1 Timothy 4 New
International Version - UK (NIVUK)
4
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. 4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to
be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by
the word of God and prayer.
6
If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters,[a] you will be a
good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the
good teaching that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with godless myths
and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical
training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding
promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9 This is a trustworthy
saying that deserves full acceptance. 10 That is why we labour and strive,
because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Saviour of all
people, and especially of those who believe.
11
Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because
you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in
love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public
reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your
gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their
hands on you.
15
Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone
may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in
them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
The Spirit clearly says , Elim Missions
1 Timothy 4:1-4
It
was 11am Sunday morning, half an hour into the service and Big John stood up
and spoke at length in a language very unfamiliar to me. The person next to me
whispered, "the Holy Spirit is talking, wait and you will hear the message
in English." I was 14 yrs of age and learning that the Spirit spoke in an
unknown language but that it could be understood in English. Big John would
follow the similar pattern most Sunday mornings and usually the Spirit chose
11am to speak.
We
all have experiences like mine perhaps. Thankfully they are fewer than the real
directive, encouraging directional words of the Spirit that have shaped ours
and many people's lives.
The
letter from Paul was for Timothy who was leading the church in Ephesus.
The
temple Artemis was there. It was regarded as one of the seven wonders of the
ancient world.
Various
cultures and religions (usually involving some form of magic) mixed in Ephesus.
Sport, sex, art (usually depicting some sex act) was big business.
"Timothy,
the Spirit clearly says that what you are experiencing with regards false
teaching is going to come."
But
I want to know how we know what the Spirit is clearly saying?
Is
there anything in these few verses that can help us?
The
clarity of the Spirit:
1.
Will be focused on the FUTURE, v1
2.
Will be culturally RELEVANT in the present, v1-3
3.
Will always COMPETE with other spirits to speak to us, v1
4.
Will be founded from within CREATION, when everything was good, v4
5.
THANKFULNESS as a lifestyle is the best environment to hold the Spirits voice,
v4
6.
The regular repeated reading of the BIBLE familiarises us with the voice of
God, v4
7.
PRAYER will take us to the quiet meditation of our spirit with God's where we
can begin to listen and contemplate the still voice within us, v4
Today
lets make sure we are living in such a way that the Spirit's voice is very
clear.
The IVP New Testament
Commentary Series
The Good Minister of
Christ Jesus (4:6-16)
Just
as a skillful coach will often return to the basics of the sport to pull the
team or a player out of a slump, Paul returns to the basics to keep this church
on track. As he seeks to counteract the influences of the false teaching here,
he emphasizes one of the most important practical lessons of the Pastoral
Epistles: the soundness of a church depends on ministers and leaders who are
sound in their faith and practice.
But
wait! This teaching applies to all Christians. Yes, in this section Paul
focuses on Timothy, the paradigm of the good minister or Christian leader, who
must pursue spiritual priorities and pay attention to his lifestyle and
calling. But we shouldn't be fooled by the term minister—the principles apply
to all believers, just as all believers are to be vitally involved in ministry.
The leader or minister is to be a model. In the leader's ministry and life
God's Word and its application must be central. Attention to these basics will
make a critical difference. As we saw in chapter 1 of this letter, the minister
and ministry that accord with God's will are exact opposites of the
"enthusiasts" and their version of the faith.
Spiritual Priorities
(4:6-10)
Of
course, there are many things that could rightly be identified as
"spiritual priorities." Here Paul selects three that are most
essential for the development and maintenance of a sound spiritual life.
1.
Nourishment from God's Word (4:6). Perhaps the most basic of all is the first,
spiritual nourishment. The good minister, the one who will faithfully and ably
confront false teachers, will have been brought up in the Christian faith. This
might be mistaken as limiting the ministry to those reared in a Christian
family, but that is not the meaning. The image is of taking nourishment, and
the present tense emphasizes continual action or lifestyle. However, this
lifestyle is rooted in firm decisions made in the past, for the good minister
has followed the teaching of the faith into the present. Both the faith and the
good teaching identify the true gospel or faith in contrast to the perverted
doctrines current in that church. This includes not just doctrine but also the
practical principles for godly living.
