The Jewish roots of Christianity

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Bible teaching with an emphasis on Israel, prophecy and the Jewish roots of Christianity

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Episode: “Final Steps and Farewell Letters to Titus and Timothy”
Jeff and Sandra examine the writings of Paul.
Series: “In The Footsteps of The Rabbi From Tarsus”
In this twelve-part TV series, Dr. Jeffrey Seif sheds light on the Apostle Paul, his movements, and his message. After examining Paul’s travels throughout the Roman Empire, Jeff analyzes Paul’s divinely inspired letters to early Church congregations, preserved in the New Testament.

Note: A newer version of this series is available.

Caption transcript for In The Footsteps of The Rabbi From Tarsus: “Final Steps and Farewell Letters to Titus and Timothy” (12/12)

  • 00:03 WITH DR. JEFFERY SEIF AND SANDRA LEVITT
  • 01:00 AND AGAIN, A HEARTY SHALOM TO ALL OF YOU.
  • 01:03 JEFFERY SEIF HERE WITH MY FRIEND SANDRA LEVITT.
  • 01:06 SHALOM AND WELCOME, I'M SORRY TO SAY
  • 01:08 IT IS THE LAST PROGRAM IN THIS SERIES.
  • 01:10 I'VE REALLY HAD A GOOD TIME WITH THIS PROGRAM.
  • 01:11 IT'S A 12 PART SERIES,
  • 01:12 THE EQUIVALENT IN TIME OF 3 FULL LENGTH MOTION PICTURES.
  • 01:17 BUT SO MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT PAUL.
  • 01:19 WE WENT EVERYWHERE.
  • 01:21 EPHESUS, TURKEY, ROME, WE WENT GREECE, WE WENT EVERYWHERE.
  • 01:26 WE WALKED IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF PAUL.
  • 01:28 THAT'S RIGHT, WE'RE NOT 20TH CENTURY FOX,
  • 01:31 BUT WE WENT BACK 2O CENTURIES.
  • 01:33 AND THEREIN WE EXAMINE PAUL.
  • 01:36 AND HUMBLING.
  • 01:37 IT WAS HUMBLING FOR ME TO THINK
  • 01:39 THE HARDSHIPS THAT PAUL WENT THROUGH, IT WAS HUMBLING.
  • 01:42 IT REALLY HELPED MY BELIEFS AND MY...
  • 01:46 IT JUST HELPED ME BE A STRONGER CHRISTIAN.
  • 01:48 IT REMINDS US THAT IT'S NOT AN EASY JOURNEY.
  • 01:50 NO, IT'S NOT.
  • 01:51 SOME PREACHERS GET IN TROUBLE
  • 01:53 AND THEY'RE PRONE TO DO IT PARTICULARLY ON TV WANTING TO ACCENTUATE HOW EASY...
  • 01:57 BUT THAT'S JUST NOT THE WAY LIFE IS.
  • 01:59 IT WASN'T THE LIFE OF THE RABBI FROM TARSUS.
  • 02:00 ABSOLUTELY NOT.
  • 02:02 LET'S GO TO JEFF NOW ON LOCATION, IN ROME, TEACHING.
  • 02:07 [ROOSTER CROWING]
  • 02:10 I'M HEARING ROOSTERS CROWING AROUND ME, BIRDS CHIRPING.
  • 02:14 THOSE AREN'T SOUND EFFECTS
  • 02:17 JUST PUT IN THERE FOR EFFECT IT'S THE REAL STUFF.
  • 02:20 WALKING ON A ROAD HERE THIS IS THE REAL STUFF TOO.
  • 02:24 THIS IS ROAD THAT WAS LAID BY THE ROMANS HUNDREDS OF YEARS BEFORE CHRIST.
  • 02:30 LET ME JUST SAY THAT PAUL WOULD'VE TRAVERSED THESE ROADS.
  • 02:33 AND AS WE WALK IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE RABBI FROM TARSUS, IT'S WORTH CONSIDERING
  • 02:38 THAT ONE OF THE REASONS WHY HE WAS ABLE TO GET AROUND
  • 02:40 WAS BECAUSE THE ROMANS HAD DEVELOPED INTERSTATE HIGHWAY TO MAKE THEIR WAY ABOUT.
  • 02:46 THE ROMANS GAVE US ROADS, THE ROMANS GAVE US COMMON LANGUAGE,
  • 02:51 THE ROMANS GAVE US SENSE OF CITIZENSHIP WHERE PEOPLE COULD MOVE ABOUT UNOBSTRUCTED
  • 02:55 PROVIDED THEY HAD THE RIGHT AFFILIATION.
  • 02:59 PAUL WAS A ROMAN CITIZEN, HE COULD MOVE AND HE WAS A MAN ON THE MOVE.
  • 03:02 IN FACT WE'RE CONSIDERING PAUL RIGHT NOW AS HE'S FINISHING UP HIS MOVEMENTS.
