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.
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
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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