Persecution in Pursuit of God and the Gospel

2 Timothy 3:10-13    
10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

Unlike those who do not progress as they accumulate knowledge without knowing God in Christ, Timothy was regenerated and had the Holy Spirit living in Him.  He therefore was driven to follow sound teaching, imitating godly men like Paul.  He used the examples of how to live by the scriptures lived out in others, patterning his life by the purposes of God in them, trusted God’s sovereign work, and patiently endured suffering and persecution.  He saw how God brought Paul through (not from) all the troubles, delivering him for His purposes of bringing the words of life to those who had not yet heard.  The main lesson here is for us also - if we live for God and pursue Him and His gospel, we will most definitely suffer persecution.  Life in Christ results in being treated as He was by man.  We are not promised health or carefree living or deliverance from the pain of suffering, though He will bring us through the tribulations we endure for His name’s sake.  If we reject this, we are like the evil imposters mentioned here who are deceived as they deceive others with peace and prosperity, which is no gospel but a deception which only leads downward.  Instead, we endure persecution in pursuit of Christ and the gospel.

Wisdom and Sovereignty

2 Timothy 3:6-9    
6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; 9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.

The ungodly who appear religious but deny Christ war against the gospel and the truth of God by infiltrating God church and people.  These deceive and lead people astray who are not firmly grounded in The scriptures, appealing to the innate lusts of our fallen nature.  These also keep heaping up knowledge, yet never understand the truth because they do not have God’s Spirit in them (1 Corinthians 2:10-14 and Romans 8:9) to reveal the truth.  These instead fight against the truth they are unable to grasp with their corrupt fallen minds, not acceptable to God without faith given to exercise to godliness.  The example of Jannes and Jambres from Jewish traditions of the two Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses (Ex. 7:11) is used as an example of those who oppose God and fail.  Since God is sovereign as Lord and Ruler of all things, He will stop those opposed to His will and people.  The foolishness of the godless will surface through their folly in resisting the Lord, and all will work for good as He preserves His saints; the gates of Hell will not nor cannot prevail against His church.  Yet we are still to be wise and avoid those who lead us towards sin with temptations that appeal to our old man within.  We are led by the Spirit of God to be wise and to put these desires and sin to death in His power.

Avoid Those of Empty Spirituality

2 Timothy 3:1-5    
1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

Though we are to avoid arguments as we speak the truth in love, the reality is that we face a continuing downward spiral of inwardly focused people, making the times more dangerous and filled with tribulations and trouble.  Timothy was warned almost two thousand years ago, and this advice applies equally to us today, if not more.  We see the self-seeking and self-loving of people around us as they love money, boast in their accomplishments or status, taking vengeance over forgiveness, speaking evil lies against others, while they blaspheme God and man.  We further see these other characteristics mentioned: no self-control, brutally attacking and murdering each other, hating what God calls good, obstinate and self absorbed, and loving fleeting pleasure over the eternal God and His Christ.  These sometimes even seem to claim a godliness or spirituality, but refuse to attribute God’s power or work in anything.  At least not the God of the Bible.  We are not to assent to this behavior, but avoid such people who only seek destruction and refuse to hear of sin, righteousness, and the judgement to come.  God’s sheep listen and are convicted by His word and Spirit, and these we seek with news of the kingdom of which we are ambassadors.

Humility, Not Arguments

2 Timothy 2:23-26    
23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

Being a useful and honoring vessel for the gospel and kingdom requires avoiding empty and ignorant arguments over what is right or wrong.  We are to speak the truth tempered in love.  This means that we serve as Christ’s ambassadors, not arguing to correct error but setting the truth straight as we cut it straight, gently teaching those set against the truth of scripture with its meaning and application to thought and life.  We are to humbly do so because we know it is God alone who leads others to repentance leading to life; we are not able to convict of sin or righteousness or judgment (John 16:8-11), but are used to convey the message of these works of God.  He then works by His Spirit to give life by opening the blind eyes of darkened hearts as the truth pierces them and they come to their senses.  This is how they are set free from the trap of the devil in blind ignorance of God’s will and work.  He uses His word which we testify to and His Spirit to regenerate the dead and set them free from sin’s captivity and subservience.  We humbly present the words of life and not human arguments. 

