Studies in I and II Timothy – Number 3
FOUR FAITHFUL
SAYINGS
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Four times in his letters
to Timothy (and once to Titus) the aged apostle introduces a saying thus … “This
is a faithful saying …”
It could be that some
ancient manuscript, such as mentioned in Luke 1:1-3, is the source of his
quotation. Some consider that he is
quoting from an early creed or hymn. Be
that as it may, they are certainly “faithful sayings” … trustworthy, reliable, inspired,
and “worthy of all acceptation.”
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1. THE
FAITHFUL SAYING CONCERNING SALVATION …
I
Timothy 1:15 “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…”
Here is the gospel in a
nut-shell. Man is a sinner … and Christ
Jesus is the Saviour!
The Lord Jesus did not
come to preach the Good News of Salvation … but that there might be a Good News
to preach!! By His atoning sacrifice He
has opened the Door of Salvation to all who put their faith in Him.
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2. THE
FAITHFUL SAYING CONCERNING SERVICE …
I
Timothy 3:1 “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he
desireth a good work. A bishop then
must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour,
given to hospitality, apt to teach; not
given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; one that ruleth well his own house, having
his children in subjection with all gravity;
(for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care
of the church of God?) Not a novice,
lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the
devil. Moreover he must have a good
report of them which are without; lest
he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil” (3:1-7).
There is some doubt among
commentators as to whether this is a “faithful saying”. Even the KJV translators varied the
translation. The New English Bible has: “This is a popular saying…” And
whilst it is true that being a “bishop” (that is, a pastor) is a “good work”,
it is not something one chooses … like being a plumber or a
teacher. The work of the ministry is up
to the call of God upon a person’s life and the recognition by the church that
that person has the qualifications outlined in verses 1-7.
It is as if Paul is
saying … there is a popular saying that it is good to be a pastor. True!
But it depends upon the call of God;
not one’s own desire…
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3. THE
FAITHFUL SAYING CONCERNING SANCTIFICATION …
I
Tim. 4:7-9.“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. This
is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.”
Sanctification is the process of being made holy day after day.
Our salvation commenced
with a crisis – our justification – when God declared us to be righteous
in His sight on the basis of Christ’s death and our faith in Him. But now we must needs “exercise ourselves
unto godliness” with the Holy Spirit’s help.
Paul compares this to
bodily exercise … which “profiteth a little” … it makes the body strong and
healthy.
But we must also exercise
the soul. Bible study; Prayer;
Fellowship; Witnessing … these
are the spiritual dumb-bells we use to tone up those spiritual muscles.
Of the 18th century physical
fitness advocate, John Wesley, “Together”, February, 1964, tells of
Mr Wesley’s suggestions – and practice! - of exercise in extreme and food and
rest in moderation. Long walks, very
light diet, little – if any – supper, no more than seven hours’ sleep; these he preached. “Cleanliness is next to godliness” is attributed to him, and his
suggestion of “cold bathing” which was to be a great asset to good health. Mr Wesley said, “Every day use as much
exercise as you can bear; or (else you)
murder yourself by inches.”
Alas, as Billy Sunday used
to say in his evangelistic meetings, “If some of you Christians were as weak
physically as you are spiritually, you’d be in a wheelchair”!! Oooooh!
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4. THE
FAITHFUL SAYING CONCERNING SUFFERING …
II
Tim. 2:11-12“Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with
Him. If we disown Him, He will also disown
us;
if we are faithless, He will remain faithful,
for He cannot disown Himself.”
This is obviously Hebrew
poetry … and most likely an early Christian hymn. There are four phrases … the
first two agree in thought (parallelism) and the last two agree. Which helps us to understand what the last
clause means! Remember, Paul is facing the executioner’s axe as he writes this,
his final letter (see II Timothy 4:6).
But death holds no fears.
(a) Life
in Glory with the Saviour awaits him (v.
11).
