All Articles For II Timothy

“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothy 2:19 The future appeared dark for the church of God at the time of the writing of this last epistle of the apostle, Paul. Paul is nearing the end of his life—see 2 Tim. 2:12, 4:6, 7. He is in prison at Rome. As a veteran soldier who knows the reality of life he is concerned about Timothy, the first and youthful minister of the church at Ephesus....

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. II Timothy 2:19 There are times in the history of the church and in the personal lives of God’s people when all seems hopeless. Times of persecution. Times of upheaval. Times of weakness. Times when it appears that the devil has the upper hand. Times when we wonder if our feet are about to slip. Our encouragement in the midst of those times must be that the foundation of God...

That the man of God may be perfect, throughly fur­nished unto all good works. II Timothy 3:17 The apostle Paul instructs Timothy to con­tinue in the things that he had learned from his mother and grandmother. These godly women had, from Timothy’s childhood, taught him the Scriptures, which are able to make one wise unto salva­tion. They are able to make one wise unto salvation because they have been given by inspiration of God and thus are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correc­tion, and for instruction in righteousness. According to the passage we consider for this medi­tation, God’s purpose...

Mr. Wigger is an elder in the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Denominational Activities The Theological School of our churches opened its doors again this year on September 7 at Southwest PRC in Grandville, MI with its Seminary Convocation. Pray for our four professors and their important labors on behalf of our churches. The student body this year includes three special students, Mr. Mark Shand from the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Australia, Brisbane congregation, and Mr. Paul Goh and Rev. Lau Chin Kwee, both from the Evangelical Reformed Churches in Singapore. Besides these three, Mr. Angus Stewart, from the...

Prof. Dykstra is professor of Church History and New Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. At the end of 1533 the Anabaptist group at Munster in Westphalia, under the leadership of a former Lutheran minister Bernard Rothman, gained control of the city council. Early in 1534 a Dutch prophet and ex-innkeeper named John of Leyden appeared in Munster, believing that he was called to make the city the new Jerusalem. On 9 February 1534 his party seized city hall. By 2 March all who refused to be baptized were banished, and it was proclaimed a city of refuge for the...

Rev. Bruinsma is pastor of Kalamazoo Protestant Reformed Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The new millennium is almost upon us. Soon the 1900s will be no more. It will be the year 2000. It is natural that many in this past year have been reflecting on the old millennium and what has gone before. The world in which we live has changed dramatically as time has progressed. In just the last century man has advanced in knowledge a hundredfold! So much so, in fact, that unbelieving optimists contend that, given this rate of development, man in this new millennium will learn...

Prof. Decker is professor of Practical Theology in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. *Seminary Commencement, June 14, 2001, First Protestant Reformed Church, Grand Rapids. Graduate: Angus Stewart. Polemics may be defined as “the art or science of defending the truth which has as its object the refutation of errors.” Polemics is a bad word among the churches of these days. Toleration is the good word! We ought to tolerate differing views and doctrines because no one has a corner on the truth. Evangelicals can even get together with Roman Catholics. What is much worse is the fact that much of the...

June 16, 1992 Dear Friends in Christ: Last week the Synod of the Protestant Reformed Churches made some important decisions affecting our seminary. Synod approved “the schematic drawing of the proposed addition (with full basement) at an estimated cost of $439,880.” The ground for this decision is: “The plan adequately meets the needs for: the additional library space (bookshelves), a quiet study area for the students, and a separate study area for the professors who use the seminary as their place of work.” We might add that the planned addition also contains much needed storage space for the archives of...

Rev. Cammenga is pastor of Southwest Protestant Reformed Church in Grandville, Michigan. “As Christian discipline is of a spiritual nature, and exempts no one from civil trial or punishment by the authorities, so also besides civil punishment there is need of ecclesiastical censures, to reconcile the sinner with the church and his neighbor and to remove the offense out of the church of Christ.”  Church Order, Article 71. Introduction Article 71 introduces the fourth and last section of the Church Order. The section is entitled “Of Censure and Ecclesiastical Admonition.” The following overview of the articles in this section may...

Rev. Kleyn is pastor of First Protestant Reformed Church in Holland, Michigan. On our pilgrim journey through this life we face many hardships. Ours is not a prosperous, peaceful, and trouble-free life. From the cradle to the grave, we encounter countless and great struggles. Persecution is one of the main hardships we face. Because we are not of the world, we are hated for the sake of Jesus Christ. Christ Himself experienced this, and concerning it He said, “If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20). And again, “In the world ye shall have tribulation” (John...