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November 8, 2015 |
| 1 Timothy 6 | ||
The books 1st and 2nd Timothy are letters written by Paul to a young man called Timothy who was like a son to Paul. Timothy has been put in charge of a church that Paul started. In these letters Paul is teaching Timothy how to guide this church. This includes how to organize the church and choose leaders, how to resolve problems, and many other details of church management. These letters also include teachings for Timothy and his congregation and warnings as well
In this lesson we'll look at the last chapter of the first letter
In this chapter it appears, at first glance, that Paul is giving Timothy advice on a variety of topics, things to teach and to avoid. This seems so because the topics range from slavery to the Second Coming to wealth, with a little contentment and humility thrown in. As we'll see though, this chapter contains a chain of reasoning. Paul begins with slavery and from that teaches a principle. Then, using those who would argue against that principle, he covers all these other topics.
1 Let those who are under the yoke of bondage hold their masters in all honor that the name of God and his teaching be not blasphemed.
When he says "yoke of bondage", Paul is not just talking about slaves as we understand them today. This would have included people who voluntarily became slaves (for unpaid debt, poverty) and also people who had entered into covenant relationships (Jacob for Rachel). Given this, the message for us here is the same as we see in Colossians 3:23 "Do all that you do with all your soul, as for Our Lord, and not as for the children of men." Paul continues to explain this teaching. An example would be if you claim to be a Christian but at work are lazy, not careful and not punctual, worldly people will think poorly of Christianity and of God and say bad things about them, which is the meaning of blaspheme.
2 Let those who have believing masters not despise them, because they are their brothers, but let them rather serve them, because they are believers and beloved, by whom they are at peace in their service. Teach these things and implore them.
Paul continues by discussing the special case where a master is a Christian. Everyone in such a "yoke of bondage" would rather be free than subject to a master. Paul says do not think badly of a master who is a Christian because he is also a brother in the faith and also loved by God.
Paul also says God has brought peace between them. Paul says the same thing in Colossians 3:11 "Where there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision, neither Greeks nor Barbarians, neither Servant nor Freeman, but The Messiah is all and in every person." God sees no difference between them and therefore, if they reflect God in their lives, he has brought peace between them.
Paul finished by saying this idea should be taught by Timothy to all people and even more that the people should be earnestly begged (implored) to live according to that standard. But Paul recognizes that there will be people who will not accept this and will try to teach something different.
3 But if there is a man who teaches another doctrine and does not attain to the sound words of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah and the teaching of the reverence of God, 4 this one is lifted up as he knows nothing, but he is ineffective in disputes and debates of words, from which come
- envy, (wanting what someone else has)
- contention and
- blasphemy, (saying evil things about God)
- and establishes evil thoughts, (provides a foundation for evil thoughts)
- 5 and the misery of the children of men who corrupt their minds and are cheated of the truth, and they think that making money is the worship of God;
The phrase "lifted up as he knows nothing" means "claiming to be something but being nothing" or we might say "full of hot air". Other translations use the word conceited which catches the idea that there is nothing to what he is teaching except ego. Paul says teachings contrary to the faith cause disputes and debates that only stir up bad things. That is true as a general principle but Paul is speaking about the specific principle that God has brought peace between Christians in a "yoke of bondage" and their Christian masters. Therefore teaching another doctrine in this context would mean teaching that there is no peace between them.
Such a doctrine might, for example, say that the master has the right to do whatever he wants to get his money out of the slave. Such treatment by the master and discussions of it in the church would indeed stir up all of what Paul has said.
Paul also makes the point that this opposed teaching causes misery, corrupts people and cheats them of the truth. By this he begins a comparison of the rewards of his teaching and of the opposed teaching. Here he shows that truth is a valuable item that can be stolen. Then he talks about the opposing view that claims that earning money is doing God's work and how we show his love within us. This is surprisingly similar to a statement made by Lloyd C. Blankfein, "the chief executive of Goldman Sachs, says he believes banks serve a social purpose and are 'doing God's work.'"1
but stay away from these things, 6 for our profit is great, which is the worship of God while having the necessities, for we have enough. 7 For we have brought nothing into the universe, and we know that we can take nothing out of it; 8 because of this, food and clothing is enough for us.
