1 Timothy

Monday, 12 February 2018

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 1 Timothy 6:7

The words of this verse carry a similar thought to that of Job 1:21 –

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Solomon also states something akin to this thought in Ecclesiastes 5:13-17. There is an understanding that we all came into the world with nothing but our physical bodies attached to the soul which animates us. Nobody would dispute that. Things like time, place, family, etc., accompanied our birth, but those things are not physical in nature. Paul is speaking of material gain in these verses, and there was nothing material which accompanied us at our birth.

As we had nothing material with us that the world didn’t have before our coming, no such thing was introduced into it at that time. In like manner, there will be nothing lacking from the material world when we depart. Everything we accumulated will remain behind. The Egyptian pharaohs seemed to think otherwise, and stored up vast amounts of things to take with them on their journey into the afterlife. Other cultures and individuals have attempted to do this as well. And yet, when their tombs are discovered, all that stuff is still here. As Paul says, “it is certain we can carry nothing out.” When our ticket is punched, the only thing going on that ride is the soul. Even our physical bodies don’t go along.

Paul’s point in saying this is to demonstrate that we should be content with the lives we live. In the coming verse, he will show where contentment should rest.

Life application: If you are storing up worldly wealth in anticipation of being ahead of others when you die, you haven’t thought things through very well. In fact, your reasoning is completely lacking any sense at all. The most you can do is save up things which will be passed on to others after your death, but what you have treasured up will not profit you a bit when you pass on. Think on this, and be gracious – and yet be wise and discerning – during this life with the fruit of your labors.

Lord God, Your word teaches us a sure truth in saying that we came into this world with nothing, and we will depart it with nothing as well. All we had besides our bodies was the time, place, and circumstances into which we were born. Now, during our earthly walk, help us to use our life and circumstances to honor You, to help others in their own lives, and to be ready to return to You with the safe assurance that we will meet on friendly terms because of having received the gift of Christ Jesus Your Son. Amen.

Sunday, 11 February 2018

Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6

The words now given by Paul show a complete contrast to what he has just written concerning those who teach ungodly doctrine. In those verses, he described the perverse nature and teaching of those people, and then he said that they “suppose that godliness is a means of gain.” But Paul teaches otherwise by saying that “godliness with contentment is great gain.”

The false, ungodly teachers looked at godliness resulting in material gain and worldly wealth. But Paul shows that instead true gain for the godly is an internal thing – contentment. The word he chooses is found only here and in 2 Corinthians 9:8. It speaks of self-sufficiency. It is used of the Spirit-filled believer in Christ. Instead of pursuing supposed “godliness” in order to gain more and more material wealth, the faithful, godly Christian has all he needs through the indwelling of the Spirit of Christ.

In this, there is a self-satisfaction, but it is based on possessing everything necessary because of what Christ has done, and also because of what Christ grants. Thus, it is a sufficiency which is valid in times of difficulty and suffering as well as in times of prosperity and abundance.

Life application: If one is looking for contentment in worldly possessions, his contentment will end with the next market crash, the burning down of his house, or in the termination of his employment. Such times of trouble easily lead to extreme depression or even a leap out of the 14^th floor of a building. But when one’s hope and trust is in Christ, the Christian can look beyond the temporary and see the eternal promises which lie yet ahead. Where is your hope? Where is your contentment? Where is your sufficiency?

Lord God, if our hope and joy is found in the things of this world, that is a pretty temporary and shallow place for it to be. Markets crash, houses burn down, and when jobs end, the pay stops coming in. If our hope is in those things, where will we then turn? But for the soul who knows Christ and His eternally glorious promises, nothing can truly steal our contentment, joy, hope, and sufficiency. Instead, these things are found in Him, and in His lasting promises to His faithful. Great is our promised inheritance! And great are You, O God, our Hope. Amen.

Saturday, 10 February 2018

…useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. 1 Timothy 6:5

Paul continues his list concerning those who do not consent to teach the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ. This verse begins with teachings which lead to “useless wranglings.” The Greek word is based on a root which gives the sense of rubbing away or constant friction. It is only found here in the Bible, and the sense is that of someone who wears away time, arguing over minutiae. This perverse attitude demonstrates someone who consumes his time, and the time of others, arguing over things that have absolutely no practical value at all. This, and the other things which Paul has already described in the previous verse, come from “men of corrupt minds.”

