1 & 2 Timothy and Titus

1 Timothy 2

I didn’t do this last week but who is Timothy.  Acts 16:1-2 says, “Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. 2 The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.”

Read verses 1 – 2

1. Paul starts off with pointing out that true worship starts with prayer. He goes on to list four different types of prayer.  Often we use these words interchangeably but they are not exactly the same.

   1. Petitions (NIV) or Supplications (NKJV) or Entreaties – Asking or even begging for something in earnest – a felt need.

   2. Prayers – Talking to God as a form of worship – reverence.

   3. Intercession – Drawing near to God and speaking on someone’s behalf.

   4. Thanksgiving – Praising God for answering prayer or meeting a need.

2. At the end of verse 1, Paul tells us who we should be praying for. He says “ALL people”.  There isn’t a person alive today that doesn’t need prayer.  Often we do not know what the person sitting beside us in the pew is going through.

3. Paul continues in verse 2 by adding people we do not think about praying for. He says pray for our leaders (kings and those in authority).  Often we forget about these people.  When I think about the president, congress and judges, I think of how they can make our lives even more difficult than we could imagine.  I don’t think of praying for them.

4. Paul points out that praying for leaders can help us live “a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” I don’t know about you but that sounds pretty good to me.  I think that we should add the people that bring us the news on this list.  When I watch the news, I think that they are sensationalizing it just to get a reaction out of us or they give us fake news for the same reason.  We should pray that they report the news accurately and without bias.

Read verses 3 – 7

5. In verses 3 and 4, Paul says that our communication with God through prayer on other people’s behalf is goodand it leads to salvation through Jesus.  2 Peter 3:16 tells that God wants all people to come to the saving grace of Jesus, so it is good.

“God’s desire for all men to be saved is conditioned by His desire to have a genuine response from human beings. He won’t fulfill His desire to save all men at the expense of making men robots that worship Him from simply being programmed to do so.” (Guzik)

6. In verse 5, Paul says that there is one God and one mediator, Jesus who intercedes on the behalf of mankind. In Romans 8:34, Paul says that Jesus “is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”  If we know Jesus and we pray for others then Jesus is speaking on behalf of the person that we are praying for.  How much better could it be for that person.

7. In verse 6, Paul says that Jesus is our mediator or intercessor but He freely gave up His life so that all people could have salvation. Not only did He die for us but He was resurrected so that we too can be resurrected.  1 Corinthians 15: “20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”

8. Verse 6b says that Jesus life, death and resurrection all happened at the appropriate time which was set by God. In Galatians 4:5, Paul says it this way, “4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.”  Just as things happen in our lives according to God’s schedule, things happened to Jesus according to God’s schedule.

9. In verse 7, Paul testifies to the fact that everything that he has taught is true. He was chosen by Jesus to be a missionary to the Gentiles and that the Gospel message that he has taught since meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus is the true Gospel.

Read verse 8

10. Two things stand out in verse 8. First, Paul says, “I want the men everywhere to pray”.  Prayer is critical in the life of a Christian for both men and women.  Paul may specify men in this verse but there are numerous biblical examples of women praying.  Hannah prayed for a son and she gave birth to Samuel the prophet (1 Samuel 1).  Esther prayed for the protection of her people.  Mary’s (Jesus’ mother) prayer is recorded in Luke 1:46-55. Other women prayed and they are recorded in the Bible, Deborah, Sarah, Elizabeth, and many others, demonstrating that prayer was a significant practice for women throughout the Bible.  In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul says, “16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 

11. The second thing that stands out in verse 8 is the way that we should go to God in prayer. We are to come humbly to a holy    Holman New Testament Commentary says, “As followers of Jesus Christ, we are encouraged to “approach the throne of grace with confidence” (Heb. 4:16) and to come with the affection and security of a child, by the Spirit crying, “Abba, Father” (Rom. 8:15). Even so, we must remember that in prayer we are approaching God himself. Along with reassurance comes warning: we must be in proper relationship with our holy God.”

