I Timothy 4: 6-16
Paul has written about godliness, then about ungodliness. Now he is charging Timothy to teach these things to his congregation.
(6) In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus,
Teaching these things will show Timothy to be a good servant of our Lord. The word for servant here is diakonos, usually translated as "minister." This is the aim of every good pastor.
Using the order of "Christ Jesus," Paul is claiming that Jesus is our Lord God Almighty. When he previously used the order of "Jesus Christ," he was noting that Jesus is our anointed Savior, Messiah and Redeemer.
consistently nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.
Studying God's word every day will give us the spiritual nourishment we need, just as eating every day nourishes our physical life. This word of God teaches us what we are to believe, the sound doctrine that Timothy has already been following.
(7) But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women.
Paul is not putting down elderly ladies here, he's only using the term, "old wives tales." He's saying that these are only worldly fables, that he doesn't need to pay any attention to.
On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;
Paul tells Timothy to "train himself," the word is gymnaze, for "physical training;" Paul uses it here to demonstrate the spiritual and moral and doctrinal effort Timothy is to exert in order to grow in godliness.
(8) for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
He is comparing the physical to the spiritual training: physical is only beneficial for a short time, while we live here in this world. Spiritual godliness is beneficial right now in this world as well, and also for forever, the life to come.
(9) It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance.
Again we find this formula. This could apply either to the preceding statement or to the one following, or even to both.
(10) For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.
We "labor" and we "strive." Labor is a word for toiling with effort, and to strive is to agonize as in an athletic competition. Both are strong words. We are to give the work of ministry all we have, all of our effort, to the last ounce.
Because of what Christ has done for us. He has come to pay the sin-debt of every person in our human race; but not everyone wants to accept this gift, so it is applied only to those who have humbled themselves in submission to God, letting Jesus take their death as the Lamb of God.
(11) Prescribe and teach these things.
As the pastor, Timothy is to command and teach all of these things, continually, in the present tense. To continue to fulfill his responsibilities to his congregation.
(12) Let no one look down on your your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.
The word for youth is neotes, "used of grown-up military age, extending to the 40th year." Timothy was probably about 30 years old, the age a young man would take a wife.
Timothy was to present the proper image of the Christian as a pattern for other believers to follow. This is an awesome responsibility that one accepts on entering the ministry. And since Christians all live in "glass houses," we all should take this to heart.
(13) Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and to teaching.
Timothy was not to just wait for Paul to show up to start doing all these things, but he was to be busy doing these three things:
The reading of Scripture. This was a practice of the Jewish synagogues that the churches also followed. Not everyone was literate or had copies of their own to read, as is the situation today. We now can read our Bibles every day on our own, but it is good to read it aloud at every service.
Preaching is exhorting the people to apply the Scriptures to their own thinking and attitudes, and obey what God is telling us to align our lives with His ways.
And the teaching is instruction in this Christian living, how to practically apply God's ways to our everyday living.
(14) Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.
Paul doesn't want Timothy to be careless in his consideration of the spiritual gift God has given him. We're not told when this laying on of hands by the whole "body of elders," presbyterion, took place, but it may have been when Paul left him at Ephesus to be their pastor.
(15) Take pains with these things, be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.
There is a play on words here that does not come through the translation to English. Paul's do not neglect in verse 14 is contrasted with take pains in this verse. What he is saying is, "Don't be careless about your gift, but be careful about your pastoral duties."
He is to be absorbed in them, focus wholly on his whole responsibility in the ministry. He can do this, not having a wife.
(16) Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching;
These are the two areas that are most critical. If there is a flaw in his personal life it will ruin him. While he is watching over others, he must keep an eye on himself, no matter how straight he may be in his doctrine or effective in his teaching. Many ministers have tragically failed here.
persevere in these things,
This is epimene, literally, "stay, remain" and figuratively, "here." Paul says, "Stay right there; keep in doing the things I have called your attention to."
for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.
By so doing, the pastor will ensure that he is really saved, and also his hearers.
It is a tragedy for a soul-winner to save others, but lose his own soul. To be saved but to draw no others into salvation is no less a tragedy.
We must give attention to both.
O my Father, please help all of your children to pay attention to these admonitions. Not all of us are pastors or Sunday School teachers. Most of us are just "ordinary" Christians. But these pastoral epistles are written to us, too, as part of Your Bible.
My Father, as Your children, we claim a higher calling, and the world is watching us to see if You really are real. Please help us to be strong in our witness to what our Lord has accomplished for and in us. We all are to share with others how You have loved us all, every one of us, sending Your own Son to save each of us.
O Father, help us to demonstrate to our neighbors and all the rest of the world how good You are and how strong You are in defending us and upholding us and strengthening us against all the trials and sorrows and troubles that assail us.
Father, let us show You to the world as we live in our glass houses, as we go about our business of life, interacting with others and conversing with strangers, potential friends.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over the whole Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
Even so, come soon, Lord Jesus!
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