(b) The
Present Suffering will only make Glory all
the more wonderful (v. 12a; Romans
8:18). But wait… “Burn incense to the
Emperor … renounce your faith; say
‘Caesar is Lord’ … and you will not be put to death!” No, says the quotation …
(c) Never deny or disown Him! (v. 12b). Or
else, as He Himself said, He will deny us on that Day (Matthew
10:33): “Whosoever therefore shall
confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father Which is in
heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me
before men, him will I also deny before My Father Which is in heaven.”
(d) And
verse 13??
Even if we do deny Him … it does not alter that He is always the Lord of
Glory. Our denial of Him does not
affect His position. He is Lord …
regardless of what we may say!
We may change, but Jesus
never changes. He is the Same …
yesterday, today and forever! (Hebrews
13:8).
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Conclusion:
The word of man may not always be trustworthy
…
But you can trust these “faithful sayings”.
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Studies in I and II Timothy – Number 7
FIVE DYNAMIC
DUOS
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No, Paul did not waste
his time with small talk. And in these
letters to Timothy there is a wealth of spiritual instruction in every verse.
In this study we survey five of the six pairs of people that he mentions in the two letters to his protégé. CAN YOU FIND THE SIXTH PAIR ????????
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1. THE APOSTATE DUO … Hymenaeus and Alexander … I Tim. 1:20.
“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 1:18-20).
(a) Their “putting away” … v. 19
Faith and works have gone
out the window. It seems probable that
they were once co-workers with the apostle. But their faith … and the faith of
those they have influenced … has been wrecked.
And Paul knows all about ship-wrecks!
(b) Their
being “put away” … “delivered over to Satan” … v. 20
It seems to mean that
they have been excommunicated. Their
names are off the church roll. They are
not permitted to minister any more. The
Lord’s Table is closed to them.
It is hoped that such
drastic measures will bring them to a place of repentance and restoration …
back into the family of God (v. 20).
2. THE ABANDONING DUO … Phygellus and Hermogenes
… II Tim. 1:15
“This thou
knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.”
Don’t judge them too
harshly! If you had been there as Nero
unleashed his mad persecution upon the church … you may not have wanted to stay
around Paul either! It only says that they deserted Paul … not necessarily the
Lord Jesus also. Perhaps the spirit was
willing but … The thought of the chains … and later the wild beasts … did not
appeal to this pair.
So Paul is left alone …
except for faithful Luke (II Timothy 4:11). Peter deserted once … and so had
John Mark … and the day came when they made good. Could that be said of Phygellus and Hermogenes? Not another word is said concerning them in
all of Scripture.
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(3) THE ANTI-CHRISTIAN DUO … Hymenaeus and
Philetus … II Tim. 2:17
“But shun
profane and vain babblings: for they
will increase unto more ungodliness.
And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection
is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.”
If this is the same
Hymenaeus (as most commentators suggest) then he has now set up his own cult
and is proclaiming heresy! Did his previous companion repent and return to the
fold? (I Timothy 1:20). Looking around
Christendom today one can almost believe in apostolic succession. Except so many are teaching as did Hymenaeus
and Philetus instead of the true apostolic doctrines.
Not only is the general
resurrection at the end of the age denied (v. 18), but these days there are
clergy who deny even the resurrection of Christ. The Bible has been
“De-mythologised” (that is their own term) by so many so-called religious
scholars.
Their words, says Paul,
eat as “gangrene” (lit. Greek) … maybe Luke who sat there as his secretary
supplied the medical word as Paul stopped in his dictation and fumbled for the
right figure of speech??
What gangrene is to the
body so false teaching is to the Body of Christ … the Church!
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4. THE ANTAGONISTIC DUO … Jannes and
Jambres … II Tim. 3:8-9
“… Lovers of
pleasure more than lovers of God;
having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into
houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers
lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the
truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres
withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all
men, as their’s also was” (vs. 5-9).
