Discussion of study materials

Here's the place where we can discuss what we are learning in the Sword Study/memory verses. Does anyone have any special revelations they received while doing their Sword Study? Any comments on the memory verses? Also, this is the place for encouragement for any new Bible Bee contestants.

Thank you for making this forum!

Okay, in our Sword Studies today, it asked why Paul would begin his letter with "Paul, an apostle" if Timothy already knew he was an apostle. What do you all think?

My dad said that he thought it was to establish credibility and authority in the beginning just as a king would in a royal proclamation. I also thought that perhaps it was to encourage Timothy and remind him of the real goal.

One of my thoughts was maybe for us 21st century Christians who didn't know Paul personally like Timothy did.

I thought he said it because God told him to so people who are new to the Bible in the future would know who he is.

When he said "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ", I think Paul wanted Timothy to recognize that he (Paul) knew who he belonged to. We all need to know beyond doubt Who we belong to and Who we serve. Also, it was probably inspired by the Holy Spirit to establish credibility later on that this letter was written by Paul.

what if Paul thought maybe Timothy would pass the letter around to the different believers…..?

Does anybody have any ideas about what Paul was talking about when he said "thy tears" in 2 Timothy 1:4? Did Timothy have a physical ailment, or were these tears of stress? I'd like to hear if anybody has went under the rug on this and what they found.

I'll just be lazy and quote my favorite commentator, John Gill, on this verse. :D

"'being mindful of thy tears': shed either at the afflictions and sufferings of the apostle, of which Timothy, being his companion, was an eyewitness, and he being of a truly Christian sympathizing spirit, wept with those that wept; or at their parting from each other, as in Acts 20:37."

I think it is showing how close Timothy and Paul are. Most guys don't cry in front of just anyone, but Paul and Timothy had a relationship where they could have shared their deepest convictions and their burdens.

WARNING: For Seniors Only :) - Courtney told me that her sword study told her what the key verses for the chapters of 2 Timothy were, but my Sword Study had me find the key verses. What do you Seniors think the key verses for each chapter of 2 Timothy are? My ideas were: Chapter 1 - verse 8 or 12, Chapter 2 - verse 15, Chapter 3 - verses 16-17, Chapter 4 - verse 2. Anyone else have any suggestions on the key verses?

Juniors: On week two, day three, there was a secret message that we all had to decode. But there wasn't any key for us to know which letter stood for each symbol! I was a little disappointed about that. I'm guessing all of you other Juniors had the same situation?

@ Matthew: I chose these key verses:

Chapter 1: Verse 13: "Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus."

Chapter 2: Verse 15: "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

Chapter 3: Verse 14: "But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,"

Chapter 4: Verse 2: "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching."

Is there anybody out there who has already finished learning their verses and don't know what to do with themselves, like me? Any suggestions on what to do besides review, review, review?

You've already finished?!?!? Wow!

You could:
-Memorize 2 Timothy (and maybe 1 Timothy while you're at it!)
-Memorize some of the cross references the Sword Study mentions

I'm not sure what you could do! :)

Woohoo Matthew!!!! I would be finished but for the fact that I haven't done ANY Bible Bee for about a week, because I was trying to finish up on some school. But now I can focus totally on Bible Bee!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! That's so exciting. :)

When I finish all my verses, I'll work REALLY hard on the SS.

Congratulations, Matthew! Sounds like you're doing a great job on being a Senior this year – keep up the good work! Do you have any favorite passages you memorized?!

Let's see…my suggestion, is to work really hard on Sword Study. I'm sure you already know this, but we're assuming that scores are pretty much based on the test because everyone will know their verses well. I thought that last year, I studied my SS so much…but looking back, I don't think that any more. I'm trying to write out a ton of notes on it, make flashcards to carry around, summarize, read, write a commentary and all sorts of things for 2 Timothy (oh, and I've found reading the book in different versions is helpful too…). Studying a lot won't hurt a bit :) Hope this is somewhat helpful…

I had plans of finishing all my verses in 1 week…but that didn't happen. We are SO busy over here, I only have about 1 hour to work on Bible Bee each day. Hopefully, life will slow down and I'll be able to memorize those verses =)

Thanks everyone! Those are all really good suggestions. @Rachel - I was planning to memorize 2 Timothy and most of the cross references, but probably not 1 Timothy. My reason is twofold: (1) I'm not sure if I should memorize something not related to the Bible Bee (for right now), and (2) I kind of think the Bible Bee might choose another book besides 1 Timothy for Nationals. @Bethany: Wow…you have lots of stuff to do! I really don't like to make extra material on things that are in 2 Timothy itself, as I am going to memorize the entire letter. But, I am making flashcards with key words and cross-references for me to remember. I don't want to miss a SINGLE question on that test! :)

@All: In Week Three, Day One, of the Senior Sword Study, there was three questions about 2 Timothy 2:22, regarding the key word "faith". I seem to be missing something here. I see the entire point of the verse, but the questions have me puzzled, because they could have more than one answer from the verse. What am I missing? Is there a clue from a different translation/a word study?

