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Persevering in Ministry - 1 Timothy 3:14 - 4:16

 Thursday, September 10 –

We are continuing our reading thru the New Testament and today’s lesson is from 1 Timothy 3:14 – 4:16.  After you have read the Scripture passage, please come back, and we’ll look at it again.


Paul is writing to his young protégé to encourage him and help him continue to do the work of pastoring for the rest of his life.  Timothy needs to persevere through the ups and downs of church leadership. A pastor in leadership must never lose sight of the ultimate goal – declaring Jesus Christ.  This is where we begin today as Paul says to Timothy, it’s all about Jesus – “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.  Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He (Jesus) 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” (3:14-16).

Paul is now about to speak to Timothy about the inner life of the pastor (4:1 – 6:21).  But, between the first part on church order (1 -3:13), and this second part, Paul throws this anchor (3:14-16) as a reminder.  There are two specific reasons for this great parenthesis:  first, he reminds Timothy that even though he may be in prison, he is for him and will continue to help him in his role, whenever, and wherever possible.  Second, Paul has a high view of Timothy’s calling and the Church he leads.  The Church is not an institution, or a building, a group of like-minded Christians.  The Church is a “household,” an assembly of Christians (the Greek “ecclesia,” translated “Church” means a gathering or assembly).  A household, an assembly, and last of all, a stronghold, as a repository of God’s truth! (3:15).  Along with these two reminders, he reminds Timothy that the Church is “the Church of the Living God” whose Savior, and Lord, is the central figure, and reason for her existence -
“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” (3:16). 
In all likelihood, this was one of the earlier confessions, or creeds, of the Church.  Some believe this was an early hymn.  The Church can, and often is, involved in many things, but nothing must ever replace the central purpose for her existence – to declare Jesus Christ.  That message is its most important purpose – that God, in Jesus Christ became flesh (incarnation), lived and died for our sins upon the Cross, but resurrected to life (vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels), and ascended to the Father’s right hand (taken up in glory) while the Gospel is to be preached throughout the nations (proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world), until the end when he will return again. 

Is it important to have that central purpose?  Is the word of God important to be proclaimed? The tension between standing in the revealed truth of God’s word and the culture is something that has existed from the earliest days of the church.  Paul writes to Timothy to warn him -
“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” (4:1).
Paul had reminded Timothy of the work of the ministry as to leadership, order, and confession, and now he begins to speak to Timothy as a pastor and a truth holder of God’s word.  It was Pilate who replied to Jesus with the infamous question – “What is truth?”.  In every generation, there have been attacks on the Scripture as God’s revelation.  In every generation of the Church’s history, there have those who once embraced the Scripture as God’s truth, but for some reason, turned their back on it and publicly rejected Scripture and the idea of God’s truth in it. 

The primary word to describe a person who abandons the faith is “apostasy” – “apostasia.”  Apostasy is the noun, and in 4:1, Paul uses the verb of Apostasy “aphistēmi,” “to fall away.”  Some will “depart” –not an accidental “falling away,” but a deliberate choice that rejects the “faith.”  The nature and characteristics of an apostate follow –
“…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,  who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods...” (4:1b – 3a). 
False teachers “apostacized,” abandoned the “faith” – rejecting the sound doctrine of the word of God.  They spread “deceitful” teaching, distorting the truth of God’s word, and their source is demonic – from Satan.  Their teachings are lies and contrary to God’s revealed word.  Paul is speaking about Greek philosophies (Gnosticism) that taught a mixture of Plato’s philosophy – that the material was evil – with Christianity’s call to live godly.

The error was dangerous for its deception and rejection of the clear teachings of Scripture about God’s purpose for the basics of life – food and marriage.  
“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 of God and prayer” (4:3-5). 
It is God’s goodness that provides both food and sex for human enjoyment.  God created these, and thus, unless boundaries are neglected or crossed, they are to be celebrated and enjoyed as a gift from God.  “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;  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”.
(4:6-8).


Paul urges Timothy to teach others the things God has spoken in the Scriptures – words of faith and sound doctrine.  The comments are important as teaching the Scriptures correctly is to serve Jesus Christ.  It is not an automatic, and so we “train yourself for godliness.”  It is not suits and ties, or intelligent and eloquent language Paul is referring to.  John R. Stott reflects on what Paul means:
“How then are we to ‘exercise ourselves unto godliness’? What spiritual gymnastics are we to undertake? Paul does not go into detail. But the context… suggest that we are to exercise ourselves in the Word of God. Certainly it has been a long-standing Christian tradition, belonging to the wisdom of the ages, that disciplined meditation in Scripture is indispensable to Christian health, and indeed to growth in godliness. For in contrast to ‘godless myths,’ Scripture is the most godly book that has ever been written. It is a book by God about God. It might even be termed the autobiography of God, since in it he talks to us about himself. Consequently, we cannot become familiar with this godly book without becoming godly ourselves. Nothing evokes the worship of God like the Word of God”[1]

We see that Paul’s admonition to Timothy concerning truth teaching and false teaching is based on two main issues:  1)  Does the teaching honor God as the creator of it? And 2) Does the teaching conform itself, leading to obedience of God’s word?  To be godly is to conform our habits, motives, attitudes, and behavior to do “all things for the glory of God” (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:31).  This “training to be godly” intersects both life and theology -
“ 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.  For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe “ (4:8-10). 
Physical fitness has an earthly value but is temporary. While “train to be godly” has an eternal value, and thus is permanent. 

The task of pastoral leadership is made up of many different little things.  Paul lays them out to Timothy to consider how to be bold and humbly wise at the same time -
“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.  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 the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing, you will save both yourself and your hearers” (4:11-16).
Timothy is young in his ministry assignment.  To tell him to “command, teach, don’t let anyone despise your youth” must have been a challenge to receive and to do.  Still, it is possible.  Timothy is to set the example to others…his speech, conduct, love, faith, purity…all will testify of the gift God has laid on him.  I love the words Paul uses to encourage him – “practice, immerse yourself, see the progress.”  None of it will happen in a week, or a few months, or even in a few years.  God develops leaders over a long period of time training them through actions, thoughts, motives, what it means to serve Him.  The basics are simple: “reading Scripture, exhortation, teaching,” – i.e., what is important, as well as what is not.  Ministry is not a sprint, but a long marathon, so one must constantly “keep close watch on yourself, the teaching, and persist (persevere), for your own sake, and for the sake of those who will hear” (4:16, my paraphrase).

Training to be a leader means keeping mind and heart on God’s word, submitting to the authority of His Word, and gathering their identity from God’s word, and not from people.  You can’t do the work of ministry to please others, but it is important to serve.  Humility is a great value for any leader to embrace.  My advice to young leaders is to learn how to take God seriously, but not yourself. In the process, never stop learning, growing, progressing – it will revitalize a stagnant faith fixed on a job. 

Peace 



[1] IBID, page 117

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