Paul continues to compare the value of each teaching. Having said that truth is a value of his teaching and money is the value of the other, he adds that we do make a profit while their profit does not last. Our profit, he says, is to worship God and have the necessities of life. To the world this sounds like no profit at all. He'll come back to this in the next verses but for now he reminds them that they can't take their profit with them when they die.
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptations and into traps, and into many foolish and harmful desires, and they sink the children of men into corruption and destruction. 10 But the root of all these evils is the love of money, and there are some who have desired it and have erred from the faith and have brought themselves many miseries.
He continues by showing how the desire to be rich causes them trouble in this world and also troubles others. Even Christians have erred and wandered from the faith in search of money.
11 But you, Oh man of God, escape from these things, and run after righteousness, after justice, after faith, after love, after patience and after humility. 12 And fight in the good contest of faith and seize eternal life, to which things you are called, and you have professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Paul instructs Timothy not to chase after money but instead go after the good things in this life, like living a Godly life, treating each other with justice, and the other fruits of the spirit. He also urges Timothy to continue in this way and ultimately receive eternal life, the profit that makes sense of this earthly life of sacrifice. Paul now goes on to talk about that eternal life.
13 I testify to you before God, he who gives life to all, and Yeshua the Messiah, he who testified an excellent testimony before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep the commandments without defilement and without blemish until the revelation of Our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, 15 he who is going to reveal himself in his time, The Blessed God and Only Mighty One, The King of Kings and the Lord of Power, 16 he who alone is uncorrupted and dwelling in light that a human cannot approach and which none of the children of men has seen, nor can see, to whom be honor and authority to the eternity of eternities. Amen.
Paul charges Timothy to keep the commandments and to wait for the Second Coming of the Messiah. This charge he makes in front of God the Father and Jesus the Messiah. How could Timothy refuse - of course he wouldn't. Paul also talks about a testimony given by Jesus in front of Pilate just before his crucifixion. The testimony referred to probably comes from John 18:36 "Yeshua said to him, 'My Kingdom is not from this world; if my Kingdom were of this world, my servants would be fighting that I would not have been delivered up to the Judeans, but now my Kingdom is not from here.'" This choice makes sense because of the Second Coming reference that Paul is making here and with Jesus saying "now my Kingdom is not from here".
Then Paul begins a long praise for God. In this a couple special points come out. He says "dwelling in the light" which is very reminiscent of 1 John. He also talks about the "eternity of eternities" by which he emphasizes the unending nature of that eternal life he described before as our profit.
17 I command the rich of this world that they not be lifted up in their minds and that they would not trust upon wealth because there is no certainty concerning it, but upon the living God, who gives richly to us all for our comfort, 18 and that they should do good works, should be rich in good deeds, and should be ready to give and to share, 19 And they shall lay up for themselves a good foundation for what is future, that they may seize upon true life.
Pauls has been teaching about the relationship between those in the "yoke of bondage" and their masters. Here Paul sums up his message on the difference between the people who accept his teaching and those opposing that teaching. He commands that they not be arrogant about their wealth. It's easy for us to think that the success we have had in life has come because of us and to forget that all things come from God. Paul also commands that they not trust upon their wealth. Earlier he said that they can't take it with them when they die, now he seems to be saying that even in this life there is no security in it. Instead, he says, they should trust on God, do good works, good deeds and share. In this way they will set a foundation that will last that they may receive eternal life. In this case he says "true life" to contrast the eternal life with the worldly life that they lived before with their wealth.
20 Oh, Timothy, guard that which is committed to you and escape from empty echoes and from the perversions of false knowledge. 21 For those who profess it have themselves gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.
Now Paul closes the epistle by warning Timothy to avoid all of these "empty echoes" of "false knowledge". He also repeats what he said in verse 10; these false teachings can lead people away from the faith.
This is another place in the Bible which refutes the "Once Saved, Always Saved" teaching. It is entirely possible for Satan to use our desires to lead us away from salvation and eternal life. If that was not so, Satan's works against Christians would be largely pointless.
Paul starts this discussion from an odd place, those in the "yoke of bondage" and ends with the Second Coming and a warning for the wealthy. Therefore we'll retrace his steps
1 http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2009/11/09/goldman-chief-says-he-is-just-doing-gods-work/?_r=0