@Matthew – Well, I'm not trying to make more notes to study besides the Sword Study, I'm just summerizing what I learn in the SS and then writing it all out. Flashcards help a lot! I'm not sure if I'll write my commentary on it or not…I don't have much time for such a long book. I'm definitely going to memorize it, too! As you said, I don't want to miss a single question either :) Last year, I did pretty bad at the test and this year I'm determined to do a lot better. Have any tips for me?! My mom thinks it not because I don't know the material, it's because I don't read the questions careful enough….

Uh…about the Hebrews and Faith question…I was pretty confused by it as well. Anyone else have any ideas?

This is so lame, but on the Week Four, Day Three, crossword puzzle, I can't get 3 across or 6 down XD

a little help? :3

I came looking for help on this as well.

I think I finally figured 3 across to be diligent. Doesn't really go with the clue as the KJV doesn't use workman, but worker. But it fits with 1 down (flee) and 2 down (remember)

I also can not get 6 down or 10 across.

So sad since I am helping my 8 year old.

You're not the only one…I can't find MOST of them!!! :'(

Also, I can't figure out what should be on the "exhortation list" for 2 Tim 2:15…

Well, I guess I wasn't the only one who had trouble with the cross word puzzle. :)

I think the one for 2 Timothy 2:15 was 'present yourself as a workman' and then you would add the other things on letters a, b, c, and d. Hopefully this helps! I know I struggled a little with a couple of the exhortations.

Here are the answers; if you don't want to see, that's okay, because I've added a letter between every letter. So to read it, read every other letter.
3 across: dyiplwiggnetnut
6 down: raekmiirnqd
(At least those are the answers I came up with.)

I also had trouble with it but was able to finish it eventually.

@ Talia, I had some trouble with the 3 across as well, partially because of the "an" which usually comes before a word starting with a vowel; I think that it's just a typo.
@ InSoloChristo, those were the answers I came up with as well.

@ Emily, I agree that the exhortations for verse 15 were confusing. It helps to remember that diligent is an adjective, not a verb. ;)

I'm getting a little ahead and did Week Five, Day One today. I'm wondering… what does 1 Timothy 1:15-19 have to do with an athlete? It was listed as a cross-reference, but I can't figure out the connection.

Uh…good point you have there, Matthew – I'm thinking they probably made a mistake. Maybe they meant 1 Corinthians 9:24-27??? That definitely talks about the athlete :)

They might have, but they had already listed 1 Cor 9:24 as another cross-reference for the same thing. Who knows what they might have meant. :)

@ ISC, Thanks for the help :) I've got them all filled in now.

@ Sarah, Yeah, I didn't think about that…it's not a verb. =)
But I can only find answers for a. b. and c. not d. on verse 15… Am I missing something???

I was confused too….what does it have to do with an athlete ?

Bethany … They mentioned the first verse of that reference before the 1 Tim 1:15-19.

I was confused three. :)

No idea, sounds more like it fits with the soldier cross references…

I guess I was confused four.

I didn't really know what to put.

InSoloChristo- Thanks! That helped a lot!

I think it is saying that you have to be diligent and that you are running the race that God called you to run. Now it doesn't actually say that in the verse but that's what i get from it! Just an encouragement and reminder.

Plus it is one of the verses that you have to memorize!

Rosie & Emily Hamilton: No problem!

Kylie Rose: I agree, that's probably why.

How is everyone's Sword Study going? What day and week are you on?

Keep up the good work everyone!

I'll do Week 10, Day 1 tonight. :P

That's amazing. How did you do it so fast?

I fit into that category. I have been like that for a while. I would suggest practicing your greek words.

I don't know either. It is strange.

I do it twice a day. If I do it twice a day, I can do it twice before the competition, and I hope to know it better than I would have otherwise.

I am on Week 5, day 5; so I'm on track. I am trying to work on getting a week or two ahead in my verses so I'll have more time to review. I remember finishing all of my verses three weeks early (week 9) last year. So I had plenty of review time; I'm hoping to do that again.

@Rosie: What happened to your face?

HAHA! LOL - I'm sorry but I laughed when I saw your face :D What happened to you? you look sick!!

Sorry, but she can't reply. She was trying to make a Bible Bee account, but it kinda failed and she can't remember her new e-mail address for her original account. We're trying to figure it out… :)

That's unfortunate - try asking the administrators. Tell her I hope you get it fixed!

I can respond; just not on my regular account. I remember what my email is, it just keeps saying that it's invalid.

InSoloChristo- Very misfortunate; I didn't even reach 1,000 memorized verses! If we can't fix it, I'll have to start over.

I can get on my account now!!!!!! I found out what happened. When I changed my email, I spelled it wrong; I was trying to spell it correctly, so it wouldn't let me on. Today, I decided to be silly and spell it incorrectly, and it let me on!! Praise the Lord!

Glad you're back! :)

Great! I can't believe you had any silliness left after doing you know what with needles… Anyway, I'm very glad you can get back on!