 82:6), and ‘We are the offspring of God’ (Acts 17:29).” (Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled [salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1991], 288.)