Bring the Books!
Minister’s Letter - 8 December 2022
Friends in Christ, in 2 Timothy 4:13, Paul is in prison in Rome and asks Timothy, the young minister he's invested so much in, to bring the books!
When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. [NIVUK]
Paul is so human. He feels the cold. He also needs books. Maybe legal papers for his court case. More likely, books for study, maybe left behind when he was arrested.
St Paul Writing His Epistles
Valentine de Boulogne (1591-1632), courtesy Wikipedia
And given the mention here (in v.11) of both Mark and Luke, and Luke’s obvious dependence on time spent with Paul evident in Luke's authorship of Acts, it’s fascinating to speculate that some of those books could have been drafts of one or more of the Gospels, and/or of Acts.
As was his way, the great Baptist preacher, Charles Spurgeon, made great application of these words to us as well...
Paul had a few books which were left, perhaps wrapped up in the cloak, and Timothy was to be careful to bring them. Even an apostle must read…
He is inspired, and yet he wants books!
He has been preaching at least for thirty years, and yet he wants books!
He had seen the Lord, and yet he wants books! […]
He had been caught up into the third heaven, and had heard things which it was unlawful for a men to utter, yet he wants books!
He had written the major part of the New Testament, and yet he wants books!
The apostle says to Timothy and so he says to every preacher, “Give thyself unto reading.” The man who never reads will never be read; he who never quotes will never be quoted. He who will not use the thoughts of other men’s brains, proves that he has no brains of his own.
Brethren, what is true of ministers is true of all our people. You need to read. […] especially the Puritanic writers, and expositions of the Bible. We are quite persuaded that the very best way for you to be spending your leisure, is to be either reading or praying. You may get much instruction from books which afterwards you may use as a true weapon in your Lord and Master’s service.
Paul cries, “Bring the books”—join in the cry. [Source]
On a personal level, I’ve always been a strong and keen reader. But I confess I’m finding it much harder to read books of substance. A diet of short articles and social media posts surely makes it harder and distracts from this task.
So I say to myself as much as to you: Can I commend time away from the smart phone alone with a book over the Christmas and Summer Holiday period.
To assist you, and also to help with 'stocking fillers', I have disovered two boxes full of Christian bookstall books, lying unsold in cathedral cupboards. And I have made an executive decision to sell them all at half price or less. The best discount you'll get a Christian retailer is 20% or maybe 30% off, but we are giving 50%! These are all current or recent titles. They will be available after each service on Sunday.
The catch is that you must bring cash, or your old cheque book, or be ready to make a bank transfer from the banking app on your phone to our Cathedral bank account.
I will list all the titles below. First come, first served. Help us clear our cupboards and balance the books at the end of the year.
But regardless, make sure you love God with your mind this summer, by setting a goal to read something that will build you up in your knowledge and faith.
Warmly in Christ,
Sandy Grant
Dean of Sydney