The
implication is clear: the Christian leader must be one who has habitually taken
nourishment from God's Word and continues to do so. Yet reports from an
alarming percentage of pastors and missionaries, among other Christian workers,
show that under the weight of ministry responsibilities time spent in the Word
of God (and in prayer) becomes irregular and haphazard. This passage makes the
dangers of this neglect clear; God's servants must reverse this trend to
maintain spiritual health. At the same time, the mature leader must choose
carefully the spiritual food to be taken. Godless myths and old wives' tales
(v. 7), a certain reference to the false teaching identified in 4:1-3, must be
avoided. This does not mean that the minister should be unaware of the
competing claims of other popular movements and religions. In fact, Christians
ought to understand clearly the trends of thought that are influencing society
and its values. But it must be an understanding arrived at and constantly
examined through a careful weighing of these trends against God's values. In
order to carry out this evaluation, the minister and all believers must be
absorbed daily in the good teaching of the faith.
2.
Training in godliness (4:7-9). The second priority is that of spiritual
training—that is, training in godliness (4:7). The heretics' false teaching
(the myths and wives' tales) supported a system of asceticism (the abstinence
from certain foods and disparagement of marriage, 4:3). Godliness for them
apparently had mainly to do with knowledge of "spiritual" things. The
body, they held, could be controlled by rigorous self-denial (physical
training, 4:8). But genuine godliness is the life of faith strengthened by
training in the Word of God (4:7)—that is, a lifestyle lived in obedience to
the good teaching. Paul admits that physical training does have a certain
limited value; by means of it one can learn to control physical urges.
Godliness, on the other hand, has unlimited value, for it is that life in the
power of the Spirit (compare Gal 5:16-24) in which the "whole"
believer, in body and spirit, comes to experience the resurrection life of
Christ (compare Phil 3:10). Through it the physical passions and propensity to
sin can be brought under control, and the reality of the Holy Spirit's
operation in the life of the believer becomes evident.
This
genuine godliness holds promise for both the present life and the life to come
(4:8). So strong was the emphasis on the pursuit of this life in the Spirit in
the early church that verse 8 had become a widely accepted saying: the
trustworthy saying referred to in verse 9 is verse 8.
3.
Mission (4:10). It is the reality of this life-changing salvation that forms
the third priority of the good minister and every faithful Christian—the
spiritual goal of mission. Spiritual nourishment and spiritual training draw
meaning from the hope of salvation. All of the minister's efforts (for this we
labor and strive, v. 10) are to be tied to the certain hope in the God who
saves. Labor and strive ought not to be placed in parentheses in verse 10 (as
in the NIV); these Greek terms together express the idea of "making every
possible effort," which suggests a very urgent goal. And, just as in
2:3-4, it is the universal scope of God's plan of salvation (Savior of all men)
that compels participation in the mission. Again, as in the earlier passage,
the salvation of all is not automatic or unconditional. The qualification that
follows (and especially of those who believe) links the execution and success
of the mission to the preaching and specifically belief in the gospel (see
notes as well as 2:4 commentary). An undertaking of this magnitude urgently
requires the participation of every Christian. Why "urgently"?
Because all people must be given the opportunity to respond to God. As Paul
wrote elsewhere, "How, then, can they call on the one they have not
believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?
And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they
preach unless they are sent?" (Rom 10:14-15).
The
protection of the church from dangers such as heresy, as well as its return to
order, has much to do with the soundness of its leaders. Paul advises his
readers to concentrate on the basics: steady nourishment from the Word of God,
pursuit of the godly life in the Spirit and the priority of mission. The false
teachers in Ephesus had established different priorities as they pushed the
church to the brink of destruction.
The IVP New Testament
Commentary Series
Effective Ministry
(4:11-15)
Timothy
remains in view as the instructions address other aspects of the leader's life
and the essentials of worship in relation to the effectiveness of ministry.
1.
Exemplary Christian lifestyle (4:11-12). After the principles above are
considered, the first requirement for an effective ministry is an exemplary
Christian lifestyle. On one level this holds true particularly for those who,
like Timothy, find themselves in leadership positions in ministry among those
who are older and (perhaps) wiser. Nothing bridges the generation gap in the
church like the spiritual maturity of the younger. At a more important level,
nothing proves the veracity of the gospel as well as evidence of its
life-changing power. The example Paul calls for here is that very proof: an
example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity
(v. 12).
