The Christ Church Wednesday Bible Study Group is studying Paul's pastoral Epistles (Letters) to his proteges, Timothy and Titus. This is the final session in our study of Paul’s first letter to Timothy.
Paul was concerned about Timothy communicating sound doctrine, mercy, commitment, conduct, and truth plus a whole new way of life. A new way of life which shaped beliefs, attitudes, values, and behavior.
These were the last words to Timothy in this letter “ Grace be with you. Amen.”, but final sentence was not for Timothy because the pronoun is plural: “Grace be with all of you.” Paul had the entire church in mind when he wrote this letter all of us have a responsibility to hear and obey.
In our next session we will start our study of Paul’s letter to Titus
Now Paul’s last words for Timothy and for Pastors.
I Timothy 6:11-16, 20-21 NKJV [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.
[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.
While caring for the needs of his people, Timothy needed to care for himself as well, and this is important for Pastors today.
They must be the complete opposite of the false teachers.
Remember what we said about false teachers last week.
1 Timothy 4:1-3 NIV [1] The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. [2] Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. [3] They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.
Then he tells Timothy how to recognize and identify these false teachers.
1 Timothy 6:3-5 NIV [3] If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, [4] they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions [5] and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
They refuse to adhere to sound doctrine
1 Timothy 6:3 NIV [3] If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,
The second characteristic of false teachers is that they are arrogant.
1 Timothy 6:4 NIV [4] they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions
They are not humble even though they have no reason for their arrogance, like verse 4 said they don’t understand anything.
This “conceited attitude” causes a them to argue about minor matters instead of feeding on the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ. They don’t like to be questioned. This results in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and as it says in the first part if verse five constant friction.
So what is the motive of these false teachers?
1 Timothy 6:5-10 NIV [5] and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. [6] But godliness with contentment is great gain. [7] For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. [8] But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. [9] Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. [10] For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
These people were using the gospel and the profession of the Christian faith (or godliness) as a why to make money. For these folk it not a ministry but a religious business.
I Timothy 6:11 NKJV [11] But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
Paul gave four admonitions that, if followed, would assure success in ministry and provide evidence that they are “a men of God.”
First Flee
There are other times when fleeing is a mark of wisdom and a means of victory. Joseph fled when he was tempted by Potipher’s wife.
Genesis 39:12 NKJV [12] that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside.
David fled when King Saul tried to kill him.
I Samuel 19:10 NKJV [10] Then Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he slipped away from Saul’s presence; and he drove the spear into the wall. So David fled and escaped that night.
The word flee that Paul used here did not refer to literal running, but to separating yourself from false teaching.
There are times when a servant of God should take a stand against false doctrine and godless practices, and separate himself from them. He must be sure, however, that he acts on the basis of biblical conviction and not because of a personal prejudice.
The Pastor must be a man of God and not out for himself as are the false teachers.
Flee and Separate from false teaching and doctrine but follow and pursue the gaces of the Holy Spirit which include righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
I Timothy 6:11 NKJV [11] But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
“Righteousness” means “personal integrity.”
“Godliness” (which means being devoted the God and His Word, obedient)
Personal integrity or righteousness has to do with character; godliness has to do with conduct.
“Faith” is better translated, in this context “faithfulness.” or dependability.
“Love” is the agape love that sacrifices for the sake of others. It seeks to give, not to gain.
“Patience” means sticking to it when the going is tough. It is not complacency but a courage that continues in in tough times.
“Meekness or Gentilness” That is not weakness but instead is “power under control.” Courageous endurance without meekness could make a person a tyrant.
Then Paul says to fight
I Timothy 6:12-16 NKJV [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.
The Greek verb means “keep on fighting!” It is a word from which we get our English word agonize. It describes a person straining and giving his best to win the prize or win the battle.
This “fight,” is not between believers; it is between believers and our enemy Satan and his army of evil. If is the fight to defend truth and the faith.
The example from scripture is what Nehemiah did when there was opposition to the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem by those returning from exile in Babylon
Nehemiah 4:17 NKJV [17] Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon.
