2 Timothy 3:10,11 You know

2 Timothy 3:10, 11 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings – what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.

Paul often makes lists. Here is one containing nine items. The purpose of it is to encourage Timothy to go the same way. He begins with my teaching. Doctrine is fundamental. We must follow Paul's teaching first. Doctrine can be divorced from life, however, and so he adds my way of life and more importantly my purpose. People can adopt a certain lifestyle and not share the purpose of the one they adopted it from. Then come the Christian virtues of faith, patience, love, endurance typical of Paul and with an emphasis on keeping on keeping on. Finally persecutions and sufferings. He expands on this by reminding Timothy of the kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. By this stage the items could seem less encouraging as a to do list but Paul adds, with great exuberance, Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. This is the Christian life then - following the apostolic teaching, way of life and purpose - believing and trusting but doing so with patience, love and an enduring spirit, regardless of persecution and other sufferings. This way was known to Timothy and it was the way Paul wants him to go and the way all ministers, indeed all believers, must go if they are in Christ.

Titus 3:11 Warped, sinful

Titus 3:11 You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.

In verse 9 of Titus 3 Paul tells Titus to avoid foolish controversies and pointless arguments. This leads him in verse 10 to tell him how to deal with divisive people. In their case, try as you might, there will be divisions and disagreements. They must be warned first and then warned again. if they persist in being divisive then certain conclusions can be fairly drawn, Paul says. This is the point of verse 11. You may be sure says Paul that such people have two obvious characteristics. They are warped and sinful. Such people are perverted. They are twisted. They have been bent from being straight and they fall short of the mark. Such people, he says are self-condemned. It is not clear what Paul means by this unique word. Is he talking about the way the man's own conscience condemns him or is it, and this seems more likely, that in dividing himself off from everyone else he shows that he does not really belong to the church and so in a paradoxical way he reveals the true state of his heart? So be on the look out for the divisive person. He will not listen to warnings, though they must be given. There is something so warped and sinful about him that you cannot work with him in the end and indeed he will not work with you anyway.

2 Timothy 1:5 Living Faith

2 Timothy 1:5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

This fascinating statement begins with Paul recalling Timothy's sincere faith, faith that was not hypocritical like that of some others. Timothy's story is a little buried in the New Testament but this verse, with others, suggests that Timothy's mother and grandmother, though not his father, were sincere believers, though under the old covenant at first. Presumably when Paul came to Derbe and preached the women were confirmed in their faith and young Timothy also believed and was circumcised when Paul decided to take him along on his journeys. Here Paul talks of this sincere faith having been housed first in Timothy's grandmother Lois then in his mother Eunice and now it was living in Timothy, Paul was persuaded. Each in turn gave a home to faith, which is ultimately God's gift. To have a mother or grandmother who has made a home for faith is an inestimable blessing. They cannot pass on their faith in any simple way but when you have seen what faith does in a person at close quarters it is a great privilege and makes you receptive to the idea of trusting in Christ for yourself. In ministry we need to seek to expose people to those who have made house room for faith.

1 Timothy 5:19, 20 Accused Elders

1 Timothy 5:19, 20 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning.

In 1 Timothy 5:19, 20 Paul is dealing with elders accused of sin. First, he urges caution. Just because someone accuses an elder of something we ought not to assume there is anything in it. Rather, it is only if two or three witnesses are willing to bring an accusation that something needs to be done. However, if it found that an elder is guilty of some serious sin then he must not be spared. Rather he is to be reproved publicly before everyone. This is so that the others may take warning. The general rule with elders then is to be slow to receive accusations against them but to rebuke them publicly when it is clear they are in the wrong. Paul says nothing about removing them from office. Presumably each case would have to be judged on its own merits. Paul speaks of Timothy entertaining or not entertaining an accusation and reproving certain ones. Some would see in that authority for episcopal bishops but that is unlikely as otherwise there would need to be some mechanism for them to be dealt with. No doubt what Pauls says to Timothy is intended to inform the church itself.

 

1 Timothy 5:5, 6 Two Widows

1 Timothy 5:5, 6 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. But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.

In 1 Timothy 5:5, 6 two sorts of widows are contrasted. On the one hand, we have a widow really in need and left all alone who puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. This is the sort of widow that should be put on the list of widows in the church, people who worked for the church in return for financial provision. Such a woman deserves to be helped and will be a help because of her prayerful disposition. On the other hand, there is the widow who lives for pleasure. Such a woman has not died like her husband but in truth she is dead even while she lives. That is to say, she is spiritually dead and no use to the church in her current state. Perhaps while her husband was alive she appeared to be spiritual but with his death it has become apparent that she lacks spirituality. Later on in verse 15 Paul reveals that there have been some bad experiences in this respect. Once again we are reminded of Jesus's adage about being as gentle as doves and yet as wise as snakes. Pastors ought to be able to discern who is really in need and prayerful and who is merely living for pleasure and act appropriately.

1 Timothy 4:13 Devote yourself

1 Timothy 4:13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.

Among the things that Timothy was to focus on was "reading", chiefly the public reading of Scripture and preaching or exhorting and ... teaching. It would be tempting to think that reading is not as important now as it was when people didn't have their own copies of Scripture. However, the public reading of Scripture ought to be up there with preaching and teaching for faithful ministers of the Word. It is unlikely that Paul is imagining over sharp divisions among these three categories. In practice, teaching and preaching often intermingle and Scripture reading is always involved with that. There are times, however, when the focus is solely exhortation or teaching. What ever happens each minister needs to work out for himself, sometimes in consultation with others, how he can keep the focus on the public reading of Scripture ... preaching and ... teaching. This is what is best for churches in Christ.

