1 Timothy 3:14-16

B3 Reasons for church conduct

C1 Paul wants to come, see them, fellowship with them, teach them, but until then, he wishes for Pastor Timothy to know the importance of Christian conduct. This is how we live our Christian life.

C2 God’s household

D1 This is God’s family. This is Christians (people who have believed).

E1 Ephesians 2:19 CSB So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God's household.

E2 God is the Father, for we are born again. John 1:12 NIV Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

E3 God’s family has rules. Here are a few:

F1 Romans 12:1-2 NIV Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

F2 Colossians 3:5-8

F3 James 1:19-20

F4 Philippians 3:18-19

F5 Hebrews 13:5 NIV Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.

F6 Consider this list. Galatians 5:18-26

D2 We learn from this that our fellow Christians are family members with us. We are together as a family in God’s family.

C3 We are not together for a similar purpose, reason, or goal, but we are together as a family. Our father is God the Father. Our brother is Jesus, God the Son. Our comforter and guide is God the Holy Spirit.

C4 The church is to be the light in this world in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds. We are to honor God by obeying His rules in the New Testament.

C5 Our religion is a mystery to the unsaved. Bridgeway Bible Dictionary on mystery: In New Testament usage, a mystery is not a puzzle or a secret that leaves people in ignorance, but a truth that God reveals. It usually refers to something that people normally would not know, but that God in his grace makes known to them (Eph 3:4-5; Col 1:26; Rev 17:7). The truths concerning salvation through Jesus Christ are mysteries in this sense. People could not work them out by themselves, but God who planned salvation from eternity reveals them (Rom 16:25-26; 1Ti 3:9, 16).

C6 The Lord Jesus was revealed in the flesh. He is the God/man.

D1 Many translations foul this Scripture. Wilbur Pickering PhD states in his Bible notes: Instead of 'God', 1% of the Greek manuscripts read 'who', and most modern versions follow this 1%. But 'who' is nonsensical (in the context), so most of them take evasive action: NEB and NASB have “he who”; Phillips has “the one”; NRSV, Jerusalem, TEV and NIV render “he.” Berkley actually has “who!” In the Greek Text the relative pronoun has no antecedent, so it is a grammatical 'impossibility', besides being a stupidity—what is so mysterious about someone being manifested in flesh? All human beings have bodies. The pronoun can be accounted for as an easy transcriptional error, a simple copying mistake, so why not stay with the 98.5%? “God was manifested in flesh”—now there you have a mystery!

D2 Jesus is 100% man and 100% God. This is the faith. See the Athanasian Creed.

D3 Justified in the Spirit. Jesus has been vindicated as sinless.

E1 Romans 1:3-4 ESV concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.

E2 Hebrews 9:14 CSB how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works so that we can serve the living God?

D4 Devotional:

1 Timothy 3:16 (F B Meyer. Our Daily Homily)

Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness.

It is more than likely that this is a fragment of one of the earliest hymns of the Church. In her hymns, and maintenance of the ordinances, she thus becomes the pillar and ground of the truth. The words “mystery of godliness” are probably a general heading which is further unfolded and expanded in the six following sentences, which may have been sung antiphonally:—

“God was manifest in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit. Seen of angels, Preached unto the Gentiles. Believed on in the world, Received up into glory.”

The Extremes of Manifestation. — The Eternal Word was manifested in the flesh. But it was not simply a physical manifestation; we cannot forget the descent of the Holy Spirit at his baptism, or the authentication of his words which the Spirit gave in signs and wonders, and convinced hearts, and converted lives.

The Extremes of Created Intelligence. — Angels worship Him; and Gentiles, sunk in heathen darkness, hear the story of his wondrous love. Jesus is the centre of all worlds: from heaven’s bright spaces they come to Him on the one hand; from earth’s dark sins they come on the other. In Him meet angels and men.

The Extremes of Space. — Glory is above: “He was received up into glory.” The world is but a speck, a mote in the beam of eternity. How great the space between the two! But the feet of our Emmanuel have trodden its low pavement, and He has now taken to Himself his former glory. Like Jacob’s ladder, He links earth with the throne of God.

