Recap

So far in 1 Timothy, we've read as Paul has encouraged Timothy in his call to guide the church in Ephesus, and given him some guidance on order in the church. Traditionally thought to be written by Paul around 64 CE while in prison, the letter is addressed to Timothy, who was leading the church in Ephesus. Timothy was first introduced in Acts as a young man with a Jewish mother and Greek father, who became a significant figure in Paul’s ministry.

Paul’s letter focused on Timothy’s pastoral role and the challenges he faced. Specifically, combating false teachings spreading in the church. He advised Timothy to address false teachers who promoted misleading doctrines. Paul highlighted that teaching should come from sincere faith and love, aiming to strengthen the community.

In addition, Paul gave instructions for maintaining order in the church. He encouraged men to pray without anger and advised women to dress modestly, avoiding flaunting their wealth. Paul also advised women in Ephesus to learn quietly and not to teach. This was possibly due to their limited education, which made them more susceptible to false teachings circulating at the time.

1 Timothy 3-4

Next, Paul describes good guidelines for what makes a good leader in the church. He names to different leadership roles, overseer or bishop, and deacons.

In Acts 6 we saw the apostles appoint seven leaders who would manage the day to day running of the church. In this the apostles fill the role of overseer, and the day-to-day managers fill the role of deacons. The overseers are also sometimes described as elders (Acts 20:17).

Overseers to have impeccable character. They should have self-control and be respectable, hospitable, and able to teach. They should avoid being drunk, violent, quarrelsome, or a lover of money. Perhaps the most debated, Paul says they are to be ‘husband of one wife’ 1 Timothy 3:2.

Some argue this means that someone has to be married in order to be an overseer. Others that argue that Paul is fighting against polygamy or remarrying. Then there are others that Paul is simply saying if someone is married, they are to be faithful to their wife.

Along with this, because Paul describes them as husbands of one wife, that therefore means that an overseer can only be a man, as men are husbands. But remember, if this is descriptive, then Paul is describing them as husbands because all overseers at the time were men, not that they should have to be men.

These overseers should also have a good handle on their home and kids. If they can’t manage their household or lead their own children, how can they manage or lead a church?

They also shouldn’t be a new Christian. They would likely lack the maturity for the position and get puffed up with the importance of their new role.

Finally, overseers should have a good reputation inside and outside the church.

Then, when it comes to deacons, they too should be dignified. They shouldn’t be liars, or alcoholics, or greedy. They should be able to hold their faith with a good conscience. They should be tested to see if their character and ability fit the role.

The next verse, 1 Timothy 3:11, has some translation issues. The Greek word gynaikas can be translated as women or wives. Because of this there’s debate whether Paul was giving instructions for the wives of the deacons, because a man with a wife with poor character should not be given a role where she might bring him into disrepute, or whether Paul was talking to women who were serving as deacons.

Both translations can be supported, and even if Paul is talking about wives of deacons here, does not mean that women can’t be deacons, just like the previous passage doesn’t necessarily mean the women can’t be overseers. All it would mean is that deacons should have godly spouses to support them.

Like overseers, deacons should marry once, have a good handle on their homes and kids, and a good reputation outside the church.

Closing out this section of the letter, Paul tells Timothy that he writes this letter just in case he can’t visit him in person. The church is the pillar of God’s gospel. God was revealed in Jesus in the flesh and is now proclaimed to the whole world. This is what the church is built upon and reveals.

Paul now turns to the section of the letter focused on Timothy. The Spirit has already warned them as leaders that there will be those who turn away from the faith because of lying spirits and demons. These teachings are then carried and spread by those who have no issue with their being differences between what they teach and how they live.

There are some that choose a hyper spirituality that involves suppressing the body. They teach people to avoid marriage and sex and abstain from certain foods. Which is ridiculous because God gave both marriage and food to be enjoyed and celebrated by believers.

If it was created by God, then it is good. It doesn’t need to be rejected, as long as it is received with gratitude and builds the believers up. Paul says all this to encourage Timothy that if anyone does turn away in this way, it’s not a reflection of him. They always knew there would be some that chose this.

And so Paul gives Timothy guidance for his own teaching and leading. He is to sustain himself on faith and sound teaching. He shouldn’t get caught up in with vain teachings or old wives' tales that teach of a better way to do things. Instead, he should focus on the things he knows works, that were taught and modelled for him, and he should train himself up in those.

While the false teachers look for things that will benefit them in the next spiritual life, as they see it, Paul encourages Timothy to practise godliness that will benefit him both in this current life and the one to come.

Paul points out that the struggle they go through now is because of the hope they have in God. Then comes an interesting line describing God, “who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.” (1 Timothy 4:10).

Some see this as evidence that eventually all people will be saved, and that believers have some sort of special benefits as believers. Other argue that salvation is available to all people, but is only accessed by those who believe.

Next, Paul addresses Timothy’s age. By this point, Timothy was likely in his thirties, which doesn’t seem that young to us. But this was a culture that respected age and wisdom, particularly when it came to the area of philosophies and teaching.

The other overseers in the church and the false teachers would have likely been in their forties or older. But Timothy shouldn’t see this age difference as a reason to no challenge the false teaching.

Instead, Timothy should demonstrate his greater wisdom in his speech and actions. In how he loves and shows his faith. Paul again reminds Timothy that his gifting and calling were recognised through prophecy and elders who commissioned him.

So Timothy should stand tall in his authority and continuously seek to practise and grow in all that he teaches. He should pay close attention to this, weary of getting over confident in his actions or teachings, less he accidentally takes on something false without realising it.

If Timothy will constantly be seeking to grow in knowledge and wisdom, and be on the guard with his own teaching, then he will continue to benefit himself and the believers in Ephesus.

Psalm 17

This psalm is attributed to king David and fits into the category of lament psalm. The psalmist calls to God, raises their complaint, asks God to intervene, and the declares their trust in God.

Psalm 17:1-2 - A call for the Lord to listen

Psalm 17:3-5 - A call for God to intervene because of the psalmist’s innocence

Psalm 17:6-8 - A call for God to intervene because of his love

Psalm 17:9-12 - A call for God to intervene because of the psalmist’s enemies

Psalm 17:13-14 - A call to God to punish the psalmist’s enemies

Psalm 17:15 - A declaration of trust in God

The psalm opens with an appeal to God. The psalmist asks God to listen to their prayers, allow them in his presence, and vindicate them. They point out that God has had everything opportunity to test them, and they have proven themselves innocent of any offence.

The psalmist isn’t claiming they’ve never sinned here. Instead, they are pointing out that they’ve not done anything specific to deserve the struggle they are going through. This issue they are facing isn’t their fault. Instead, they have lived with integrity.

But God should not only intervene because the psalmist is innocent. The Lord is a God of faithfulness and love. He does not turn away from those who are oppressed.

Then the psalmist turns their focus to their enemies. They lack pity. They speak arrogantly. They use their strength to prey on the weak. The psalmist asks God to intervene and to deal with their enemies, because right now it just looks like God is rewarding them for their wickedness.

Having brought their complaint to God, the psalmist now declares their trust. They allow the truth of God’s righteousness and goodness to lead them forward.