Teaching Notes 1 TIMOTHY 4 to 6

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Teaching Notes 1 TIMOTHY 4 to 6

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The first Quarantine in the USA since 1918 rages on.  I have completely lost count of the days at this point.  It is 23 or something.  I really do not know.  It has become much more confining in Georgia.  However, God is using this time to show me amazing miracles and His Amazing Grace.  And for that, I am very thankful.  We must learn to completely rely on him in good times and bad.  For all of the great strengths we rely on from day to day in the world come in one quick moment to be blown away like the grass.  

Today is Sunday and we have to meet by Zoom.

"The grass withers and the flower [fades],
but the word of [the Lord] endures forever.”  Isaiah 40:8."

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Paul saw that the Church at Ephesus was teaching false 
doctrine and thus Paul dispatched his pupil Timothy to 
the Church at Ephesus

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l TIMOTHY

Care of the Church at Ephesus

The Pastoral Epistles

Chapter 4. Coming Apostasy.   A Minister's Work

Apostasy, 1-5. This passage seems to say that, though the

Church is the pillar of the Truth, there shall arise within the

Church gross systems of error, of demoniacal origin, teaching

abstinence from meat foods and celibacy. This was

one of the forms of Gnosticism, even then developing, which

later grew to vast proportions: a heresy that» is now almost

extinct.

A Good Minister, 6-16;  The best way to combat incipient or

prevailing error is by unceasing reiteration of simple Gospel

truth. “Reading, exhortation, teaching", 13. The Bible itself will

do the job, if only given a chance.

Studying it in private, reading and expounding it in public.

If ministers today would only give heed to Paul’s advice,

the Church would take on new life, and

grow by leaps and bounds. Why, why, why; o why, cannot

ministers understand that the simple exposition of God’s Word

is more desired by the people. and more powerful by far, than

their finely worked out sermonic platitudes?

Chapter 5  Widows.  Elders

Widows, 1-16.  The church in Ephesus was something like ten

years old, and had its charity work very well developed and

carefully administered. A Christian who would not support his

own dependents is worse than an unbeliever. 8 The church in

extremely careful with its women servants, for the

women servants of the temple of Diana were prostitutes.

Elders, 17-25.  Called “bishops" in 3: 1-7.There it was their

 qualifications. Here it is their treatment. Then, as now busybodies

were whispering against their church leaders.

19. “Wine", 23:  it was “little” (wine), and for medicinal purposes.

Chapter 6. Slaves.  Riches

Slaves, 1-2. Compare I Cor 7:20-24. No great matter whether

slave or free. Become free if you can. But if not, be a good

slave. Slaves are thus frequently exhorted, Eph 6:5-9; Col 3:22-25;

Tit 2:9-10. Christianity abolished slavery, not by denouncing it.

but by teaching the doctrine of human brotherhood.

The Desire for Riches,  3-21, was the motive back of much

false teaching, 5. Through the ages church doctrines have been

corrupted to produce income for church coflers. “A root of all

kinds of evils", 10. “'the-root of all evil”. Man of God,

flee covetousness, 11; 'turn away from profane

babblings ‚of “scholarship” falsely so called.

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Overview of the Book of 1 Timothy 
From The Bible Project

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1 Timothy 4 New International Version (NIV)

4 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. 4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

6 If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters,[a] you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 

7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 

8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. 10 That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.

11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Footnotes:

1 Timothy 4:6 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.

Widows, Elders and Slaves

5 Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

3 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. 5 The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. 6 But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. 7 Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame. 8 Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

9 No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, 10 and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.

11 As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. 12 Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. 13 Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to. 14 So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. 15 Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.

16 If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.

17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18 For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,”[a] and “The worker deserves his wages.”[b] 19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. 20 But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. 21 I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.

22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

24 The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. 

25 In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.

Footnotes:

1 Timothy 5:18 Deut. 25:4

1 Timothy 5:18 Luke 10:7

1 Timothy 6 New International Version (NIV)

6 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. 2 Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare[a] of their slaves.

False Teachers and the Love of Money

These are the things you are to teach and insist on. 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 

7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 

9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Final Charge to Timothy

11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 

12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, 21 which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.

Grace be with you all.

Footnotes:

1 Timothy 6:2 Or and benefit from the service

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New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Some content adapted from Halley, Henry H., Bible Handbook, Grayson Publishing, Minneapolis, MN.  © 1927 - 1959, 1964

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Hugh C. Wood, Atlanta, Georgia

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