These were the two
‘magicians’ in the court of Pharaoh who opposed God’s servant, Moses (Exodus 7,
8). The miracle of the snake into a rod;
water into blood; a surplus of
frogs … were all duplicated (by legerdemain … stage magic … or Satanic power?)
by Jannes and Jambres.
Paul compares False
Teachers in his day to these ancient Egyptians. Always “resisting the truth” (v. 8).
……………………………………………………..
5. THE ADMIRABLE DUO …Lois and Eunice … II
Tim. 1:5; 3:14
“I thank God,
Whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I
have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I
may be filled with joy; when I call to
remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy
grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice;
and I am persuaded that in thee also”
(II Timothy 1:3-5).
“But continue
thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of
whom thou hast learned them; and that
from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee
wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (II Timothy
3:14-15).
Here were a godly couple
of women who influenced Timothy from childhood. They had their priorities
right. Which not every professing
Christian does …
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CONCLUSION
Now read through I and II Timothy in search of the sixth
duo!!
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According to tradition Paul was kept awaiting execution at the whim of Nero in Mamertine, the 2,500 year-old state of Rome and at the foot of Capitoline Hill. All who have written of this prison have described it with horror. Chapter 4 of II Timothy would therefore be the last words to come from his pen.
Chained to a soldier (1:16-17)
and with nought but a candle to shed light in the dank dungeon, Paul writes to
his “beloved son in the faith”.
“Paul, an
apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life
which is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father
and Christ Jesus our Lord” (1:1-2).
Will Timothy be able to visit before the death sentence is handed down??
“For I am now
ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished
my course, I have kept the faith:
henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the
Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His
appearing.
“Do thy diligence
to come shortly unto me…” (4:6-9).
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1. THE FINAL EXHORTATION … 4:1-5
“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, Who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:
“Preach the
word; be instant in season,
out of season;
reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (4:1-2).
“Preach the Word”!
(4:2).
Preach it because … it makes one “wise unto salvation” (3:15).
Preach it because … it is God-inspired (3:16). There is no other book to compare with it.
Preach it because … it equips for service!! (3:17)
“But continue
thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of
whom thou hast learned them; and that
from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make
thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteous ness: that the
man of God may be perfect, horoughly furnished unto all good works”
(3:14-17).
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2. THE FINAL TESTIMONY … 4:6-8
Paul gives us a series of metaphors describing his life …
“For I am now
read to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished
my course, I have kept the faith:
henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the
Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His
appearing” (4:6-8).
(a) The Sacrifice … The word “offered” carries with it the thought of a drink offering (Leviticus 23:13) being poured out.
(b) The Sailor … Likewise the KJV fails to capture Paul’s allusion ... he is like a sailor about to “depart” as the ship sets out for a distant harbour.
( c) The Wrestler… He has “fought a good fight”.
(d) The Runner …or Charioteer (!) … He has “finished the course”.
(e) The Soldier … He has kept his oath of allegiance to his Emperor.
A modern translation by A.S. Way captures the impact of the original Greek language in which Paul wrote :
“As for me, I
think my work is done. I am as wine
just about to be spilt on the altar – as a ship at point to put out to
sea. I am a wrestler who has
striven through a gallant struggle, a runner who has finished his race, a
soldier who has kept his oath of loyal obedience. Henceforth there is laid up in store for me the victor’s wreath
of righteousness, which the Lord will award me in the Great Day, the Lord the
Righteous Judge – and not to me alone, but all who with yearning love have
watched for His Appearing.”
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3. THE FINAL REQUEST … 4:9-18
Come, Timothy! Hurry, Timothy … and Bring the books!!
“Take Mark, and
bring him with thee: for he is profitable
to me for the ministry. And Tychicus
have I sent to Ephesus.
The cloke that I left at Troas with
Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially
the parchments” (4:11-13).