The meaning of this is that these people have hearts which are wicked and they focus on evil, teach what is evil, and spread any falsehood which suits their depravity. They are men who are “destitute of the truth.” Vincent’s Word Studies says that the meaning of this indicates that they once knew the truth, but they put it away from themselves. Thus, they have nothing but that which is false to pass on to their hearers. This type of person doesn’t look to Christ for godliness at all. Instead, Paul says they “suppose that godliness is a means of gain.”

To grasp the meaning of this, all one needs to do is think of the modern day “prosperity gospel” preachers. They live lavishly, they have expensive cars, they have planes, and they have large houses. But more, they teach that by giving them your money, you too will prosper and become wealthy. Thus, Jesus becomes to them a cosmic ATM – put money in, and money will come out – but with interest added. When someone has attained wealth, it is attributed to godliness. The more godly a person is, the more gain they have. Paul says to Timothy that, “From such withdraw yourself.”

He is saying that Timothy (and indeed all true Christians) are to have nothing to do with such people. We are to withdraw from them, not be a party to their depraved state of mind, and not support their views at all. They are to be exposed and shown for the frauds that they are.

Life application: Godliness has nothing to do with one’s bank account, and it cannot be said that a godly person will find material gain in this world. To even hint at this is a complete departure from the truth of Scripture. The prosperity gospel, which has enriched many TV evangelists and others of their ilk, is a poisonous lie which is not to be tolerated by those who call themselves followers of Christ.

Lord God, many teachers say that godliness is a means to gain. They teach that if you are living a godly life, that prosperity will naturally follow. They also then instruct their audience that by sending money to their ministry, a person is showing obedience to the gospel, and they will be blessed for that. Lord, it will be good when people realize the lies of such a message, and it will be even better if these false teachers are vaporized for their lies. Help us to realize such false teachings, and to be sound, faithful followers of Christ, regardless as to our state of wealth in this world. Amen.

Friday, 9 February 2018

…he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 1 Timothy 6:4

Paul continues to describe the one who teaches doctrine contrary to the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ. He says that “he is proud.” This follows along with the person mentioned in 1 Timothy 3:6. There he was speaking of a recent convert who, if ordained, might let pride step in and take over. In this, he would “fall into the same condemnation as the devil.” This is what pride leads to. It is pride which causes arrogance, boasting, the belittling of others, etc. A person filled with pride becomes a fanatic, even though he may have no idea at all about the truth of the matter he is prideful about. Instead of having a reasonable understanding, Paul says he actually is “knowing nothing.”

In this, he shows that what such a person thinks he knows is actually completely wrong. Paul, writing to those in Corinth, says it this way, “…if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know” (1 Corinthians 8:2). Having incorrect knowledge of a matter, and still trying to teach on it, is highly detrimental. Instead of properly expounding on what should be taught, such a person “is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words.”

This takes us back to a similar thought that was mentioned in Chapter 1 concerning those who “give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.” Some people, in their perverse desire to show that they are always right, will argue over words. Someone might argue over what the meaning of “is” is. Or, he might take a word which has 20 possible meanings, each which must be derived from the context, and he will arbitrarily pick one meaning and then argue that it is what is being referred to, even though the context says otherwise. The list of such arguments over words could go on all day. It is a perverse-minded soul who is simply obsessed with disputes, and who finds any and every reason for getting into one.

Next he says that from such disputes “come envy.” A person who is argumentative in this way has shown that he is actually unqualified to teach. When he faces a person who rightly divides the word and teaches soundly and with proper authority, envy runs through him. From this will then come “strife.”

The one who argues over words, knowing that he has no sound footing, will simply become contentious and strive to make his point, even if it is completely wrong. He will gather people to his “side” in order to argue against others, thus dividing the congregation. It is his pleasure and his great desire to argue for the sake of argument, and to strive simply because he is supposedly elevated in his own eyes and in the eyes of those he has swayed with his falsities. From such strife then comes “reviling.”

As he lacks true soundness in his teaching, and as it becomes obvious that his words have no merit, he will then begin to revile those he disagrees with. Harsh, abusive language is directed at others when they will not concede to his point of view. He gets myopic, focusing on one or two pointless issues, and he continues to exalt them to an unhealthy status, as if what he is focused on is of the utmost importance. Anyone who tells him to “lighten up” and redirect to what is important is slandered with insults. An easy way to find people like this is to simply post a challenging theological question on social media. The post will light up with a dozen of these reviling “specialists.” When anyone shows them the folly of their way, “evil suspicions” about them are immediately cast forth.

