Supporting Widows.1 Timothy 5:3-6.Honour widows who are truly widows. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. She who is truly a widow, left alone, has set her hope […]
Proper Protocol.1 Timothy 5:1-2.Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. Dear Servants of the Living God, We now turn to practical and administrative matters that Timothy was to see to. Key to the successful […]
Make Use of your Spiritual Gifts.1 Timothy 4:14-16.Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, […]
Projecting Moral Authority.1 Timothy 4:11-13.Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Dear Family, Paul here reminds Timothy that the moral […]
The Value of Spiritual Discipline.1 Timothy 4:8-10.For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. To this end, we strive because we have our hope set on […]
The Task at Hand.1 Timothy 4:6-7.If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather, train yourself for godliness. Dear Royal Priesthood, The […]
The Folly of Ritualism. 1 Timothy 4:3-5.Who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, For it is made holy by the word […]
Imminent Apostasy.1 Timothy 4:1-2.Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, Through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared. Dear Ambassadors of the Risen King, The threat of false teachers in the Christian community has been with us since […]
Our Great Faith. 1 Timothy 3:16.Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, Vindicated by the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory. Dear Heirs of the Kingdom, Paul is probably quoting a hymn or some creed that was common among Christians of […]
Advance Measures.1 Timothy 3:14-15.I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, If I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. Dear Pilgrims and Sojourners, Paul […]