The cloak is needed for the body, to keep it warm during the approaching winter (4:21); the books for his mind … but especially the parchments (the Scriptures!) for his spirit.
Despite the fact that he is in prison awaiting the ‘chopping block’ his faith is as strong as ever and he wants to study the Word of God! There is always some fresh truth waiting to be discovered … like jewels in the depths of a dark, dark mine.
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4. THE FINAL GREETINGS … 4:20-22
Greetings to … and from … Paul’s friends close this letter.
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Many famous books have been penned in a prison cell. Cervantes wrote “Don Quixote” in prison in Seville. Bunyan commenced his “Pilgrim’s Progress” in Bedford Jail.
Rutherford put pen to paper and wrote his “Letters” whilst exiled in Aberdeen.
Many Bible writers experienced the isolation of imprisonment … Daniel, Jeremiah, John (on Patmos), Peter, and of course Paul. Five of his Epistles were even penned during his imprisonments. II Timothy is the last one … a call for his young disciple to follow in his footsteps.
Notice two things :
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1. THE CONDITIONS PAUL WAS EXPERIENCING
Boy! You think you’ve got problems!!
(a) Death Sentence! Mad Nero is on the throne … and although Paul has survived the first hearing (4:16) now it is almost time for him to face the executioner’s axe (4:6-7): “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.”
But death held no fears for Paul. This was the least of his problems.
(b) Desertion … by some of his co-workers! That grieved him beyond words. At that first hearing: “No one stood by me the first time I defended myself; all deserted me. May God not count it against them!” (4:16, GNB). Then there was Demas: “Demas fell in love with this present world and has deserted me, going off to Thessalonica.” (4:10). And others: “You know that everyone in the province of Asia, including Phygelus and Hermogenes, has deserted me.” (4:15).
(c) Dark Days … are ahead for the Church. Persecution is about (or has begun) to decimate the people of God. The full fury of the Roman Empire is let loose: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good …” (3:1-3)
(d) Dangerous ‘Prophets’ … so called! Men who preach a false gospel will invade the church: “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts. Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith” (3:5-8).
Two such are named: “Two men who have taught such things are Hymenaeus and Philetus. They have left the way of truth and are upsetting the faith of some believers by saying that our resurrection has already taken place” (3:17-18).
(e) Doubts concerning Timothy! Will Timothy continue to wage a good warfare when Paul is gone? The aged apostle seems to be concerned – you do not tell someone half a dozen times in four chapters to “be brave”, to “hold fast”, to “keep true”, unless you have grave fears that he may not do so.
Besides, I Corinthians 16:10-11
confirms this: “Now if Timotheus
come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do. Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in peace.”
And I Timothy 5:23-24 reveals that Timothy was suffering physical problems: “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.”
Poor Paul! And you think you’ve got problems …
Deserted by friends … Dark days ahead for the church he loved … Dangerous and deceitful ‘prophets’ on the prowl … Doubts concerning his protégé … and the Death Sentence about to be passed!! But notice:
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2. THE CONFIDENCE PAUL WAS EVIDENCING
… and it is all summed up in one verse, which YOU ought to memorize! “I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day” (II Timothy 1:12).
There are three truths here worth examining:
(a) The Object of Paul’s Salvation
“I know Whom…” not “I know what… but Whom.”
It is the relationship with the Lord Jesus that is all-important. That is not to deny the importance of doctrine … indeed Paul stresses that throughout this Epistle …
“Hold fast the
form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in
Christ Jesus” (II Timothy 1:13).
“Study to shew
thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly
dividing the word of truth” (2:15).
“But thou hast
fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering,
charity, patience …” (3:10).
“All scripture is
given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness:
that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good
works” (3:16-17).
“… preach the
word; be instant in season, out of
season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with
all longsuffering and doctrine. For the
time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to
themselves teachers, having itching ears;
and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned
unto fables” (4:2-4).