Be Useful Vessels of Honor

2 Timothy 2:20-22    
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

How we live matters; we are called by grace, not our own righteousness or perfection, yet we are held accountable in our sanctification to run towards holiness.  As the previous verse says, we are to leave sin behind as we close the door to our old life and walk through the one where we are named as Christ’s.   The examples here are of jars of clay in the master’s house.  We either are honorable or dishonorable, wooden or earthen, used for refuse and cleaning or for storing valuables or sustenance.  The exhortation here is to clean out the filth and make ourselves useful for the Master and His kingdom; we are to honor God by our sanctification, our pursuit of holiness, making ourselves ready for all the good He has prepared for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).  This begins by running away from the lust of the flesh and running instead to catch hold of righteousness, trust in Christ alone, love for God and others, and peace with God by obedience and peace with others by looking out for their interests (Philippians 2:4).  This is what we who are called out from sin to Him must all do, and do all sincerely and as blamelessly as possible.  He cleansed our hearts and we are to keep them that way to be useful and well-pleasing servants as honorable vessels for His use as designed. 

Sound and Profitable Words

2 Timothy 2:14-19    
14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

Do we teach and speak empty and ruinous words with no eternal impact of lasting change from our own reasoning, or do we seek to use profitable words from scripture?  We must strive to diligently and zealously find God’s approval in cutting His word straight, for only then will it profit others for their good and His glory while keeping us from finding shame in His sight.  The empty and the profane will only lead to ungodliness and spread to destroy many others as cancer or gangrene rots away the healthy as it offers no hope.  That false gospel and apocalyptic interpretations that assume God’s final workings give no hope, like the example here of claiming there will be no resurrection of the just as if it had already happened, or that there is no hell and final judgment.  Many will set themselves up as supposed prophets, but if their message is not based on and aligned with God’s certain word, the effect is faith broken down, not built up.  What seems good or fantastic is only eternally good if true, not just what sounds good to our itching ears which long for quick and pleasant words.  The true hope and foundational reality is built therefore on the bedrock of God knowing His true sheep and our response to the grace of salvation with the pursuit of holiness, acceptable and pleasing to our Lord Jesus Christ.  We base this on the sound doctrines of grace from the scriptures, not the latest fads or charismatic speakers. 

Remember the Creed of Faith

2 Timothy 2:8-13    
8 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, 9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.11 This is a faithful saying:

For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him. 
12 If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him,
He also will deny us. 
13 If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself.

We endure persecution for the gospel, for the sake of Christ and all He has done.  The scriptures remind us here that Jesus is the Messiah who rose after suffering and dying to pay the price and sentence of our sin, and we take on His sufferings as He did ours.  Paul is an example of suffering as one doing good, but others calling the good evil just as they call evil good (Isa.5:20).  We may suffer as martyrs (witnesses) also, even being chained (jailed), but can use the opportunity to preach the truth of the gospel; nothing shackles the word of God!  This truth can help us endure the persecution for ourselves and the others God chose to call that they may hear and be drawn by His Spirit and word to the salvation they are appointed to with all its glory who is the Lamb.  This saying or creed of the time reminds us of essential truths in this matter; it reminds us that we die and live for Christ, that endurance now leads to reigning with the King of glory after death, that faithfulness is essential but His faithfulness to us is not performance determinate, and His promises of these things accompanying our salvation are based on the absolute faithfulness and grace of God alone in Christ alone by grace through faith alone, all for His glory alone and not by our works to earn or even keep what He gives.  Amen. 

Charges for Living

2 Timothy 2:3-7    
3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.

These charges is for all who follow Christ and are so engaged in the war against us in Him.  We are to persevere when hard times come, not seek to avoid them by disengagement from the task at hand which is the gospel.  As good soldiers we must engage the enemy head on with the words of life and truth, not getting so caught up in the daily affairs of living and cultural pulls that we neglect to be pleasing to our Commander and Lord.  Likewise, if we run this race towards the prize of the upward call in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:13-15), we cannot live lawlessly and still expect to win the race.  We must run well according to the rules God sets, not man, and we dare not think that we are not obligated to obey because of grace.  No, because of grace we must thankfully please Him who calls.  Finally the idea of being farmers in God’s field should motivate us to work hard for the kingdom of God, not our own, if we expect any fruitfulness.  Then we will reap that harvest now and in eternity (Psalm 126:5-6).  Lackadaisical farmers cultivate a poor crop filled with weeds and little to eat.  By being about our Father’s business, we should be mindful of the harvest season.  In the end, we are exhorted to think hard and long on these things as Timothy was told, for this applies to all who follow Christ, we who look to Him for the understanding of all scripture. 