In this, the direction changes from direct reviling, to a conspiratorial attitude. He will attack those who disagree with him by questioning the source of their knowledge, as if it was evil which led them to their conclusions. And this could be evil in the source itself, or evil in the intent behind their ideas directly. The first is a source fallacy. It doesn’t matter where someone learned something. If it is true, how or where he obtained the information is irrelevant. The second is a common attack over those with whom one disagrees. He might say something inane like, “Your point is of the devil because your intent is simply to argue against me.” He projects his own state of mind on those with whom he disagrees.

Life application: The Proverbs give sound advice concerning the people whom Paul mentions in this verse. Solomon says –

Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest you also be like him.
⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in his own eyes. Proverbs 26:4, 5

What Solomon is saying is that in arguing with a fool one reduces himself to the state of that fool. However, there are times when a fool is to be answered in order to keep his foolishness from being vindicated and continued on. What this means is that if one is going to engage a fool, do so with precision, defeat his argument, and when he continues to argue, ignore him. Playing Scripture tennis with a fool can only end in you looking foolish as well. Leave the perverse to wallow in his own wretched pool of mud.

Lord God, Your word tells us that there is a time when we should answer a fool, lest he be wise in his own eyes. But Your word also tells us to not answer a fool, lest we become like him. Give us wisdom to deal with the fools of this world so that we can quickly shut down their foolishness, but to not let our dealing with them turn into a fool-fest that we become a part of. Grant us this wisdom, and help us to be sound in our teaching, especially in that which pertains to godliness. Amen.

Thursday, 8 February 2018

If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 1 Timothy 6:3

Paul is referring to what he has just said about bondservants honoring their masters, especially if they are believers. However, his words are certainly not limited to this. He is using it as a springboard to identify miscreants within the greater umbrella of “Christianity.” In this, he is probably referring all the way back to his words of verse 4:1 where he speaks of people departing from the faith, giving heed to doctrines of demons, etc. Again though, the immediate context is that of the honoring of masters by bondservants. This is what brought the greater subject to mind.

With this thought fresh from his pen, he then says, “If anyone teaches otherwise.” He has shown that there is to be orderliness in master/bondservant relations, and there is to be submission by the slave to the master. To teach otherwise would be to promote insubordination and disobedience in what was an established hierarchy within the culture. Insubordination would lead to strife; strife would lead to an unhealthy situation between believers which is contrary to what the Lord expects in such matters. But instead of being obedient to the command given by Paul, there may arise someone who teaches something contrary, “and does not consent to wholesome words.”

The Greek word translated as “consent” signifies “to draw near.” In other words, such a person stays far from what is wholesome. Instead, he teaches words which divide the church, causes division between believers, and upsets the hierarchies which have been legally established within the society. His teaching then is disobedient even to “the words of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The words of Christ teach a life of harmony, peace, and patience. Insubordination, leading to rebellion cannot be found in His doctrine, nor can it be found in the writing of the apostles inspired by the Holy Spirit. This body of writings, on the contrary, contain “the doctrine which accords with godliness.”

The words of Scripture, Old Testament and New, reflect a humble attitude towards others, obedience to duly established law, and honor of God. These things are lacking in those who would teach words contrary to the precepts Paul has laid down. He will continue with this thought for the next few verses, and then, in contrast to what false doctrine produces, he will show what sound doctrine concerning godliness produces.

Life application: The words of the Bible are given to lead believers into godliness. The problem with humanity is that understanding what true godliness is has been so marred by sin, that it is literally impossible for us to pursue it apart from God’s special revelation. In our natural selves, we align godliness with all kinds of things which are completely ungodly. Some of the time, this may be intentional, sometimes it might just be because we are completely confused about the nature of God. No matter what the reason, we need to study Scripture, and apply it to our lives in order to truly live in a godly manner.

Lord God, the world has so many ideas about how to be godly that without Your word it is simply impossible to determine what is correct. But You are God, and You have shown us directly what You expect. Thank You that we don’t need to guess, we don’t need to listen to various opinions, and we don’t need to be misled by false teachers. All we need to do is pick up Your word and study it. In this, we find what it means to live a godly life. And in following Your word, we will then be pleasing to You. And as all Scripture points to Christ Jesus our Lord, then we have the ultimate example set before us to emulate! Thank You for Christ our Lord, and the word which reveals Him to us! Amen.