Speech
and life (better, "conduct") encompass most of the observable
life—the visible dimension of godliness. In fact, James places first importance
on control of the tongue, which will then provide for control of the rest of
one's behavior (Jas 3:2). Through what a Christian says and does the truth of
the Christian faith will be either demonstrated or denied, for true
spirituality (godliness) is the composite of faith or knowledge of God and its
outworking in the believer's life.
Love
and faith summarize the Christian life. Paul frequently aligns these two
qualities, faith referring to the relationship with Christ and love to activity
generated by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:6 explains that genuine
Christianity is "faith working through love": a proper knowledge of
and commitment to Christ which controls the life of the believer (see 2:15
notes).
Purity
alludes to sexual conduct (compare 5:2). Paul singles out this concern
undoubtedly because questionable conduct here will ruin the Christian leader's
reputation and ministry.
As
the list suggests, effective ministry and godliness are inseparable. Remember,
as Paul gives these instructions he warns the readers away from the heretics'
one-sided, totally subjective concept of spirituality and encourages leaders to
be models of the true life in the Spirit that involves the whole person.
2.
God-centered worship (4:13). The second requirement for effective ministry is
God-centered worship. Under the false teachers' influence, gatherings for
worship were degenerating into speculation about "myths" and strange
doctrines (1:3-4) and debate about their meaning (1:4; 6:4-5). Paul responds by
refocusing attention on God's Word as the source of knowledge about him and the
life of faith.
First,
he urges consistent practice of the public reading of Scripture (v. 13). This
is by no means an innovation; it was already part of Christian worship, having
been adopted naturally from Jewish synagogue worship (Lk 4:16; Acts 15:21; 2
Cor 3:14). Its import lies in the way it centers attention on God, who,
communicating with his people, initiates and sustains a covenant relationship.
Practically, the reading of the lesson also prepares the people for the
exposition and application of Scripture.
Second,
proper Christian worship will include preaching. The term used here could mean
exhortation, encouragement, comfort or an appeal, and it is linked to the
Scriptures in Romans 15:4 and Hebrews 12:5. Romans 12:8 reveals that preaching
is a Spirit-directed activity (that is, a charisma) of communicating God's
message to the people (compare 1 Cor 12:8). The starting point is the conviction
that Scripture is always relevant to God's people (2 Tim 3:16-17).
Teaching
is the third activity to be consistently practiced in the worship assembly. As
with preaching, a special gift is associated with this activity (Rom 12:7).
But
how do these two activities differ? Passages such as this one and 1 Timothy
5:17 and Romans 12:7-8 (see also 1 Tim 2:7; 2 Tim 1:11) seem to make a
distinction between preaching and teaching, though the Greek terms may vary.
But the precise distinction is difficult to pin down. The term used here for
preaching (paraklesis) refers to appeals made to believers (Rom 15:4; Heb
13:22) and unbelievers (see 2 Cor 5:20). Teaching, however, is usually linked
to the church. Knight may be correct to see the distinction in terms of
purpose, preaching being the call to respond to God's Word (which would fit an
audience of believers or unbelievers), teaching being the more intellectually
oriented communication of Scripture's principles (1992:208). It may be also
that the two activities differed in style and tone of delivery. But
distinctions based on content (for example, limiting teaching to Christian
ethics and preaching to theology) do not seem to be in mind (see Tit 2:10-14).
Yet often the two activities must have overlapped considerably: it is hard to
imagine teaching without leading the people to response, or preaching without
providing a reasoned exposition of a text's principles. Nevertheless, as long
as we make room for overlap and avoid distinctions that are too rigid, it seems
safe to think of preaching and teaching as two applications of God's Word in
the church: (1) the call to response, whether that entails confession,
receiving God's encouragement or appropriating his promise, and (2) the
building of a solid foundation for living through the systematic teaching of
biblical principles that coherently and practically express God's will.
Certainly
a worship service includes a good deal more than these three activities,
especially elements that are response-oriented: prayer, the singing of hymns,
testimony and practical ministering of one to another, observance of the Lord's
Supper. Paul was here correcting tendencies introduced by the enthusiasts, and
he focuses on the primary tasks of the minister. God's Word, through its
reading, preaching and teaching, initiates and sustains spiritual life, and its
place in Christian worship is central. Without it there can be no effective
ministry.
