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"But you have carefully followed my doctrine..."

Text: 2 Timothy 3:10

A BOLD AND STRIKING ALTERNATIVE

The apostle Paul wrote what must be called a bold and striking alternative. After his critical analysis of the false brethren who had crept into the church, he had to offer his life for examination too. All his life Paul had not only sought to preach and teach about faith in God, he had to live out that faith. What he wrote in the following text was a reflection of his personal life.

“But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life,
purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions,
afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium,
at Lystra- what persecutions I endured. And out of them all
the Lord delivered me.”
2 Timothy 3:10-11

1. In order to do justice to what Paul had written

a) We would need to examine more carefully how this text was written.

b) We would need to look a little more deeply into each word Paul employed.

2. A special use of the Greek article

a) All the nouns in 2 Timothy 3:10-11 had an article attached to them,

b) The article was not translated at all in the English text (most unfortunately).

3. How would it read if we included the article?

a) The doctrine of mine

b) The manner of life

c) The purpose

d) The faith

e) The longsuffering

f) The love

g) The perseverance

h) The persecutions

i) The afflictions

4. What is the significance?

a) Paul sought to highlight these nouns.

b) He was offering his life as an example.

c) This was offered in clear contrast to that of the false brethren.