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2 Thessalonians 3:17
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17 The salutation [aspasmos] of Paul [Paulos] with mine own [emos] hand, [cheir] which [hos] is [esti] the token [semeion] in [en] every [pas] epistle: [epistole] so [houto] I write. [grapho] KJV-Interlinear
17 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter, this is the way I write. NASB
With a couple of exceptions, Paul identifies this letter, as well as others, as his own work, because of the fraudulent letters circulated to the Thessalonians earlier mentioned in this same letter, 2 Thess. 2:2. Those fraudulent letters attempted to claim, in Paul’s name, that the return of Christ was already at hand, which of course it was not.
Authenticity and truth are in view here. Over the many centuries, there will occur after the time of the apostles, many false letters that will come into the world in an attempt to falsify or dilute the contents of the Bible.
Of these attempts all have sufficient errors within them to identify them as false. Probably the worst writing ever attempted was the writings of Muhammad, who did not even write even one word of the Koran, which was written by others several years after his dreams. Because it is filled with so many errors, misquotes, historical errors, and so forth, it can easily be proved to be false. This we covered a few weeks ago, in detail, on that very topic, ‘The Flaws of Islam.’ I have placed that study in the special studies section on the web site, as well as in the introduction section.
The importance of truth is paramount in life, but especially within the content of the scriptures, simply because as God, who is supposed to be error free, and not able to make mistakes, then any communication from God, must be accurate. If not, if it contained even a single error, then it could not ever have come from God.
And there will be folks who will claim error after error within the scriptures, but they rush to make the claims, without studying the context from which they quote. Remember, that the Bible has been around for many, many centuries, for even thousands of years. It has been criticized, and condemned, and hated by one and all more often than anything or anyone in all of human history. And yet it stands firm.
No one, born in our present day, can come up with any single error claim, that has not already been charged against the Bible, many times over. And yet there will be those who do not even read the Bible, do not even know its content, but will still make their claims of error.
Therefore, truth is paramount, and truth has but one origin – God.
The Bible identifies God as truth.
God is the source of peace, strength and now the references to truth, Psa. 31:5, Isa. 65:16, 2 Chron. 15:3, Jer. 10:10, John 7:28, 17:3, 1 Thess. 1:9, 1 John 5:20, Rev. 6:10.
His words are truth, 2 Sam. 7:28, He is abundant in truth, Psa. 86:15, He is true even if all men are liars, Rom. 3:4, He cannot lie, Num. 23:19, 1 Sam. 15:29, Titus 1:2, Heb. 6:18.
Jesus Christ is God, and is also truth, John 1:14, 17, John 7:18, John 14:6, Eph, 4:21, Rev. 3:7, 14, Rev 19:11.
The Holy Spirit is truth. John 14:17, 15:26, 16:13, 1 John 5:6.
The Christian Church is described as the pillar of truth, 1 Tim. 3:15. But in order to be a pillar of truth, you as a member of Christianity, must be able to distinguish and discern between truth and lies, 1 Jn. 4:6. That is your mandate. That is your obligation.
There is only one source, only one benchmark which clearly identifies truth and separates out the lies of the world, Col. 1:5, 2 Tim. 2:15, James 1:18, which is the Word of God, the scriptures, the Bible.
And you can only accomplish this by your daily study, 2 Tim. 2:15, ‘Study to show thyself approved [mature], rightly dividing [discerning] the word of truth.’
The challenge is now set before you. Will you clearly identify your intentions for your own life, just as Paul has clearly identified His name on this letter, and take up the daily obligation to study, be taught and learn that which God has placed before you?
Or, will you give it all lip service and no real substantive effort to advance in your spiritual life?
Your life began when you were born into this world. Your life will continue on forever.
When you were born into this world, you had no say as to what your life would be like.
But now being born again, you have every opportunity to define and design your entire eternal life ahead of you. How could anyone pass up on that opportunity?
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