B4 Applications

C1 There are to be pastors, deacons, and deaconesses.

C2 There are requirements in order to be one. Being a great business person or leader in society counts for nothing in God’s church.

C3 We must be consistent in our thoughts, desires, words, and deeds.

C4 We are a family. We are to love and live as a family. The house we live in is God’s house. This is not referring to communal living.

B5 Questions

C1 What is Christian conduct?

C2 What is the importance of consistency in the faith?

C3 What is mysterious about Christianity to non-Christians?

C4 What is the importance of “God with us?”

C5 How can God be manifest in the flesh?

A Few Thoughts About Father’s Day

Isaiah 38:19 GW Those who are living praise you as I do today. Fathers make your faithfulness known to their children.

The setting:

B1 Hezekiah was sick and dying. It was a sickness that leads to death.

B2 Hezekiah had no heir to the throne of Israel.

B3 The prophet Isaiah is delegated by God to give this message to Hezekiah, “The LORD tells you that you are to put everything in order because you will not recover. Get ready to die.”

B4 Hezekiah’s prayer to be healed.

B5 God promises to heal Hezekiah.

B6 God’s promises to Hezekiah.

Other translations of our verse:

B1 Isaiah 38:19 MKJV The living, the living, he shall praise You, as I do this day; the father shall make Your truth known to the sons.

B2 Isaiah 38:19 AB (a Septuagint version) The living shall bless You, as I also do; for from this day shall I beget children, who shall declare Your righteousness.

Some points:

B1 Hezekiah is as good as dead.

B2 He states that if he was dead that he could not praise God for answered prayer like those living on earth.

B3 He speaks that he will have children whom he can teach to fear and praise God.

Some applications:

B1 Fathers

C1 Love:

D1 In love and truth: 1 John 3:18 EMTV My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

D2 Does not provoke to anger: Ephesians 6:4 EMTV And fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and admonition of the Lord.

D3 Everything done in love: 1 Corinthians 16:14 EMTV Let all that you do be done in love.

C2 Have compassion/pity: Psalms 103:13 HCSB As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.

C3 Teach: Proverbs 1:8 GW My son, listen to your father's discipline, and do not neglect your mother's teachings.

C4 Encourage: 1 Thessalonians 2:11 EMTV as indeed you know how each one of you, as a father to his own children, we exhorted, and comforted you, and imploring you.

B2 God

C1 Loves:

D1 Greater love than any: John 3:16 EMTV For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

D2 Does not provoke anger. He calms: Psalms 46:9-10 CEV God brings wars to an end all over the world. He breaks the arrows, shatters the spears, and burns the shields. 10 Our God says, "Calm down, and learn that I am God! All nations on earth will honor me."

D3 In love and truth: 1 John 3:18 EMTV My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

C2 Has compassion/pity: Psalms 103:13 HCSB As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.

C3 Teaches: John 5:20 EMTV For the Father loves the Son, and shows to Him all things which He Himself does; and greater works than these He will show Him, so that you may marvel.

C4 Concern for, so seeks for: Matthew 18:12-14 EMTV What do you think? If a certain man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains, and go and search for the one gone astray? 13 And if he happens to find it, assuredly I say to you that he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which did not go astray. 14 Thus it is not the will before your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

C5 Gives:

D1 Time/fellowship: 2 Corinthians 6:16 GW Can God's temple contain false gods? Clearly, we are the temple of the living God. As God said, "I will live and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people."

D2 Listening: Psalm 10:17 CEV You listen to the longings of those who suffer. You offer them hope, and you pay attention to their cries for help.

D3 GOOD gifts: Matthew 7:9-11 EMTV Or what man is there among you who, if his son should ask for bread, will give him a stone? And if he should ask for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, by how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Finally,

B1 We need to emulate God.

B2 God is the perfect Father.

B3 We need to study God’s relationships with His people.

Questions:

B1 How can I know how to be a good father?

