1 Timothy 6:11 Pursue these

1 Timothy 6:11

The final chapter of 1 Timothy is full of famous verses about the love of money and fighting the good fight. It begins, however, with a brief word about what Timothy should teach slaves and is followed by a few verses on false teachers who are conceited, ignorant and have an unhealthy interested in arguing about words. The quarrels they cause lead to envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between those with corrupt minds, people robbed of the truth who see godliness only ... as a means to financial gain. That reference leads to a series of exhortations on the dangers of wealth. Godliness must be preferred to wealth in the light of eternity. Food and clothing should be enough and to want more is simply to fall into temptation and a trap and possibly worse again. Timothy must urge people not to hope in uncertain wealth but to be rich in good deeds. In the midst of this Paul says (verse 11) But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Paul's charge about this matter in the light of Christ's return is made in a very solemn way. Here are six things for the faithful minister to set his sights firmly on then – not riches but the justifying righteousness found in Christ and the real righteousness that it leads to, piety or godliness (mentioned 6 times altogether in the letter), increasing faith in God and love to all and to endure. Finally, fighting the good fight paradoxically involves seeking to be gentle too. These are the things to set our sights on.

1 Timothy 5:8 Faith Denying

1 Timothy 5:8 Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

In 1 Timothy 5 Paul tells Timothy how to relate to different church members - older and younger men, older and younger women. Mention of women leads to a fairly lengthy section on widows. “Widow” seems to have been a recognised office in the church. Such women were supported financially by the church in exchange for service. Paul is concerned that recognition be given only to the genuinely needy who cannot be supported by their own families (charity begins at home). He counsels widows under 60 to re-marry. Widows placed on the list too soon may live for pleasure and want to re-marry so breaking their pledge not to. He also fears that they will become idlers or even busybodies instead of hoping in God and being prayerful. His rule is that no-one under 60 can go on the list. Those on the list must also be reputable women who were faithful to their husbands while they lived and doers of various good deeds such as raising children, being hospitable, etc. He next mentions elders, who may also be supported, especially preachers and teachers. If they are accused of wrongdoing the truth must be established carefully. The guilty are to be reproved publicly as a warning. The chapter ends with further exhortations to Timothy about avoiding favouritism, being cautious, pure and not over-fastidious about drinking alcohol for his health's sake. While speaking about widows Paul says, strikingly, in verse 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. To fail to provide for one's own relatives is not just a sin, it is a sin that is so serious that it suggests the perpetrator was never converted. It is a practical denial of the faith and something that even an unbeliever would not often be guilty of. Before we ever think of helping others we must be concerned for the physical and spiritual needs of our own families. Not to be so concerned suggests something very wrong indeed. Those who the Lord has placed near to us by blood ought to be considered a priority in our order of needs that we feel responsible to meet.

1 Timothy 4:4, 5 Reject nothing

1 Timothy 4:4, 5 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

Chapter 4 of 1 Timothy begins by talking about the characteristics of the later times (the period from Christ's first to his second coming) – apostasy, heresy, false spirituality and asceticism. The rest of the chapter calls on Timothy to point such things out, to remain separate from false teachers and to seek to be godly. Though young, Timothy is not to let others look down on him but should set an example to all, being conscientious about the public reading of Scripture and about preaching and teaching. He must not neglect his gift but be diligent, giving himself wholly to the work, so that all will see his progress. He must watch his life and doctrine closely and persevere in them, so saving both himself and his hearers. In those opening verses we read (4, 5) these words by way of argument against false asceticism - For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. This very positive statement contrasts with the rather negative (don't do this, don't do that) attitude often seen in religious people. It begins by stating that everything God created is good. Sin has come into the world, of course, but creation retains a certain detectable goodness. None of it is to be rejected, therefore, but rather should be received with thanks to God the Creator. By means of God's Word and by prayer, it can all be consecrated. So, to take some obvious examples, there is nothing intrinsically wrong with black pudding, bacon, alcohol, tobacco or heroin/morphine for that matter. We should be thankful for each. Provided we use or avoid each in line with Scriptural principles (such as not being drunk, not offending our brother, freedom in Christ, etc) and with much prayer there is not likely to be a problem. Problems are more likely to come if we are unthankful, biblically ill-informed and prayerless.

