::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The authorship of the Pastoral Epistles (I and II
Timothy and Titus) has recently been attacked by liberal theologians. Bible believers accept the traditional view
that Paul is the writer
about AD 65
shortly before his second imprisonment and death.
But critics date it around AD 95, and assign it to a
disciple of Paul who may have had access to some scraps of Pauls writings.
* * * * * * * * * *
Timothy is Pauls son in the Faith
possibly
converted during the apostles first missionary journey (Acts 14). There seems to be a timidity about his
temperament that needs continual encouragement (I Timothy 4:12, 14; 5:21; II
Timothy 1:7-8; I Corinthians 16:10). Paul has appointed him to be Home Mission
Superintendent at Ephesus (I Timothy 1:3).
Already the false teachers are creeping into the fellowship
as Paul
had previously warned (Acts 20:28-29).
Timothy is to appoint pastors (sometimes called
Bishops or Elders in the New Testament).
And other guidelines are given concerning various
church matters.
* * * * * * * * * *
After the greeting
which is in itself an
encouragement to the young Timothy
for God is OUR Saviour and OUR Father, and
Jesus is OUR Hope and OUR Lord
and what Hes done for me (implies Paul) He
can do for you, Timothy! And for you
reader.
* FALSE
TEACHERS
vs. 3-7
Instead of preaching true doctrine which produces
GODLY EDIFYING (v. 4), they proclaim fables and endless genealogies which
produce VAIN JANGLINGS (v. 6)
a wilderness of words is the NEB rendering.
They claim to be reachers of the law, says Paul, and
that sets him off on a tangent.
The
Purpose of the Law
vs. 8-11
The list of sins given in verses 9 and 10 parallel
the Ten Commandments. The Law was not
given to save sinners
but to reveal the need of a Saviour. The Law is good (v. 8), if used to show sinners
their need. But not if it is held up as
a way of salvation. Law-keeping is not
the Gospel. And Pauls mention of the
Gospel (v. 11) shoots him off on another track!
In
Praise of the Gospel
vs. 12-17
This Gospel is that Jesus saves sinners. And, adds the apostle, Im the worst !! (v.
15).
Those who feign would serve
Him most
are conscious most of wrong within.
* FALSE
TEACHERS ( again !)
vs. 18-20
Ah! back
onto the subject. Timothy is reminded
of the inspired utterances spoken over him when commissioned to this task
and
exhorted to be a soldier
waging war against the false teachers. Two apostates are named, having been
excommunicated by Paul.
..
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Most commentators consider that the theme of the
first eight verses in the church at prayer.
Certainly we are looking at the subject of Prayer
and men in particular
praying (women feature in vs. 9-10)
but the actual place of prayer is
spoken of as every place
not just a church building.
.
Prayer should be made for ALL men
especially those
who rule over us (vs. 1-2).
Why? Because
God wants ALL men to be saved (vs. 3-4). ( not just Calvins elect ! )
So He sent His Son to die for ALL
(vs. 5-6).
Therefore
pray in ALL places (v. 8).
Lifting up holy hands
the main thing is the
hearts holiness, rather than outward display.
Without wrath
a forgiving spirit toward
our fellow man, and without doubting
we are to come believing the
promises of His Word.
.
Note the ONE MEDIATOR
The Lord Jesus
vs. 5-6
He is the bridge Who spans the gap twixt God and
man. He is the God-man.
He is the ONLY Mediator
not Mary, nor any of the
saints. Or a human priest.
His death was a Ransom
a price paid to redeem
sinners from Hell (v. 6).
And He is to be the theme of our preaching to be
testified in due time (v. 6).
Although God desires all men to be saved, the death of our Saviour merely provides such an opportunity for salvation ... only those who respond to the gospel are saved. Men and women must come to the Truth (v. 4).
After telling us that he (Paul) was appointed as the
one who was to take this message to the Gentiles, he resumes his original topic
of the need for prayer (v. 8).
Women, too, must display the virtues listed in v. 8 (In
like manner
v. 9).
They are to dress modestly and to occupy their
God-given role in the home as a help-meet to their husbands. Such was the purpose of creation
vs.
13-14.
Verse 15 is a problem text that causes commentators
to go in diverse directions. Perhaps it
means that women will find their salvation in going about faithfully in the
domestic role to which God appointed them.
Salvation is to be understood in the sense of wholeness
and
satisfaction
as they go about their daily routine of motherhood and
house-keeping
???