B2 How important is spending time with our children important?

B3 What are the best ways to teach our children?

B4 How do we teach our children good character traits (as God has) and to avoid evil character traits?

Benjamin Watson video on Father’s Day 2020 (this is a Facebook video; you probably need to log in to view it):

https://www.facebook.com/BenjaminWatsonOfficial/videos/1426747247510763/

 

1 Timothy 3:1-13

B1 God’s Undershepherds, His leaders

C1 Jesus is Supreme in the church: Ephesians 1:22-23 WEL He has put everything under his feet and given him to be the head of everything in the church, 23 Which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything of everything.

C2 Jesus is the supreme teacher and leader: Matthew 23:8-12 WEL But you are not to be addressed as Rabbi, because one is your Teacher, the Messiah, and you are all brothers. 9 “Do not address anyone as your “Father” on this earth, because one is your Father, who is in heaven. 10 “Also do not be addressed as “Teachers,” because one is your Teacher, the Messiah. 11 “Instead he who is greatest among you will be your servant. 12 “And whoever will exalt himself will be humbled, but he who will be humble will be exalted.

C3 Jesus’s rules/commands are supreme: John 14:15 WEL If you love me, obey my commandments.

C4 Jesus appoints the offices: Ephesians 4:11-12 WEL He gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 For the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.

C5 Jesus has plurality of elders in every church:

D1 Acts 14:23 WEL After they had chosen elders in every church and after praying with fasting, they committed them to the Lord on whom they had believed.

D2 Acts 20:17 WEL At Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.

B2 Pastors, Deacons, and Deaconesses

C1 Qualifications

D1 A true believer (this is different than claiming to be a believer, for someone might be able to say or teach correct doctrine but their life is not matching the New Testament character and life of a real believer. For the characteristics of a true believer, please read 1 John).

D2 The following are what shows in a person’s life after salvation. I count 18 in the list. Another person may count differently.

E1 First grouping is character traits. These are desire, blameless, vigilant, self-controlled, good behavior, not quarrelsome, not greedy, gentle, not contentious, not covetous.

E2 Second is marital status. He is to be a one-woman man. He does not HAVE to be married, though.

E3 Third is abilities. He is to be hospitable, able to teach, and a good manager at home.

E4 Fourth is addictions. He is not to be addicted to wine. He is also not to be addicted to porn, gambling, drugs, sports, work, etc. It is the addiction that is evil. Addictions affect decisions and judgment.

E5 Fifth is the length of time he has been a Christian.

E6 Sixth is standing in society. He has to have a good reputation in society, with Christians, non-Christians, government, education, etc.

D3 Even though many might have these qualifications, if the calling of God is present, the person will show pastor-like desires and actions.

D4 William Barclay writes on the contrast between a faithful and unfaithful shepherd:

But, on the other hand, there was the unfaithful shepherd. The difference was this. A real shepherd was born to his task. He was sent out with the flock as soon as he was old enough to go; the sheep became his friends and his companions; and it became second nature to think of them before he thought of himself. But the false shepherd came into the job, not as a calling, but as a means of making money. He was in it simply and solely for the pay he could get. He might even be a man who had taken to the hills because the town was too hot to hold him. He had no sense of the height and the responsibility of his task; he was only a hireling.

Wolves were a threat to a flock. Jesus said of his disciples that he was sending them out as sheep in the midst of wolves (Matthew 10:16); Paul warned the elders of Ephesus that grievous wolves would come, not sparing the flock (Acts 20:29). If these wolves attacked, the hireling shepherd forgot everything but the saving of his own life and ran away. Zechariah marks it as the characteristic of a false shepherd that he made no attempt to gather together the scattered sheep (Zechariah 11:16). Carlyle's father once took this imagery caustically to his speech. In Ecclefechan they were having trouble with their minister; and it was the worst of all kinds of such trouble—it was about money. Carlyle's father rose and said bitingly: "Give the hireling his wages and let him go."

Jesus' point is that the man who works only for reward thinks chiefly of the money; the man who works for love thinks chiefly of the people he is trying to serve. Jesus was the good shepherd who so loved his sheep that for their safety he would risk, and one day give, his life.

C2 Responsibilities

D1 Preach the Gospel: 1 Corinthians 1:17 WEL For Christ didn't send me to baptize but to preach the Gospel, not with wisdom in words lest the cross of Christ be ineffective.

D2 Read, exhort, and teach. The teaching would be teaching the Bible, doctrine, apologetics, and how to live Christian life: 1 Timothy 4:13 WEL Until I come apply yourself to reading [of Scripture], exhortation, and to teaching.

D3 Teach the doctrines of the faith: 1 Timothy 4:6 WEL If you remind the brethren of these things you will be a good servant of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and good teaching to which you have carefully followed.

D4 Assist in the congregation’s direction in Christian life and outreach: 1 Peter 5:2 WEL Feed the flock of God, which is among you. Take the oversight voluntarily, not by being forced, not for money's sake but with a willing heart.

D5 Be examples. We have to live the same life we teach others to do: 1 Peter 5:3 WEL Do not lord it over God's heritage, but be examples to the flock.

D6 Practice shepherd leadership. This is seen in the example and life of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are many who say they provide this, but by their life, words, and actions are controlling. The controlling pastor is most likely a false convert to Christianity (Read 3 John about Diotrephes). 1 Peter 5:3 WEL Do not lord it over God's heritage, but be examples to the flock.

D7 Teach other qualified men: Acts 14:23 WEL After they had chosen elders in every church and after praying with fasting, they committed them to the Lord on whom they had believed.

D8 They need to use discernment: 2 John 1:10 WEL If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house, nor greet him.

C3 The qualifications for deacons and deaconesses are similar.

D1 Listed character traits: respectable, not deceitful, not addicted to substances, and not greedy for money.

D2 Spiritual traits: to know and fully believe the doctrines of the Christian faith in such a way to be consistent in their words and lifestyle.

D3 Also, they need to be tested (examined, evaluated) regarding their spiritual traits.

D4 A blessing from God for faithful service is boldness (to live and preach the Gospel) and respect from others (reputation).

D5 The example is Stephen in Acts 6-7.

C4 Questions

D1 What are pastors, deacons, and deaconesses?

D2 What are the qualifications?

D3 What is the greatest qualification?

D4 How can we know if one is qualified?

1 Timothy 2:8-15

B2 Encourage members

C1 8 Men

D1 What does God want the Christian man to do?

D2 God wants men to pray, not fight and argue.

E1 Prayer is having fellowship with God.

E2 Can we understand this as having a cup of coffee with a good friend to converse? That is fellowship, too.

E3 In prayer, we converse with God. Remember Adam and Eve.

F1 The principle of fellowship with God is in this verse. The creator (Jesus) was not seeking them for punishment but coming for fellowship: Genesis 3:8 NIV Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

F2 1 John 1:3 NIV We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

F3 See also Genesis 5:22-24, Isaiah 57:15, John 14:23, Revelation 21:3-4, etc.

D3 God wants men to pray, not doubt.

F1 Faith is important. Faith is believing God. This does not mean it is a guarantee that God will answer the way we wish, but that He does listen. He is the Counselor of all counselors.

F2 Prayer is not just our asking for things. It is also telling Him our joys, fears, concerns, problems, wonderful things that happened today, etc.

C2 9-15 Women

D1 What does God want from Christian women?

D2 Women’s clothing.

E1 Appropriate dress. Many rich women (and men) dressed in very expensive clothing meant to impress people.

E2 A quote: Sandra Glahn argues that in Greco-Roman society, braids, gold, pearls and expensive clothes were a mark of affluence, “associated with a person’s rank.”[1] This suggests that the women of Ephesus were entangled with the love of money (3:3; 6:5-10) and status, and this was evident in their arrogant attitudes and ostentatious attire. Paul distinguished good works as the apparel of those who worship God (2:10), in contrast to the ostentatious display of rank and wealth associated with idolatry. [2] (The next article on Artemis will provide explanation for Paul’s emphasis on apparel in worship). [Source]

E3 What men and women wear should be appropriate to worship God in His presence.

E4 These principles apply to men as well.

D3 Instead of investing in expensive clothes, etc., God wants women (and men) to invest in doing good, doing good not for salvation but to honor God.

E1 2 Peter 1:5-8 NIV For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

E2 There are spiritual works like preaching the Gospel, encouraging other believers, praying for others, etc.

E3 There are practical works, too, like teaching, giving, helping a neighbor, visiting widows, etc.

E4 We act, dress, talk as we believe in our heart.

D4 About teaching (I’ve spoken about this in another article, so to summarize):

E1 Men teach, women teach, parents teach, pastors teach. We teach each other.

E2 Thus, a dictator, someone with supreme authority who is not to be questioned but obeyed.

E3 That TYPE of woman or man must not teach.

D5 Saved in childbirth. Please see this video Why Women Must Learn in Quietness and Submission Xenophon of Ephesus and 1 Timothy 2 (Gary Hoag). There is also a book Women in Ephesus.

Applications:

B1 Pray

B2 Pray for leaders and everyone else but especially for our Christian brothers and sisters.

B3 God wants all to be saved.

B4 Jesus is the ransom paid for all humans.

B5 Men are to pray and not argue and fight.

B6 We are not to have the love of money and flaunt our riches in the way we dress.

B7 A dictator type woman must not teach.

Questions:

B1 Why should we pray?

B2 What attitude should we have in prayer?

B3 How do our clothes express our beliefs?

B4 Why does God want fellowship with people?

B5 Why should we want fellowship with God?

B6 How do we fellowship with God?

1 Timothy 2:1-7

B1 Encourage prayer

C1 Verse 1 Prayer for everyone

D1 Petitions

E1 A petition, supplication, is a request to an authority.

E2 Proverbs 30:7-8 NIV Two things I ask of you, LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.

D2 Prayers

E1 Prayers is a more formal, respectful talking with God.

E2 Luke 6:12 NIV One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.

E3 1 Timothy 5:5 NIV The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.

D3 Requests

E1 The word has the idea of coming together to converse.

E2 It is used in our passage and also 1 Timothy 4:5 NIV because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

D4 Thanksgivings

E1 According to the old Webster’s Dictionary, it means an acknowledgment expressive of a sense of favor or kindness received;

E2 1 Timothy 4:4 NIV For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.

D5 We ARE to pray. Prayer is not hard. It is talking with God. It is worship and fellowship.

C2 Verse 2 Prayer for leaders

D1 One of the many reasons we pray to God concerning our political leaders is so we (all) can live in peace and safety.

D2 For Christians must live a Christian life. This is sometimes hard, because the government is against Christians.

D3 Regardless, we must always pray for our leaders whether we like them or not.

D4 Jeremiah 29:7 MKJV And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be exiled, and pray to the LORD for it. For in its peace you shall have peace.

D5 2 Kings 8:3 NIV At the end of the seven years she came back from the land of the Philistines and went to appeal to the king for her house and land.

C3 Verses 3-4 Prayers for everyone to be saved

D1 The text clearly says all. Don’t let anyone fool you out of the plain, normal sense. Compare:

E1 2 Peter 3:9 NIV The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

E2 Isaiah 53:6 MKJV All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, each one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

E3 2 Corinthians 5:14 NIV For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.

D2 All whether poor, rich, or in between. All whether employed in medical, legal, government, agriculture, retired, unemployed, education, etc. All means all.

D3 Either people are saved by Jesus Christ and Him alone or they are not.

D4 He is the only mediator.

D5 Works are worthless. Philippians 3:7-8 NIV But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.

C4 Verse 4

D1 Note the word truth.

E1 Truth is reality.

F1 Wisdom (God’s way of thinking): Proverbs 8:7 NLT for I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception.

F2 Proverbs 12:17 NLT An honest witness tells the truth; a false witness tells lies.

F3 We must read and study the Bible with the understanding that God is telling the truth in its plain, normal sense.

E2 Truth is important to God.

F1 God is the God of truth and faithfulness:

G1 Isaiah 65:16 WEB so that he who blesses himself in the earth will bless himself in the God of truth; and he who swears in the earth will swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hidden from my eyes.

G2 2 Corinthians 1:20 NLT For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding "Yes!" And through Christ, our "Amen" (which means "Yes") ascends to God for his glory.

F2 Exodus 34:6 NKJV And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth.

F3 Revelation 15:3 WPNT They sing the song of Moses, the slave of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations!

E3 God speaks in truth. John 7:16-18 NLT So Jesus told them, "My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me. 17 Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own. 18 Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies.

D2 Jesus came speaking and teaching truth. His motive was for people to be saved and to understand the ways of His kingdom.

C5 Verse 5

D1 God and humanity are at odds. God is holy; humans are sinful. God is wise; humans are stupid. God is truthful; humans are liars. We are enemies of each other.

D2 Jesus is the reconciler, the mediator. Romans 5:10 NIV For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

D3 Acts 4:12 NIV Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.

C6 Verse 6

D1 ...ransom for all…

E1 This states clearly “ransom for all.”

E2 Many interpret this to mean only some. They reason that if all meant all, then all are saved, that is, universalism. Thus, they, in actuality, call the Holy Spirit a liar. If God wanted to say some or many, the Scriptures would say so. John Gill (essentially a fatalist) writes on this verse: ...[Jesus Christ] shows his great love to his people; and also as a "ransom", or a ransom price for them, αντιλυτρον, in their room and stead; to ransom them from the slavery of sin, and damnation by it, from the captivity of Satan, and the bondage of the law, and from the grave, death, hell, ruin, and destruction: and this ransom was given for "all"; not for every individual of mankind, for then all would be delivered, freed, and saved, whereas they are not; or else the ransom price is paid in vain, or God is unjust to receive a sufficient ransom price from Christ, and yet not free the captive, but punish the person for whom he has received satisfaction; neither of which can be said. But the meaning is, either that he gave himself a ransom for many, as in Mat 20:28 for the Hebrew word כל, to which this answers, signifies sometimes many, a multitude, and sometimes only a part of a multitude…

E3 God wants all to be saved. God provided a mediator for humanity. God provided salvation for all, if they meet His conditions. His condition is to believe after the Holy Spirit has opened a person’s heart.

F1 Acts 16:14 NIV One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message.

F2 John 16:8 NLT And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment.

F3 John 1:12 NLT But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

F4 John 3:15-16, 36 NLT so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. 16 "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. ... 36 And anyone who believes in God's Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn't obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God's angry judgment."

F5 John 6:47 NLT I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life.

F6 Romans 10:9 NLT If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

D2 This life and message came at the perfect, proper time. It is the life of Jesus and His message.

C7 Verse 7

D1 Paul is a messenger and Apostle of Jesus Christ to preach Jesus’s life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. Jesus’s message came at the right time, and so did the preaching of the Gospel.

D2 Paul states that he is telling the truth. The truth is the message of Jesus and Paul’s appointment to preach it.

C8 This section of 1 Timothy is given mainly to preachers, deacons, deaconesses, and other church leaders, but it is to be applied to every Christian.

C9 Questions:

D1 Why is Jesus so important regarding salvation?

D2 Why is the Gospel for all people?

D3 Why did God choose people to preach the Gospel?

1 Timothy 1:18-20

Stand true

B1 Paul reminds Timothy of the prophecies given when he was ordained.

C1 Timothy had a good reputation: Acts 16:2 NIV The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.

C2 The prophecies made by the prophets/prophetesses are a source of motivation for Timothy to persevere.

C3 Spiritual warfare to continue in the faith. The prophecies we have are motives to practice the faith and to witness.

B2 One of Timothy’s ministries is to wage warfare. This

C1 Is not physical as in using the sword.

C2 Is spiritual by thinking, living, preaching as a Christian

C3 There are two paths.

D1 One leads to life. One leads to destruction (not annihilation). Matthew 7:13-14 NIV Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

D2 One is based on God’s ways namely truth, wisdom, love, and holiness. This way does not lead to destruction.

D3 The other is based on any other way, namely truth or lies (depending on the circumstances), foolishness, selfishness, and disregard for God’s rules.

B3 Keeping faith is being faithful to what he has been taught by Paul and others.

C1 This is based on reading and studying the Bible in its plain, normal sense. Otherwise it is one person’s opinion or other’s.

C2 We have been taught by Jesus and those who Jesus trained. These ways and teachings are already known. They have been sometimes written in a condensed form as a confession or creed.

B4 A blunted conscious is possible by ignoring or diminishing these teachings.

B5 Paul mentions 2 teachers who have sinned against God—Hymenaeus and Alexander. These 2

C1 Blasphemed God

D1 Taking His name in vain

D2 Lying about His character and His character traits

D3 Teaching lies, which are things not found in the teaching of Jesus Christ or His apostles.

C2 Disregarded the faith. They had THE faith but changed it into some other faith.

C3 Did not maintain a good conscience.

B6 Three things we all must do: fight spiritual warfare, hold tightly to the teaching of the New Testament, and keep a good conscience (the opposite of guilt).

C1 Truth

D1 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NIV For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

D2 Adam Clarke writes: Reasonings or opinions. The Greek philosophers valued themselves especially on their ethic systems, in which their reasonings appeared to be very profound and conclusive; but they were obliged to assume principles which were either such as did not exist, or were false in themselves, as the whole of their mythologic system most evidently was: truly, from what remains of them we see that their metaphysics were generally bombast; and as to their philosophy, it was in general good for nothing.

C2 Life. How we live consistently with the rules of the New Testament (the rules of Jesus).

Applications

B1 Teach our children

B2 Remember what we are taught

B3 Be aware that there are false teachers. Some may not reveal themselves until after they have taught truth and have the trust of the congregation.

B4 We need to study the truth first then do apologetics.

B5 God will hold teachers responsible if they teach error.

B6 God wants people saved. So, we need to preach and live the Gospel.

B7 Be thankful for God’s love and mercy. We are not to take those things for granted.

B8 It is OK to name names.

1 Timothy 1:12-17

Paul’s Testimony and Thankfulness

B1 Now, Paul rehearses his conversion. Paul considered himself to be blameless according to the Law’s standards (at least outwardly). See Philippians 3:6 NRSV as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

B2 Paul mentions some of his sins

C1 Blasphemer

C2 Persecutor

C3 Insolent

B3 Despite his sins, Paul thanks God for His great mercy in giving him understanding of the Gospel and the Gospel itself, which is of Jesus Christ.

C1 The Gospel is first the life and ministry of Jesus Christ including His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.

C2 Secondly, it is the message that Jesus taught while on earth, which is primarily recorded by our 4 Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

B4 Notice that the Gospel starts with mercy. Mercy is receiving what we do not deserve. It is the initiation of God to free our sin addicted nature. Once our will has been freed, then we can resist or not resist.

B5 After mercy, God shows grace, then faith and love. Not only does the faith and love of God affect us, but we also show faith and love towards God. Repentance leads to faith, faith leads to love, and love leads to obey the rules of the Lord Jesus.

B6 He feels that he is one of the worst of sinners and God’s love showed its greatness towards him.

B7 We notice the greatness of God’s patience. God deals with each person individually.

B8 Paul, then, praises God for

C1 Being King (King of the universe for sure)

C2 Being eternal, immortal, invisible, God who alone is wise

B8 This is the opposite of Romans 1:21 WEB Because, knowing God, they didn’t glorify him as God, neither gave thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened.

C1 The sinner does not give God credit for all that God has done and is doing.

C2 The believers does, which Paul is our example.

B9 Because of all these things, God is worthy of the highest honors and praise.