Tag: Timothy

Workplace Respect

1 Timothy 6:1-2

Historical Context

In this time most of the Christians would probably have been slaves. They would have had little control over their lives, their masters had legal authority over every part of their life. The master would have directed their effort and set plans for their future. This would have been a very difficult existence.

In applying these verses, I’ll be referring to the employer-employee relationship. We don’t live under the conditions the early church did. The moral argument against slavery in the US has been presented and has won. We do however have employers that we answer to every day. With the average American working between 45-50 hours a week, our employers have a great deal of control over how our time is spent, and we have the opportunity in this relationship to illustrate Christ-like character.

Working for an Unbelieving Boss

“Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.”
1 Timothy 6:1

The believing employee is to work for his employer like he is the best boss ever. Notice, this verse doesn’t say anything about how nice the boss is, how good the benefits are, or how skilled a leader the employer is. As far a the believing employee is concerned, they are worthy of our best effort.

What’s at stake here is the name of God and God’s teachings. How the believer handles work reflects on Jesus Christ, and His teachings. If our work ethic doesn’t match up with what they know of the character of Christ we do a disservice to the testimony of Christ. If our attitudes don’t match up with the teachings of God’s word we shine a bad light on the doctrine of God.

When a believer goes to work, works hard, and does it all with a good attitude he paves the way for the gospel to be presented with power.

Working for a Believing Boss

“And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.” 
1 Timothy 6:2

For the believing employee-employer relationship, there should be no less honor given. 

In the time when Paul wrote this, the slave and his master being a part of the same church could have made for some awkward workplace dynamics. Imagine a slave is also the pastor of the church and the master is one of the newly saved members. This is not an impossible situation. But what good would it do to the cause of Christ for the Christian slave to slack at his work just because his master was a Christian?

If you work for a believer, give them the day’s labor they are paying you for. Work in a way that shows unbelieving coworkers the character of Christ. You will do nothing for the “name of God and his doctrine” by slacking at work.

Your Turn

We live in one of the most mobile job markets in history. With this mobility comes the flexibility to choose different work, different workplaces, or even promotion within an organization that changes the relationship to people who were supervisors. However, this mobility does not change the teaching of these verses. 

Go to work and work hard.

Punctuality and diligence will start you out on a great footing for being a testimony at work.

Serve your employer the way you would serve God.

How you work will reflect on God, so serve in a way that will reflect well on Him. This will need to be a constant focus and goal. 

The Purpose of Paul’s Writing

1 Timothy 3:14-15

Ever run late? 

We all do it occasionally. What type of person are you when you’re running late?

Do you text ahead? Leave them guessing? Call and talk to them the whole time you finish your trip there?

We can be thankful that Paul was the type to write ahead. Even though he wasn’t late yet, he wanted Timothy to have the instruction in this letter, just in case.

“These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:” 
1 Timothy 3:14

Paul wanted to come to see Timothy and be with the Church at Ephesus. This letter was his way of helping Timothy know how to handle things in the church if he couldn’t come as soon as he hoped.

This is how Timothy was to Conduct Himself

"But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." 
1 Timothy 3:15

Paul wanted Timothy to know how to carry on with the church in Ephesus if he should be delayed from coming. The idea of “behave” in verse 15 isn’t meant to read as the opposite of misbehave. Paul wanted Timothy to know what to do, how he should carry on in the work of God in that place.

So far this instruction has included encouragement to stay true to Biblical doctrine, instruction for church meetings, and teaching for how to select church officials. There will be more as we go through this letter.

In committing these things to Timothy, Paul is setting a very important precedent: The work of God is bigger than one person. Timothy was gifted to do all of these things. God was with him to help him. 

You and I can learn how we are to “behave” in the house of God. In church meets God wants more from us than to just sit and listen. The word “behave” includes the idea of “keep busy”. How are you going to productively keep yourself busy in your local church?

What the Church is:

The last part of verse 15 is a powerful statement of what the church is. These 3 things give us some further insight into how we are to behave, after all the value of something can change how we treat it.

House of God

Here think “the family of God.”

If you are a believer, when you meet with your church you are gathering with God’s family. Look around you. Everyone you see is family. God cares from them, He cares for you… a lot!

You belong here. Whether you feel it all the time or not, you belong when you are with God’s people.

Church of the Living God

The Church (gk: ekklesia) is a group of people that are called out by God. Throughout the New Testament this term is used mostly to refer to local churches.

The church at Ephesus wasn’t just any assembly of people, neither is your church. It is the “church of the living God”. Is there life in your church meetings? How can you contribute to that life?

