Titus 2:9, 10 Teach Slaves

Titus 2:9, 10 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Saviour attractive.

In Titus 2:9, 10 we find Paul's instructions to Titus as to what he should teach slaves. Some five inter-related commands are given. 1. They must be subject to their masters in everything 2. They must try to please them 3. They must not to talk back to them 4. They must not steal from them 5. They must show that they can be fully trusted. A great deal has changed since the days of the Roman Empire when large numbers were in life long servitude, chiefly under the influence of the gospel. It is not difficult to see applications to today's workaday world - respect, hard work, no insolence, no pilfering but trustworthiness and integrity of the highest sort. Paul's concern then was so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Saviour attractive. That same concern should be prominent in our thinking today. This is the sort of thing that congregations need to be reminded of regularly.

Titus 1:15 Pure, Corrupted

Titus 1:15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.

Paul draws a contrast in this verse between the pure that is the believing and the corrupted who do not believe. Because the believer is pure at heart then, at his best, all that he touches becomes pure. This is the general rule. Paul is surely not a naïve as to think that it is inevitable. As for the unbeliever, his tendency is towards corruption and so for him nothing is pure in the end. There is such corruption in their minds and consciences that it seeps into everything they say and do and are. One sees this on all sorts of levels and in all sorts of ways. It is like a man with dirt on his hands - everything he touches gets dirty too. Paul says this as a warning against the way error of all sorts can creep into all sorts of places if we do not take care. It is important for pastors to understand this principle.

Titus 1:9 Encourage, Refute

Titus 1:9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

One of the main things in Titus 1 is the delineation of the qualifications for eldership or being an overseer. Paul completes his list with this statement in verse 9 that says that an elder must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught and so on. The verse gives us one statement about what sort of man an elder is required to be and two connected statements about what he must do. So he must hold to the trustworthy message, he must do so firmly (there must be no doubt about his commitment to it) and it must be the message as it has been taught. He must not be an innovator but a faithful passer on of the tradition. This is a plea for a rigorous orthodoxy. Despite the claims of some, there was a specific message or body of truth that was taught in those days and it was expected that elders should hold firmly to it. This was one of the things that was expected of anyone who held such office in the churches. The reason for this is so that he can do two things, one positive and one negative - encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. The emphasis on careful, accurate teaching is undeniable and points to thorough preparation for followed by steadfastness in the office. Elders are to be thoroughly conversant with sound doctrine or the trustworthy message as it has been taught and are then to do all that they can to encourage believers to follow the truth and to refute opposers of that truth wherever they arise. Few things will encourage the true Christian as much as sound teaching. Ministers have a duty not only to faithfully teach the sympathetic but also to carefully refute false teaching wherever it arises. This is the work of all elders.

 

2 Timothy 4:14, 15 The Metalworker

2 Timothy 4:14, 15 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.

Because the Bible relates things that really happened there is a great deal of what fiction writers call back story. We are often ignorant of this back story, as is the case here. He is probably the man in 1 Timothy 1:20 and possibly the one in Acts 19:33 (an Ephesian Jew) but we do not know who Alexander the metalworker was or anything about the harm that he caused the Apostle Paul. It is unlikely to have been physical harm that he caused but harm it was, nevertheless, of some sort. Did he stir up the Jews against Paul when he was on trial? He may well have been an apostate. As ignorant as we are of Alexander what we can learn here is how to react to experiences such as Paul knew. Paul has no spirit of revenge but is confident that The Lord will repay him for what he has done. We ought to have the same confidence regarding those who oppose us because of the gospel as Paul had. He goes on to say to Timothy You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. He warns him in the light of his own troubles with this man. Ministers are likely to face opposition of one sort or another. When they suffer then they should look to God for vengeance. They ought also to take opportunity to warn others against those who do harm.

2 Timothy 4:2 Ministerial Duties

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction.

As Paul comes towards the end of his letter, he solemnly charges Timothy, reminding him of several aspects of the ministry that he must give attention to. In the verse he tells him, firstly, to preach the Word. The heralding of the Word has to have priority in the life of any true minister. We tend to think of the Sunday pulpit work when we think of preaching but there are other forms of preaching and all of it must be done without neglect. Along with this, there must be a prepared or ready attitude that is maintained both when it is easy to do so and when it is not. Whatever changes come the work of preaching must go on. Adaptability to situations is important in the ministry.  Then there is the work of correcting, rebuking and encouraging. This work is not confined to preaching, although much of it will take place in that context. This work must be done with great patience and careful instruction. Your correcting or rebuking or encouraging may be ignored at first or not understood. Keep at it -  repeating and clarifying all the way until, ideally, it is received.

