"But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering,
charity, patience" (2 Timothy 3:10).

If you were asked what is Paul’s doctrine, what answer would you give? He speaks of
something special, something peculiar_"my doctrine." What was it? Let me tell you in
as few words as I can. Paul’s doctrine started with this_ the total and complete setting
aside and non-recognition of man as man; the utter denial of the first man before God;
and the putting of everything in connection with the second Man, the Lord Jesus Christ,
who in His death closed the history of the first man, and in His resurrection became the
last Adam, the second Man, the beginning of God’s creation.

That is what Paul’s doctrine especially rests on; that is the basis of it. Of course I do
not mean to say that he does not include here the Church, the Body of Christ_ what he
calls elsewhere, "the mystery." But, mark this, even the truth of the Church, the
mystery (that is, taking Jews and Gentiles out of their respective nationalities and
uniting them in one new man to the Lord Jesus Christ, as we have it in Eph. 2), has for
its basis the redemptive work of Christ. And that redemptive work was itself the
complete setting aside of man in the flesh and placing everything in connection with the
second Man. The whole truth of the Church flows from that. And therefore Paul’s
doctrine may be described as especially that which brought out the complete setting
aside of man as a child of Adam before God, and the union of Jew and Gentile into one
body, united by the Holy Spirit to the Head in heaven, and equally to one another on
earth. Paul says to Timothy, "Thou hast fully known my doctrine." And at this
moment, not a single one of our readers is safe from the hostile wiles and imitations of
Satan unless he knows Paul’s doctrine. You are not, be assured, safe without this.

Now looking at the latter part of the tenth verse, we notice that Paul connects his
"manner of Me" with his doctrine. Here is the terrible lack with us all, that is, as to the
"manner of life" which is suited to "my doctrine." What is the "manner of life," as he
expresses it, which he connects with his doctrine? I have no hesitation in saying that it
was a practical maintenance of heavenly citizenship in an earthly scene. I believe his
"manner of life" was that complete, total, thorough strangership_heavenly
strangership_in the midst of a scene that is preeminently earthly, and in the midst of a
world characterized by those who profess Christ, and yet mind earthly things.

It is this which makes it solemn to every one of us. A man may say, "I know what
Paul’s doctrine is." But let us challenge our hearts whether there is the "manner of
life." Are there the circumstances, habits, ways, appearance, suited to that doctrine?
And mark how he lays as much stress upon one as the other. It is not simply, "You
have fully known my doctrine," but "doctrine, manner of life." And then he tells the
features of this life:"purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience." All these are to
be combined with the maintenance of a distinct, isolated heavenly citizenship, and
narrow path in a hostile world.