12. The term “Abba, Father” is similar to “Daddy”, both denote that personal Hosea 6:6 says, “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”  The Israelites did not understand that God wanted a personal relationship with them.  He wanted love and obedience and not some ritual like sacrificing.  With the sacrificing of animals, God wanted them to do it out of love and obedience and not as one of the steps to salvation.

13. Paul says to go to God in prayer “without anger or disputing”. Praying an “angry” prayer would be wishing for bad things to happen to someone.  This type of prayer should never be prayed.  It speaks to the heart of the person praying it.

14. The second way that you should not pray is with disputing or also doubt. The Greek word used here is “dialogismos”.  “Dialogismos” means “a deliberating, questioning about what is true”.  So it can mean doubting or   Doubting makes the most since to me.  Pastor Brian has said, “Pray like you know that God will answer your prayer.”

Read verse 9 – 10

15. This section is labeled “Women Instructed” in the NASB Bible. When we

studied Paul’s letters to the Corinthian church, he said that “God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.”               (1 Cor.14:33)  Paul is viewed as a male chauvinist but you have to consider the time.  At this time in history in this region, women are little more than slaves.  Marriage was a transaction between the father of the bride and the groom.

16. Paul begins this section with the appropriate way for a woman to dress. The Seventh Day Adventist church still abides by what Paul is saying here.  They say a woman should not dress in a way that draws attention away from God.  They ban jewelry and makeup at church.  Consider the women of the Pentecostal churches of God, they wear long dresses.  From “LearnReligions.com, “The basic reason for modesty of dress is to subdue the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life,” the UPCI document continues. “The exposed body tends to arouse improper thoughts in both wearer and onlooker.”  I am not saying you should switch to any of these churches but they have captured what Paul is saying here in 1 Timothy 2.

17. I could go on and on with churches that focus on these verses. Guzik simplifies these verses, “Women should emphasize spiritual preparation and beauty more than physical preparation and beauty.”  Paul is saying if you are dressing up then what is the purpose of it?  You should be impressing God with how you are living your life and not impressing those around you with what you are wearing.

Read verse 11 – 15

18. In verse 11, Paul says, “Women should learn quietly and submissively.” Consider that in the first century, women were expected to take care of the household and have and raise children.  In the U.S., women were not allowed to vote until 1919.  Before this, they were expected to “learn quietly and submissively”.  My dad was raised this way.  He took care of everything except the household but when he was home, there was no doubt that he was the head of the household.

“Full submission has to do with the overall decorum of women. It has nothing to do with their ability to think or the importance of one person over another. Rather, God has an order for leadership and a preference for character which, in the case of women, includes the qualities of peacefulness, gentleness, and the willingness to surrender questions of spiritual authority to the male. Women were free to question, contemplate, and formulate ideas, but the characteristics of peace and submission were to prevail.” (Holman New Testament Commentary)

19. Verse 12 is used by many to justify not calling women pastors or having women as elders or in our case deacons. Paul was not saying that women are inferior to men.  Paul is doing what he did for the Corinthian church, he is trying to get them organized in their worship.

20. Remember God is not a God of disorder. He is using the Word of God to get them organized.  He says that the reason men should be the spiritual leaders of the church is because God created Adam first.  “The same hierarchy of authority is extended to the home in Eph. 5:22–33; Col. 3:18–19; and 1 Pet. 3:1–7, with clear commands and responsibilities extended to the husband. (Holman New Testament Commentary)

21. Reverend Jim Allison, a former interim pastor in our church, used to say, “He was the head of his household but Wilda, his wife, was the neck that turned the head. This may be true but Paul is saying, “Wives, do not try to show your leadership in a public setting in the church, be submissive.”  In Paul’s mind, it was ok for a husband and wife to discuss to their heart’s content at home but in the church the man should speak for the family.