2 Timothy 3:12 Godly Persecuted

2 Timothy 3:12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted

This striking verse appears to be extrapolated from Paul's own experience which forms the context. No doubt his knowledge of the Lord's own sayings also informed him. Perhaps he also recalls his own former hatred for Christians. His point is that everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will inevitably be persecuted. As a general rule godliness and persecution go together. If you are determined to live a godly life then expect persecution. Perhaps there is significance in the way he phrases things - not everyone who lives a godly life but everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus. We cannot say that persecution proves godliness. If we are serious about godliness, however, we can expect persecution. There is a certain inevitability about striving for godliness inviting opposition. It is a theme in Scripture. Think of Joseph, of Daniel, perhaps Jeremiah, certainly the Lord himself. Ministers should warn congregations that is they are serious about godliness then they will undoubtedly find themselves persecuted at some point. If you are willing to go easy on godliness you may well escape persecution but the more godly you seek to be the more likely you are to find yourself falling into persecution of some sort. No doubt the corollary works to some extent - if you are persecuted, it will help you to be more godly. Many have observed how in places where persecution was strong there were plenty of examples of godliness but once persecution eased, it was much more difficult to find that same godliness. It is like the story of the competition between the rain and the sun and who could get the man's coat off first. The wind tried with all his might but failed. The sun succeeded easily. So luxuries are more likely to destroy godliness than are persecutions.

2 Timothy 3:1 Terrible Times

2 Timothy 3:1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.

In 2 Timothy 3 Paul talks about people being lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, etc. He talks of men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected (8). The chapter begins with his saying that Timothy must mark the fact that things will be like this in the last days. Clearly these last days include the days in which Paul lives. In fact they are best understood as that whole period from the first coming of Christ until his return and so includes our days too. There are periods when God's people are tempted to think that things are getting better and better but the fact is that the last days will be characterised by their terrible nature, regardless of what else may be said about them. No pastor should be surprised at the self-devotion, greed, pride, abusiveness, rebelliousness, unthankfulness, etc, of false teachers.

Titus Textual Variants

(3)
1:14

ἐντολαῖς — majority of mss

ἐνταλμασιν — F, G

γενεαλογιας — 1908

2:7

αφθοριαν — א Α C D* Κ P 33 (81) 104 1739 2495 al g vg^st

αδιαφθοριαν — א² D² Ψ Byz

αφθονιαν — Papyrus 32 F G 1881 pc

3:9

λογομαχιας — F, G

γενεαλογίας — majority of mss

2 Timothy Textual Variants

(4)
1:11

καὶ διδάσκαλος (and teacher) — א*, A, I, 1175, syr^pal

καὶ διάκονος (and servant) — 33

καὶ διδάσκαλος ἐθνῶν (and teacher of nations) — א^c, D, G, K, Ψ, 81, 88, 104, 181, 326, 330, 436, 451, 614, 629, 630, 1241, 1739, 1877, 1881, 1962, 1985, 2127, 2492, 2495, Byz, Lect

2:14

θεοῦ (of God) — א, C, G, I, 330, 436, 451, 614, 629, 630, 1877, 1962, 2492, 2495, ℓ 598, it

κυρίου (of the Lord) — A, D, K, P, Ψ, 048, 81, 88, 104, 181, 326, 1241, 1739, 1881, 1984, 1985, 2127, Byz, Lect

Χριστου (of Christ) — 206, 429, 1758

4:10

Γαλατιαν (to Galatia) — A D F G K L P Ψ 33 88 181 330 451 614 629 630 1241 1739 1877 1881 1962 1984 1985 2127 2492 2495 Byz Lect

Γαλλιαν (to Gaul) — א C 81 104 326 436

Γαλιλαιαν (to Galilee) — cop^bo

4:22

Ιησους (Jesus) – A, 104, 614, vg^st

Ιησους Χριστος (Jesus Christ) – א², C, D, Ψ, Byz, a, b, f, vg^cl

κυριος (Lord) – א, F, G, 33, 1739, 1881, cop^sa

1 Timothy Textual Variants

(12)
1:16

Ιησους (Jesus) — F G 1739 1881

Χριστος Ιησους (Christ Jesus) — A D* H Ψ 0262^vid 33 104 326 365 629 1175 lat

Ιησους Χριστος (Jesus Christ) — א D² Byz it^ar vg^mss syr

Ιησους ο Χριστος (Jesus the Christ) — 614

2:7

αληθειαν λεγω (I am telling the truth) — א² A D* F G P Ψ 075 0150 6 81 104 263 330 424^c 451 459 629 1175 1505 1739 1881 1912 2492 Lect^mss lat syr cop eth Ambrosiaster Ambrose Chrysostom John^Dam

