Besides the cloak, Paul also requested Timothy to bring along his scrolls and parchments (2 Timothy 4:13). The scrolls were probably Old Testament Hebrew texts while the parchments were probably other books or writing material.

It is fascinating that as he faced impending death, Paul still wanted his scrolls and parchments so that he could continue to read, meditate and write. Paul remained a Bible reader and scholar till the end. His mind was always active and curious. He must have read widely and deeply. The Lord blessed him with a good mind and used him to write Scripture and to establish His truth and doctrines, and to refute heresies and false teachers.

In this request, we note Paul’s intellectual needs. What was true for Paul is also true for all of us. Some people have the wrong notion that faith is only a matter of sentiment, and one need only to have an emotional relationship with Jesus. This cannot be further from the truth for we are commanded to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37; Luke 10:27).

Paul knew the importance of the mind and saw that a proper use of the mind is necessary in worship. Thus Paul wrote: “I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind” (1 Corinthians 14:15).

The mind, like the body, can also run wild. It must be properly disciplined and trained. Spiritual transformation includes the renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2), which results in the removal of the devil’s tight blindfold over people’s minds (2 Corinthians 4:4) so that new godly attitudes can be adopted (Ephesians 4:23). Paul also pointed to the need to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5) because the mind, independent of God, is capable of all kinds of sinful thoughts and attitudes.

One way in which the mind is shaped, transformed, and tutored is through the careful and regular reading of God’s Word and the application of it in daily life. The mind is also stretched by reading good Christian literature that explains biblical truths and principles and illustrates the Christian life that God is pleased with. John Wesley, again, is a good example here.

Though many of Wesley’s early travelling preachers were simple laymen such as tailors, farmers, and cobblers, he developed a reading programme for them, compiling excerpts from 120 book into A Christian Library of 50 volumes that he considered to be important for the training and reflection of his preachers. Those were not easy material even for well-educated people, but Wesley expected the good use of the mind and the place of sanctified reason in Christian discipleship and ministry.

Paul set the tone for all of us by reminding us how important his scrolls and parchments were, even during the waiting period for his martyrdom.

Christians are today not reading as much as their forebears, and even if they are reading, the reading material could be better. There are so many treasures from Christian history that remain unknown to modern Christians. It is important that Christians exercise their minds to read these books to that they can grow deeper in their faith and devotion to Christ. Such reading has three effects: educational, therapeutic, and transformative. They inform and shape our thinking; they heal us of our blindness and mindless ways; and they bring about transformation in our lives that are based on the strong foundations of sound godly beliefs, principles, and values.

The Bible, of course, is the most important book we must read and internalise. Reading it with the heart, soul and mind would benefit us greatly. In fact, without it, we would be lost in the cacophony of our modern world, where false ideologies are being shouted out and sold.

May Paul’s example inspire and move us to follow Chirst with our sanctified minds too.

Consider this:

• What are some books you could begin reading today?
• Besides reading, what are other ways we could cultivate our minds?

Excerpt and adapted from Faithful to the End by Robert Solomon. © 2014 by Robert Solomon. Used by permission of Discovery House. All rights reserved.