==========================================================
SERVANTS OF GOD
AND A SONG !
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
In chapter 1 we saw the need for constant
vigilance against those who would spread false doctrine in the church.
Chapter 2 introduced
us to the subject of the church at prayer
men and women
in every place.
Now we meet the officers of the church
and their
pre-requisites.
* * * * * * * * * *
1. CONCERNING
BISHOPS
vs. 1-7
You will notice that the Living Bible translates it
pastor, and in those early days of church history a bishop was simply one
who had the oversight of a group of believers.
Pastor is a good modern-day translation. The qualifications for a man called to this position, and to be
appointed by Timothy (5:22, are listed (vs. 2-7).
.
2. CONCERNING
DEACONS
vs. 8-13
A similar list of qualifications is given for those
who are called to assist the Pastor.
Not only the church officer, but his wife also, must meet certain
requirements (3:11).
..
3. CONCERNING
PAULS PLANS
v. 14
He hopes to see Timothy shortly (an odd thing to
include if the letter is a forgery, as the critics claim).
..
4. CONCERNING
THE CHRISTIAN FAITH
vs. 15-16
Speaking of the church as the depository of the
Truth, Paul quotes an ancient Christian hymn to round off this section.
God is not in the best manuscripts. Rather read He (v. 16). Nevertheless, the hymn refers to God the Son
our Lord Jesus.
He was SEEN ON EARTH
Manifest in the flesh refers to His incarnation.
Justified in Spirit seems to refer to His
sinlessness.
He was SEEN IN HEAVEN
see of angels
speaks of His Ascension.
He was PREACHED ON EARTH
to Gentiles and
believed on.
He was LIVING IN HEAVEN
received up into
Glory
The atonement is not mentioned because the subject
is Holiness
godliness in human flesh.
Such godliness was seen in the Lord Jesus
and it
should be seen in His representatives here and now!
==========================================================
Timothy: Sing-a-long with Paul
!
(
Another version of my notes on Pauls hymn )
.
1 Timothy 3: 16Beyond all
question, the mystery of godliness is great:
He appeared in a body,
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory.
.
INTRODUCTION. This verse is accepted by scholars as an early Christian
hymn. The Apostle quotes it to Timothy
and it could well be that Paul even composed it in the first place.
Teaching
doctrine by means of song has continued throughout the history of the Church.
And that which is imbedded in the mind by way of music and rhyme often remains
in the mind when a sermon is long forgotten !
.
(1) INCARNATION
He appeared in a
body Our Lord Jesus left the Ivory
Palaces of Heaven to be born in Bethlehems stable. For only as a sinless human
could He offer His life as a sacrifice for sin.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail the incarnate Deity ! ( C.Wesley)
(2) VINDICATION
He was vindicated by the Spirit. During His earthly ministry the Lord Jesus
claimed to be the long-awaited messiah ( John 4:25-26)
claimed to be able to
forgive sins ( Mark 2:10)
claimed to be God ! ( John 8:58-59 ; 10:33)
But
were His claims to be believed ?
Indeed
they were !! He was declared to be the Son of God when the Holy Spirit raised
Him from the dead. ( Romans 1: 3-4) If
He had not risen , it would have proved His claims were fraudulent. And
Christianity would have been based on a lie. ( 1 Corinthians 15:14,17)
.
(3) ADORATION He was seen of angels. Once they had pondered, to no avail, the meaning of the Old Testament
prophecies.( 1 Peter 1:10-12) But at Bethlehem they understood that the Son of
God had come to save lost sinners.
Thus it was the Angelic Host joined with Mary , Joseph and the
shepherds to worship the new-born King !
..
(4) PROCLAMATION .. He was preached among the nations.
Not just to the Jews
but to those despised
Gentiles dogs as the Jews called them
!
Note
the contrasts thus far
He came down to earth
but He arose on high: He was worshipped by angels
and He was
offered to the dogs to be their Saviour .
The
Book of Acts tells of the early church spreading the good news
and subsequent history tells of missionaries who took this message of salvation
to the four corners of the earth. Eventually there shall gather around the
Throne of Glory the redeemed from every nation and kindred and people and
tongue. ( Revelation 7:9)
..
(5) SALVATION !! He was believed on in the world. It is not enough that the Son of God was born
and died
raised by the Holy Spirit
worshipped and proclaimed. These are facts.