Committed to the Kingdom of God

2 Timothy 2:1-2    
1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Because Timothy was holding fast to the word of God which he was holding out, Paul urged and commanded him to find strength in the grace of Jesus Christ.  He did not say to be strong in effort or knowledge alone, but to be ruled and tempered by God’s unmerited goodness shown in preparing Timothy from before time for these times and into forever.  The good news of God’s reconciliation and redemption in grace is our strength, for when we know our own weakness we find The Almighty working in us.  What then?  He was told to take that message of the gospel of grace and teach others, taking time to entrust it to their faithful care and communication to others.  This discipling is meant to impart what God imputes, to equip other faithful followers of Jesus Christ with this doctrine of grace who would likewise grow to pass it on to yet others, one at a time down through time.  We are to be Timothys as well, strong in grace, weak in self, committed to the kingdom of God. 

Pattern of Sound Words Taught

2 Timothy 1:13-18   
13 Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14 That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.   15 This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. 16 The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; 17 but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. 18 The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day—and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus.

Timothy is told to stay the course of sound doctrine based on God’s word.  Paul taught him and reminded him that we must grasp all God says in Christ with trust and love, taking God at His word and living as we are created and called to do.  This pattern of sound words is summed up for us in creeds and catechisms which echo biblical truth and do not add or take away from it.  By God’s Spirit who seals and lives in us, we keep His words by His promise, power, and work.  Some will listen and not hear sound teaching, and follow man’s away from this.  Others may be like Onesiphorus, unashamed of the gospel truth and standing by those bringing pure and uncorrupted truth, supporting the work of Christ.  Ministering to God’s workers wholeheartedly finds mercy in grace as reward, knowing the kingdom of God’s glory is being supported and spread as seed in the field of this fallen world.  Do we hold to and support sound teaching for His glory and others’ good? 

Blessed Assurance of Gospel Testimony

2 Timothy 1:8-12   
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

Our testimony is not of us, but the Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore we cannot be ashamed of Him (though certainly of ourselves), and should not be ashamed to be associated with others who have a strong testimony of the gospel in word and deed.  We should be glad as Paul was to suffer for Christ’s sake, not seeking compromise to avoid trouble and persecution.  We have a holy calling, a call to reflect Christ and not to continue to fit in the world by sin or by living in the shadows of Christianity. He called us out purely by His own merit in grace, not according to our good accomplishments.  The amazing part we tend to excuse away or avoid is that He clearly tells us His plans of and for us were before creation of us or anything else.  He planned everything!  When Christ came, He revealed His work and the eternal plan behind it to bring the death of death in the death and resurrection life of God’s own Son in our place.  The life of eternity with God is given His children in place of our death and deserved ongoing suffering afterwards. He truly is the light of the world, giving us eyes to see!  This is why we testify of His work and not merely our own salvation, why we preach and teach this great news of reconciliation and suffer for the message as He did.  We have no shame to hide His grace, but echo Paul when he tells Timothy to know who we believe in and trust His word and work to preserve us through all things (even our own failures) into an assured place in eternity when He judges the world and makes all things new. 

Soberly Heeding God’s Call

2 Timothy 1:1-7    
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, a beloved son:  Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.   3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Paul begins again with who he is called to be by God’s authority, knowing this letter written to Timothy would also be read to the churches, and they needed a reminder that this was God’s word because of that unique calling according to His will.  The grace of God in goodness by unmerited mercy through complete forgiveness brings reconciling peace with God in Christ.  That reminder we all need to hear daily.  We also should be thanking God for each follower of Christ, whether we disciple them or not, and should be yearning for each time we meet together to worship or study or fellowship in His name.  This means acknowledging their sorrow and finding joy to share as well.  We must consider their salvation and the God-given faith exercised in them, seeing the Spirit’s fruit and remembering their calling out.  Timothy is reminded to consider his own gifts and calling, and to ignite these into flame by fanning the fire of desire for pleasing and glorifying the one who called him.  We should also consider the calling and gifts we each have been given, and think clearly to do all from love and in His power working to transform and use us for His eternal kingdom.  This is sound thinking and a fearless walk of faith we are urged to live, considering Timothy’s example. 