  • 03:08 AND THIS PARTICULAR SEGMENT BELONGS TO A SERIES
  • 03:11 THAT'S BEEN CONSIDERING THE PARCHMENTS AND THE MOVEMENTS,
  • 03:16 WHAT THE MAN SAID AND WHERE HE WENT,
  • 03:20 AND WHERE HE'S GOING AS HE WRITES RIGHT NOW.
  • 03:22 PAUL SAYS AT THE END OF TITUS THAT HE'S MAKING HIS WAY TO NICOPOLIS.
  • 03:27 HE ISN'T QUITE THERE YET APPARENTLY, BUT HE'S ON ROUTE.
  • 03:30 AND HE WRITES TO AN ASSOCIATE, SOMEONE HE WAS MENTORING NAMED TITUS.
  • 03:35 PAUL SAYS LISTEN, RELATIVE TO THIS WORK ON CRETE I WANT YOU TO ESTABLISH ELDERS
  • 03:41 AND GET THINGS FIXED THERE.
  • 03:43 NOW WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY RECORD IN THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
  • 03:49 OF PAUL ACTUALLY MINISTERING ON CRETE, HE GOES THERE IN PASSING,
  • 03:53 BUT HE'S NOT THERE LONG ENOUGH TO ESTABLISH ANY CHURCHES.
  • 03:56 SO OBVIOUSLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IN THE TITUS DOCUMENT,
  • 04:00 WE'RE LOOKING AT LITERATURE THAT BELONGS LATER.
  • 04:03 APPARENTLY IN ACTS PAUL MAKES HIS WAY.
  • 04:06 HE'S ESCORTED REALLY BY A CENTURION TO ROME.
  • 04:09 HE'S BEEN ARRESTED IN JERUSALEM, HE'S BEEN WAYLAID IN CAESAREA AND FINALLY AFTER YEARS,
  • 04:14 HE'S GOING TO MAKE HIS WAY TO ROME AT HIS OWN BIDDING WANTING TO APPEAL TO CAESAR.
  • 04:19 WELL HE GOES THERE AND HE SPENDS SOME TIME ARRESTED THERE,
  • 04:22 BUT ARGUABLY HE GET'S OUT, ONLY TO LATER OWN BE MOVING ABOUT
  • 04:27 STILL IN CONTINUING ON HIS JOURNEYS AND FINALLY GETTING ARRESTED
  • 04:30 AND HE'S NOT EXECRATED FROM HIS PROBLEMS THERE, FINALLY HE'S EXECUTED.
  • 04:34 WELL HERE PAUL IS ON HIS WAY TO NICOPOLIS AND HE WRITES TITUS.
  • 04:39 AND IT'S WORTH CONSIDERING WHAT HE HAS TO SAY TO TITUS,
  • 04:42 CAUSE IT GIVES US A WINDOW INTO THE OLDER PAUL.
  • 04:46 THE YOUNGER PAUL WAS YOUNGER.
  • 04:50 I MEAN WE CATCH THE MAN IN MID LIFE AND BEYOND TO BE SURE,
  • 04:53 BUT EARLIER ON IN HIS APOSTOLIC CARRIER HE'S FIESTY, THE END OF THE WORLD,
  • 05:00 BLAZING NEW TRAILS, STIRRING IT UP AS HE GOES,
  • 05:03 BUT AS PAUL AGES, AS HE'S FINISHING UP HIS MINISTRY.
  • 05:07 IN ADDITION TO LOOKING TO BREAK NEW GROUND,
  • 05:10 WHAT HE'S TRYING TO DO IS SOLIDIFY SOME OF THE GAINS THAT HE'S ALREADY ESTABLISHED.
  • 05:14 CHURCHES HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED ROUND ABOUT AND IT'S A QUESTION OF BRINGING SOME ORDER
  • 05:18 AND STABILITY TO THESE EXISTING CONGREGATIONS.
  • 05:21 AND THIS SEEMS TO BE THE ORDER OF THE DAY PARTICULARLY AS HE WRITES TITUS
  • 05:25 AND HE'S SO VERY MUCH CONCERNED WITH THINGS BEING STEADY AND RIGHT.
  • 05:31 AND WE'LL LOOK AT TITUS IN A MOMENT.
  • 05:33 WE'LL SEE THAT PAUL IS GOING TO DEAL WITH LEADERSHIP
  • 05:36 AND HERE AGAIN THE RABBI FROM TARSUS WILL BE DRAWING UPON JEWISH INSIGHTS
  • 05:41 TO BRING STABILITY TO THESE COMMUNITIES.
  • 05:43 PAUL'S VERY MUCH CONCERNED WITH SOCIAL ORDER.
  • 05:45 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONSTITUENT PARTS OF THE BODY OF CHRIST,
  • 05:50 HOW WE'RE TO INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER PROPERLY,
  • 05:53 HOW WE ARE TO INTERACT WITH GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES.
  • 05:55 AND LET ME JUST SAY IN THAT REGARD,
  • 05:58 PAUL A CITIZEN OF ROME WAS PARTICULARLY MINDED TO ENCOURAGE THE CHURCH
  • 06:03 TO BE COMPLIANT WITH THE AUTHORITIES IN ROME.