But there must be a response on the part of the listener if salvation is to be
gained. It is whosoever believeth
in Him that will partake of the great salvation freely offered.
Alas,
many refuse to accept Him as Saviour and Lord.
The
choice is yours.
(6) GLORIFICATION He was taken up in glory.
Not just His ascension is here referred to, but the enthronement that
awaited Him.
It
has been suggested that in Revelation 4-5 John sees this wonder-filled moment.
The Lord Jesus arrives Home to receive the applause of the Heavenly host.
11Then I looked and
heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten
thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures
and the elders. 12In a loud voice they sang:
"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!"
13Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the
earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and
ever!"
..
CONCLUSION Great,
indeed, is the wonder and mystery of our faith
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Studies in I and II Timothy Number 4
SING-A-LONG WITH
PAUL
(
And another version of Pauls song !)
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Without
controversy great
Is the mystery
of godliness:
God was manifest
in the flesh,
He was
justified in the Spirit:
He was seen of
Angels,
He was preached
unto the Gentiles,
He was believed
on in the world,
He was received
up into glory.
(I
Timothy 3:16)
Commentators are pretty well agreed that this verse is a
quotation from an early Christian hymn.
Maybe it was even composed by Paul himself! There is wisdom in putting the truths of the Faith into
song. They are most easily
remembered. And more firmly embedded in
the mind. The word God is not in all
manuscripts
therefore most modern translations put the word He. It doesnt really matter as the He refers
to God the Son anyway
1. MANIFEST
IN THE FLESH.
God revealed Himself in the Person of His Son. He was made flesh and dwelt among us (John
1:14).
Oh! Who am I that for my sake
My Lord should take
frail flesh and die? (S. Crossman)
.
2. JUSTIFIED
IN (BY) THE SPIRIT
It means that the claims made by Jesus of Nazareth to be the
Great I Am
the Son of God
were proven to be true by His resurrection from
the dead (Romans 1:3-4). It was a
justifiable claim which He made.
..
3. SEEN OF
ANGELS
Before His first advent, how they puzzled over the Old
Testament prophecies! (I Peter
1:10-11).
And during His earthly ministry how often they watched over
Him.
He
could have called 10,000 angels
to destroy the world and set Him free
.
4. PREACHED
UNTO THE GENTILES
What a contrast!
Adored by the angelic creatures
despised and scorned by the Gentile
dogs (as the Jews called them). Not
by all of them
but by the majority
and thus it is today.
..
5. BELIEVED
ON IN THE WORLD
There were those, Jew and Gentile, who examined His claims
and found them trustworthy. So it has
continued since apostolic times until eventually there will be a great host in
Glory that no man can number (Revelation 7:9).
6. RECEIVED
UP INTO GLORY
Perhaps the reference is to our Lords Ascension and
Coronation. It is the scene described
in Revelation 5, where we see the Lamb
just slain
now arriving in Heavens
Throne Room. The angelic host and the
redeemed saints cry: Worthy is the Lamb to receive
glory! (Revelation
5:12.)
----------------------------
CONCLUSION
It is a mystery (v. 16), to think that He should suffer
and die for sinners. It is a mystery
to understand His Deity and Humiliation and Ascension and Glorification. But as Daniel Webster said: I want no Saviour that my poor finite mind
can comprehend. I need a superhuman
Saviour!
And that is exactly what this early hymn is all about.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Again Paul warns his son in the faith of the false
teachers.
1. THE
FALSE TEACHERS DESCRIBED
4:1-5
·
Their
unscriptural doctrines are outlined for us.
·
The
origin of their teaching is seducing spirits.
·
The
result of their teaching is bondage to man-made laws.
2. THE PASTOR ADVISED
4:6-11
He is to warn the flock of these heretics. A good shepherd not only feeds the flock but
wages war with the wolves. Pastors are to proclaim that which exercises the
soul unto godly living (4:7). For godliness is not only profitable now
it leads to the Life to come (4:8).
So this is the message to proclaim to ALL men
(4:10-11).
3. TIMOTHYS
PERSONAL LIFE
4:12-16
Young Timothy is exhorted to be an example to the
flock, he is to attend to reading (i.e. public reading of the Scriptures), and
to his preaching and teaching (4:13). He is to remember his ordination
and
the word of prophecy then given. Such
will encourage him (4:14). He is to be
ever mindful of the responsibility committed to him
for the salvation of men
and women is at stake (4:16).