Hold to the Gospel Truth!

1 Timothy 6:20-21    
20  O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge— 21 by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith.   Grace be with you. Amen.

Timothy hears the summary of his charge from Paul.  He is to protect and watch over all that has been given him of God’s word and its application to himself and the children of God who are the church.  This precious gospel for salvation and sanctification is under attack by fake knowledge, empty reasoning and evil words, by those who wage war under the dragon’s influence against Christ and His children.  This gnostic approach of false gospels and perverted messages is ongoing even today, and still leads many astray from the narrow gate and its path of truth by God’s word and the grace of Christ’s righteousness alone.  Therefore these final reminders to Timothy and us are to keep us away from psychological storytelling and outright lies, and put our soul’s focus solely on His word as once for all delivered to the saints.  His grace is enough and everything, and is most assuredly with us in Christ.  Let these things be so.  Amen. 

Charge of Humility in Trust

1 Timothy 6:17-19   
17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

The charge we must give to those who are rich in the things of this world is simply to be humble in all God gives.  Trust must be in the living God, the one in whom we live and breathe and move, in whom we have our being, not in the transitory possessions or wealth allowed by His grace.  What He bountifully gives is for us to enjoy, yet we are not to be caught up in it to the point of distraction from the kingdom within us and to come in eternity.  Therefore we charge each other to do what fulfills the two great commands toward God and man, doing what is good.  This means riches of giving and sharing to meet needs from a loving and willing heart, not hoarding all we are given for ourselves, but investing in the eternal souls of others and what glorifies God through our Lord Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit who lives in us.  These things we are to charge as if commanding, pointing the fellow sheep to follow the Great Shepherd of our souls in humility and service. 

Run the Race of Righteousness

1 Timothy 6:11-16   
11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing, 15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.

Like Timothy, we are called to run the other direction away from discontentment and ungodly desires. We have been called to righteousness that reflects Christ, godliness in faith, love tempered by patience and gentleness.  All these things of the old man war against us, but we are called to fight back.  The victory won is eternal life which we have been called out to, and which we confess to others.  This is the battle of faith - do we trust God’s power and will to work in us?  Just as Jesus stood firm to the truth in righteousness before Pilate, not giving In to save His life, so we are to follow Him as commanded, holy and resolute in loving obedience to Him and the truth of the gospel.  When His time comes, the absolute sovereign ruler, the only Lord our God, the only eternal ever-existing One, we will see the pure light He lives in and be able to draw near only by the grace of His beckoning hand.  He who is almighty deserves all the honor and glory by us, both now and forever, so we trust and obey as we run toward Him and away from ungodly desires and discontentment. 

Godliness or Greediness?

1 Timothy 6:6-10    
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Are we content to be transformed into the image of Christ day by day?  That contentment in God’s provision of grace is of more value than all health and wealth.  Our best life is not now, but in eternity in the presence of our Lord, so the beginnings of His work in us now, along with all necessary suffering, should drive us to be thankful for all we have here and all we have in Christ already.  If we run after riches, we only get tempted and trapped by our own unending desires for more.  These are called “foolish and harmful” lusts here to point out the emptiness in them and the resulting harm that drowns us in the end.  This love affair with wealth is the soil in which evil grows deep and tall, and the weeds and vines only bear destructive fruit and thorns.  Why stray from true happiness to pursue greed and sorrow? 

Valiant for Truth in Godliness

1 Timothy 6:3-5   
3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

Antinomians are called out here, for godliness is taught in scripture over lawlessness, obedience over cheap grace substitutes.  We are warned that denying sound teaching and the need to be conformed to Christ in holiness that is godliness, that these teachings are man’s pride which only leads to endless arguments.  Many will twist words to promote their own will over God’s revealed will in the scriptures, and attacks will follow instead of submission to the authority of God’s word in Christ.  Some obsess over these objections to sound teaching and the results are seen in jealousy, attacks, evil slandering, and suspicious thinking.  These useless word wrestlings show corrupt thinking which is wholly devoid of truth.  These people look at godliness as something to acquire, not as obedience to truth out of love for the Savior.  We are told to pull away from and avoid such persons, not to engage in their arguments to fall into the enemy’s trap with them.  We are to be valiant for the truth in love instead, holding to sound doctrine in godliness. 