Yet it is sadly possible to have one’s doctrine correct and be without a saving relationship with the Lord Jesus.
(b) The Means of Paul’s Salvation
It is a faith, incidentally, that proves its reality by the way it reveals itself in daily living! The “devils believe”, we are told (James 1:19) … yet they are not saved.
( c) The Assurance of Paul’s Salvation
“I know … and am persuaded …” I have given myself into His keeping … and there is no safer place in all God’s universe. The doctrine of assurance is one of the most precious … and most important … to be found in Scripture. “We KNOW”, writes John, “that we have passed from death unto life!” (I John 3:14).
Calvinists hold the view that once a person is saved … he is always saved. Nothing can ever break that relationship. The problem is knowing whether or not one is one of “the elect”! You can’t really be sure until “that Day”.
Arminians, on the other hand, believe it is possible for a saved person to lose their salvation … yet they stress the doctrine of assurance. Whilst I’m trusting the Lord Jesus my soul is safe in His care. But woe betide if one turns his back on the Lord Jesus and ‘deserts’ or follows some false prophet … there lies the danger of losing one’s salvation.
There are good and faithful Bible-believing students on both sides of this question. And all of them teach that we are to trust the Lord Jesus with our soul’s salvation and that we should live holy lives as a result.
So … can a child of God ever lose his salvation? Study Colossians 1:21-23 :
“And you, that
were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath
He reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and
unblameable and unreproveable in His sight, if ye continue in the faith
grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which
ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under
heaven; whereof I Paul am made a
minister …”
What is implied by that
little word … “if” ??
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Studies in I and II Timothy – Number 8
THE SEVEN PORTRAITS
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In II Timothy 2 the apostle
gives us a number of illustrations of what a Christian ought to be like.
Then, “Think
over these three illustrations, and may the Lord help you to understand how
they apply to you” (II Timothy 2:7).
The “three illustrations”
of verse 7 refer to those given in verses 3-6.
But let’s look together at the whole seven … “and may the Lord help you
to understand how they apply to you” … and me (v. 7).
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1. THE FAITHFUL STEWARD … vs. 1-2
“Oh, Timothy,
my son, be strong with the strength Christ Jesus gives you. For you must teach others those things
you and many others have heard me speak about. Teach these great truths to trustworthy men who will, in turn,
pass them on to others.”
What Paul has entrusted
to Timothy … he must now entrust to others.
And so it goes on down to our day (Matthew 28:19-20). This is true
“Apostolic Succession”!
Don’t keep the Faith –
Give it away!
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2. THE LOYAL SOLDIER … vs. 3-4
“Take your
share of suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, just as I do, and
as Christ’s soldier do not let yourself become tied up in worldly affairs, for
then you cannot satisfy the one who has enlisted you in his army.”
God has not promised skies
always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways all
the way through.
Sometimes it is tough
going, being a Christian. We have an
Enemy who never lets up. But keep on
serving the One Who has called us into the battle! After all, we enlisted voluntarily….There are no conscripts in
the Lord’s Army!
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3. THE
LAWFUL ATHLETE … v. 5
“Follow the
Lord’s rules for doing His work, just as an athlete either follows the
rules or is disqualified and wins no prize.”
The race commences at
conversion … and finishes when we meet the Lord. It is not a 50 metre sprint … it is a life-long marathon. And the
Rule Book we need to follow in this race … is the Word of God.
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4. THE PATIENT FARMER … v. 6
“Work hard,
like a farmer who gets paid well if he raises a large crop.”
Perseverance is the
thought here. The farmer ploughs and
sows and waits for the harvest. It is
all very painstaking and unspectacular.
But he perseveres.
“In due season
we shall reap … if we faint not!”
(Galatians 6:9).
The Steward teaches us a
lesson in PROPOGATING the Gospel …
The Soldier in PLEASING our
Captain …
The Athlete in PERFORMING
according to the rules …
And the Farmer in
PERSEVERANCE!
