1 Timothy 4:1 Demonic Teaching

1 Timothy 4:1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.

No doubt the later times that Paul talks about here refers to the whole period between the first and second coming of Christ. 2 Timothy 3:1ff says something similar (But mark this: there will be terrible times in the last days, etc). Quite how the Spirit has said clearly is not made set out but Paul is perhaps thinking of recorded Old Testament prophecies and ones from the New Testament period that have not all been recorded. Certainly Jesus himself said that At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, etc (Matthew 24:10). The prophecy is that some will abandon the faith and that some will follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such information should give some comfort when we see apparent Christians apostatise and when we see large numbers of people believing things that run clean contrary to what God's Word teaches. Deceiving spirits are active and demons promulgate everything from the theory of evolution through the legitimacy of abortion and assisted suicide to the JW teaching against blood transfusions. Such wild ideas have been taught down the ages - the inferiority of certain races, the acceptability of bull or bear baiting, of human trafficking and crucifixion. This is what we must expect and not become alarmed at. It is part of a minister's calling to tell people that this is the case.

1 Timothy 3:8, 9, 12 Deacons Qualifications

1 Timothy 3:8, 9, 12 In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain.  They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. .... A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well.

The seven main qualifications for a deacon (the Greek word simply means servant) are found in these verses. The In the same way at the beginning points to the fact that these qualifications are very similar to those for the elders. Both lists contain similar items - worthy of respect (respectable), not indulging in much wine (not given to drunkenness) and not pursuing dishonest gain (not a lover of money). Sincere appears and keeping hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience but not above reproach, temperate, self-controlled, hospitable, able to teach. Faithful to his wife and managing his children comes in verse 12. The deacon then has to be a mature believer but he may not have a gift to teach. His home life is again an important test of his ability in church life. Irreproachability and hospitableness are desirable but not of the essence of the work. We get a clear idea then of a New Testament deacon. One almost in every way like an elder but with a less public persona. If a church has faithful deacons getting on with the practical matters that always need to be thought of and so freeing the elders to do their real work then all the members will be greatly blessed indeed.

1 Timothy 3:2, 3 The Overseer

1 Timothy 3:2, 3 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

These verses contain the basic qualifications for an overseer or elder. Some 11 characteristics are listed - the very number suggests, perhaps, someone above the average. The seventh qualification is different to all the others in that it does not necessarily have a moral dimension. This is the requirement that the overseer be able to teach. The other requirements would be desirable in all Christians. They are necessary for the teacher because without them his teaching will be hollow and hypocritical. So what is being looked for is an irreproachability, faithful monogamy, temperance, self-control, gravity, hospitableness, sobriety, gentleness, calmness and unselfishness. To be above reproach does not mean that a man is perfect but that there is no obvious flaw in his character and life. Some have assumed that an overseer must be married but the point is that he must be faithful to one wife if he is married. If she dies, he is not suddenly disqualified. The checklist serves both as  an indicator of what to look for in a possible overseer and as a reminder to overseers of what is required of them. If an elder finds he is becoming intemperate, say, or reclusive, violent, quarrelsome or is tempted to be unfaithful or get drunk or is lacking self control or thinking about money all the time then he is in serious trouble. He is no longer above reproach or respectable and is in danger of being unfit to teach.

1 Timothy 2:13, 14 Adam, Eve

1 Timothy 2:13, 14 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.

In 1 Timothy 2:11, 12 Paul states plainly that though A woman should learn she should do so in quietness and full submission. Paul says I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. He gives his arguments for this view in verses 13 and 14. His first argument is from creation and his second from the Fall. His first argument is from the very way God made man and woman in the first place. God could have made the woman first or the man and the woman at the same time but he did not. Rather, he deliberately, and Paul suggests pointedly, formed Adam first, and then Eve. Surely, says Paul there is something to learn from that very fact. It is a reminder to read our Bibles carefully. Secondly, reminding us of the Fall, he says And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. His point here seems to be that the Fall occurred only because basics like the precedence of man over woman were forgotten. When Eve took the lead she was deceived and so became the first sinner. Adam was not deceived though he still ate. Those who deny the Genesis account will, of course, struggle with Paul's reasoning here, but those who accept Genesis will also readily accept the rule that women should not be teachers or have authority over men in the church. This is an office reserved to men who God calls.

1 Timothy 2:3, 4 Pleasing God

1 Timothy 2:3, 4 This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

Having begun the chapter by urging prayer for all sorts of people Paul goes on to say why he is urging this activity and what it is in the character of God that lies behind this. So firstly he urges prayer for peace that leads to godliness because (for) This is good, and pleases God our Saviour. When peace prevails and godliness flourishes then that is good in itself, everybody benefits, and it is pleasing to God our Saviour. That is what he wants. In fact God wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth which no doubt means that God wants all sorts of people to be saved and to know the truth rather than that he wants every individual to be saved, which would surely contradict his purpose in election. Of course, there is a sense in which he does want all people to be saved as there is never any pleasure in God in the death of the wicked. It is interesting to note the way being saved and coming to a knowledge of the truth are linked here. They are clearly parallel. You cannot be saved without coming to a knowledge of the truth. Pastors must recognise what pleases God and so do all that they can to promote godliness. They must be concerned to see all sorts of people saved too, reaching out in many directions. They must also understand that it is as people get to know the truth that they are saved and so they will be preaching the truth at all times.

1 Timothy 1:20 Handed Over

1 Timothy 1:20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

In 1 Timothy 1:19 Paul talks about the way some have rejected faith and a good conscience and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith. In verse 20 he gives the example of Hymenaeus and Alexander. A Hymenaeus (probably the same one) is mentioned in 2 Timothy 2:17 but we know nothing more about these two or what exactly happened but it is clear that whereas at one point they showed promise at a later point they, like Judas and Demas and others, became apostate. Paul says that he had handed them over to Satan, which is a phrase that Paul uses in 1 Corinthians 5 and is clearly a reference to church discipline. Paul did this with the hope that these blasphemers may be stopped. Whether Paul was hopeful of restoration or simply means that he was antiseptically removing the source of the blasphemy is not clear. What the verse reminds us is that people can become apostate, real people, people we know. It also makes clear that such people must be dealt with. They must be removed from the church so that they will not cause others to reject the faith and good conscience held out in the gospel. If such people are restored all to the good but if not at least the rot is stopped from spreading.

1 Timothy 1:7 Ignorant Bluffers

1 Timothy 1:7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

Paul is talking to Timothy in this verse about the false teachers who he wants him to oppose. He points out the disconnect between their aspirations and the reality. They aspire to be teachers of the law. They want to be considered to be knowledgeable people, experts, those able to give instruction on matters of the law. In reality, they are ignorant and do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm. They are bluffers. They make out as if they are talking sense with their confident affirmations but the truth is that they have nothing of value to say. This is a phenomenon that is seen to this very day and that exists in many spheres. The first thing we must do, especially if we are preachers, is to make sure that we are not guilty of the same thing. Okay you want to be a minister, a pastor, an elder, a teacher. Nothing wrong with that. But do make sure that you know what you are talking about and that your emphatic assertions have real solidity. In order to do that there is need for time to study - study to prepare for the work in general and study to deliver the particular message at the time. Without that we will be subject to more and more people who may sound knowledgeable and who may speak reassuringly and yet who are ignorant bluffers. Where we see this in others we must do what we can to expose their ignorance and bluff in order that others will not be led astray.