1 Timothy 4:2 Hypocritical Liars

1 Timothy 4:2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.

1 Timothy 4 begins with a reference to people abandoning the faith and following deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Verse 2 goes on to say that these teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. What they teach then is not true - they are liars. It has an appearance of good, however, because they are hypocritical liars. How can they carry it off? Paul says that their consciences have been seared as with a hot iron which is probably a  reference to desensitisation. People were aware that cauterisation, as in branding, left the skin no longer sensitive. Something similar happens with regard to conscience in these people. Their consciences no longer react as they should and so they are able to lie and act hypocritically without it bothering them too much. It is like the description in Ephesians 4:19 of people who having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity ....  It is important to remember this as it explains how some religious leaders cannot be taken at face value. It is also a reminder of the danger of desensitising one's own conscience to the point where it hardly functions. Such desensitisation does not come overnight but from long neglect.

1 Timothy 3:10 Tested first

1 Timothy 3:10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

As far as being clear is concerned 1 Timothy 3:10 is pretty straightforward. Paul is talking about deacons, those who serve the church in a practical way, and he is describing what sort of men are needed. He then says that first they need to be tested or proved and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. The difficulty is not with understanding the idea but with how it is to be carried out. For example, are they to be appointed as deacons and then asked to step down if they prove to be not up to it? Or should there be a distinct category of probationary or junior deacons? Or is the testing best done without any official mention of it? Possibly, Paul simply means that it should first be weighed up whether they are indeed worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. Perhaps, the idea of giving them jobs to do before making them deacons is the most likely answer. Men are to be involved in practical matters on a more ad hoc basis and if they prove able then they should at some later point be made deacons. The idea sometimes mooted of making a man a deacon with the hope of it improving him is not a biblical idea at all. That is to put the cart before the horse.

1 Timothy 3:6 Mature Believer

1 Timothy 3:6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgement as the devil.

Still discussing qualifications for eldership Paul adds here in 1 Timothy 3:6 that such a person must not be a recent convert. He must not be a neophyte, one newly planted. A reason is given for this. Just as one is careful with a newly planted tree or bush so one must be with a recent convert. What does Paul mean exactly by recent convert? No doubt there will be differences in definition from time to time and place to place. Always, however, some months at least or years in most cases must pass before a man can be given the responsibility of eldership. The argument is that otherwise he may become conceited (all smoked up) and fall under the same judgement as the devil which appears to be a reference to his ambitious pride. The Bible never spells it out in so many words but it appears that it was ambition that undid the devil, who was not content with his high position before God but sought something higher. Of course, a period of waiting does not guarantee the eradication of pride and ambition but it does give a cooling off period when one can come to terms with certain matters and is a policy that must be applied in all churches. In today's climate something like three to five years between conversion from the world to eldership might be appropriate.

1 Timothy 2:9, 10 Women's Adornment

1 Timothy 2:9, 10 I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

At this point Paul is dealing with public worship and one of his concerns regards how women dress in these meetings. I also want the women to dress modestly, he says with decency and propriety. Negatively, he singles out elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes as being inappropriate and unhelpful. A lack of modesty and decency in the way the women of a congregation dress can have quite an impact and needs to be considered carefully. Rather than concentrating on fashion or looking outwardly beautiful women should rather be concerned to do good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. Because Paul is a man these verses could sound a little harsh but this is not a blast against women and fashion but an encouragement to Timothy to do what he can to get the women in the congregation focussed on what really matters. Pastors need to deal with such issues with great sensitivity but directing the attention of women to passages like this one will be a great help as, if they are spiritual people, then they will be eager to take to heart what is said here about the true way to beauty.

1 Timothy 1:16 An Example

1 Timothy 1:16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.

In 1 Timothy 1:15 Paul speaks of himself as the worst of sinners. Here, in the following verse, he says that this is the reason why he was shown mercy by God - so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example (a pattern) for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. He had obviously thought long and hard about his amazing conversion and he had come to the conclusion that one of the chief reasons God had done what he did was that right at the beginning of the gospel there would be an outstanding example of a man utterly opposed to Christ brought to faith in him. What an encouragement to know of his Damascus Road experience and see that God can turn around even the most hardened of sinners. If he could do it for Paul, who could he not do it for? Great sinners are converted and so no-one need despair, how ever low they may have sunk. What an encouragement to preachers to know that even far gone sinners can be saved. More than that their very ignorance an unbelief argues their need of mercy. There is no other way they can be saved. When such sinners are saved it displays God's great patience in a tremendous way.

1 Timothy 1:3, 4 God's Work

1 Timothy 1: 3, 4 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work – which is by faith.

The very first thing in this letter, after the introduction, is a reminder to Paul's son Timothy of the duty of commanding certain people not to teach false doctrines (hetero-teachings) any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies (see also 4:7; Titus 1:14, 3:9 and 2 Timothy 4:4 on the latter problem). Timothy perhaps was keen to move on to some new sphere of work but if that was the case, it was not to be. Paul wants him to stay where he is. The work envisaged is a negative work but sometimes when the churches are under threat it is this negative work that needs to be given priority. False teachers do arise from time to time and, if not dealt with, they can gain quite a foothold. At such times opposing them becomes a priority for those who lead God's people as the sort of thing such people teach promotes controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work – which is by faith. It is a negative work then but one that serves to positively promote the work of God as it turns people from controversial speculations to what will really advance God’s work – which is faith in Jesus Christ. Each minister has to assess his own situation, guided by the advice of others who are wise. In some cases there will be little negative teaching, in other cases a fair bit will be necessary. In most cases something will need to be done to prevent false doctrine and so to promote faith.