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5. THE
UNASHAMED WORKMAN … v. 15
“Work hard so God can say to you, “Well done.” Be a good workman, one who does not need to be ashamed when God examines your work. Know what His Word says and means.”
The interesting thing is
the phrase used by the apostle… Which
doesn’t rate a look-in in this Living Bible paraphrase. Paul says we are to “rightly divide” the
Word (KJV).
The commentators agree
that the Greek word means to make a “straight cut”! Now that could indicate that he is thinking of his tent-making
profession (Acts 18:3). A good workman would cut the hides perfectly straight …
otherwise the tent would be faulty, and the occupant would get wet when it
rained. And the workman would be
“ashamed” of his work.
So with the student of
God’s Word … interpret it carefully.
Don’t read your own preconceived ideas into it. Study the context … and discern what it
meant to the readers in the first century.
Examine the background … Make a “straight cut”!! And that will take practice … one does not
become a skilled tent-maker, nor a skilled Bible teacher over night.
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6. THE
WORTHY VESSELS … vs. 20-21
“In a wealthy
home there are dishes made of gold and silver as well as some made from
wood and clay. The expensive dishes
are used for guests, and the cheap ones are used in the kitchen or to
put garbage in. If you stay away from
sin you will be like one of these dishes made of purest gold – the very best in
the house – so that Christ Himself can use you for His highest purposes.”
Some utensils in our home
are valuable … and some are ready for the scrap heap. Some are precious China
crockery … and silver cutlery … whilst some are dirty pots and pans.
Be a valuable vessel in
the Lord’s House (the Church).
And a verse tucked away
in Isaiah reminds us that He is able to transform the worthless into something
of great value and service:
“(Jerusalem) Whereas thou hast been forsaken and
hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal
excellency, a joy of many generations … and thou shalt know that I the Lord am
thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob. For brass I will bring gold, and for iron
I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and
thine exactors (rulers, administrators) righteousness. Violence shall no more be heard in thy land,
wasting nor destruction within thy borders;
but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise” (Isaiah
60:15-18).
……………………………………….
7. THE
WINSOME SERVANT … vs. 24-26
“God’s
people must not be quarrelsome;
they must be gentle, patient teachers of those who are wrong. Be humble when you are trying to teach those
who are mixed up concerning the truth.
For if you talk meekly and courteously to them they are most likely,
with God’s help, to turn away from their wrong ideas and believe what is true. Then they will come to their senses and
escape from Satan’s trap.”
The word “people” is
really “servant” or “slave” in the original.
And as we seek to tell others of the Lord Jesus and show them the way of
deliverance from “Satan’s trap” … we are to do it in a gracious manner.
God will not hold us
responsible for their response … unless we do it in an unChristlike manner …
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Studies in I and II Timothy – Number 10
WINE, WOMEN
AND PAUL
Three Problem Verses …
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
We look again at these
“Pastoral Epistles” … a name given to the Books of Timothy and Titus (and
later, Philemon) by Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century.
And this time we tackle
some problem passages …
………………………………………………..
1. THE
WRITER
No problem here, you say?
But recent theology has almost done away with Pauline authorship. The Liberal theologians claim that it was
penned by one of Paul’s disciples anything up to 100 years after his death!
“Paul,
an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord
Jesus Christ, which is our hope; unto
Timothy, my own son in the faith:
Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord”
(I Timothy
1:1-2).
“Paul, an
apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life
that is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my dear son…” (II Timothy 1:1-2).
“But we know
that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but
for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy
and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
for whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for
menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other
thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God …” (I Timothy
1:8-11)
In other words, despite
the personal references (1:1; 1:12-16,
etc.), and despite the writer’s condemnation of lying (I Timothy 1:10; II Timothy 2:19), and despite the unbroken
testimony of 1900 years of the church’s belief that Paul wrote these letters …
now we are told that he didn’t … it was someone who signed his name … and
pretended it was the apostle!