Service versus Subservience

1 Timothy 6:1-2   
1 Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. 2 And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

As we in Christ are now slaves to righteousness instead of slaves to sin, so actual slaves, whether willing or subjugated, were called to honor their masters.  This relates to us being subject to Christ and one another, so the parallel of obedience to honor God is seen here.  This is not to condone the type of cruel slavery in Egypt nor of the heinous form in the Americas, but simply a call in the past for serving as called until or unless freed.  The point here is not to give license to own and abuse others, but to honor and serve.  Paul goes on to say bondslaves are not to hate their masters who are fellow believers in Christ, but to serve that others are blessed in their service.  These things were not to be misused or glossed over, but strongly and actively taught in truth and love.  We are to submit to and serve each other, and this was a way to do this in that context of servants, not in other abhorrent forms of forced and abusive slavery we have seen throughout history.  The lesson is service, not subservience. 

Pride and Prejudice

1 Timothy 5:21-25    
21 I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality. 22 Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people's sins; keep yourself pure.   23 No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities.   24 Some men's sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. 25 Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.

Pride chooses to single out some to apply God’s word to and to look the other way or go easier on others.  Humility requires us to fairly and justly address sin towards reconciliation equally, not thinking that we know better than God and His clear words to us to deal in love and truth impartially.  The Father and Son watch from heaven with the angels chosen by God as witnesses to how we minister to each other within the church.  Further instructions follow, including praying circumspectly, not hastily, to understand if someone’s hidden sin needs to be dealt with before muddying our own hands by being on the wrong side of what we are praying for.  We are to keep ourselves pure in all matters, especially when ministering to others.  Timothy was even advised to drink a little wine to help his stomach problems, which shows that wine itself is not prohibited, just drunkenness as in other passages such as Romans 13:13 and 1 Peter 4:3.  The overriding issue of sin and doing what is right comes down to the hidden intentions of the heart, because we do not always see them on the surface of others.  All that is hidden will be revealed, but we are to do our best by God’s guidance to not allow our pride to prejudice our fair and loving dealings with grace in counsel or ministry to each other. 

Elders’ Support and Accountability

1 Timothy 5:17-20   
17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” 19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. 20 Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.

Elders must rule well.  Then let us honor them highly, with particular regard for the ones working diligently in the knowledge and teaching of the scriptures to impart God’s word and will to the flock.  This means that the elders should be supported and provided for, as the examples given here from Deuteronomy 25:4 and Luke 10:7.  God wants us to follow 1 Corinthians 9:9-14 to care for those ministering care to us, allowing the elders who graze in God’s word to be free to eat what is around them and not muzzled to prevent their feeding on our support to live.  The passage here then makes it clear that when these servants of our Lord are accused that there is proper biblical witness before they are declared guilty.  When guilt is determined, however, the correction must not be behind closed doors, or others may not fear consequences for their own sin.  The rebuke is for correction, not punishment, and the goal is repentance and restoration when possible.  We are each to be holy because and as the Lord Jesus Christ is in our thoughts and actions, and the rebuke is not to smite, but to deal with sin in  grace and mercy as our Lord does with every one of His sheep. 

Wandering Widows

1 Timothy 5:11-16    
11 But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, 12 having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. 13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. 14 Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 15 For some have already turned aside after Satan. 16 If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.

After setting the standards for care of older widows who are of good reputation, the scriptures now address what to do with younger widows.  They are not to be supported by the church, because they may walk away from their Lord and desire another husband over trust to live for God.  They then might not work but become idle in thought and word as well, talking badly of others and gossiping, “saying things which they ought not.”  There is no caveat given to take in the younger widows, but advice is given for them to rather remarry, have children, and manage the household well.  Then the adversary cannot accuse rightly of the wrong they may fall into without a strong faith nor lead them into following the evil one as in Eden.  Certainly they can rather work and not be idle in hand or mouth, but this still means the church is not to support them if they can do so themselves without another husband, for this passage is about supporting widows.  This passage concludes with everyone first taking care of their own family who are widows so as to not burden the church for those without family to care for them.