Pillar and Ground of the Church

The church is the “pillar and ground of the truth”. We could think of this like the strong pillars of an ancient building, standing on a solid foundation. Your church is to bear the weight of truth and stand strong in it. As time passes erosion may threaten below and wild storms above, but the church is the pillar and ground of truth

Verse 16 helps us see the significance of the truth we stand for.

"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: 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." 
1 Timothy 3:16

How well do you know and stand in the truth of God?

Your Turn

Church Member:

  • Learn how you are to “behave” in church. Don’t just attend meetings. Be the vital part of God’s work that He has called you to be.
  • Illustrate the truth of God alongside your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Non-Church Member:

This post isn’t directly about church membership, but… You need a church. I know that there are church out there that don’t always show the life of the “living God”, churches that have given in to the storms and erosion that seeks to overthrow truth. But these aren’t every church.

Find a solid church, one with life and joy. Become an active and vital part of what God is doing there. 

This may mean going back to where you have previously attended. It might be hard, it’ll probably require some humility, but it’ll be worth it.

Operation Ephesus

1 Timothy 1:18-20

Operation Neptune Spear

Wartime is filled with special missions. Missions so important that great care is taken to keep them a secret. They are staffed with only the people critical to success, and each person is trained to have laser focus on the objective.

In May of 2011 the US Military undertook one such mission. This one to capture or kill one of the United States most wanted: Osama bin Laden. Codenamed: “Operation Neptune Spear” the mission included a group of highly train Navy Seals who entered the terrorists compound, cleared it, killed the mass murder, and left with valuable intelligence in under 40 minutes.

The mission Timothy was on wasn’t going to break the news cycle like Operation Neptune Spear did, but it was very important nonetheless. 

Operation Ephesus

Paul had asked Timothy to stay in Ephesus (1 Tim 1:3), but this was more than a request. This was a specific charge, a mandate that would involve Timothy’s calling, skill, training and focus.

“This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;” 
1 Timothy 1:18

Mission Operator: Timothy

God had told them that Timothy would take part in this Charge. I don’t know what form this prophecy took, but it’s safe to assume that God made it very clear to his church that Timothy was meant to work for Him in the proclamation of the gospel and defense of the truth.

Mission Objective: Sound Doctrine

Timothy was to ensure that the believers in this place were taught the truth (1 Tim 1:3-4). This would be no small task. Already just a few years after the gospel was first preached in this region false teaching was making its way into churches.

Mission Resources: Faith and Good Conscience

Paul knew that this would be a war, but Timothy had the resources he needed to carryout this struggle.

“Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:” 
1 Timothy 1:19

Timothy would need Faith and a Good conscience in this fight. These are the same words we discussed in 1 Tim 1:5. Paul was very concerned that Timothy keep these things as he went to battle.

Faith

This refers to the whole of what Timothy knew from scripture and from Paul’s teachings. He would need this confidence in the fight.

Paul, in writing to the church at Ephesus called faith a shield that would “quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” (Eph 6:16) This Faith is the main line of defense against the doubt that evil forces hurl at believers. Timothy would need this confidence just as much as the people in his church. 

Good Conscience

In the defense of the truth I fear that some abandon their own conscience. We can get a christian version of “the ends justify the means” and leave behind the guidance of the Holy Spirit in a vain attempt to advance the cause. This is a sure way to lose your way. 

Mission History

Others had failed this charge because they lacked faith.

“Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.” 
1 Timothy 1:20

While we don’t know a lot about these men, they are used as negative examples. They abandoned God, put aside faith and good conscience leaving Paul no choice but to bar them from Christian fellowship.

Learn from examples like this, view the wreckage of their lives and ministries as a warning about a way to avoid. Preach the word, with your words and with your choices.

Your Turn

Operation Ephesus lives on wherever you are when you read this. The Gospel still needs to be proclaimed boldly, the truth is still the only place to stand. Like Timothy you will need the resources of faith and a good conscience. Many have fallen in this struggle as they give in to false doctrine and reject God.

Will you stand in this war?

Hope

What do you hope for? What do you place your hope in?

Paul begins a letter to Timothy, his “son in the faith” (Tim 1:2), with these words:

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;” 
1 Timothy 1:1 (emphasis mine)

Paul Identifies His hope as a person: Jesus Christ. What is Hope? Why did Paul need hope? Why do you and I need Hope?

What is Hope?

One dictionary I use often has this for the first entry under “Hope” n.

“A desire of some good, accompanied (with) at least a sight expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable. Hope differs from wish and desire in this, that it implies some expectation of obtaining the good desired, or the possibility of possessing it. Hope therefore always gives pleasure or joy; whereas wish and desire may produce or be accompanied with pain and anxiety.”

Noah Webster’s first edition of An American dictionary of the English language.

Generally Hope is a confidence that things will get better. Maybe like the feeling after a long day of yard work in the summer knowing that you will soon be able to shower, and cool off.

I think for many it’s far more meaningful than that: It’s a confidence that the world will be better. Or at least that your place in it will improve.

Why Do I Need Hope?

Paul in a different place (Eph 2), reminded a church where they had come from with these remarks:

“That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:”
Ephesians 2:12

You see this is where all humanity starts: without hope. 

Our sin makes a huge void between us and God. This gulf was bridged by God the Son, Jesus. This is why Paul calls Jesus his hope in 1 Tim 1:1. Jesus is the very source and essence of all permanent hope.

Preaching this hope was Paul’s calling:

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:” 
Colossians 1:27

Paul was commanded to preach the gospel to the gentiles. Timothy was a part of this group with a jewish mother and gentile father he was a misfit in either set. This gospel was for him.

The people of Ephesus (where Timothy was currently stationed for ministry) were probably mostly gentiles. This gospel was for them.

Wherever you are from and whoever your parents are, this gospel is for you.

Wherever you minister and whoever you minister to, this gospel is for them.

A Present and Future Hope

Jesus is this hope in our present, but there is a future element to this hope. In writing to another of his young colleges, Titus (Titus 2:11-15) Paul reminds him:

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” 
Titus 2:13

There is a “blessed hope” in knowing that Jesus will return. Not to just be here in this mess, but to correct the condition of the world order to harmony, justice, and peace. Before this Christ will call His own to Himself (the “rapture”) and justly punish the human race. (Read the prophets and Revelation for details, as much as we are able to know them.)

Where is Your Hope?

What are you hoping in? Are you without hope right now? Please contact me if you would like to know more about how Jesus can be your hope.

Believers: Are you looking for the blessed hope? Live this day and everyday in anticipation of the Kingdom of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Your Turn

What are some verses God has used in your life to give you hope?

How has God led you to live differently now that you have His hope?

How to “Do Church”

An overview of 1 Timothy.

In ministry we often look to other examples as a starting place for the practical points of things. This has a good side and a bad side. 

  • Good: We don’t have to reinvent the wheel. There is no shame and LOTS of wisdom in learning from others.
  • Bad: We sometimes use what others are doing as a starting point when we should be going back to the Word of God to see how things are supposed to look.

Where should a Pastor Start?

What would it look like to start from scratch? A brand new church, with just the biblical approach of church and ministry. How would a pastor start?

Meet Timothy

Timothy and Titus are the guys who know what this is like. Before churches all used hymnals or had a similar order of service as everyone else, these men of God were pastoring churches that sprang up as a result of Paul’s missionary work. Paul wrote them three letters going over some of the most important points for New Testament Churches. 

Over the next few weeks we’re going to be looking at the first of these epistles, 1 Timothy. But before we get into the details let’s zoom out and get an overview of this letter to Timothy.

Overview of 1 Timothy

Author

Paul the Apostle states that he is the author in 1 Timothy 1:1. Paul was converted to being a follower of Christ after persecuting the Church (Acts 9). He was called at his conversion to be a minister for Christ to the Gentiles (anyone who is not a Jew) though it took a few years for him to really begin this ministry (Acts 13). Paul was probably the first to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the city of Ephesus (Acts 18:19-21) this visit was very brief, but Paul returned later and spent over 2 years with these new believers (Acts 19).

Recipient

Timothy (also called Timotheus) was the main recipient of the this letter (1 Timothy 1:2)

Timothy had been received into Paul’s church planting team for Paul’s second missionary journey (Acts 16:1-3). He was the son of a Greek man (probably an unbeliever, though we don’t know for sure) and a believing mother. He had been given a heritage of faith in Christ by his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. 

Timothy was probably not a super confident person. Paul encourages him a couple of times to not let anyone despise him (1 Tim 4:12) and not be driven by fear (2 Tim 1:6-7). Yet Timothy was someone Paul could rely on (Philippians 2:19-23). Paul viewed him as a son.

Key Thoughts and Structure

(Paul’s purposes in writing essentially create the outline of the Epistle)

I have had to summarize the themes in these points, but hope to unpack a lot of this in the coming weeks and months.

Right Teaching – 1 Timothy 1

Right Worship and Church Organization – 1 Timothy 2-3

Personal Instruction for Timothy – 1 Timothy 4

Right Relationships in Church – 1 Timothy 5-6:2

Right Priorities – 1 Timothy 6:3-21

Challenge:

Read this letter in one sitting. This will help you see it’s structure and overall message.

Share:

What are some of your favorite verses from the Firat Letter to Timothy?

What jumped out to you from what Paul was writing that we could apply as we “Do Church”?