  • 06:07 HIS MESSAGE WASN'T THIS FIERY, THE WORLD'S GONNA BE COLLAPSING, THE SKY'S FALLING,
  • 06:11 AND LET'S THROUGH OFF THE ROMANS AND LET'S BRING IN THE KINGDOM.
  • 06:17 HE BROUGHT IN THE KINGDOM ALRIGHT, HE ESTABLISHES COMMUNITIES OF LOVE AND FAITH.
  • 06:20 AND IN THOSE KINGDOMS HE ADVOCATED FOR COMPLIANCE TO THE AUTHORITIES.
  • 06:25 IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE HOW PAUL REGULATES CHURCH;
  • 06:28 HOW HE WANTS THINGS SET UP.
  • 06:29 AND WHEN WE LOOK AT TITUS, WE'RE GONNA SEE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AND MORE.
  • 06:41 AS I WALK ALONG THIS ANCIENT ROMAN ROAD, I COME HERE BY MY RIGHT HAND TO A MEMORIAL
  • 06:50 TO A FAMOUS ROMAN CITIZEN OF THE 1ST CENTURY B.C.
  • 06:57 IN MY LEFT HAND I HAVE A MEMORIAL TO ANOTHER FAMOUS ROMAN CITIZEN
  • 07:03 FROM THE 1ST CENTURY A.D.
  • 07:06 AND THAT CITIZEN IS PAUL.
  • 07:09 BEFORE PAUL WENT THE WAY OF ALL THE EARTH, HE WROTE A FEW LATE LETTERS.
  • 07:14 ONE OF WHICH WAS THE DOCUMENT TO TITUS THAT I WANNA CONSIDER WITH YOU.
  • 07:19 IF YOU'LL OPEN UP PLEASE TO CHAPTER 1, VERSE 5 HE SAYS:
  • 07:31 HE'S LOOKING FOR LEADERS.
  • 07:32 HE SAYS IN VERSE 6:
  • 07:36 DOESN'T MEAN PERFECT
  • 07:38 AS MUCH AS IT UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE OF SOMEONE WITH STERLING RESOLUTION.
  • 07:42 SOMEONE WHO CAN MANAGE HIS HOUSEHOLD WELL, PAUL SAYS,
  • 07:45 DOESN'T SEEM UNREASONABLE THAT IF A PERSON CAN'T MANAGE HIMSELF WELL OR HIS HOUSEHOLD WELL,
  • 07:51 IT RAISES QUESTIONS TO THE EXTENT
  • 07:53 TO WHICH HE CAN BE OF SERVICE TO OFFICIATING IN THE CHURCH OF GOD.
  • 07:57 PAUL GOES ON THEN TO UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE OF HIM HAVING A GOOD FAMILY.
  • 08:03 HERE HE TURNS TO THE LADY TO THE HOUSE.
  • 08:05 HERE HE SAYS THAT WOMEN DO WELL, IF THEY'RE SOBER AND REVERENT
  • 08:10 AND CHASED AND THEY POSSESS WITH THESE VARIOUS GOOD SKILLS.
  • 08:14 HE SAYS IN VERSE 3:
  • 08:41 AS NOTED WE SEE THAT THE RABBI FROM TARSUS IS INTERESTED IN ESTABLISHING GOOD LIVING.
  • 08:46 FOR AS MUCH AS THE CHURCH IS GIVEN TO GIVING INSTRUCTIONS
  • 08:49 ABOUT GETTING INTO THE NEXT LIFE,
  • 08:50 IT SEEMS THAT PAUL WAS GIVEN TO GIVING INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO LIVE THIS ONE.
  • 08:56 I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT AS WE WALK IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE RABBI FROM TARSUS,
  • 09:01 WE UNDERSTAND THAT HERE'S SOMEONE WHO'S A RABBI WHO'S GIVING INSTRUCTION
  • 09:06 FOR THE LIVING OF LIFE AND HE WANTS TO ESTABLISH COMMUNITIES
  • 09:09 WHERE PEOPLE CAN BE RAISED UP TO MATURITY.
  • 09:13 AND THAT IS WITH THE OLDER MEN, THE YOUNGER MEN.
  • 09:16 THE OLDER MEN SERVE THE YOUNGER MEN, THE OLDER WOMEN SERVE THE YOUNGER WOMEN, ETC...
  • 09:21 HE GOES ON TO SAY IN VERSE 11 THAT:
  • 09:38 AGAIN LET ME UNDERSCORE THAT THE RABBI FROM TARSUS WAS VERY WORLDLY IN THE SENSE,
  • 09:44 HE WAS CONCERNED WITH PEOPLE LIVING RIGHT IN THIS AGE,
  • 09:49 NOT JUST EXPLAINING THE RIGHT OF PASSAGE TO THE WORLD TO COME.
  • 09:54 AND AS A RABBI, HE WAS PRACTICAL
  • 09:56 CAUSE HE WAS INTERESTED IN HIS CONSTITUENTS HAVING GOOD SUCCESS IN LIFE.
  • 10:01 WE WOULD DO WELL TO REMEMBER THAT GOD CARES ABOUT OUR LIFE.