And there is some advice to Timothy for his upset
tummy
(5:23).
* * * * * * * * * *
Timothy is to watch his relationship with various
groups within the church.
* Elders
older folk
are to be respected.
* Young
women with all purity (5:2).
* Widows
fall into categories:
(i) Those who are destitute of family aid
(5:3-10)
(ii) Young widows who can still fend for themselves. It is best
for them to
re-marry! (5:14.)
But see that
the older widows are cared for.
The responsibility of children to aged parents is
also dealt with (5:4, 8).
The ELDERS THAT RULE (vs. 17-20) are the
Pastors. They are to be supported by
those to whom they minister (5:18).
They are not to be the subjects of rash judgement (5:19), but if they
have sinned, they are to be publicly rebuked!! (5:20.) As for ordaining Pastors
(5:21-25)
do not rush into it suddenly (5:22). And do not show favouritism (5:21).
Some who appear good pastoral material may have a
skeleton in the closet! (5:24-25).
* * * * * * * * * *
.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Paul continues instructing Timothy concerning
certain groups within the church.
..
(1) SLAVES
with (v. 1) and without
(v. 2) believing masters. They are to
work honestly in each case, not capitalising on the fact that they have a
Christian master (v. 2).
.
(2) FALSE TEACHERS
(vs. 3-10)..
Note the emphasis on the word godliness. False teachers think that financial gain is
the equivalent of godliness (v. 5).
On the contrary, says Paul, this love of money is ungodliness! (v. 10).
We should be content with what we have
not placing our hopes upon earthly
blessings. You cannot take it with you
(v. 7).
There is no real godliness when greed dominates the
mind.
(3) FINAL ADVICE TO TIMOTHY
vs. 11-16
In contrast to the heretics, Timothy is to :
FLEE
these things (covetousness)
FOLLOW after righteousness
FIGHT the good fight
FASTEN ON to eternal life (vs. 11-12)
..
Just when you think Paul has put down his pen
he
thinks of more to say -
Dont lay hold of earthly riches
but lay hold
of Eternal Life (vs. 17-19).
Dont accumulate uncertain riches
but be rich
in good works.
What an indictment of the modern-day Prosperity
cult.
..
A closing word encourages Timothy to keep the faith
because erring from it spells disaster (vs. 20-21). Amen!!
==========================================================
Studies in I
Timothy Number 7
A CHARGE
TO TIMOTHY
Another study on 1 Tim.
6:11-16
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
There is a military twang to these letters to young Timothy. Words like war and fight appear
regularly. And four times Paul
charges
commands (!)
Timothy what to do. It is like the Serjeant-Major
telling the Private what to do
and how!
Read this now :
But thou, O man
of God, flee these things; and follow
after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay
hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a
good profession before many witnesses.
I give thee charge in the
sight of God, Who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, Who before
Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
that thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the
appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
which in His times He shall shew, Who is the blessed and only Potentate,
the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can
approach unto; Whom no man hath seen,
nor can see: to Whom be honour and
power everlasting. Amen (I Timothy
6:11-16).
..
1. FLEE
v. 11
Flee from the battle?
No! Flee from those things that
would make us vulnerable when the battle is raging? Yes!! The these things of verse
11 are made clear in the preceding verses:
(a) False teachers
vs. 3-5
If anyone teachers false
doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ
and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in
controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife.
(b) Filthy lucre
the love of money
vs. 6-10
People who want to get rich
fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desire that
plunge men into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered
from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs (6:9-10).
The man of God (I Timothy 6:11) must not let the
enemy-of-souls get his claws into him.
Flee these things!
2. FOLLOW
after righteousness (v. 11)
Todays mad quest is the pursuit of pleasure
wanting to
please ones self
Paul says we are to make the pleasing of God our
pursuit. Happiness is a by-product that
will naturally follow
a happiness within that the world cannot
destroy.
Such is the theme of the Book of Ecclesiastes
the
vanity, the emptiness, of seeking satisfaction from a thousand different
sources, yet leaving out the only One Who can meet the deepest needs of the
human heart.
Whereas Flee was the negative side of being prepared for
the spiritual warfare
and Follow was the positive side
now Paul leads us
to be battle itself.
3. FIGHT
v. 12
We have an Enemy that never lets up.
Thank God, we have an indwelling Holy Spirit Who is able to
give us the Victory!
It is as if Paul is saying Dont waste your time and effort
on non-essentials
(v. 4), but Fight the good fight
(v. 12).
