1 Timothy

Here is my Prayer.  That this book rock you completely to the core.  You cannot take the scriptures you like and disregard the ones you don’t.  Read through the whole book without stopping and then come back and wrestle over the parts that made your eyebrows skwoosh down.  May this be a defining moment in your life.

Let’s go back to Acts and see where we left off for the town of Ephesus.  Acts 20…

Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

So Paul knows that the moment he leaves town False Teachers would come in and pollute the church. Paul opens up with a warning that men will come with many false doctrines (trust me they are still weaved in all our churches).   Listen, do not think you are going to EVER get a chance to say “that was what I was taught” when you are sitting face to face with the Lord Almighty.  I believe in Absolutes and I believe that every word of His Bible is true as it was written,  as well as it is timeless today.  This book covers 3 instructions

1. Instructions for the Right Belief
2. Instructions for the Church
3. Instructions for the Elders

We already covered doctrine, let me tackle this women issue since I know it is on your brain.  Up till now women had not been taught the word of God or any of the Old Testament Scriptures.  Paul here is NOT making the role of woman in the church LESS yet he is actually making them more.  He is actually saying, women SHOULD learn, in quietness and submission.  (See how satan whispered in your ear to twist that) Paul, of all men, sees woman as a role in the Church since he himself put Priscilla in the role to teach Apollos back in Acts 18.  Actually there were many named women in Acts that were workers in the church.  Now the topic regarding woman “teaching” men in the Church.  My commentary said something about “this applied to the times of Ephasus…blah blah” Here is the deal, use your discernment on this one.  Here is my meager opinion…I AGREE (disagree with the commentary).  Because women are inferior? (If you think I think that you don’t know how strong of a woman I am) No, because of roles AND Genders.  First, we have already established that God is a God of Order (if you don’t know this read Numbers) The world works much better when everyone just has roles.  Not hierarchy but roles.  Now the gender part, because of the way men are wired (why God??? WHY???) I do not think woman should teach Scripture to men.  Let me put a scenario in your head…Do you want your husband freely sitting with a fellow woman who he thinks is smarter than him teaching him the scriptures?? Uhhhh Not my man! Todd is extremely attracted to smart assertive woman…(uhhh duh!! Just kidding)

Anyway, if none of that floats your boat here is the deal: GOD said it, It is Truth, Get over it.  We answer to Him not to what society says.

Overseers and Deacons.  Talk about some shoes to fill huh? Please pray for the men who staff your church because satan is camped out trying everything he can to make a public mockery of them.

Chapter 4.  (Edited) I wrote on this topic but felt like God was leading me not to publish it…so I will bite my tongue.

I doubt any of you are still reading this cuz it so long so I will end with the widow.  Why are we told not to help certain ones.   Too often people fall on the church (which has always had limited resources) for help when the families are ordained to actually step up and support one another.  God is very clear on helping the ones that need it but keep in mind, the family support is extremely biblical and too often we point the finger at lack of support (from church)  when we really just need a mirror in front of us.

Anyway…that was toooooo long and I am sure I have offended a woman or a denomination.  Know that I am completely up for correcting, so if you so please bring forward Scripture as your Sword to attack me.  🙂

1 Timothy Overview

Before we talk about Timothy, I want to talk about the Church.  What do you think of when we say the word Church?  Well, I picture an ‘A’ framed roof, with pews, and stained class, maybe some marble steps, and a beautiful alter.  Uhhh NO.  You need to really keep in touch with the times on these next few books.  Emperor Nero was on the throne in Rome and he was a disgusting man who took great pleasure in Christian Persecution.  ‘Churches’ were extremely small gatherings, often in homes and in secret.  As we read last week Ephesus was one of the largest growing Christian areas in the World, and guess who Paul left in charge?  That’s write, his little helper, timid Timothy.

There are 3 letters written by Paul known as the “pastoral letters”, they are 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus.  Timothy was left in charge of Ephesus and Titus was left in charge of Crete (an enormous Greek Island).   So here is the Big  Question..what does God use Paul to say through Paul about what a ‘Church’ should look like?  PAY ATTENTION.  This book maybe written to the ”elders” and overseers but what did we read yesterday in Philippians 1:10 “so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ”.  This book is so stinkin important so you can discern what is right and what is man made when it comes to ‘church’.

Paul will write to Timothy on a number of matters, but first he will instruct Timothy on how to deal with False Teachings.  I am sure you are sick of me talking about this BUT man has been adding to the Scriptures since the beginning of time.  Since the time of Moses we were told

“Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you” (Deut 4:2)

Paul also writes about choosing leaders in the church, roles of men and woman and finally but most important to Lead By Example.  Timothy was mentored by Paul but came from a mixed family, his mother was Jewish and his father was Greek (cool huh…reminds us of some icons from the Old Testament?? huh?)  Anyway, Timothy’s biggest battle was combating ‘legends’ and ‘family tales’ that were infiltrating the church.  Well, who remembers Ephesians? What was the one thing you combat with offensively…that’s right, the SWORD!  The only thing we have to fight rumors and false teachings is the Word of God and Truth.   SO let’s have at it!