αληθειαν λεγω εγω (I am telling the truth) — 2495

αληθειαν λεγω Χριστος (I am telling the truth of Christ) — 436

αληθειαν λεγω εν Χριστω (I am telling the truth in Christ) — א* D² H K L 33^vid 88 181 256 326 365 424* 614 630 1241 1573 1852 1877 2127 Byz Lect^mss it^ar vg^mss goth arm slav Theodoret Euthalius

αληθειαν λεγω εν Χριστω Ιησου (I am telling the truth in Christ Jesus) — 1319

3:1

ανθρωπινος (human or of a man) — D* it^b,d,g,m,mon Ambrosiaster Jerome^mss Augustine Speculum

πιστος (faithful) — rell

3:14

προς σε (to you) — omitted by F G 6 1739 1881 cop^sa

3:16

ομολογουμεν ως (just as we are professing) — D* 1175

ομολογουμενως (admittedly) — rell

3:16

ος εφανερωθη (he who was manifested) — א* A* C* F G 33 365 442 1175 2127 ℓ⁶⁰ ℓ⁵⁹⁹ syr goth eth Origen^lat Didymus Epiphanius Jerome Cyril Liberatus

ο εφανερωθη (which was manifested) — D* it vg

ω εφανερωθη (which was made manifest) — 061

ΘϹ εφανερωθη or θεος εφανερωθη (God was manifested) — א^c A^c C^c D^c K L P Ψ 075 0150 6 81 104 181 263 326 330 424 436 451 459 614 629 630 1241 1319 1573 1739 1852 1877 1881 1912 1962 1984 1985 2200 2492 2495 Byz Lect^mss slav Gregory Chrysostom Theodoret Euthalius Theodore of Mopsuestia

ο θεος εφανερωθη (the God was manifested) — 88

ος θεος εφανερωθη (the God who was manifested) — 256 ℓ⁵⁹⁷

4:10

αγωνιζομεθα – א* A C F^gr G^gr K Ψ 33 88 104 326 442 915 1175

ονειδιζομεθα – ‭א^c D L (P ονειδιζωμεθα) 81 181 330 436 451 614 629 630 1241 1739 1877 Byz Lect

ωνειδιζομεθα – 1881 1985

5:5

θεον (God) — C F G P Ψ 048 lat syr cop

τον θεον (of God) — ‭א² A D² 1739 1881 Byz

τον κυριον (of the LORD) — D* 81 vg^mss

κυριον (the LORD) — א*

5:19

εκτος ει μη επι δυο η τριων μαρτυρων (except from two or three witnesses) — omitted by it^b Ambrosiaster Jerome^mss Pelagius

5:21

Χριστου Ιησου — א A D* G 33 81 104 365 629 latt cop Clement

Ιησου Χριστου — F Ψ 630 1175 1739 1881

κυριου Ιησου Χριστου — D² Byz syr

6:7

οτι — א A F G 048 061 33 81 1739 1881

δηλον οτι — ‭א^c D^c K L P Ψ 104 181 326 330 436 451 614 629 630 1241 1877 1962 1984 1985 2127 2492 2495 Byz

αλητες οτι — D*

6:21

αμην (Amen) — ‭א² D² K L P Ψ 075 0150 6 88 104 181 256 263 326 330 365 424 436 451 459 614 629 630 1175 1241 1319 1573 1739^c 1852 1877 1912 1962 1984 1985 2127 2200 2492 2495 Byz Lect it^mss vg^mss syr cop^bo eth slav Ambrosiaster Theodoret John^Dam

omitted — א* A D* F G 33 81 1311 1739* 1881 it^mss vg^mss cop^sa Chrysostom Pelagius Euthalius^mss Speculum

2 Timothy 2:23 Avoid quarrels

2 Timothy 2:23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.

Here is another of those verses warning against useless quarrels. (See 1 Timothy 1:4, 4:7, 6:4; 2 Timothy 2:14, 16; Titus 3:9, etc). The warning is not against all argument but against getting involved in foolish and stupid arguments that is arguments where moral perversity and sheer ignorance drive the agenda. The reason they are to be avoided is because they produce quarrels or more literally fights. It is important for the minister to know where he is going to take his stand. There will inevitably be some things that he will not budge on and some things that he lives with. Deciding which is which is quite a skill. If he is not careful he will get into needless quarrels. Proverbs 26:4, 5 tells us that on one hand we must not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him and on the other that we must Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes. The skill is to be wise enough to judge which applies in which case. If the argument is foolish or stupid or both then it is the first proverb that applies.

