Thoughts on 1 Timothy – Part 3
1TIM 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
1TIM 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
1TIM 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
1TIM 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Doctrines are the teachings of the Bible. A Bible doctrine is simply a truth taught by the Bible. Anyone who says that doctrine is not important is really saying that what the Bible teaches is not important. Do not listen to people who say that doctrine is not important. God’s Word says otherwise. It says that we are to give attendance to doctrine.
We are to take heed unto doctrine. To take heed is more than just hearing it. To take heed means to act appropriately upon it.
We are to continue in Bible teachings. It is not enough to hear Bible doctrine and then heed it just for a little while. No we are to continue doing what the Bible teaches.
The Word of God says that doctrine is important. And giving attendance to, taking heed of, and continuing in doctrine has a benefit. We will save them that hear us. Why? Because they will see that we are for real. They will see a changed life. They will see a new creature in Christ.
Witnessing for Christ needs to be backed up by a life that gives attendance to, heeds, and continues in Bible teaching (doctrine). And doing this will change some people lives for all eternity by saving them from hell.
1TIM 5:1 Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
1TIM 5:2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
A local body of believers is to treat each other like family.
1TIM 5:3 Honour widows that are widows indeed.
1TIM 5:4 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
1TIM 5:5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
1TIM 5:6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
1TIM 5:7 And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.
1TIM 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
1TIM 5:9 Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man.
1TIM 5:10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
1TIM 5:11 But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
1TIM 5:12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.
1TIM 5:13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
1TIM 5:14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
1TIM 5:15 For some are already turned aside after Satan.
1TIM 5:16 If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
I have seen men abuse this scripture to teach that a church cannot give a dime out of the church to help a widow in need.
I have seen some pastors give money to total strangers and bums. They will spend money on all kinds of wasteful things but not help a widow. They will give money to a young single mom even though she has family, but not give a dime to another because she is a widow. Talk about not judging righteous judgment.
I am not kidding. In fact I have seen this more than once. They argue since she has family then it is their responsibility and not ours. And they ignore the fact that the family does not care and is not doing anything. So they let the widow suffer because she has lost worldly family.
Read the Bible very long and you will find that God cares for the widow. It is NOT ok to help a bum but not an elderly lady simply because she is a widow. It is ok for a church to help one of their widows when her family refuses.
You also need to understand the culture of that day. A widow had no social security check. She had no way to take care of herself. A younger widow could marry again. She could work some and even glean during harvest. But an older widow was in dire straits unless someone took her in. Someone needed to provide her with a place to live and daily provision. Day in and day out. An older widow in those days needed someone to take her on as a ward. She needed all of her expenses met.
Verse 16 says, “and let not the church be charged;” There is a big difference between giving a gift and being charged. Being charged carries the idea of being responsible.
This verse is not talking about helping a widow with a onetime gift out of the benevolence fund. What is being talked about here is totally supporting her. What is being taught here is that the church is not to totally support her if she has family or if she is young. The age of 60 is specified in verse 9.
It is ok to help a widow that has family.
I saw a pastor go off the rails. He wanted to close the church and sell the land and he kick anyone out of the church who would vote against him. The remaining few agreed to vote to close if the widows each got a thousand dollars. He agreed, got the vote he wanted, closed the church, sold the land, and then refused to give the widows any of the money and he used these verses to justify it. He then took the money and used some of it to smooth the way to getting a position in a church back east.
Misusing scripture to justify wrong doing is sadly fairly common.
1TIM 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
1TIM 5:18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
A man of God is worth his paycheck. That is the context here. In the O.T. they were told not to muzzle the ox that was treading out the corn. The ox was doing work and it was right to let him eat as a reward. The person who works has earned his pay. That goes for the man at the factory and it applies to the man of God.
A good pastor spends many hours laboring in the word. That includes writing sermons but will also include laboring to give the word of God to the lost and teaching. He will spend many hours visiting the lost outside the church and he will spend time visiting the sick in the church. He also has to do counseling and sometimes deal with church discipline. And many pastors have to mow the lawn and clean the church, and and and… it just keeps going. He is worth his pay.