  • 10:05 HE CAME TO GIVE US AN ABUNDANT LIFE AND A GOOD LIFE.
  • 10:09 AND WE SEE IN THE TITUS DOCUMENT THE RABBI FROM TARUS
  • 10:12 IS UNDERSCORING HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS.
  • 10:14 AND SO AS A RABBI DOES HE GIVES INSTRUCTIONS THAT WE ALL DO WELL TO PAY ATTENTION TOO.
  • 10:29 WE ARE FILMING ON THE APPIAN WAY.
  • 10:32 JEFF IS TEACHING ON THE APPIAN WAY
  • 10:33 AND WE'RE GETTING READY TO INTERVIEW DR. CRISTIANO PELLEGRINI.
  • 10:37 A WONDERFUL ITALIAN GUIDE.
  • 10:40 IN FACT JEFF EVERYWHERE WE WENT;
  • 10:42 IN GREECE, IN ITALY, EVERYWHERE WE WENT WE HAD GREAT GUIDES.
  • 10:46 WE WERE SO BLESSED.
  • 10:48 YEAH, AT THE RISK OF SOUNDING SELF SERVING AND SAYING IT,
  • 10:51 ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOVE TO DO IS
  • 10:53 GET EXPERTS THAT YOU CAN HEAR FROM
  • 10:55 AND IT DOESN'T JUST HAVE TO BE ME OR SANDRA
  • 10:58 THAT WE WANNA SERVE UP GOOD INFORMATION,
  • 11:00 BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED,
  • 11:02 NOT JUST PERSONALITIES AND THIS PROFESSOR IS 2ND TO NONE.
  • 11:05 BUT HE WAS A GUIDE.
  • 11:07 HE HAS A DOCTORATE, BUT WHAT HE DOES IS HE GUIDES GROUPS AND GUIDES INDIVIDUALS AROUND.
  • 11:12 AND WE WERE REALLY AND TRULY BLESSED TO HAVE DR. CRISTIANO PELLEGRINI.
  • 11:20 I'M WITH CRISTIANO AND WE'RE STANDING HERE AT THE APPIAN WAY,
  • 11:23 THE FAMOUS APPIAN WAY.
  • 11:24 EVERY BOOK, EVERY TRAVEL LOG I READ TALKS ABOUT THE APPIAN WAY.
  • 11:28 PAUL WOULD HAVE WALKED HERE IN ON THE APPIAN WAY. >>INDEED.
  • 11:32 YEAH, IT IS INTERESTING
  • 11:34 TO FIND OUT HOW THE FINDS AND THE DOCUMENTS
  • 11:37 PROVED THAT PAUL WHEN HE CAME TO ROME IN 61 A.D
  • 11:42 HE MET THE 1ST CHRISTIANS WHO SALUTE HIM.
  • 11:44 SALUTED HIM, I MEAN HE'S... >>AND THEN HE WANTED TO GREET..
  • 11:47 TO GIVE A BETTER GREETING TO HIM AND BRING HIM INTO TOWN.
  • 11:50 AND IF YOU CONSIDER THAT
  • 11:53 THIS FANTASTIC MAUSOLEUM HERE ON THE BACK:
  • 11:57 BACK TO THE 1ST HALF OF THE 1ST CENTURY BEFORE CHRIST.
  • 12:01 SO HE WOULD'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS MAUSOLEUM INTACT,
  • 12:03 NOT AS RUIN... >>JUST AS LIKE WE'RE LOOKING AT IT NOW,
  • 12:05 HE WOULD'VE SEEN THE SAME THING. >>YES, IT'S >>EXACTLY THE SAME.
  • 12:07 PLUS COBBLESTONES AND A PAGAN MAUSOLEUMS.
  • 12:09 SO THIS AREA THE APPIAN WAY IS SO MUCH IMPORTANT.
  • 12:13 WHY?
  • 12:14 BECAUSE OF, NOT ONLY FOR THE PAGAN MAUSOLEUMS,
  • 12:16 BUT ALSO WHAT LATER BECAME THE CHRISTIAN AREA, THE MAIN CHRISTIAN AREA,
  • 12:20 NOT THE...
  • 12:21 THE ONLY ONE EXISTED.
  • 12:23 WELL THE CHRISTIANS WERE BURIED IN THIS AREA, THE APPIAN WAY.
  • 12:25 AND WHY IS THIS?
  • 12:27 BECAUSE THIS WAS THE SO CALLED THE IN LATIN, THE ORIGIN,
  • 12:30 THE VIARUM, SO THE QUEEN OF THE ROMAN WORLDS.
  • 12:33 QUEEN OF THE ROMAN... ALL THE... >>ABSOLUTELY
  • 12:35 THE SAYING IS ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME, >>LEAD TO ROME, YEAH
  • 12:37 BUT THIS WAS THE MAIN ROAD GOING INTO ROME.
  • 12:40 PAUL WOULD'VE COME FROM THE PORT >>ABSOLUTELY
  • 12:41 AND WOULD'VE WALKED THIS WAY, HOW FAR FROM THE PORT TO ROME?
