1 TIMOTHY 4 STUDY GUIDE & BREAKDOWN
FALSE TEACHERS, FALSE RULES “THE GREAT APOSTASY” – (1 Timothy 4:1-3)
4 Now the Spirit [a]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.
NOTES
4:2: A CONSCIENCE SEARED WITH A HOT IRON describes the reality that repeated willful sin blunts our sensitivity to good and evil…A grim warning for all Christians to reject evil at all costs, shunning it and doing nothing but good and softness of heart toward God…
ORTHODOX DOCTRINE, ORTHODOX SPIRITUALITY – (1 Timothy 4:4-11)
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is [a]sanctified by the word of God and prayer. 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 [b]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.
NOTES
4:3-5: Whereas sexual abstinence and fasting are important factors in spiritual discipline, we control our passions not because the material world is evil, but from the fact we are corrupt and tend to sin: Sex and food aren’t unclean, but willful obedience, an unthankful disposition, and uncontrolled desires are…The Church’s mission here is to bring the entire world back to God…
4:5-6: THE WORD (Greek… logos) OF GOD IS THE SON – (John 1:1; Hebrews 4:12; 1Peter 1:23; 1John 1:1; & Revelation 19:13): A word of God in the NT can be God’s creative will (2Peter 3:5, 7), the OT (Mark 7:13), a blessing using God’s name (as here), the gospel itself – (Acts 4:31; Acts 6:7; Acts 13:5, 26; Acts 15:7, 36; 1Thessalonians 2:13), or a special message from God: The Son is the ultimate reference to every other word of God: Sometimes it is difficult to tell if the “WORD” refers to Christ Himself or words about Him (Colossians 1:25): Spreading the Word is spreading Christ Himself – (The Greek rema is identically translated as “word” whether it refers to the gospel; Hebrews 6:5; 1Peter 1:25, a message from God (1Peter 1:25), or an act
of God – (Hebrews 11:30) )WORDS OF FAITH (v. 6) means speech consonant with the gospel: DOCTRINE, or “teaching”, is the content of the gospel: So, the rich manifold speech concerning salvation serves our communion with Christ, the Word of God…He is the reason these words are vital and powerful- Using words without the Word is vain…
4:7-8: Paul is no stranger to physical exercise and its benefits (see – 1Corinthians 9:24-27), but he prefers spiritual exercise, for it leads to life eternal…
SELF-DISCIPLINE IN MINISTRY – (1Timothy 4:12-16)
12 Let no one [a]despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, [b]in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to [c]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.
NOTES
4:13: GIVE ATTENTION TO READING, whether personal reading or the public reading of Scripture during worship, is tied with EXHORTATION (preaching) and DOCTRINE (teaching): The early Christians had a liturgical worship structure- including the reading of Scripture and the homily-the roots of which were in the synagogue…
4:14: This refers to Timothy’s ordination as a presbyter (Priest), which was conferred by the apostles, as it is by the bishop today – (2Timothy 1:6; see Acts 6:6): In – 1 Timothy 5:22, Paul gives Timothy instructions for ordination…In continuity with the NT, Orthodox ordination to the diaconate and priesthood comes through the laying on of hands by the bishop…
1 TIMOTHY 5 STUDY GUIDE & BREAKDOWN (1 Timothy 5:1-16)
5 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.
Honor True Widows
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 [a]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 [b]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.
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.
11 But [c]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 [d]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 [e]man or woman has widows, let them [f]relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.
NOTES
5:3-16: VERY SPECIFIC ADVICE ON CARING FOR WIDOWS: if there are no family members to do this, care belongs to the parish, for a widow has God as her guardian – (Deuteronomy 10:18; Psalm 67:6; and Psalm 145:9): A “real” widow (vv. 3, 5, 16), however, in turn cares for the parish through prayer (v. 5) and works of compassion (v. 10)while maintaining a pure and holy life (vv. 6, 7, 11-16): Special qualifications are given for those who are on the register of widows (vv. 9, 10); perhaps this was an “order” for charitable service…Widows have from the start constituted a definable group within the Church – (Acts 6:1; Acts 9:39, 41):
CARE FOR ELDERS
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.
21 I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the [a]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 [b]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.
NOTES
5:18 THE LABORER IS WORTHY OF HIS WAGES – (Matthew 10:10; Luke 10:7) may be the first use of the Gospels as Scripture…
5:23: Timothy’s physical problems-could have most likely been from his strict water-fasts-are not miraculously overcome, and Paul does not suggest breaking the fasts, only decreasing their rigor…
1 TIMOTHY 6 STUDY GUIDE & BREAKDOWN
INSUBORDINATE CHRISTIAN SLAVES (1Timothy 6:1-2)
6 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..
MINISTERS OF GREED (1Timothy 6:3-10)
3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the [a]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 [b]useless wrangling's of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. [c]From such withdraw yourself.
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, [d]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.
PURSUE SPIRITUALITY INSTEAD (1Timothy 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 [a]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.
NOTES
6:11-16: A remarkable challenge for all of us who faithfully serve God, especially the ordained clergy…
6:11: The beginning of repentance is to flee from sin and to abstain from passions…
6:12: CONFESSED THE GOOD CONFESSION is a reference to Timothy’s words at his baptism or ordination…
WARNING TO WEALTHY CHRISTIANS (1Timothy 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
KEEP THE TRADITION (1Timothy 6:20-21)
20 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and [a]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.
NOTES
6:20: THE FAITH and worship of the Church is a sacred TRUST, to be preserved intact, without personal-preference changes and without personal gain…
PSLAM 50 (51) STUDY GUIDE & BREAKDOWN
ONE OF MY MORNING PRAYERS THAT IS CHANTED RIGHT BEFORE MY MORNING COFFEE!!!
(BIBLEGATEWAY’s version has 19 verses mine has 21- breaking it down from Bible again…)
NOTES
Psalm 50 (51)- teaches the nature of genuine repentance, which is the reason it is used so often in the services of the Church…Historically King David committed sins and transgressions of adultery and murdered – (vv. 1, 2; see also 2Kingdoms 11; 12): However, He obtained mercy from God because of his repentance: Yet many of us fall into sins and transgressions, but some never come to full repentance; therefore, no one can use David’s sins as an excuse to sin…For sins and transgressions in themselves do not draw down the mercy of God…Genuine repentance, however, does attract His mercy, for He sees it and responds accordingly (v. 3): So genuine repentance is characterized by such things as confession to God (vv. 4-8); inward purity (vv. 12-16); and inward humility (vv. 17-21)…
CLOSING
PSALM 119:15
I shall meditate on Your commandments, And I shall understand Your ways…
EPHESIANS 5:15-16
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil
-We aren’t to abandon the world, but instead adapt and keeping oneself in Christ and salvage as much as possible from this evil world…As Christians we renounce the fallenness of this world, not creation itself…We are ending today’s lesson with this we must seek Wisdom, God’s wisdom- which is the name for God’s Son and Word, Christ is the Wisdom of God, Also Wisdom is Given to the Church as the gift of the Holy Spirit!!!
Christ is in our midst!!!
Peace be with you all!!!