Incredible!!
All of which means that
these books are not “given by inspiration of God” (II Timothy 3:16).
The arguments marshalled
against Pauline authorship are :
(a) Historical…(b)Ecclesiastical
…(c)Linguistic and (d)Doctrinal.
All of which are
satisfactorily answered in any good evangelical commentary.
We believe Paul was the
author of these epistles.
………………………………………………….
2. THE
WOMEN … I Timothy 2:9-15
“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.
“Let the woman learn
in silence with all subjection. But
I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be
in silence. For Adam was first formed,
then Eve. And Adam was not deceived,
but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in
childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with
sobriety.”
There are two problems
here … one relating to a woman’s “silence” (v. 11), and one relating to her
“salvation” (v. 15).
To begin with, the
subject here is not women in general … but wives and their relationship
to their husbands. The setting is DOMESTIC … not CHURCH LIFE.
And the teaching that the
husband is to be the ‘head of the home’ runs throughout the whole of Scripture
:
Genesis 3:16 –
“Unto the woman He [God] said: … ‘Thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he
shall rule over thee’.”
I Corinthians
11:3 – “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man, and
the head of Christ is God.”
I Corinthians
11: 8-9 – “For the man is not of the woman;
but the woman of the man.
Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.”
Ephesians 5:22
– “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.” (Living Letters says: “Submit to your husband’s leadership in the
same way you submit to the Lord.”)
Ephesians 5:24
– “As the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own
husbands in every thing.”
Ephesians 5:33
– “Let … the wife see that she reverence her husband.”
Colossians 3:18
– “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the
Lord.” (Living Letters: “You wives, submit yourselves to your
husbands, for that is what the Lord has planned for you.”
[Notice that Adam and Eve
are spoken of as historical characters.
Those liberal theologians who deny Paul’s authorship … and therefore,
the inspiration of this Book, also deny the historicity of Adam and Eve. And, of course, they also deny the headship
of the husband over the wife.]
The above verses are not
advocating a harsh, unloving headship on the part of the husband … or a
cringing, fearful submission on the part of the wife. But when there is a final decision to be made … or some other
leadership to be given … God holds the husband responsible.
This is not a law
based on the custom of Paul’s day, but a Law of God based upon the order of
creation (I Corinthians 11:3, 8-9). It is a picture of Christ and His Headship
over His Bride (Ephesians 5:24). I
Timothy 2:11 is simply saying that the wife is not to be argumentative, but she
is to submit to her husband’s headship. In the Church, however, Paul tells us
that the women may pray or prophesy as long as their head is covered (I
Corinthians 11:5) :………….
“But I would
have you know, that the Head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the Head of Christ is God.
Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth
his head. But every woman that
prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were
shaven” (I Corinthians 11:3-5).
It is dishonouring to her
head (husband) not to have her head (hair) covered. Just the same as it is dishonouring to Christ (man’s head, v. 3)
for a man to pray or preach with his hat on!! (v. 4). Again, this Law of God is not based on some contemporary
custom … but on the order of creation (I
Corinthians 11:8-9).
But when we get to I
Corinthians 14 Paul SEEMS to contradict himself. He has just said that women (a wife, i.e.) may pray or prophesy
if they have their hair covered … now he says that they are to “keep silence in
church” (14:34).
Various ingenious
explanations of verse 34 have been given.
The one that appears to meet the requirements of the context is found in
Sidlow Baxter’s Explore the Book.
Note that Paul again says
“all” may prophesy (v. 31). As long as
they do it orderly and not all at the same time (v. 33).
Then he quotes the letter
the Church at Corinth has written to him (I Corinthians 7:1). Verses 34-35 are not what Paul
teaches but what the Corinthians teach. Paul quotes their letter to refute
it!!
Verses 34-35 could be in inverted commas.