  • 12:44 WELL, THE BRINDISI WHERE THE APPIAN WAY ENDS UP
  • 12:49 IS EXACTLY MADE ON PURPOSE 365 ROMAN MILES.
  • 12:53 AND THE ROMANS HAD MILE MARKERS FOR EVERY SINGLE MILE.
  • 12:57 EVERY SINGLE MILE.
  • 12:59 THEN EVERY 5 STATIONS, SO EVERY 5 MILES THEY HAD A STATION AND THEN EVERY 15 ONE,
  • 13:03 EVERY 15 MILES THEY HAD A MANSION THAT'S OF COURSE WHERE THEY WERE EXCHANGING THE HORSES.
  • 13:08 AND THEN LIKE PATIENTS THEY CAN EXCHANGE
  • 13:11 AND THEY TAKE A REST,
  • 13:13 SO MOST OF THE POST SERVICE WAS GUARANTEED AND WAS VERY EFFICIENT.
  • 13:17 WHAT PAUL DIDN'T HE KNOW AT THE TIME?
  • 13:20 THEN THE ROADS OF ST. PAUL AS WELL ON THE APPIAN WAY DO YOU KNOW,
  • 13:26 WERE THE EXECUTION OF CHRISTIANS, RIGHT
  • 13:28 THAT IS NOT TRUE THAT SO MANY CHRISTIANS WERE KILLED IN A CAULOSEUM, THEY WERE KILLED...
  • 13:32 WELL AND EVERYTHING I'VE READ SAYS THAT NERO WOULD HAVE PUT TAR ON THE CHRISTIANS >>YEP!
  • 13:38 AND PUT THEM ON THE APPIAN WAY AND LIT THEM JUST FOR HIS AMUSEMENT,
  • 13:42 JUST FOR LIGHTS. >>YES.
  • 13:44 AND WE KNOW ABOUT THE CHRONICLES OF THE TIME,
  • 13:47 SO MANY WITNESS
  • 13:48 WITNESSES CAME HERE TO PROVE HOW THE CHRISTIANS WERE NOT ONLY CRUCIFIED,
  • 13:52 BUT ALSO IMPALED FOR KILOMETERS, >>IMPALED JUST...
  • 13:55 TODAY FOR KILOMETERS, IMPALED
  • 13:57 DURING THE TIME OF PERSECUTION.
  • 13:59 EXPENDABLE, THE CHRISTIANS WERE EXPENDABLE. >>EXPENDABLE EXACTLY.
  • 14:01 THEY WERE JUST NOTHING.
  • 14:03 AND OF COURSE HERE ON THE APPIAN WAY AND NOT IN THE MINOR STREET, IN THE MAIN ONE OF COURSE,
  • 14:06 THERE HAD TO BE AN EXAMPLE FOR THOSE WHO WERE
  • 14:08 TESTING THEIR FAITH, >>RIGHT
  • 14:10 CAUSE IT PROBABLY WAS DENY OR NOT DENY THE EMPEROR'S AUTHORITY.
  • 14:13 AND THIS IS THE MAIN ROAD.
  • 14:17 BUT THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE BELIEVERS. >>YEAH
  • 14:19 OUR FAITH IS TESTED EVERY SINGLE DAY. >>EVERY SINGLE DAY. EVERY SINGLE MOMENT
  • 14:22 CAN YOU IMAGINE BEING A BELIEVER IN THESE TIMES
  • 14:26 AND BEING MARTYRED THAT WAY?
  • 14:28 A PAGAN CITY, >>YES.
  • 14:30 THEY NEEDED THE MESSAGE OF MESSIAH.
  • 14:31 THEY NEEDED THE MESSAGE.
  • 14:40 ROME WAS A CITY THAT NEEDED TO HEAR THE MESSAGE OF SALVATION.
  • 14:45 JUST AS WE ALL DO AS UNBELIEVERS WE NEEDED TO HEAR THE MESSAGE OF SALVATION.
  • 14:49 WE'RE GONNA GO BACK TO LOCATION WITH JEFF TEACHING ABOUT 2ND TIMOTHY.
  • 14:53 ANOTHER LETTER WRITTEN BY PAUL TO TIMOTHY TO ENCOURAGE HIM,
  • 14:57 TO HELP HIM, TO BUILD HIM UP TO BE THE MAN OF GOD, THAT GOD WANTED HIM TO BE.
  • 15:02 HERE'S JEFF.
  • 15:05 IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT THE LONG ARM OF THE PEN REACHES BEYOND THE GRAVE.
  • 15:12 AND THE REASON WHY THAT IS BECAUSE IF SOMEONE COMMENDS THEIR THOUGHTS TO WRITING,
  • 15:17 THAT EVEN WHEN THAT PERSON DIES THEIR PERSONA LIVES ON IN THE NEXT GENERATION.
  • 15:25 THE REASON WHY I MENTIONED THAT IS THAT HERE THE RABBI FROM TARSUS
  • 15:29 IS PUTTING PEN TO PAPER TO WRITE AT THE RAGGED EDGE OF HIS OWN GRAVE.