Stewards of Caring for Widows

1 Timothy 5:9-10    
9 Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, 10 well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.

The widows who could care for themselves or remarry were not to be supported by the church.  These were those under sixty years old at that time.  But those over sixty also had to have lived responsibly and rightly before that age, faithful to their deceased husband and known for living to serve others in doing good.  Examples include raising children, helping the stranger outside the church (as the Good Samaritan in Lk.10:33-37), caring for those within the church, comforted the suffering, and doing what she knew was the good and right thing before God and man.  This seems a tall order, but indicates that assistance was for those who assisted others, and not just becoming a welfare institution.  We are to be good stewards in the body and help the needy, not those merely wanting to be helped.  This is a hard saying which requires much wisdom in each case, and is why Paul addressed it here at length.

Honoring Widows, Caring for our Own

1 Timothy 5:3-8   
3 Honor widows who are really widows. 4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. 5 Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. 6 But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. 7 And these things command, that they may be blameless. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

The church should support and help real widows, especially ones without income as in the times this was written, to care for the needy.  This if they don’t have children or even grandchildren who can support them - if they refuse to do so, they are not only worse than before they were believers, but they deny the very grace of faith that gave them everything.  We are to first provide for our own parents (the first commandment with promise, Eph.6:2-3) before burdening others in the church or elsewhere.  Concerning the widows themselves, they are also to trust God and live righteously by prayer and faith to be blameless before Him, not seeking pleasure with men instead of remarrying, and not forgetting the new life they have been given in Christ.  Living as the old man in sin is bringing death back and carrying the corpse of sinful pleasure while forgetting the real and eternal that is ever more satisfying.  This is how we care for each other as a family in Christ, and how loss should drive us to draw closer, not further, from Him. 

Respect and Order in Correction

1 Timothy 5:1-2    
1 Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.

Respect for both older and younger is essential to godliness, as well as order in the church.  We are to gently plead with older men as fathers and older women as mothers, with respect and humble advice when they stray from living sound doctrine.  This means we do not sharply correct them nor disrespect by bearing them with harsh words.  For the younger men, we are called to see and treat them as if a brother, coming alongside to give wise advice as we have learned it.  For younger women, we must deal with them as sisters in purity, not out of place desires or actions.  This is respect and order in correction within the body of Christ.

Guidelines of Ministry

1 Timothy 4:12-16   
12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. 15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

Paul reminded Timothy not to take it to heart when looked down on because he did not yet have the gray hair of outward wisdom, for God in him and His word were enough to set the godly example to back Timothy’s leading and ministry.  He was urged to continue in his sanctification with emphasis on the areas of word, conduct, love, spirit, faith, and purity.  In word he was to be biblical and self-controlled; in conduct he was to demonstrate holiness in willing obedience to the Lord; in love, Timothy would be living for God and ministering to man; in spirit, he would continue to joyfully pour out his life for others; in faith he would trust Christ in good and bad, resting on the promises and suffering for Christ’s and the gospel’s sake; and in purity he would live the commandments put in his heart and worked out by the Spirit of God living in him.  These traits and pursuits were to drive him to read God’s word in teaching, to challenge and correct in ministry, and to teach the word cut straight; this was how he would use the gift God gave which was confirmed by the church.  Timothy was further reminded to dwell on all these instructions and then run the race wholeheartedly in order to demonstrate God’s continued work in and through him to the believers.  By reflecting on his sanctification in the mirror of God’s word and by so serving as gifted to teach and preach, Timothy would go on to save many.  This is a guide for all who are serving and ministering to others in the body under the headship of Christ. 

Command and Teach These Things

1 Timothy 4:6-11   
6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. 7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. 10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 11 These things command and teach.