2 Timothy 2:17 Spiritual Gangrene

2 Timothy 2:17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,

This verse is about the godless chatterers around at this time, people who Paul says had departed from the truth. They said that the resurrection has already taken place and no doubt they taught other heresies too. The verse tells us the tendency of such heresies and names two ring leaders. The names no doubt meant something to Timothy and others in that time but they mean nothing to us. Hymenaeus is presumably the man mentioned in 1 Timothy 1:20 alongside Alexander, both of whom Paul had handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme. (Alexander is presumably the one mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:14 - Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done.) Gangrene can be described as a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that arises when a considerable mass of body tissue dies (necrosis). It may occur after an injury or infection, or when a person has problems with blood circulation. The primary cause of gangrene is apparently reduced blood supply to the affected tissues, which results in cell death. False teaching can be thought of as serious and potentially life-threatening. It arises when a part of the body of Christ turns out to be dead in sin. False teaching can arise by direct attack or a misunderstanding of the truth. False teachers fail to supply the body with the life blood it needs.

2 Timothy 2:7 Reflection, Insight

2 Timothy 2:7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

This verse is one of those verses that is able to bring together the human and the divine almost seamlessly. Paul wants Timothy to reflect on what he is saying.  He wants him to turn it over in his mind. The context is Timothy being strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus and passing on the message from Paul to reliable witnesses who can then teach others. He is to suffer as a soldier does, compete as an athlete does ... according to the rules and be like a hard working farmer waiting for the crop. Paul does not suppose, however, that mere reflection on Timothy's part is the answer. He believes the Lord will give Timothy insight into or understanding of all this. When we read Paul's words and other parts of Scripture we also ought to reflect on what we read. It is as we reflect that the Lord will give us insight into all this. Here is a good hermeneutical rule then - Reflect long and hard on Scripture and look to the Lord to give you insight into what he means.

2 Timothy 1:7 The Spirit

2 Timothy 1:7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

Having exhorted Timothy to fan into flame his ministerial gifts, Paul goes on to remind him what effect the gift of God and of the Spirit of God should be having on him. Negatively, God's Spirit does not make us timid. The man who has the Spirit is ultimately afraid of nothing. Rather, positively, the Spirit gives us at least three things power, love and self-discipline. It is the Spirit who gives us the power to live godly lives, to preach the Word and to do all our other duties. It is the Spirit who enables us to love our fellow believers and all who we meet, even our enemies. He also enables us to be self-disciplined so that we want to pray and read the Word and deny ourselves and be godly and so that we live orderly and productive lives. Without the Spirit we are timid wrecks without power, unloving and lacking self-discipline. With the Spirit, there is the hope that we may boldly live energetic, loving and self-disciplined lives that bring glory to God. How thankful we should be for the Holy Spirit and his work within us whether we are ministers or not.

2 Timothy 1:6 Fanning Embers

2 Timothy 1:6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

After a brief introduction, Paul begins his second letter to Timothy by giving thanks for Timothy, who he regularly remembers in prayer. He longs to see Timothy again and remembers his tears and his sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. It is in the light of these things then - his own love for Timothy and the godly heritage that belongs to Timothy - that he gives the exhortation he gives, which is for Timothy to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. When Paul laid hands on Timothy at his ordination it was not simply a symbolic act. As an apostle he was able to impart the gift of God, the gift to be a minister. Timothy now had that gift from God. He also had a responsibility, however, to fan into flame that gift. When a fire is burning it can begin to burn low and be in danger of going out. Fire lives on oxygen and so one obvious way to get the flame to rise again is to fan it. In a similar way, ministerial gifts can begin to fade if the minister is not careful to fan it into flame by giving it the oxygen of his prayers and his efforts. The work of fanning into flame is chiefly a private work but its effects are seen far and wide.

1 Timothy 5:9, 10 Widows List

1 Timothy 5:9, 10 No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, 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.

It appears that the early churches kept a list of widows. These widows were not only supported financially (there being no state support) but served the church by helping in the practical work. Here Paul gives three qualifications, the last one being dealt with under five heads. The first qualification was an age one. Widows under sixty were expected to fend for themselves. Faithfulness to her dead husband is also required. The third qualification is that such a woman should be well known for her good deeds - so not just a do gooder but one well known for it. Five examples are given of the sorts of things in mind. These are bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people (which would mean showing hospitality in particularly needy situations where needed), helping those in trouble and a final catch all devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds. These are the sorts of activities ministers should be encouraging in the women of the congregation. Not all will be bringing up children, though many will be. Hospitality, sometimes hospitality to very needy people, will be typical. People who help those in trouble and do good deeds are the sort of people that are wanted in a church that seeks to help others.