1 Timothy 3:14, 15 Pillar, foundation

1 Timothy 3:14, 15 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

Chapter 3 of 1 Timothy is taken up with instructions regarding appointing elders, deacons and the women to work in the churches. Towards the end of the chapter, in verses 14 and 15, Paul says Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. There is more that could be said about elders and deacons and such matters but there is enough here to show us how people ought to conduct themselves in the churches. Paul uses three or four terms to refer to a church. He begins with God's household. One way to think of a church is as a family or household over which God himself rules. That is why he says (4, 5) that an elder must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him and asks If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church? The church or assembly of the Living God again stresses God's headship and leadership even when the church is called an assembly. He is no figurehead either for he is the living God. The final expressions are perhaps the most interesting. A church is the pillar and foundation of the truth. These two pictures vividly speak of the church as the upholder and supporter of the truth, using architectural terms. This is part of the reason why the church has such importance in God's economy and why its officers must be chosen with such great care and why these men and women must be marked by holiness and integrity. A right understanding of the church is fundamental for a pastor and all others who serve in it.

1 Timothy 2:5, 6 One Mediator

1 Timothy 2:5, 6 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.

As we come into Chapter 2 Paul talks to Timothy about worship and male and female roles, urging the men to take the lead in praying for all and telling the women to dress modestly and to do good. Paul sees the differences between men and women as fundamental in the light of creation and the fall and so their roles are bound to be different in the churches. In the midst of all this Paul makes a reference to the fact that God wants all sorts of people to be saved. He then says (in verses 5 and 6) that there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. So, first there is only one God, that is fundamental, but, secondly, there is only one way to God. This is because there is only one mediator who can be the go between who unites God and men. That one mediator is, of course, the one he here calls the man Christ Jesus. Though he is God yet he is also man. He is one of us. Referring especially to the cross, Paul emphasises how he came and gave himself as a ransom. By coming to this earth and dying as he did, he paid the price to set free all people. By this term Paul means all sorts of people. It is to declare this very truth that the Paul who once was a Christ-denier and a Jew was nevertheless appointed by God as a herald and apostle of the gospel, especially to the Gentiles. Here he is reminding Timothy of these fundamental truths – one God, one way to God, the death of Christ as a ransom for all who trust in him. These are truths that we must keep always at the centre of our thinking and that preachers must preach without stint.

1 Timothy 1:19 Holding on

1 Timothy 1:19 holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith.

Paul begins his first letter to his true son in the faith Timothy with greetings and a reminder that Timothy had been charged to stay in Ephesus and command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer nor devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things do not advance God's work, which is a matter of faith. Such false teachers have a great deal to say about the law but the law is only of any use when used properly – to attack sin and promote the gospel. Paul then gives thanks to God for saving him by his grace that he may serve, despite his great sins. Towards the end of Chapter 1 he urges Timothy, in verse 19, to hold on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith. So, positively Timothy must hold on to two things. First, faith, which is trust in God and belief in the things that are taught in the gospel. Second, a good conscience, which is one that reminds a man of his sins but knows that forgiveness is found in Christ. Negatively, Paul reminds Timothy that some have rejected these so suffering spiritual shipwreck. Paul ends the chapter with two known examples of such – Hymenaeus and Alexander, both of whom Paul had had to subject to church discipline or hand over to Satan. The shipwreck picture is very vivid. These men are like people in a storm at sea who have got rid of the compass and rudder and so are at the mercy of the waves and starting to go under. Their fate will be to sink to the very bottom. What a danger! Faith and a good conscience are vital in order to escape it.