3.
Exercise of spiritual gifts and calling (4:14). A third requirement for
effective ministry is the faithful exercise of spiritual gifts. Paul's
instruction to Timothy in verse 14 is logically connected with the reference to
preaching and teaching.
First,
the fact: Timothy has a gift (charisma) for ministry. We know that God has
chosen to build and maintain his church by empowering believers to carry out
this ministry. The source of power is the Holy Spirit, who manifests himself
and releases his power through the spiritual gifts and abilities he distributes
to believers (thus the passive was given probably refers to the Spirit's act of
giving; see 1 Cor 12:7, 11). It is probably not possible to specify a particular
gift here (such as teaching, preaching or leadership—Rom 12:7-8), though we are
at least to understand a reference to Timothy's Spirit-given abilities for
ministry.
But
with the gift comes the responsibility to exercise it for the church (1 Cor 12:14-20).
Paul's admonition to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:6-7 (whether or not the
"gifts" and situations are identical—see 2 Tim 1:6-7) underlines the
personal responsibility that rests with the "gifted" individual. The
gift does not operate independently but finds its release into the church and
into the lives of other people through the obedient Christian's decision to
serve. And failure to use one's gifts does not affect just the individual, for
the ministry of the church as a whole depends on the responsible use of each
believer's gift.
Furthermore,
the one called to leadership in the church has received God's special
appointment. God's choice of Timothy was announced or verified through prophecy
and then publicly recognized as the elders laid hands on him (compare 1:18;
Acts 13:2-3). Thus both the servant and the congregation were bound to one
another in the acknowledgment of God's selection. Ordination in most Christian
churches today functions similarly, to recognize God's binding choice and
publicly bless the minister for service. The gift makes ministry possible. The
calling makes ministry obligatory.
4.
Diligence and growth (4:15). Finally, effective ministry requires diligence and
progress. Paul describes diligence in two ways: be diligent in these matters;
give yourself wholly to them. He is referring to the pattern of lifestyle and
ministry just outlined. The first verb means to practice with diligence and
carries similar connotations to the "training" metaphor in 4:7. The
second phrase means, literally, to "be in these things"—that is, to
be absorbed in them. In modern idiom, the minister must "live and
breathe" these things.
One
reward for dedication like this is progress. Progress in the faith (compare
Phil 1:25) would close the mouths of Timothy's older critics. But more
important, progress of this kind is evidence of a vital and deepening
relationship with the Lord. If the leadership of a church pays diligent
attention to personal spiritual priorities and sound worship principles, its
ministry is bound to bear fruit.
The IVP New Testament
Commentary Series
The Fruit of Effective
Ministry (4:16)
Following
a summary reminder that takes in all of 4:6-15 (Watch your life and your
doctrine closely. Persevere in them), Paul describes the end result of the good
minister's efforts in Christ as salvation: you will save both yourself and your
hearers.
But
isn't this rather shortsighted? Not at all. Salvation is indeed the goal, but
it must be properly understood. In biblical parlance it signifies a process of
development that begins with belief in Christ (conversion) and the gift of new
life in the Spirit (regeneration) and will end (our glorification) with the
return of Christ. In this life we experience the process of salvation as stages
of growth in "Christlikeness," "putting on the new self"
(Col 3:11), working out our salvation (Phil 2:12); and many things can impede
growth. Essential to growth, however, is the ministry of God's Word in
preaching and teaching in the church, from which we draw spiritual nourishment,
as well as the modeling of godliness by the more mature for those younger in
the faith. Important, too, for the salvation process (especially for the
Christian leader) is faithfulness in carrying out the calling of God. Effective
ministry is ministry in which the Word of God is applied to individual lives
and to all situations in life.
The Bible Panorama
1 Timothy 4
V 1–5: DECEIT AND
DOCTRINE
Deceit by satanic forces will lead false teachers to follow false doctrine.
They themselves will have seared consciences as a result, causing the promotion
of legalistic teaching, opposition to marriage, and abstention from eating
certain foods, rather than the encouragement and demonstration of real faith in
God.
