Fundamentals – 2 Timothy 4:13

Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.

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In this one verse we see Paul’s fundamental concerns in reverse priority order:

1) Care for the body (the cloak) – protect what God has given you. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. We must care for it as we would the house of God. It matters what we eat, what we drink and what we do. All of this must be done with an end to preserve and improve the physical body.

2) Care for the mind (the books) – read good books. We have the mind of Christ. It must be engaged and strengthened with good challenging books. Our wisdom increases as we fill our mind and our heart with words that convict and build up.

3) Care for the soul (especially the parchments)- study God’s written revelation, the Holy Bible. Jesus calls us to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. We are people of truth and truth is found in the written revelation of Father God. He has left us His very Word in the pages of Scripture. As we avail ourselves of it, we bring life into our souls. No other book provides the value that we gain through the Bible. It must be honored, respected and studied. The Bible wasn’t preserved to be worshiped. It was preserved to be read.