Reverend Pastor Polycarp, Church of Smyrna
Dear Pastor Polycarp,
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We pray this letter finds you well and strengthened by His grace.
As older members of the church at Smyrna, we have been worried for some time that our young people are not growing in the knowledge of the Bible, as we all want them to do. Our concern stems not merely from tradition, but from the very words of our Lord to our church.
Jesus expects every believer to know the references he makes to scripture in his letter to us. We are not sure that our young people would recognize the references that Jesus makes. Consider how our Lord’s message to us is filled with allusions to the scriptures:
- Genesis: References to the “tree of life” (Rev 2:7) echo Eden (Gen 2-3)
- Exodus/Numbers: Allusions to Balaam and idolatry (Rev 2:14) recall Numbers 22-25
- Kings: Jezebel (Rev 2:20) references 1 Kings 16-21
- Psalms: Several images and phrases draw from the language of the Psalms
- Isaiah: “Key of David” (Rev 3:7) references Isaiah 22:22
- Daniel: Language about “one like a son of man” (implicit in these chapters) connects to Daniel 7
- Zechariah: The seven eyes/seven spirits imagery connects to Zechariah’s visions
Jesus assumes that everyone in our churches has substantial knowledge of the Old Testament. Without this foundation, how can our young ones fully grasp the depth and significance of our Lord’s message to us? How can they understand their place in God’s continuing story if they cannot see how the threads of scripture are woven together?
In the words of the Psalmist, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). We who have walked with the Lord for many years have found this to be abundantly true. The wisdom and guidance of Scripture have sustained us through trials and celebrations alike, and it is our earnest desire that our young brothers and sisters might also build their lives upon this firm foundation.
Therefore, we would like to ask you how we can pray, and what we can do to help, in order to help our young people to grow to maturity in their knowledge of the Bible. We humbly request your permission and blessing to establish a regular prayer and mentoring initiative specifically designed to nurture scriptural literacy among our youth. We envision several potential approaches:
- A weekly intergenerational study where elders and youth explore the Old Testament connections in Jesus’ letter to our church
- A prayer partnership program pairing experienced members with younger ones for mutual encouragement and scriptural discussion
- Testimonial evenings where older members share how particular Scriptures have guided their lives and illuminate their understanding of Revelation
We do not wish to burden the church with additional programs, nor do we seek to criticize the existing youth ministry. Rather, we offer ourselves as servants, ready to share the treasures we have received through decades of walking with the Lord and studying His Word.
As those who have been entrusted with the traditions and teachings of our faith, we feel a sacred responsibility to pass on this inheritance. In the words of Paul to Timothy, we desire to entrust “to faithful people who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2) the precious truths that have sustained us.
We await your guidance and wisdom in this matter. Should you find merit in our proposal, we stand ready to meet with you to discuss implementation details that would best serve our church family.
With deep respect and brotherly love,
The Elders of Smyrna
Stephanas
Priscilla
Aquila
Euodia
Syntyche
Philemon
Apphia
Archippus
“One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.” (Psalm 145:4)