Readings:
Ezra 1-2
2 Timothy 2

Ezra 1-2

Ezra was a priest and scribe living in Babylon when he was sent to Jerusalem to teach the Torah to the already returned exiles. While there he witnessed the rebuilding of the temple and the restoration of Jerusalem as the capital of the Persian province of Judea. Traditionally he is believed to be the author of 1-2 chronicles, a book we read a while ago. He’s also believed to be the author of the book of Malachi because that name could easily be a pseudonym and the writing style between it and Ezra is very similar.

The decree of Cyrus, allowing the return of the Jews, went even further and he returned all the looted vessels from the temple. These were the cups and bowls that Belshazzar had brought out during his feast, to disastrous effects.

2 Timothy 2

The very first line here is another blow to the people who say that Jesus prohibits calling priests “father” because Paul says Timothy is like a son to him, and in several other places he gives it the logical inversion that he is like a father to Timothy. (See Question: Calling Priests Father?)

He goes on to use military terms to tell Timothy that he must bear his share of the suffering to come with a stiff upper lip. Like a soldier doing his duty without complaining, we all need to carry whatever crosses we are given in life.

Whenever anything disagreeable or displeasing happens to you, remember Christ crucified and be silent.

Saint John of the Cross

Paul specifically calls out two people, known to Timothy, who deny the resurrection in some way. It’s not completely clear, but some say that they either denied the physical resurrection of Our Lord or they claimed that the resurrection of the dead was a metaphor that actually happened at baptism.

He calls on Timothy to teach and preach sanctification and avoidance of sin. We aren’t supposed to remain the same as we were before we came to faith, but we are to grow in holiness to become more Christlike.

Tomorrow’s Readings:
Ezra 3
Haggai 1-2
2 Timothy 3