  • 15:36 FROM A PRISON.
  • 15:38 NOW HE'S BEEN IMPRISONED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION
  • 15:41 AND TYPICALLY HE GIVES VOICE TO AN EXPECTATION OF A RELEASE, BUT HERE HE HAS NO SUCH EXPECTATION,
  • 15:47 BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT THE TIME OF HIS END HAS COME.
  • 15:53 RESIST IT THOUGH WE MAY I UNDERSTAND THAT
  • 15:56 AT SOMETIMES WE KNOW WHEN THIS REALLY IS THE SEASON WHEN IT'S TIME TO GIVE UP THE GHOST.
  • 16:02 WELL WHEN PAUL WRITES THIS LETTER TO 2ND TIMOTHY
  • 16:06 THIS IS WHERE HE IS AT IN LIFE AGAIN AT THE RAGGED EDGE OF LIFE.
  • 16:12 AND WHAT DOES HE SAY?
  • 16:13 HE INFORMS AS MUCH IN CHAPTER 4, VERSE 6, HE SAYS:
  • 16:34 THE IMAGERY IS STRIKING FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS
  • 16:38 AND AS I FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE RABBI FROM TARSUS OUT HERE IN THE GRECO ROMAN WORLD.
  • 16:46 I'M REMINDED OF HOW HIS IMAGERY RESONATES WITH GRECO ROMAN THEMES.
  • 16:53 WHEN PAUL SPEAKS OF FIGHTING THE FIGHT,
  • 16:55 REMEMBER PREVIOUSLY HE HAD SPOKE OF HIM NOT BOXING AIMLESSLY AT THE WIND.
  • 17:01 PREVIOUSLY HE WROTE:
  • 17:08 AGAIN HE USES THAT IMAGERY OF THE OLYMPICS.
  • 17:12 BEYOND THAT HERE HE SPEAKS OF RUNNING THE RACE.
  • 17:17 AGAIN GOING BACK TO A FAVORITE SPORT OF THE GREEKS AND THEN THE ROMANS.
  • 17:21 IT'S WHERE WE GET THE TERM TO RUN A MARATHON FROM AN ANCIENT GREEK RACE.
  • 17:27 AND HERE PAUL HAS GONE THE DISTANCE AND HE FINISHES WELL.
  • 17:33 ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE LEARNED WHEN IT COMES TO THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS THAT
  • 17:36 A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO BEGIN THE RACE, DON'T FINISH IT.
  • 17:40 BUT HERE PAUL HAS A STEADY AND STRONG FINISH AS HE CROSSES THE LINE.
  • 17:46 BUT BEFORE HE CROSSES, FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS HE BELONGS TO HUMANKIND
  • 17:52 AND THEN HE FADES AWAY AND BELONGS TO HISTORY,
  • 17:56 BUT BEFORE HE GOES HE WRITES TO SOMEONE HE KNOWS AND HE SHARES WITH HIM SOME THINGS
  • 18:00 THAT HE THINKS TO BE VERY, VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
  • 18:17 HIS BACK WAS AGAINST THE WALL, BUT HE WAS STILL MOVING FORWARD.
  • 18:21 WE READ IN 2ND TIMOTHY CHAPTER 2 THAT AS HE'S RIGHT UP AGAINST HIS OWN DEMISE,
  • 18:29 HE TELLS TIMOTHY HOW TO GET THE RISE, HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.
  • 18:33 AND LET'S LOOK PLEASE IN CHAPTER 2, SEE IF WE CAN GET TO THE ESSENCE OF WHAT HE'S ALL ABOUT.
  • 18:38 HE SAYS IN CHAPTER 2, VERSE 1 TO TIMOTHY:
  • 18:46 TIMOTHY DIDN'T HAVE A FATHER, OBVIOUSLY BIOLOGICALLY HE DID,
  • 18:49 BUT HE FADED AWAY SHORTLY THERE AFTER AND PAUL TOOK THE YOUNG FELLOW UNDER HIS WING.
  • 18:54 AND NOW WITH PAUL'S ABOUT TO GO TIMOTHY WOULD BE PARTICULARLY DISCONCERTED,
  • 18:59 BUT HE ENCOURAGED HIM TO BE STRONG DIFFICULTIES ASIDE.
  • 19:02 AND THEN HE GIVES A FEW ANALOGIES THAT I THINK ARE WORTHY OF COMMENDING.
  • 19:07 IT'S WHAT PAUL TOLD TIMOTHY AT THE END OF HIS DAYS IN PRISON AND WE DO WELL TO HEAR HIM.
  • 19:12 HE SAYS IN VERSE 4 THAT:
  • 19:22 ARGUABLY HE'S PLAYING AGAINST THE MYTHIC PERSONA
  • 19:27 THAT THE ROMAN INFANTRY MEN COMMENDED IN ANCIENT GRECO ROMAN CULTURE.
  • 19:34 THE GREEKS AND THE ROMANS BOTH PRIDED THEMSELVES WITH THEIR WARRIOR CLASS
  • 19:40 AND IN PAUL'S DAY THE ROMAN LEGIONNAIRE COMMANDED RESPECT ALL OVER THE MEDITERRANEAN.