Read it … “All may
prophesy… in an orderly fashion. But
you say in your letter, ‘Women are to be silent …’ WHAT !! (v. 36)… Do you
think you are the ones who formulate doctrine? … What I write are ‘the
commandments of the Lord’.” (v. 37.)
………………………………………..
So let’s get this clear …
…if we can !
I Timothy 2:11 was saying
that in the domestic situation wives are to be “silent” … i.e. not
argumentative. Of course, they may
express their opinion. And a loving
husband will consider it. But he has the responsibility of leadership in the
home. I Corinthians 14:34 spoke of women keeping silent in the church. This is not Paul’s teaching, but what
the Corinthians had written to him.
Paul says women can minister if the Holy Spirit so moves them (I
Corinthians 12:7-11), and as long as their hair is covered.
In the church we are “all
one in Christ Jesus” … and the Holy Spirit may well call a woman to minister in
some circumstances … and not a man! And
Church History shows that the Spirit has often blessed women’s ministry.
* BUT, what about finding “salvation in
childbearing” (I Timothy 2:15)?
It probably means … and
no-one is too dogmatic here … that if she submits to her husband and raises a
family “in faith and love and holiness” (v. 15) she will find “salvation”, i.e.
wholeness, fulfilment, satisfaction, for her role in life.
It does not seem to have
any reference to being saved from Hell … rather it refers to finding life’s
purpose in being a godly mother.
…………………………………………………….
3. THE
WINE … I Timothy 5:23
“Drink no
longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake
and thine often infirmities.”
This injunction to Timothy
is a favourite text used by Christians who delight to indulge in social
drinking. Note, firstly, that the
‘upset tummy’ of Timothy may well have been due to the local water supply. Even today in many parts of the Middle East
it is not safe to drink unboiled water.
And note also that Paul
did not tell his protégé to “claim his healing”, which he would have done if he
had read the latest book by some modern day charismatic.
But was the wine Paul
recommended fermented? Ay … there’s the
rub!
…………………………….
(a) The
Ambiquous Word … “oinos” – a Greek word
meaning “wine”. And sometimes it means
fermented (Revelation 18:3), and sometimes it obviously does not (Matthew
9:17). So how does one determine what it means here?
Easily …
………………………………………………………….
(b) The
Authoritative Commands
“Who hath
woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause?
Who hath redness of eyes? They
that tarry long at the wine; they that
go to seek mixed wine.
Look not thou upon the wine when it is red,
when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and
stingeth like an adder” (Proverbs 23:29-32)
These verses were a part
of Paul’s Bible. He said that it was
“inspired” (II Timothy 3:16). Timothy
also knew the Scriptures since childhood (II Timothy 3:15).
Be honest now … would
Timothy think that Paul was advising him to sin against this Old Testament
command? Look not upon the wine … “when it moveth itself” … i.e. when it begins
to ferment. Paul was simply advising Timothy to drink pure grape juice.
“Woe unto him
that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and
makest him drunken also” (Habbakuk 2:15).
This verse forbids the
giving of alcoholic liquor to another.
Would Paul break this law?
And whilst we are on the
subject, there is no reason to believe that the Lord Jesus turned the water
into intoxicating wine at the wedding of Cana.
The Greek word ‘oinos’ can mean grape juice … and unless our Lord sinned
(unthinkable!) by breaking the Old Testament commands, that is what He created.
………………………………………………….
(c) The
Apt Illustrations
Just the same as the
Passover Bread (speaking of Christ, the Bread of Life) was UNLEAVENED (a
picture of sin, I Corinthians 5:7-8), so the wine of joy He gives is
UNFERMENTED … devoid of corruption.
And just as He did not
turn the loaves and fishes into mouldy bread and stale fish … so He created
fresh, new wine (grape juice) before it went bad and fermentation set in.
The New Testament, and
the Old, too, for that matter, does not countenance the drinking of alcoholic
beverages.
Amen … and Amen!!
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