And as another has said :
A good fight is one that you win!!
If life is
always a warfare
Between the
right and the wrong,
And good is
fighting with evil,
For ages and
aeons long
Fighting with
eager cohorts,
With banners
pierced and torn;
Shining with
sudden splendour,
Wet with the
dew of morn;
If all the
forces of heaven
And all the
forces of sin
Are met in the
infinite struggle,
The souls of
the world to win
If Gods in
the awful battle
Where the
darkling legions ride,
Hasten to
sword and to saddle;
Lord! Let me fight on Thy side.
.
4. FASTEN
Lay hold on eternal life
v. 12
Not that Timothy was not already trusting the Lord
Jesus. But does not the command of the
apostle suggest that there was a danger of his giving up when the going got
tough? Would he, like Demas, desert
Paul?
In the spiritual army as in the regular one, alas, there are
those who go AWOL! (Absent With-Out
Leave!).
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Studies in I
Timothy Number 8
PRAYER
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
In I Timothy 2:1-9 the aged apostle Paul outlines a
number of important truths concerning prayer:
I exhort
therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions,
and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life
in all godliness and honesty. For this
is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved,
and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
For there is one
God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to
be testified in due time. Whereunto I
am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie
not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
.
1. THE PRE-EMINENCE OF
PRAYER
v. 1
There are many issues Paul is to instruct his protιgι about,
but first of
all
Prayer!!
Likewise the apostles who called upon the church for the
appointment of deacons
that they might be free from 1001 other things to
devote themselves to prayer (Acts 6:4).
If we rely upon advertising we get what advertising can
do. If we rely upon an eloquent speaker,
we get what eloquence can do. If we
rely upon Christian entertainment we get what Christian entertainment can
do. If we rely upon prayer, we get what
God can do.
2. THE INGREDIENTS OF PRAYER
Verse 1 lists supplications, prayers, intercessions
(petitions, NIV) and thanksgiving. It
is incredibly difficult to sort out Pauls distinctions. Every commentator seems to come up with a
different definition for each of these words.
Suffice to say, in talking to God sometimes we just Adore
and worship Him. Sometimes we Confess
our sins and needs. Sometimes it may be
Thanksgiving for what He has done that dominates our prayer. Or Supplicating on behalf of
others
A
Adoration
C
Confession
T
Thanksgiving
S
Supplication
..
3. THE
SCOPE OF PRAYER
vs. 1
For all men
not just our friends, but those with whom we find
it hard to get on. Not just the Jews
but the Arabs. Not just the poor and
downtrodden
but the rulers and politicians. And Nero was on the throne when Paul wrote!!
.
4. THE
REASONS FOR PRAYER
vs. 2-7
Paul gives a number of reasons here
(a) Verse 2
that we might live under
godly leadership in peace.
(b) Verse 3
because God is pleased
when His children talk to Him
it is good and acceptable to Him.
(c) Verses 3-4
because
God wills that all
men might be saved!! But He also
wills that their will might be free to accept or reject His offered
salvation. He is not willing that any
should perish (II Peter 3:9)
but that choice He has given to each individual (John 3:16).
(d) Chapter 1:18-20
because
there are false teachers on the prowl!! :
This charge I
commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on
thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith
have made shipwreck; of whom is
Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have
delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.
I Timothy 2:1 began with a therefore which ties what Paul
has to say about prayer with what he has just said. And he just said that Timothy had a spiritual warfare on his
plate
false teachers are destroying the faith of some. THEREFORE
Pray! (2:1).
.
5. THE
BASIS OF PRAYER
I Timothy 2:4-7
The Lord Jesus paid a ransom price for us on the Cross (v.
6). It set us free from the bondage and
penalty of sin. And He lives on High as
our Mediator! (v. 5) the only one, incidentally. It is because His death dealt with the sin question that we have
access into the Fathers presence!
(Romans 5:1-2).
..
6. THE
PLACE OF PRAYER
v. 8
I will therefore
that men pray every where, lifting up hold hands, without wrath and
doubting. In like manner also, that
women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and
sobriety; not with braided hair, or
gold, or pearls, or costly array; but
(which becometh women professing godliness) with good works (2:8-10).
Everywhere! Not just at the Temple in
Jerusalem but everywhere!
Anywhere! (John 4:21). Although there are some places, as Alexander
Maclaren observes, where it would seem incongruous to pray
At the TAB
window? In a bar?