V 6–11: GOOD AND GODLY A good servant of
Christ will teach and be sustained by the good doctrine of God’s Word, and
reject falsehood and profanity. The spiritual input of God’s Word is more
important than bodily exercise, because it lasts into eternity. Christ’s
servants both labour and suffer for their trust in the Saviour, who is to be
declared to ‘all men’. Paul tells Timothy to preach and teach what is now
shared with him.
V 12–16: DEVOTION AND
DILIGENCE
As Timothy shows devotion to God’s teaching and spiritual inputs, and diligence
in discharging the commission given to him, he will be an example to the
Christians. How he lives and the attitudes he displays will glorify Christ.
Older Christians will not then have any cause to despise his younger years, and
he will experience God’s salvation on a daily basis as well as helping others
to trust the Lord.
Dictionary
of Bible Themes
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preaching, importance of
Preaching
has a central place among God’s people and is vital to their life and growth.
It is authorised by God, empowered by the Holy Spirit and expressed supremely
by Jesus Christ.
Preaching
has its origin in God
It
is a divine command Mk 16:15 pp Mt 28:18-20 See also Jnh 1:1-2; Mt 10:5-7 pp Mk
6:7-12 pp Lk 9:1-6
It
is rooted in God’s grace Eph 3:7-9 See also Isa 6:1-10; Ro 15:15-16
It
is empowered by God’s Spirit Ac 1:8 See also Isa 61:1-3; Lk 24:46-49; Ac
2:1-11; Ac 4:8-12; Ac 10:44; 1Co 2:4-5
The
importance of preaching and Jesus Christ
Jesus
Christ himself came to preach Mk 1:38 pp Lk 4:43 See also Eph 2:17
Jesus
Christ’s own ministry involved much preaching Mt 4:23 See also Mt 11:1-5 pp Lk
7:18-22
Jesus
Christ commissioned his disciples to preach Mk 3:14-15 See also Mt 10:5-7 pp Lk
9:1-2
The
importance of preaching and the church
It
is a natural part of the church’s life Ac 8:4 See also Ac 3:11-26; Ac 15:35
It
is a trust from God Gal 2:7 See also 1Th 2:4; 1Ti 1:11; Tit 1:3
It
is an integral aspect of key ministries in the church 1Ti 3:2 See also Eph
4:11-12; 2Ti 4:2-5; Tit 1:7-9
Its
importance to Paul 1Co 1:17-18 See also Ac 9:20-22; Ac 18:5; Ro 1:14-15; 1Co
1:22-25
It
is an apostolic command 1Ti 4:13 See also 2Ti 4:2
The
importance of preaching for salvation
Ro
10:14-15 See also Isa 52:7; Ro 10:17; 1Co 1:21
The
importance of preaching means preachers and teachers will be judged more
strictly
Jas
3:1 See also Ro 2:17-24
The importance of
preaching and the church
1.
It is a natural part of
the church’s life
Acts
8:4-8 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
Philip
in Samaria
4
Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5 Philip
went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. 6 When the
crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close
attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many,
and many who were paralysed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in
that city.
Acts
15:30-35 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
30
So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the
church together and delivered the letter. 31 The people read it and were glad
for its encouraging message. 32 Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets,
said much to encourage and strengthen the believers. 33 After spending some
time there, they were sent off by the believers with the blessing of peace to
return to those who had sent them. [a] 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in
Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.
2.
It is a trust from God
1
Thessalonians 2:3-6 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
3
For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we
trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be
entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who
tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask
to cover up greed – God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from
people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could
have asserted our authority.
Titus
1:1-3 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
1
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of
God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness – 2 in the
hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the
beginning of time, 3 and which now at his appointed season he has brought to
light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Saviour,
3.
It is an integral aspect
of key ministries in the church
Ephesians
4:11-16 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
11
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors
and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of
Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the
knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure
of the fullness of Christ.
14
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and
blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and
craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the
truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him
who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held
together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as
each part does its work.
2
Timothy 4:1-5 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
4
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the
dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2
preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and
encourage – with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will
come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their
own desires, they will gather round them a great number of teachers to say what
their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the
truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations,
endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your
ministry.
Be
Blessed today, by His amazing grace
Yours
by for the sake of His Church & His Kingdom
Blair
Humphreys
Southport,
Merseyside, England
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