More than A Collection of Books 8

Titus like 1^st and 2^nd Timothy is another pastoral epistle

This time highlighting godliness and good works,

Paul suggests there is a misapprehension of true grace

If the believer from godliness and good works would shirk.

Philemon is another book of just a single chapter

About the slave Onesimus who fled from his slave master,

Philemon was that master who was sought after by Paul

To receive Onesimus back since he was a brother after all.

Hebrews is an enthralling book about the faithful crew

But it starts out with Jesus the Son from the Father’s view,

Later on he’s shown to be a better priest that Aaron

And the initiator of a better covenant; not the old but the new.

James places great emphasis on the testing of one’s faith

Declaring a faith with out any works must be considered dead,

He talks about the tongue and wisdom: the true and the false

And gives an exhortation on patience as the way we should be led.

1^st Peter deals especially with suffering in the Christian’s life

Including slander, ridicule and the prospect of prison and death

Relationships between believers and others are highlighted

As well as the acceptance of the gospel by which we are blessed.

2^nd Peter raises the issue of the increasing false prophets

Already bringing in destructive heresies and licentiousness,

They mocked the idea of the coming judgment

And gave rise to immorality and gross wickedness.

1^st John is replete with incidences of extreme opposites

Like light and darkness, love and hate, the truth and the lie

The Gnostics erroneously professed to know the truth

But denied that Jesus is God and that Christ actually died.

 2^nd John admonishes to beware of those who spread error

Particularly the type regarding the Person of our Lord,

While the Apostle rejoiced that the children walked in truth

He implored that we compromised not but receive a full award.

3^rd John focuses on the behaviour of three characters:

The first was the godly Gaius whom John wished to prosper,

The second was the dictatorial Diotrephes who received him not,

And the third was faithful Demetrius to whom he gave honour.

Jude admonishes believers to contend earnestly for the faith

 The faith that was once delivered unto the saints,

Ungodly men had crept in denying the only Lord and Christ

And who were trying the grace of our God to taint

The Revelation of Jesus Christ by John to the seven churches

Encourages us wait with patience as we look for Christ’s return,

It teaches the folly of living for things that will soon pass away

And warns rejecters of the Saviour of their doom on judgment day.

Stewart Russell © March 2017