Pentecost 19 (year C proper 24)- 2 Timothy 3; Luke 18

 Our NT or epistle reading for this Sunday is about solid foundations and persistence. In 2 Timothy 3 & 4, the Apostle Paul speaks about holding fast to solid foundations in faith. Paul urges his younger colleague, Timothy, to remain persistent in his Christian faith and ministry. In 2 Timothy 3:15, Paul tells his young colleague that the Scriptures can make him “wise unto salvation through faith” in Christ Jesus (KJV). Creating and sustaining faith in Christ is a central purpose of the Bible. Timothy has had a solid foundation in biblical teaching since childhood, but he must not take this foundation for granted; he must continue to pursue faithfulness to Christ and a deep devotion to Scripture.

The key verse is 2 Timothy 3:16: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness.” (KJV) In other words, the whole Bible is divinely inspired. Human copyists, translators, and interpreters can make mistakes, and readers may not understand or apply every word perfectly. Nevertheless, divine revelation is generally clear, and it is our infallible guide.

The Gospel for this Sunday from Luke 18:1-8 contains a striking teaching. Jesus tells the parable of the Unjust Judge, which teaches the value of persisting in prayer. The corrupt judge doesn’t care about his legal responsibility, but he eventually grants justice to a poor but persistent widow. The point of the parable is this: If even a corrupt human judge might be persuaded to hear the case of a powerless person, then we should certainly expect our just, gracious, and merciful heavenly Father to respond to our constant prayers for His blessings.

Thus, the Epistle and the Gospel for this Sunday highlight the value of persisting or persevering in basic Christian devotion. We must remain rooted in the teachings of Holy Scripture, and we continue to be constant in prayer. These two foundations guide and assist us in many areas of spirituality, morality, true piety, and service.