  • 19:48 THEY CALLED IT MARE NOSTRUM IN LATIN, WHICH MEANS OUR SEA, BECAUSE THEY CONQUERED IT.
  • 19:53 AND THE ROMAN INFANTRY MEN KNEW ABOUT DISCIPLINE, FOCUS, NOT BREAKING RANK, NOT FEARING,
  • 20:01 BUT ENDEAVORING TO BE CALM, AND WORK TOGETHER WITH THE OTHER SOLDERS
  • 20:04 AND ABOVE ALL FOLLOW ORDERS AND NEVER EVER RETREAT.
  • 20:12 AS PAUL FINISHES HIS DAYS HE WRITES TIMOTHY TO NOT WINCE BACK IN THE FACE OF DIVERSITY.
  • 20:20 AND HE REMINDS HIM OF SOLDIERING.
  • 20:22 HE GOES ON TO SAY THAT NO ONE WHO COMPETES IN ATHLETICS WINS
  • 20:28 UNLESS THEY COMPETE ACCORDING TO THE RULES.
  • 20:32 AND HERE AGAIN THERE'S A STORY THAT IS PLAYED OUT
  • 20:35 AGAINST THE BACK DROP OF GRECO ROMAN CULTURE, WHERE INDIVIDUALS PRIZED ATHLETIC COMPETITION.
  • 20:43 WHEN COMPETING IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH JUST TO FIGHT,
  • 20:47 ONE MUST NEEDS PLAY IT OUT ACCORDING TO THE RULES.
  • 20:52 PAUL DOESN'T WANT TIMOTHY TO SHORT CHANGE HIMSELF OR HIS HEARERS,
  • 20:57 DISAPPOINT PAUL OR DISAPPOINT HIS SAVIOR.
  • 21:00 PLAY BY THE RULES TIMOTHY.
  • 21:02 THIRDLY, HE GOES ON TO GIVE AN ANALOGY,
  • 21:06 HE SAYS IT'S THE HARD WORKING FARMER WHO OUGHT TO GET THE 1ST SHARE OF THE CROP.
  • 21:13 PAUL WANTS TIMOTHY TO WORK HARD, TO KEEP HIS FOCUS,
  • 21:17 TO NOT LET HIS VERVE AND VITALITY TO DIMINISH AGAINST LIFE'S TROUBLES.
  • 21:23 AND AS PAUL'S LIFE IS RIGHT UP AGAINST THE EDGE HE REMINDS HIM IN KIND.
  • 21:28 I THINK IT'S FASCINATING TOO THAT PAUL SAYS,
  • 21:32 LISTEN IT'S THE HARD WORKING FARMER WHO GET'S PAID WELL.
  • 21:35 YOU KNOW PAUL HIMSELF, THIS RABBI FROM TARSUS DIDN'T STAY IN TARSUS.
  • 21:40 HE CAUGHT A VISION WHEN HE CAUGHT ONTO YESHUA,
  • 21:45 WITH THE NET RESULT THAT HE TURNED AROUND AND WENT BEYOND TARSUS
  • 21:48 TO POINTS NORTH AND WEST AND HE KEPT PUSHING AND PUSHING AND PUSHING THE BORDERS.
  • 21:55 AND NOW IT'S TIME TO GO, BUT BEFORE HE GOES HE SAYS TO TIMOTHY
  • 22:01 AND TO THE WORLD BY ASSOCIATION, I WANT YOU TO KNOW WHAT HE WANTED TIMOTHY TO KNOW,
  • 22:07 HE WANTS YOU TO KNOW AND ME TO KNOW THAT IS TO WORK HARD,
  • 22:10 TO BE TOUGH, TO KEEP THE FAITH, TO NOT GIVE IN.
  • 22:14 THIS IS THE LIFE AND THE MESSAGE OF THE RABBI FROM TARSUS.
  • 22:26 MUSIC
  • 23:27 10 TO 20 THOUSAND PEOPLE COME TO ROME PER DAY.
  • 23:31 THERE'S ROOM FOR YOU HERE, ISN'T THERE SANDRA?
  • 23:34 THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO SEE.
  • 23:36 IT'S ANOTHER PLACE WHERE WE CAN SEE OUR BIBLE COME ALIVE.
  • 23:39 THAT'S RIGHT, CAUSE WHEN PAUL WAS ALIVE, HE CAME HERE.
  • 23:42 WE VISIT HERE, GREECE
  • 23:45 AND THE HOLY LAND ITSELF, ISRAEL PROPER.
  • 23:47 YOU NEED TO BE WITH US.
  • 23:49 WE'D LOVE TO SHOW YOU GREECE, ISRAEL, AND ROME.
  • 23:51 JOIN US FOR A TRIP OF A LIFETIME.
  • 23:56 PAUL TALKS TO TIMOTHY AND TELLS HIM THAT HE ENDURES ALL THINGS
  • 24:00 FOR THE CHRIST AND THE SALVATION THAT CHRIST GIVES US.