In really small churches the man of God should have the heart to not be a burden and he should have the heart to see the word of God go out freely like Paul did when he wrote to the Corinthians. And he could go get a job like everyone else. This lets the small church have the budget to be able to get the Word of God out to people and to help the fatherless and the widows.
I have seen a young pastor start a church plant but demand not only full pay but double honor full pay. And he used these verses to justify it. This puts a huge burden on a new start up and hampers everything they try to do. This pastor’s church plant lasted a few years but not surprisingly did not make it and closed.
Verses 17 and 18 should not be applied to churches of 12 people to mean that the pastor must be paid a full salary that is equivalent to the pastor of a church that runs 600 people.
As the church grows and as the demands for a full time pastor grows then the pastor should go to a part time job and the church should pay him. And when the church grows to a larger church the pastor needs to go full time at the church and he needs to be paid in a way that honors his work on behalf of the church.
1TIM 5:19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
This is a very wise instruction. I have been on all 3 sides of this one; the one being accused, the one bringing an accusation, and someone trying to gossip and accuse someone else. And I can testify from experience that having 2 or 3 witnesses is a very good thing.
It helps keep things from getting out of hand. It also keeps lies from being told later because there are witnesses to what was said.
1TIM 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
I have seen some preachers really abuse this one and take much further than what it is teaching. And I have seen it cause great damage to a congregation.
This is not talking about someone who drinks a root beer out of a glass bottle. This is not talking about a girl that wears nail polish that the pastor does not like. Verse 20 is not talking about small stuff. Several decades ago I was a member of a church where the Pastor used this verse to justify calling people out from the pulpit during service.
He would do it for almost anything. It caused a lot of fear in the congregation. People were afraid to do anything and it caused a lot of people to start judging others in a bad way over little things. A pastor should never misuse the pulpit can call people out during messages over small stuff.
The instruction in verse 20 is the word of God and it is not to be ignored. This is for people who on purpose engage in willful sin and who refuse to repent and get something major right. And the instruction in verse 20 is to be done only after they have been approached by the pastor and 2 or 3 witnesses.
When all else fails then yes the pastor is to call it out and rebuke the one in willful sin before all. Get it out in the open. I believe this is the last resort and if the person still refuses to get right after everyone knows about it, then they need to be kicked out of the local church. I believe verse 20 is talking about those kinds of sins.
1TIM 5:21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
Leaders of a local church are not to prefer some members over others. He is not to play favorites and do things by partiality. Local churches are not supposed to have clicks. And every local church that I have seen that had serious clicks either the Pastor or his wife is right in the middle of it.
When a leader of a local church engages in preferring some over others it causes great harm. This is not a little issue. It quickly becomes real obvious to everyone. And one of the reasons that it hurts people is that they all know that this is not the way the love of God works.
And they are correct. God’s love is not based on merit. His love extends to all. And the leaders are to let the love of God flow thru them. This is what the Holy Spirit would be leading them to do. So when they prefer a select group in the church they are actually grieving the Holy Spirit.
Leaders who are grieving the Spirit are pushing against the one that they need to guide them and strengthen them and the one who empowers the work. So this really is a big deal.
1TIM 5:22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.
1TIM 5:23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.
Some will use this verse to try to justify their lust for the devil’s brew. They want to drink booze and are looking for a way to sooth their conscience about it. The Bible clearly teaches against drinking alcohol.
Pro 20:1 Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Alcohol mocks men. It makes men do things and think things that they should not. It lowers your self-control. It leads to sin. Some will say I only have one. Even one loosens you up to where your thoughts are sinful. Face it people think things and say things they should not even after one drink. There is no justification for a Christian to drink alcohol. So what about this verse. Well first is your name Timothy? This was a specific instruction to a specific person. Also, the word wine in the bible is used for the fruit of the vine. It may or may not be fermented. The context of Proverbs 20 tells us that it is talking about fermented wine, and we see that God is strongly against that. I don’t believe that 1 Tim 5:23 is talking about fermented alcohol, but unfermented fruit of the vine. And I have found that pure grape juice does indeed settle my stomach. The juice also is very nutritious and the vitamin content does help you to be healthier.
This verse is in no way condoning drinking booze. It was advice for a medical condition.
It also shows that the gift of healing was already gone by this time. The Bible was almost completed and the need for the temporary sign gifts had passed. So they could not just touch Timothy and heal his weak stomach.
1TIM 5:22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.
1TIM 5:24 Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.
1TIM 5:25 Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.
When I read this I think of the Bible teaching that by their fruits you shall know them. So often you can tell a lot about the character of someone by their actions. So don’t lay hands suddenly on some man that is talking about giving him a position of leadership. This would include making someone a pastor but also any role of important leadership like a Sunday school teacher.
You are to watch someone for a while first. And if you see their sins out in the open you are not to join them in it.
1TIM 6:1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
1TIM 6:2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.
In Old Testament times a man who went broke could sell himself as a servant for a certain number of years. That is one type of the master servant relationship. There was also another type that is morally wrong that God called evil in Deuteronomy. These verses are not focusing between the 2 types of servanthood. They are focusing on how the Christian is to behave. He is to put his testimony as a believer above any situation that he finds himself in. Even if it is a horrible situation.
The closest thing we have today in America is the relationship between an employee and his employer. Our work relationship today is different than it was then. However, the underlying principal mentioned in verse one is the same, and it does apply to us today.
The servant was to treat their master with proper respect. They were to count their own masters worthy of all honour. We should treat our employers with respect also. Because of them we have a job and are able to pay our bills. But another more important reason is given. “that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.”
We are to not keep our Christianity in a closet. Our employers should know that we are Christians. Our behavior and the way we treat our employers therefore reflects upon our Saviour. If we treat our employers badly, then the name of God will be blasphemed. The employer will not think much of our God and His teachings if we are jerks. If we have proper respect for our employers, they might still not get saved, but we will honor our Lord.
1TIM 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
1TIM 6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
1TIM 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
If any man teach otherwise is referring to all of the doctrine that Paul has went thru so far in this letter. It is not restricted to 1 Tim 6:1-2. And in verse 3 when Paul writes and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, that is referring to all of the rest of the New Testament and the timeless truths of the Old Testament (truths in the Old Testament that are also in the New Testament. Having to bring a sacrifice and not eating ham are examples of things that had a purpose but belong left in the Old Testament and are not practiced in the New Testament age).
Paul says men who teach otherwise are proud and know nothing. O they can know facts and dates and they can read the scriptures, but the scriptures are spiritually discerned. And God resists the proud. Especially proud preachers, and because of this they can really get the truth all messed up and teach some really strange stuff. Paul says these men have corrupt minds and are destitute of the truth.
And then Paul gives one of their false teachings that we see a lot of today. These men suppose that gain is godliness. I have seen it many times. Messed up preachers will use the size of their crowd and success in money and buildings and other material things as proof that they are right and that God is with them. They attach material gain with godliness.
This is teaching that we are to withdraw from all of those TV preachers who say they will pray for you and they promise you blessings if you send your money in.
God is saying here in His precious Word from such men withdraw thyself.
False teachers will say gain is godliness. In verse 5 we learn from such withdraw from. And now in verse 6 we are told what great gain truly is. And it is not money and stuff and buildings.
1TIM 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1TIM 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
O how we all need reminded of this truth from time to time! It is godliness with contentment that is great gain, and not money. A big house is not great gain. A new boat is not great gain. Why? Because in the end they will rot. The things of this world are not great gain because you cannot take them with you. You only have them for a very short time. Really for no time at all in comparison to eternity.
You cannot take the things of this world with you. Verse 7 says, “It is certain we can carry nothing out.” How many pharaohs have gotten buried with all their stuff? People were even killed to keep the burying place secret so no one would take their stuff before they got it to the other side. And all for nothing because you cannot carry anything out of this world.
We are to be content with what we have and we are to set our affections on things above.
Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
And this is great gain in eternity because you then focus more on laying treasures up in heaven which pleases your Lord. And this is great gain in this life. Face it, being content is much better for your heart and your walk with the Lord. It also helps you keep things in perspective.
And notice it is not contentment alone. It is contentment with godliness that is great gain.
Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Being content and walking with God is great gain. That is what life is about.
1TIM 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
Hence the saying, You can’t take it with you. Psalm 49 talks about this very thing.
Psa 49:6 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
Psa 49:7 None [of them] can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
Psa 49:8 (For the redemption of their soul [is] precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
Psa 49:10 For he seeth [that] wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
Psa 49:11 Their inward thought [is, that] their houses [shall continue] for ever, [and] their dwelling places to all generations; they call [their] lands after their own names.
Psa 49:12 Nevertheless man [being] in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts [that] perish.
Psa 49:13 This their way [is] their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.
Man struggles and pursues wealth. They puff themselves up and name their lands after their own names. But yet their way is folly and all men will die. They money will do them no good when they die, they can’t take it with them and they can’t buy salvation (verse 7). They don’t realize that it is not money that is precious but it is the redemption of their soul that is precious (verse 8).
Psa 49:15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
Can you claim verse 15? Has God redeemed your soul? Does the grave have no power over you? Have you accepted Jesus as your Saviour? Or are you pursuing something that you will not be able to take with you? That in the end will not matter in the least.
1TIM 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
We are told that it is godliness with contentment that is great gain. And now just to be clear how little we are to be content with we are given verse 8.
1TIM 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
If you have food and clothes then be content. God never promises His children houses on this earth, or cars, or vacations, and on the list goes. He often lets us have some of those things and when He does it is certainly a blessing. But we are never promised all of those things. And if we do not have any of them, we have the most important thing and that is we know the Lord. We have been saved from an eternity in hell. So in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. And if all you have in this world is food and clothes and the Lord, then live for Him and be content and that is great gain.
And now comes the warning that there is a danger in having too much.
1TIM 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
Too much money is a temptation and a snare. It can and does pull many into foolish and hurtful lusts.
1TIM 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Having too much money can result in hurt to yourself and those you love. Your priorities can get all out of whack. Money is a good tool and necessary to pay bills, but money is a horrible master. The love of money causes coveting which is sin. And sin always brings hurt, pain, and destruction. Sin destroys.
We are to flee from the love of money and flee from having too much of it. Flee as in run from it. It is ok and necessary to have enough to have food and clothes and even some other things but it is absolutely not to be our focus or what we pursue.
Instead what we should pursue after is listed in verse 11.
1TIM 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Living the way Jesus wants us to is what is most important and it is these things that will have the greatest rewards and not money. Both rewards in Heaven but also is a much more rewarding life.
1TIM 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
1TIM 6:13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
1TIM 6:14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
1TIM 6:15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
1TIM 6:16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
Fight the good fight of faith. Faith will be attacked and faith will be tested. When the attacks and testing and temptations come, and they will, lay hold on the absolute rock solid guaranteed promise of eternal life from the God who cannot lie and who is always faithful.
The Lord is good and He will never leave you nor forsake you. He is always there to help you fight the good fight of faith. He is worthy of being trusted. He is worthy of fighting the good fight of faith and holding strong our belief in Him no matter what comes our way.
And we are to keep doing the good fight of faith without wavering until the appearing of our Lord. No excuses, no loopholes, and no quitting. He is worthy!
1TIM 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
1TIM 6:18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
1TIM 6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
While having a lot of money is a danger to most. Money is also a good tool to be used to get God’s Word out and it is also a good tool to help others like the fatherless and the widow and the poor. God will sometimes give more resources to some and when He does those that are rich in this world are to use that money for God’s honor and God’s glory and to use it to help others. Most of the rich do not understand this principal. But praise the lord for each one that does. One of the modern day examples would be the founder of Hobby Lobby.
1TIM 6:20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
1TIM 6:21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.
There is true science and there is science falsely so called. True science will always line up with truth. And since God’s word is truth then true science will always line up with God’s Word.
Evolution is the prime example of science falsely so called. It is a ridiculous fairy tale with no basis in fact and is actually mathematically impossible. The complexity of DNA and RNA and Proteins and how they work together proves intelligent design. Our universe and all of its complexity proves that there is a creator. To learn more about this there is a great organization called the Institute for Creation Research. They have a huge volume of information on this.
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