..
7. THE
MANNER OF PRAYER
v. 8
Holy
hands! The outward posture of
lifting hands is not the main thing.
The main emphasis is that in Gods sight our hands are spiritually
clean. It is the attitude of the heart
God considers, not the outward posture.
The Pharisees lifted hands to pray
but not holy ones!
8. THE
BARRIERS TO PRAYER
v. 8
Without
wrath
angry at someone?
Put it right before you try to pray! (Matthew 5:23-24).
Without
doubting
you dont expect God to honour the promises of His
Word? Then dont be surprised if your
prayers are not answered! (James 1:5-7).
9. THE
PARTICIPANTS OF PRAYER
v. 8
Paul says men are to pray. And men in that verse means men!
In verse 4 men was used in the sense of everybody.
But in verse 8
it just means men.
However, verse 9 tells us that in like manner (as the
men pray) the women are also to participate.
As long, he adds, that they are modestly dressed and not using the
occasion to attract attention to their new hat or expensive finery.
Likewise in I Corinthians Paul also teaches that it is
permissible for women to pray if adorned correctly. (I Corinthians 11:5).
=============================================================
Studies in I
Timothy Number 9
THYSELF
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Seven times in the First Epistle to Timothy Paul uses the
word Thyself
and each time emphasis a different truth. (This only applies to the King James
Version!)
Lets look at some of them
..
1. BEHAVE
THYSELF
I Timothy 3:14-15
These things
write I under thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave
thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the
pillar and ground of the truth.
Paul is not discussing running in the aisles or giggling
during the sermon
the word church refers to the people; not the building. And the Epistle is
directed to showing Timothy how to run the fellowship of believers
appoint
Pastors (3:1-11), and Deacons (3:12).
There are snippets of advice concerning ordination (5:22), and widows
(5:3-16), and slaves (6:1-2). This
Epistle is a manual for church leadership.
2. EXERCISE THYSELF
I
Timothy 4:7
But refuse
profane and old wives fables, and exercise thyself rather unto
godliness. For bodily exercise
profiteth little: but godliness is
profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that
which is to come.
We need to tone up our spiritual muscles! And that means Prayer
and Bible Study
and Christian Fellowship. Otherwise it is possible to be dead (inside) whilst
we are alive (outside) (I Timothy 5:6).
.
3. SAVE
THYSELF
I Timothy 4:15-16
Meditate upon
these things; give thyself
wholly to them; that thy profiting may
appear to all. Take heed unto thyself,
and unto the doctrine; continue in
them; for in doing this thou shalt save
thyself, and them that hear thee.
The aged apostle bids Timothy to be faithful in his :
(a) Behaviour
and
(b) In his doctrine.
Being a Christian is based on what we believe
and
evidenced by how we behave.
There are certain doctrines basic to our Christian faith.
4. KEEP THYSELF
PURE !
I
Timothy 5:22
Lay hands
suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other mens sins:
keep thyself pure.
We read a Holy Bible;
we worship a Holy God; we are
indwelt by a Holy Spirit; we attend a
Holy Church; we partake of Holy
Communion; and we are expected to be a
Holy People.
This means even avoiding the appearance of evil (I
Thessalonians 5:22).,
This means laying aside the weights as well as the sins
that hinder us from running the Christian race effectively (Hebrews 12:1).
5. WITHDRAW THYSELF
I
Timothy 6:3-5
If any man teach
otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting
about questions and strifs of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings,
evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of
the truth, supposing that gain is godliness:
from such withdraw thyself.
There is a doctrine of unity in the Scriptures
but there
is also a doctrine of separation. Two
do not walk together unless they are agreed (Amos 3:3).
And Bible-believing Christians do not join forces with those
who consent not
to the words of our Lord Jesus (v. 3).
We do not join with those who preach a false gospel
(Galatians 1:8-9).
We do not unite with those who deny the resurrection (II
Timothy 2:17-18).
Beware the unequal yoke (II Corinthians 6:14).
-------------------------------------
Conclusion :
(1) A Lesson in Regulations
for the running of the Church.
(2) A Lesson in Dedication
exercising our souls like a spiritual
gymnast.
(3) A Lesson in Salvation
concerning faithful preacher and
preaching!
(4) A Lesson in Sanctification
living a saintly life.
(5) A Lesson in Separation
from those who proclaim false doctrine.
====================================================