To fully get this you should read the book of Nehemiah. Here’s the point
Christians today need to be able eight the enemy and at the same time work to build the church. Too many of us spend so much time fighting the enemy that they have no time to do their work and build the church. On the other hand, if we do not stand guard and oppose the enemy, what we have built could be taken from us.
What continues to enncourage us to fight? It is eternal life
We have it and need to take hold of it and let it work in our experience. We have been called by God, and this assures us of victory.
Romans 8:31-39 NKJV [31] What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? [32] He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? [33] Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. [34] Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. [35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? [36] As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” [37] Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. [38] For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, [39] nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Another encouragement in our battle is the witness of Jesus Christ our Savior and the fact that as the spiritual leader of the church in Ephesus and pastors today shepherd local congregations will have to give an account of their performance, so to speak.
I Timothy 6:13-14 NKJV [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,
So be prepared to give a report with confidence like Jesus in making his confession before Pilate
John 18:37 NKJV [37] Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
Jesus could be bold because he knew that God the Father was with Him and watching over Him, and that He would be raised from the dead.
We do not know when Christ will come again, but we know that He will, “in His own time”
We must wait and abide in him because;
I Timothy 6:15-16 NKJV [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.
Keep in mind that Paul explained all these truths about God in order to encourage Timothy to fight and not give up. We need not fear life because God is the Ruler of all; and we need not fear death because He shares immortality with us.
Why did Paul write so much about the person and glory of God?
Timothy lived in the godless city of Ephesus. Timothy was going to fight the good fight of faith, he had to decide that Jesus Christ alone was worthy of worship and complete devotion.
Paul wanted Timothy and I want us to be faithful to the things we have learned in this study.
I Timothy 6:20-21 NKJV [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.
It was Timothy’s responsibility, and ours to not keep it to ourselves but to pass it on. Remember the analogy of God’s plan of salvation getting to the world that I gave in my sermon Sunday a couple of weeks ago?
When Jesus returned to heaven, all of the angels turned out to greet him. He explained to them the plan of salvation, how he had died and had risen from the grave, and that now salvation was possible for all the world. They were all rejoicing until one angel said, “But, Jesus, how will the world know what you’ve done?” He replied, “I told my friends to tell others and those others will tell still others, and the message will be told around the world.” The angel asked, “But suppose they don’t do it? Suppose they are too busy or too careless—what then? How will the world know about you?” Jesus paused for a moment, looked down, then raised his eyes and said, “They’re my friends. They won’t disappoint me. I have no other plan!”
He again cautioned him against getting caught up or blind sided by false teaching.
I Timothy 6:20 NKJV [20] O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—
Paul referred here to the teachings of the“gnostics” who claimed to have a “special spiritual knowledge.” We’ve talked about them before. They claimed to have “special spiritual knowledge” from visions and other experiences. They also claimed to find “hidden truths” in the Old Testament Scriptures, especially the genealogies.
The gnostics actually had a doctrine that was a strange mixture of Christianity, Eastern mysticism, Greek philosophy, and Jewish legalism. The offered “something for everybody.” But Paul called
“profane and vain babblings.” Phillips translated it “the godless mixture of contradictory notions.”
Why should Timothy avoid these teachings?
I Timothy 6:21 NKJV [21] by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.
Not only will wrong motives (a desire for money) cause a person to wander from the faith, but so will wrong teachings. These lies work their way into a person’s mind and heart gradually, and before he
That final sentence was not for Timothy because the pronoun is plural: “Grace be with all of you.” Paul had the entire church in mind when he wrote this letter all of us have a responsibility to hear and obey.
In 1 Timothy, Paul gave Timothy quite a list of subjects to teach, including: exposure of false doctrines, myths and genealogies; law; sound doctrine; the glorious Gospel; mercy; truth; dedication; prayer; harmony; women's dress and appearance; marriage and dietary practices; qualifications for leaders; conduct; sayings, truths of the faith; the practice of religion; relationships with fellow Christians; treatment of widows; ways to select elders; contentment; righteousness; faith; love; endurance; hope in God; and doing good, that's a lot and we are going to talk about all of it.
Paul was concerned about Timothy communicating sound doctrine, mercy, commitment, conduct, and truth plus a whole new way of life. A new way of life which shaped beliefs, attitudes, values, and behavior.
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