Guarding "the Faith" (II Timothy 4:7)

(Class Notes)

• KEEPING (GUARDING) THE FAITH (II Timothy 4:7):
  • To KEEP (GUARD) "the UNITY of the SPIRIT" (Ephesians 4:3), i.e. to KEEP (GUARD) a 7-FOLD DOCTRINAL UNITY:
    • 1 - "ONE Body" (Ephesians 4:4 cf. Ephesians 2:14-16)
    • 2 - "ONE Spirit" (Ephesians 4:4 cf. I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 2:18)
    • 3 - "ONE Hope" (Ephesians 4:4 cf. II Thessalonians 2:14 ; Colossians 1:5; Colossians 3:1,4)
    • 4 - "ONE Lord" (Ephesians 4:5 cf. I Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:16-17)
    • 5 - "ONE Faith" (Ephesians 4:5 cf. I Timothy 3:9; Ephesians 3:3-6; Colossians 1:24-27)
    • 6 - "ONE Baptism" (Ephesians 4:5 cf. Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12)
    • 7 - "ONE Father" (Ephesians 4:6 cf. I Corinthians 8:6; I Corinthians 15:24,28; Ephesians 3:14-15)
  • Paul committed to Timothy - the KEEPING (GUARDING) of this DOCTRINAL DEPOSIT (II Timothy 1:12,14), i.e. the KEEPING (GUARDING) of "the FORM (PATTERN) of SOUND WORDS" (II Timothy 1:13)
  • Timothy, in turn, was to commit "the THINGS that thou hast HEARD ... to FAITHFUL men, who shall be able to TEACH others also" (II Timothy 2:2)
  • The KEEPING (GUARDING) of "the TESTIMONY of our Lord" received through "His PRISONER" (II Timothy 1:8 cf. Ephesians 3:1-2) would involve becoming "a PARTAKER of the AFFLICTIONS of the GOSPEL, according to the POWER of GOD" (II Timothy 1:8 cf. Philippians 3:10)

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