Message summary: Are you transmitting God's truth?

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"O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you" (1 Timothy 6:20). "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others" (2 Timothy 2:2). "By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you" (2 Timothy 1:14).

Several weeks ago the "check engine" light came on in our SUV. I had it checked with the scanner and the code showed it was some type of transmission sensor. My local mechanic suggested I take it to a shop specializing in transmissions so early yesterday morning I took it to a shop in Lancaster City.

While it was being repaired we decided, rather than to go back home, to just mosey around the eastern part of the county until the repair was completed. Brooksyne had followed me to the shop in our van. But alas, the shop called me a few hours later, and told me it was a repair that I needed to take to the dealer, which of course will likely increase the expense!

But my experience does prompt a consideration of transmission.

"Transmission" comes directly from the verb “transmit,” both words trace back to the Latin verb transmittere, “the act of sending across” or “the passing over”. In the case of a motor vehicle the transmission transmits power from the engine to the drive train. An engine is useless in powering a vehicle without the transmission.

In the two epistles to Timothy the Apostle Paul was essentially transmitting the faith to the succeeding generation. Although the direct recipient of these letters was Timothy, believers in every generation do well to heed the charge in the daily Scripture portions. Today I place my name into this charge that Paul so solemnly gave Timothy. Perhaps you will as well as it may help you to  more fully personalize it, as it does for me.

Many years ago when I served as a pastor I was preaching from this text and coincidentally we had a visitor in the service by the name of Timothy. When I emphasized, "O Timothy…" it shook him up (he told me after the message). He thought, "Oh no, the preacher's preaching right at me!" He was doubly attentive at those points! Well the fact of the matter is I was preaching to him and to everyone else in attendance! That's why using our own name may be beneficial.

When we study the Bible we benefit from many believers in past generations who have guarded the good deposit and transmitted it to us. And we are transmitting it to others as well. Brooksyne and I view this online writing ministry as a part of our role in transmitting the faith in our generation.

The faithful transmission of Scripture is a foundational principle in the Christian faith, emphasizing the integrity and accuracy of the biblical text as it has been passed down through generations. This concept underscores the belief that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and its teachings are authoritative and infallible. The process of preserving and transmitting the Scriptures is a divine mandate, ensuring that God's revelation remains unaltered and accessible to all believers.

Every generation has a responsibility in guarding the deposit of faith transmitted from the preceding generation and in turn carefully transmitting it on to the succeeding one. That's at the very heart of our Christian faith.  In fact, Paul set forth the pattern to Timothy, "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others" (2 Timothy 2:2).

The Amplified Bible elaborates, "The things [the doctrine, the precepts, the admonitions, the sum of my ministry] which you have heard me teach in the presence of many witnesses, entrust [as a treasure] to reliable and faithful men who will also be capable and qualified to teach others."

In a sense we are both receiving and passing it on simultaneously. As we study the Bible and other resources we are reaching back and receiving. And we're passing it on as well.

How about you? Are you receiving and passing on God's truth?

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13.

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber