1 TIMOTHY (Letter 54, Larry Crabb’s 66 Love Letters)
GUARD THE TRUTH; IT IS YOUR LIFELINE TO REAL CHURCH
We are called to guard His truth. If in this uncertain world we risk everything on what we know to be true, we will finish well. We will impact others. We will strengthen His church. We will fight the good fight. All this will happen but only if we risk everything on His Son’s return.
For many people today, His truth has been watered down into principles for making this life more comfortable and satisfying, either circumstantially or spiritually. Churches that make it their mission to teach people how to relieve stress, avoid difficulties, enjoy tension-
free relationships, and feel spiritual promote a form of godliness that has no power to keep still-sinful people loving well in this still- disappointing world.
We are not yet spiritually resurrected into a sinless existence, into a struggle-free life where things always go well, into the full joy we will know when we see His Son. Until then, guard the truth that has the power to keep us turned toward Him, persevering in love and waiting in hope – the truth that makes possible a new way to live as an imperfect person in an imperfect world.
1Timothy 3:16 says the following:
Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith:
Christ was revealed in a human body
and vindicated by the Spirit.
He was seen by angels
and announced to the nations.
He was believed in throughout the world
and taken to heaven in glory.
His Spirit will provide the wisdom to conduct ourself well in His household, in His church. It’s all in this letter:
how to recognize error; to pray; to honor the uniqueness of men and women; to select spiritual leaders; to minister to widows, leaders, and slaves; to handle money; to fight for the truth like a soldier in battle [1:18]; and to run toward truth like an athlete in a race [6:12].
“After enduring whatever troubles life may bring, if we have faithfully guarded the truth, we will leave this world with the enjoyment of anticipation. Charles Simeon, after steady opposition from the church he faithfully pastored in Britain for nearly fifty years, was asked on his deathbed in October 1836 what he was thinking. Having faithfully guarded the truth of his sinfulness and God Son’s grace for so many years, he replied, ‘I don’t think now. I am enjoying.’
1 TIMOTHY: From Ray Stedman
Click here for entire Bible Summary from Ray Stedman
1 TIMOTHY: Pastor’s Primer
He wrote to young Timothy that he would know how to conduct himself in the ministry and the relationships of the body of Christ, the
church of the living God.
Then the second theme is found in the first chapter, where we are told, the aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith. {1 Tim 1:5 RSV}
While the first theme is that of the church and its ministry, the second theme concerns the individual’s relationship to the world and to God.
So the first note that the apostle strikes is that Timothy is to oppose false teaching.
And then he goes on to say that one of the things that was causing problems in the church was the wrong understanding of the Law. The Law, he says, is intended “for the lawless and disobedient” {1 Tim 1:9b RSV}.
But if you have come to Christ, and your heart is intent upon pleasing him, you do not need the Law to keep you from doing wrong – love will do it!
Then, the second reason Paul has for charging Timothy is his own experience of grace.
The rest of the letter is made up of the charge itself that the apostle has for his young son in the faith, consisting of five elements.
First, there are certain instructions on conducting public worship. Women’s desire for a ministry will be fulfilled through child bearing, if the children continue in faith and love and holiness, with modesty.
Now the apostle turns to the qualifications of church leaders, who fall into two major categories – the bishops (elders) and the deacons. Deacons are any who do a special task for the whole church, such as teaching, or who represent the church in any outreach ministry.
And he says three things, first, about the elders:
They are to be “blameless,” so as to avoid being disapproved.
They are to be pure; understanding how to apply the word so that it produces righteousness, avoiding pride.
They were to be of good repute, to avoid public scandal.
Now deacons are treated somewhat similarly, but he adds one major instruction concerning them – they are first to be tested, to be given work to do on a trial basis.
In Chapter 4, Paul turns to the subject of apostasy. Now apostates and heretics are different:
A heretic is a Christian, one who basically accepts and knows the Lord Jesus Christ, but who tends to go wrong in some particular doctrinal issue.
An apostate has never been a Christian, although he testifies that he is.
The guarantee against apostasy – informing the congregation of the dangers, setting the example, and expounding the Scriptures.
In Chapter 5 certain specific church problems are discussed, including how to treat younger and older people within the church, and advice to women on various practical matters. Then he takes up the official problem of how to handle charges against the elders. And finally, he mentions certain personal problems that Timothy himself would encounter.
Chapter 6 goes into the matter of social problems.
First, Paul addresses Christian slaves, and he reminds them that the urge to get material things can be a terrible danger to the spiritual life.
Then he exhorts Timothy to walk honestly and steadfastly in the sight of God until the day when the Lord Jesus himself calls him home.
And finally, he closes with a word to the rich, “to be rich in good deeds, liberal and generous, thus laying up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life [right now] which is life indeed,” {1 Tim 6:18b-19 RSV}.
He ends with – avoid the godless chatter and contradictions of what is falsely calledknowledge.
1 TIMOTHY – David Jeremiah (Understanding the 66 Books of the Bible)
Key thought: God’s church should be led with excellence by leaders who possess wisdom and integrity.
Key Verse: Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1st Timothy 6:12
Key Action: We must conduct ourselves wisely in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth (see 1sr Timothy 4:15).