Teaching straight and true from scripture is what a good minister of the gospel aims for.  This comes out of one’s own feeding long and deep in sound teaching from time in the word of God, but also from carefully following what is found there.  We are to outrightly refuse to listen to storytelling or other ungodly tales, but are instead to seriously pursue godliness in thought and behavior as an Olympic athlete in training.  We know normal exercise helps us be physically fit, so how can we not focus more on the eternal fitness program of godly character training that conforms us to Christ beginning in the present?  As it is written here, this is a worthy and faithful saying for us to stop and meditate on, not to simply acknowledge and move on without affecting how we live.  These things should move us to labor and suffer for Christ’s sake as we trust and obey our living God and Savior.  He called us out, not merely making salvation possible in Jesus Christ, but giving us the gift of faith to justifying righteousness in reconciliation with our Father in the Son.  These things are what good servants minister through the gospel truth.  We are to teach with authority for others to follow Christ and us in this doctrine. 

Stand Valiant for the Truth!

1 Timothy 4:1-5   
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

God showed us here as a warning to Timothy that certain apostate teachings will lead people away from the sound teaching of scripture as Paul had reminded Timothy earlier in this letter.  Apostasy begins with leaving sound biblical doctrine and believing deceptive teaching, as in Eden where Eve was made to question God’s word and goodness, leaving the certain trust in God’s sovereign love.  Here the lies lead to repeated disobedience, which in turn cauterizes the conscience, which the results in setting rules not given by God, but institutionalized by man led astray.  Some of these man commands include prohibiting marriage or certain foods.  We see this in the Roman rules of making it anathema for priests or nuns to marry, eating only fish on Fridays, and other conscience-binding commands.  These have an appearance of godliness, but deny the source.  We who are called out in Christ are to be thankful for all He provides, setting it apart by prayer according to His word.  These latter days are full of manmade rules in place of true faith and obedience to God’s word, but the faithful read and understanding as they are taught sound doctrines of grace.  We stand valiant for the truth. 

Foundation of Truth and Life

1 Timothy 3:14-16    
14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:

God was manifested in the flesh,
Justified in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Preached among the Gentiles,
Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory.

Paul wrote this letter to Timothy with the intent of coming soon after to speak to him face to face, but it was vital that he wrote to impart wisdom, encouragement, and guidance until that time.  The church needed guidance, and the letter provided God’s direction and guidance that was needed now and could not wait.  Timothy needed to know how to conduct himself in God’s church, and to be reminded that it was the foundation and support of His truth which needed to be upheld by God’s word given by His chosen apostle.  All the church was built on this truth hidden in Christ, God among us.  Therefore he ends the thought here of the Word made man who was justified by word and deed before the Father and us, who demonstrated to the heavenly beings His glory in the work of redemption, whose good news of the Kingdom was proclaimed to the nations, who then was believed by His sheep whom He called out, and who then rose into heaven before their eyes as witnesses to His divinity and promise to return for salvation’s consummation in the resurrection to come and judgment on the world for His glory.  Amen! 

Deacon Servants

1 Timothy 3:8-13    
8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. 10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. 11 Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Servants chosen and designated in the church as “table waiters” are those tasked with meeting needs, such as the precursors  in Acts 6:2-3.  These were to be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom as spiritually equipped, and that is defined further here.  Deacons should have a holy attitude, honest, self controlled with alcohol and money, and both know and live doctrine well.  They are to be examined and tested to see what kind of men they are to be certain they are not offensive or set ungodly examples in behavior.  These must be faithful to their wives and families in an orderly headship role also.  Even their wives are to be holy in conduct, not gossiping slanderers, self controlled, and faithful to God and man as well.  Deacons who so serve God and the church not only stand out as godly examples, but also find boldness to bear witness to the faith they live by as they flesh it out in ministry. 

Desiring to Lead by Serving

1 Timothy 3:1-7    
1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

It is good to want to be an overseer or elder in the church.  But there are qualifications of character in thought and deed that must be lived out to avoid a bad reputation and entrapment of the adversary.  This is a position of service for a man with great responsibility to guide and care for the people of God whom He calls out in Christ to the ἐκκλησία (ekklēsia), the church body of the called.  Qualifications begin with the reputation of which no charge can be brought against, then include marital faithfulness, sound reasoning from scripture, gentle in serving, caring for others, founded in scripture to be able to teach it, not a drinker, not physically harmful, and not greedy for gain.  He is to be the head to lead his house by God’s standards, raising respectful children (which translates into dealing with those in the church under this serving authority), and not a newly regenerated disciple so as to have learned humility with years of walking with the Lord.  These are many high aspirations, so the desire to serve in this manner is never to be taken lightly or without great self assessment.