And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 2 Timothy 2:2
“As it was your desire, my beloved brother Theophilus, to be thoroughly informed on those topics which I put summarily before you, I have thought it right to set these matters of inquiry clearly forth to your view, drawing largely from the Holy Scriptures themselves as from a holy fountain, in order that you may not only have the pleasure of hearing them on the testimony of men, but may also be able, by surveying them in the light of (divine) authority, to glorify God in all. For this will be as a sure supply furnished you by us for your journey in this present life, so that by ready argument applying things ill understood and apprehended by most, you may sow them in the ground of your heart, as in a rich and clean soil. By these, too, you will be able to silence those who oppose and gainsay the word of salvation. Only see that you do not give these things over to unbelieving and blasphemous tongues, for that is no common danger. But impart them to pious and faithful men, who desire to live holily and righteously with fear.”
Hippolytus of Rome (170-235) in Treatise on Christ and Antichrist 1.
Hippolytus is one of my favorite early fathers, not just because he has a cool name, but because he is credited for passing down to us the oldest surviving lists of the 12 (cf. Luke 9:1-6) and the 70 (cf. Luke 10:1-24): “Where Each of Them Preached, And Where He Met His End.” Take a few minutes to read through the list. It’s inspiring to see how many of the 70 names you will recognize from reading about the early church in the New Testament.
Why does this thought interest me today, and what does it have to do with generosity?
Think about this. Jesus gave His life for us — the greatest act of generosity — and showed John (among other disciples) the way to life. John, in turn, wrote a gospel and other NT letters so that others might know it, and built up young believer named Polycarp. Polycarp grew to serve as a bishop of the church and taught many, including Irenaeus. Irenaeus took the good news west and sowed truth into the life of Hippolytus of Rome, the author of today’s post.
Each of these followers of Jesus (John, Polycarp, Irenaeus, and Hippolytus) acted generously by teaching the truth broadly while also imparting themselves to faithful and devoted disciples would would invest their lives to grasp and give truth from the Scriptures to others. I love how Hippolytus describes the truth: “a sure supply furnished you by us for your journey in this present life.” If you want to be generous this year, fill your mind and heart with truth from the Scriptures and furnish others with it: it is exactly what everyone needs for the journey of life!