“I Know Whom I Have Believed!”

“I Know Whom I Have Believed!”(II Tim.1:11-14).
At the time of writing the second letter to Timothy, Paul was in a second imprisonment under emperor Nero. He was wearing three caps at the time. He “was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher.”
A herald, as in the time of Paul, was a messenger sent to announce the good news. An apostle as a “sent one” is one who was sent directly by the Lord Jesus Christ to proclaim the good news and establish the church of Christ. Initially, apostles were the twelve disciples, and later, Paul. These were eyewitnesses to the resurrection who were assigned to build the body of Christ. Paul studied under Gamaliel, a renowned teacher of his time, so there’s no gainsaying in Paul being a good teacher.
Today, there is confusion of titles. No bad intended, but the acquisition of the title of apostle in today’s church raises the worry on the criteria to attain such a title. A pastor or a priest serves concurrently as a pastor or a priest. While some denominations prefer one or the other of the two titles, both do the same work. A pastor performs priestly duties as well; and a priest has pastoral responsibilities as well. Apart from priestly and pastoral responsibilities, they are expected to serve as heralds and teachers. My homiletics teacher explained to us that meaningful preaching teaches and heals; thus fulfilling the threefold ministry of preaching and teaching and healing. Lack of knowledge is an ailment, for as scriptures put it, “My people perish for lack of knowledge. “
At one point or another, whoever is assigned to bring the gospel without sugarcoating it is bound to suffer for the truth. “Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him…” We do not doubt whom we have believed, and we must be convinced that Christ holds dearly the faith we have in him.
What we have received is not ours to keep. We have to pass it on so that there is continuity. We also have to admonish the recipients to keep what they have heard “as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.” The gospel is a priceless treasure that has to be guarded “with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.”
Caveat: We are bound to face troubled times for the sake of the gospel, “yet there is no cause for shame,” because we know whom we “have believed.” He will keep us from falling.
Weekend prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for the grace revealed through the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.
21/03/2026.