1 Timothy 2:8 Men, Pray

1 Timothy 2:8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.

Because he wants prayer to be made for all men, especially for rulers, Paul calls for prayer everywhere. He asks especially that the men should pray. It is not that he is necessarily saying women should not pray but that men should take a lead in this. It is a fair inference to say that in the average prayer meeting it is the men who are to take the lead in addressing God. As they lead in prayer, men are to do two things. Paul speaks of lifting up holy hands. The normal stance for prayer was to lift up the hands and Paul insists these hands be holy, which is achieved not by washing them but by using them to do what is holy. The second thing Paul insists on is the forsaking of anger and disputing a theme that is often in the background in the pastoral letters (eg 1 Timothy 1:4, 6, 6:4, 5, 20; 2 Timothy 2:14, 16, 23; Titus 3:9-11). These two things are likely to hinder prayer - lack of holiness (Psalm 66:18, Proverbs 15:29, James 4:3) and anger or disputing (1 Peter 3:7, Matthew 5:23, 24, 6:12, 15; Mark 11:25). Ministers then must pray and they must encourage especially the men in their congregations to lead in prayer too. A church that is unholy or where there is strife and division will fail to be effective in prayer.

1 Timothy 2:2 For Kings

1 Timothy 2:2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

In 1 Timothy 2:1 Paul urges prayer for all sorts of people. In this second verse of the chapter Paul tells us two things more. Firstly, among the all sorts of people that Paul wants the believers to pray for are kings and all those in authority. The first term is pretty specific and no doubt speaks of the Emperor but the second is not and so would include Queens, Presidents, Prime Ministers, Ministers of State, MPs, Peers, Senators, Congressmen, Judges, Magistrates, Local councillors, etc, etc. Anyone who has any influence or power over people, however small it may be, is someone we can and ought to pray for. Secondly, the thing to pray for us is that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. We are to pray primarily for believers. We are to pray primarily for peaceful and quiet lives for them. The goal of this request is godliness and holiness. That is Paul's concern. He knows, of course, that godliness and holiness can flourish when there is no peace and no quiet but the order is to ask first for leaders to promote peace and quiet for believers. Members and ministers, the ministers taking the lead, should pray like this. We sometimes forget what an impact for good those in power have.

1 Timothy 1:18 Fight well

1 Timothy 1:18 Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well,

Here Paul speaks in a very personal way to his son in the faith, Timothy. He gives him a command or, to be more accurate, entrusts him with it - the command to deal with the false teachers in Ephesus, making proper use of the law. Paul does this in keeping with the prophecies once made about Timothy, which he refers to again, later in the letter (1 Timothy 4:14). In New Testament times, when there was no New Testament, there were still prophecies (although Paul could be using the term more loosely). Today we would think of ordination promises and charges. In both cases, these things must be recalled. Paul's hope is that by recalling them Timothy may fight the battle well or more traditionally  fight the good fight that is the fight of faith. The place of memory can easily be overlooked. It is an important weapon, however, that the minister can and must use in his war on Satan. Too often the buzz of ordination day is forgotten in the hurly burly of the real world. There is no need for that to happen and it is detrimental when it does. The Christian life is a fight, a fight we will win if we make right use of the helps God provides.

1 Timothy 1:11 The Gospel

1 Timothy 1:11 that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.

In 1 Timothy 1:8-10 Paul says that the law is good if one uses it properly. It was made not for the righteous but for wicked people and Paul gives examples of such wickedness (those who kill their fathers or mothers ... murderers ... the sexually immoral, etc) rounding off with the catch all whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine. Verse 11 then states that this sound doctrine conforms to the gospel .... In other words, there is no conflict between law and gospel. There is a big difference between seeking to be saved through the gospel and seeking to be saved through the law, of course, but law and gospel in and of themselves are not in conflict. The other things he says about the gospel or good news, the evangel, are that it concerns the glory of the blessed God and, he says, was entrusted to me. The gospel reflects glory on God as it shows his kindness, mercy and love as well as his justice. As an apostle, Paul was entrusted with its wonderful message. So too are those who faithfully preach it today. They must preach it in a way that is trustworthy, a way that glorifies God and a way that is not in conflict with the law. Here are three good tests for a man to use in order to measure his ministry. Am I trustworthily delivering the message? Am I doing it in a way that glorifies God? Am I doing it in a way that does not conflict with the law?