2 Timothy 2:20, 21 Noble Purposes

2 Timothy 2:20, 21 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work

These verses are a little difficult but if we think of the church of God as being like a large house with a solid foundation (as stated in the previous verse) then those within it can be thought of as articles for various purposes in that house. Just as in a house articles are made of different materials (gold, silver, wood, clay) all depending on what exactly they are used for so in God's church different ones have different qualities and different purposes under God. Some are for noble use, some, sadly, for ignoble. Here Timothy is exhorted to avoid those who are clearly made for ignoble purposes - people who go in for godless chatter or who have begun to wander away from the truth. Timothy is to cleanse himself from such in order that he may be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. What is striking here is that Paul is saying that distinctions need to be made even within the church membership, otherwise if ignoble people get in they can soon pull down the whole edifice unless great care is taken. Wise pastors will learn to disentangle themselves and their churches from vessels of ignoble purpose.

1 Timothy 1:15 Christ Came

1 Timothy 1:15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst.

This is one of the greatest evangelistic texts in the New Testament. It is the first of the five trustworthy sayings of the pastoral letters (the others are in 1 Timothy 3:1 and 4:9, 2 Timothy 2:11 and Titus 3:8) and one of two where Paul says that it deserves full acceptance (1 Timothy 4:9 is the other). The heart of the verse simply says that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. In preaching the verse you would perhaps begin with the name Christ Jesus, explaining what this name points to - the God man, the Messiah who saves. Perhaps the next point should focus on his coming into the world (this is the part that makes the text an appropriate one for an Advent message). Finally, there is why he came - to save sinners. Alternatively, one could begin with sinners, showing that we are all such, and work back to the coming and the fact that he is Christ Jesus. The final phrase of whom I am the worst is a little difficult in that Paul says it of himself. It is understandable that he should and is the zenith or rather nadir of his self-description, being preceded by the admission that he is the least of the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:9) and the least of all the saints (Ephesians 3:8). How to apply that to others is problematic. If Paul is the worst sinner then I am not, but may be Paul was only the worst to that point. At the very least it teaches us not to have too high an opinion of ourselves. It certainly points us to the greatness of Christ and his salvation.

1 Timothy 1:5, 6 Good consciences

1 Timothy 1:5, 6 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk.
After the briefest introduction, Paul tells Timothy in this first letter that he must command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer, etc. He says that the goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Far from wanting to pull others down in a spirit of rivalry, Paul assures Timothy his command is motivated by love. To prove it he explains that this love is rooted in three things - a pure heart ... a good conscience and a sincere faith. The phrases are synonymous. The conscience is the heart and faith resides in the heart or conscience. The terms pure, good and sincere are very similar. The point then is that this is a love springing from a heart that wants only what is holy and true. If our hearts were purer, our consciences better, our faith more sincere we would love more and we would have a greater care for believers and a stronger resistance to false teachers. Paul observes (6) that the false teachers have departed from or fallen short of a pure heart, a good conscience, a sincere faith and so lack love. The emptiness that follows they endeavour to fill with meaningless words. They have a lot to say about the Bible, especially the law, but it is has no real meaning. Preachers must preach with a good conscience out of love for those they address. The moment you abandon pursuing these you no longer have anything of substance to impart. "Such, indeed is all preaching where Jesus Christ is not held forth" (Adam Clarke). These false teachers probably dealt in pretended distinctions in the law, traditions and ceremonies, endless genealogies and far-fetched additions to the law. Such teaching is of no use to anyone to lead them to Christ. Good pastors avoid meaningless talk and oppose those who turn to it.

Titus 3:10 Divisive Persons

Titus 3:10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him.
In Titus 3:10 Paul advises Titus on how to deal with troublemakers. He says that he should  Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. If After that, there is no change then have nothing to do with him. So we begin with warnings. The once .... a second time guide is not to happen on one day or in a week. It is a general rule. One warning is not enough, there must be time for repentance. If eventually, however, there is no change then that person must come under formal church discipline. Paul says nothing about congregational decisions here but that is no doubt assumed. In the end, if there is no repentance, then ostracism is necessary. This may seem harsh but it is because, as Paul puts it, in verse 11, You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. Some people are simply divisive by nature. Nothing will change them. This is a sobering fact and is evidence of the realism of the New Testament and its rejection of Utopianism. It is a little like Paul's seemingly pessimistic How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? (1 Corinthians 7:16). Do not miss the hope here, though. There are those who are able, by God's grace, to change. Good pastors seek change but recognise that it does not always happen.

Titus 3:1, 2 Some Reminders

Titus 3:1, 2 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.

The final chapter of Titus, as we call it, begins with Paul calling on Titus to remind the people of a number of things. In verses 1 and 2 there are some five altogether. They are submission to the powers that be and obedience, readiness to do good, avoidance of slander, being peaceable and considerate and humility. So the people are to be reminded, firstly, to be subject to rulers and authorities and to be obedient something the New Testament urges in more than one place (see 2 Timothy 2, etc). More generally, they are to be reminded to do whatever is good. This exhortation appears in several other places in this letter (2:14 and verses 8 and 14 of this chapter - to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good ... I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good ... Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good). The third thing is that they should slander no one, again something often spoken of in the New Testament (Ephesians 4:31, Colossians 3:8). The last two things the people are to be reminded of are to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men (see Colossians 3:12, 13, etc).

Titus 2:15 Authoritative Teacher

Titus 2:15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

What we call Chapter 2 of Titus ends with three brief exhortations. The first of these says that these ... are the things Titus must teach. This takes us back to the opening verse of the chapter - You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. The content of the chapter includes teaching for older men (2), older women (3, 4), younger women by implication (5), younger men (6) and slaves (9, 10) along with exhortations about how to teach (7, 8) and the nature of the gospel (11-14). The next sums up the need to Encourage and rebuke with all authority. This echoes the statement in Chapter 1 that an elder (verse 9) 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. Encouraging and rebuking or opposing that is the work. The call here to do this with all authority leads into the third and final general exhortation - Do not let anyone despise you. This is reminiscent of 1 Timothy 4:12a Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young.  A minister must not be proud but he must have a confidence that refuses to be despised.

Titus 2:7, 8 Exemplary Teacher

In Titus 2:1-8 Paul tells Titus what he is to teach to various groups in the church - Women old and young, men old and young. He rounds it off by calling on Titus to do two things and these in some ways sum up the calling of the minister. First, he is to be an example - In everything set them an example by doing what is good. Titus and every minister who seeks to follow in his footsteps must always remember that in all he does he is setting an example that the people should be encouraged to follow. The second thing is to teach. Paul syas In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. Integrity, seriousness and soundness are to be the hallmarks of his teaching. There will be oppostion but the opposers will not be able to withstand his teaching if it has these three characteritics. They will speak against him but their words will sound hollow. So here is a broad plan of action for the minister - give them a good example and teach with integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech.