Timothy had a lot on his plate:
- Doctrinal problems (chp 1)
- Jewish Mysticism (chp 1)
- Moral Problems (chp 1 + 4)
- Ecclesiastical Problems (chps 2+3)
Some of the false teachers have been feeding the Christians with a very unbalanced diet of:
- Marriage (v3)
- Meats (v3)
- Mysticism (v7)
They were attempting to find spiritual satisfaction through:
- Relationships
- Rules
- Religious stories
This was long way away from reality
Timothy's ministry is to overcome with the fruit of the sanctuary:
The lamp
The loaf
The altar
Timothy will come with grace:
“put the brethren in remembrance” (v6)
These are his 'brethren' in spite of all of there problems
Notice how Timothy is so different from the hypocrites of 4:2; with their character of:
Ego
Reputation
Status
(cf. Matthew 23)
Timothy is of equal standing 'brother' (v6) – not about ego
He is not inspired status, happy to be a 'servant'
Not about his reputation but rather it is about 'Jesus Christ'. Timothy is ministering on behalf of Jesus Christ, any blessing that arises is credited to the Lord Jesus.
Ever before Timothy opens his mouth, there is the character of the servant.
You immediately take to Timothy!
Consider his grace as he puts the 'brethren in remembrance'
'can I remind you...'
how different from
'let me tell you'
'faith' (v6) – the personal and experiential
'good doctrine' (v6) – the factual and objective
Timothy came with:
Trust – Faith (v6)
Truth – doctrine (v6, v12-16)
Testimony – godliness (v12,16)
As Timothy ministers at Ephesus, he does so in the warmth of his relationship with Jesus Christ
v10 'the Saviour of all men'
Timothy's service for Christ:
Example (v12)
The first mentioned
The first priority
To live out the reality of what we profess to teach
We can not run a double life, it won't work.
Timothy is to be an 'example in:
- 'word' – Like Josiah
- 'manner of life' – like Samuel
- 'love' – like Ruth
- Spirit – like Daniel – in whom is the 'spirit of the great gods'
- 'faith' – like David
- 'purity' – like Joseph
Here are young men and women who earned the right to be heard.
Young men and women who justified the confidence others had in them.
Enjoyment
The enjoyment of scripture (v15)
“Meditate upon these things”
Think on the scriptures
Let them fill our mind and heart
Think about text of scripture
Connections are made
Rev 10:10 – ate the scroll
1 Peter 2:2 – 'desire the sincere milk of the word...'
Gen 24:63 – Isaac meditating in the field at eventide
Joshua 1:8
Psalm 119:15, 23, 48, 78, 148
Exposition (v13)
'reading'
The scriptures are interesting!
The scriptures are full of Christ!
So much to enjoy, explore, expound and experience.
They are full of Christ; He is:
The Creator of Genesis 1
The tree of life Genesis 2
Seed of the woman Genesis 3
The Ark of Noah pitched within and without with 'kapar'
Subject and fulfilment of the Abrahamic covenant
Son on Mt Moriah
The second man like Jacob (Gen 25)
The pillar and ground of the truth (Gen 28)
He is Benoni and Benjamin
He is the subject of Joseph's dream
He is the fulfilment of Joseph's type
He is the 'I AM' of the burning bush
The redeemer of Israel
The passover lamb
The manna from heaven
The rock that followed them
The victory in the Valley of the Oak Tree
The living redeemer of Job
The Son of Man of Daniel
It is all about Christ
Exhortation (v13)
Outline notes from a Bible teaching message in our series of systematic bible studies in 1 Timothy chapter 4, available for free audio download or to listen online,
Yours by God's grace in Christ
Dr J Stewart Gillespie