  • 24:03 I WANT YOU TO TURN TO 2ND CORINTHIANS 11.
  • 24:06 AND I WANNA LOOK AT VERSES, A COUPLE OF VERSES 24 THROUGH AROUND 29.
  • 24:10 IT LISTS THE HARDSHIPS THAT PAUL WENT THROUGH.
  • 24:13 WE ALL HAVE HARDSHIPS IN OUR LIVES.
  • 24:15 IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT IT IS.
  • 24:17 PAUL'S MESSAGE IS STAY THE COURSE, ENDURE, CHRIST IS THE ANSWER.
  • 24:22 HE TALKS ABOUT THAT HE WAS:
  • 24:50 HE SUFFERED EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IN TODAY.
  • 24:53 NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN, JEFF.
  • 24:54 NOTHING
  • 24:55 NOW DURING THE BREAK WE WRESTLED WITH THAT A LITTLE.
  • 24:58 THERE'S SOMETHING HERE THAT REALLY RESONATES WITH YOU.
  • 25:00 IT DOES, IT'S BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE PROBLEMS, BUT PAUL TELLS US
  • 25:05 TO STAND STRONG.
  • 25:06 CHRIST IS THE ANSWER.
  • 25:08 SO WHEN YOU CONSIDER AS WE REFLECT UPON THIS WHOLE SERIES,
  • 25:12 WHAT'S STRIKING TO YOU
  • 25:13 IS THE KIND OF INTRANSIGENCE, THE BOLDNESS, THAT NOT GIVING UP THE ENTERPRISE,
  • 25:19 THE WAY HE STUCK WITH IT ALL. >>RIGHT.
  • 25:20 WELL AND I THINK ABOUT IT.
  • 25:22 I THINK ABOUT THE TRAVELING THAT YOU AND I DO.
  • 25:24 I GET SO TIRED OF THE TRAVELING.
  • 25:25 THE GETTING ON A DIFFERENT PLANE
  • 25:27 AND GETTING OFF A DIFFERENT PLANE.
  • 25:28 PAUL IS BEATEN, HE IS STONED, HE IS SHIPWRECKED.
  • 25:31 HIS PROBLEMS ARE...
  • 25:33 MINE ARE NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT PAUL WENT THROUGH
  • 25:36 AND HE WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO ENDURE THROUGH THE END.
  • 25:38 THAT'S ENCOURAGING TO ME AND VERY HUMBLING TO ME.
  • 25:42 YES AND I CAN SEE WHY.
  • 25:44 WELL WHEN WE GET INTO THE SCRIPTURES WE ALL WALK AWAY WITH SOMETHING.
  • 25:48 HOPEFULLY SOMETHING TO MAKE US BETTER.
  • 25:50 SOMETHING A LITTLE STRONGER.
  • 25:52 I WANNA THANK YOU FOR GOING ON THE JOURNEY WITH US.
  • 25:55 WE BEGAN BY LOOKING AT PAUL'S MOVEMENTS
  • 25:58 AS WE WALKED WITH HIM AROUND THE GRECO ROMAN WORLD IN THE 1ST CENTURY.
  • 26:03 HAVING DONE THAT THEN WE LOOKED AT PAUL'S TEACHINGS, BY ENTERING INTO HIS WORLD AND HIS WORD.
  • 26:11 AND WE WANTED TO EXPERIENCE A LITTLE OF WHAT HE HAD TO SAY AND WHAT HE MIGHT HAVE MENT BY IT.
  • 26:16 WE WANTED TO LOOK AT THE RABBI FROM TARSUS FROM A JEWISH PERSPECTIVE
  • 26:20 THINKING THAT WAS HIS PERSPECTIVE.
  • 26:22 A MESSIANIC JEWISH PERSPECTIVE.
  • 26:24 A JEWISH RABBI WHO WAS TURNED ON TO THE TRUTH OF JESUS.
  • 26:27 I WANNA THANK YOU FOR TURNING US ON AND I HOPE YOU'VE COME TO KNOW YESHUA,
  • 26:32 JESUS A LITTLE BETTER AS A RESULT OF YOUR SO DOING.
  • 26:35 AMEN.
  • 26:36 GOD BLESS YOU.
  • 26:37 GOD BLESS AMERICA.
  • 26:38 GOD BLESS ISRAEL.
  • 26:39 AND SHA'ALU SHALOM YERUSHALAYIM.
  • 26:41 PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM.

Episodes in this series

  1. First Steps Toward Christ
  2. First “Official” Ministry Journey
  3. Apostolic Ordination and Subsequent Missionary Journey
  4. Second and Third Missionary Journeys
  5. Arrest and Appeal to Rome for Trial
  6. Roman Imprisonment, Release, Travels, and Death
  7. Paul’s Earliest Writings: Galatians and 1 Thessalonians
  8. Follow-up to the Thessalonians, and 1 Corinthians
  9. Reconciliation with the Corinthians, and Roman Correspondence
  10. Letters to Philemon, the Colossians, and the Ephesians
  11. Letters to the Philippians and Timothy
  12. Final Steps and Farewell Letters to Titus and Timothy

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