22. In verse 14, Paul gives full credit to Eve for the deception in the Garden of Eden. He says point blank, “it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.”  Ouch!  If Adam would have behaved as the head of his household or Garden as Paul is saying in these verses, then sin would not have entered mankind.  He followed Eve’s lead.

“Both Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, and Eve clearly sinned first. Yet, the Bible never blames Eve for the fall of the human race, but always blames Adam (through one man sin entered the world, Romans 5:12). Adam is responsible because of there was a difference of authority. Adam had an authority Eve did not have; therefore he also had a responsibility Eve did not have. Adam failed in his responsibility in a far more significant way than Eve did.” (Guzik)

23. Remember back in Genesis 3:4-5, “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman.⁵ “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”  Adam just went along with it.  It doesn’t say that he was in a different part of the garden and was tricked.  He knew what he was doing and he should have stopped it.  Then he did the human thing and blamed

24. Verse 15 says, “But women will be saved through childbearing, assuming they continue to live in faith, love, holiness, and modesty.” (NLT) This verse is confusing to many theologians.  Merely having children does not bring salvation.  Some say that Paul “Has mostly in mind that child-bearing, not public teaching, is the peculiar function of woman, with a glory and dignity all its own.” (Robertson) “The idea is that one should let the men teach in church and let the women have the babies.” (Guzik)  All I am going to say is, consider Paul’s audience and the time in history

1 Timothy 3

Read verse 1

1. Paul says, “If a man aspires to become an overseer (NIV, NASB) or bishop (NKJV) or church leader (NLT) it is a noble task or a good work or an honorable position. Part of the problem with this verse is the Greek word used by Paul is “episkopē” which as you see can be translated as “overseer” or “bishop”.  Today many translate it as “pastor”.  It is one who leads the church.  For our church, it works well to say the word translates as “pastor”, who is our spiritual leader.

2. Paul says in this verse that it is a noble task or a good work but it is a hard Holman New Testament Commentary says, “Scripture has listed the duties for this position in a number of places: to lead (Acts 20:28); equip (Eph. 4:12); rule (1 Tim. 3:4–5); teach (1 Tim. 3:2; 2 Tim. 2:15); shepherd (1 Pet. 5:1–4); and to set an example for others (1 Pet. 5:3). With these serious responsibilities, it is no wonder the qualifications were high.”

3. Pastor Larry’s grandfather, a Baptist pastor said, “If you are called to be a pastor then don’t do anything else but if you are not called, then do anything but become a pastor!” It is a calling.  Paul uses the word “aspire” (NIV) but I believe it is more.

4. Pastors are held to a higher standard than anyone else in the church, blameless.   James 3:1 says, “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”  This applies to pastors too.  Together with verse 1, it is good to want to be a pastor but make sure that you know that God will hold you accountable for leading your flock in the wrong direction.

5. Last week when Paul covered prayer, he said to pray for your leaders. Do you pray for your pastor?  He has a God given responsibility for his flock.  He has to make sure that he does not lead them through the wide gate that leads to destruction.

Read verse 2

6. In verses 2 through 7, Paul gives us the qualities of a pastor. Some people think that the pastor should behave like Jesus  We must always remember that our pastor is a special person but should not be put upon a pedestal.  The pastor is still a human and just like us he can make mistakes too.

7. In verse 2, Paul says the qualities of a pastor include being “above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach.” The term “above reproach” does not mean perfect but his background or his habits cannot cause concern in the church. 

8. He must have one wife. This was written at a time when men, especially Gentile men, took more than one wife and there is nothing biblical about multiple wives.  It was also written at a time when a man could divorce his wife on a whim.  Some people believe that divorced men could not be a pastor but I don’t believe that this is what Paul is saying.  Consider a man who is married to a woman who is not a believer or does not want the life as a pastor’s wife.  Paul would say that these couples should not stay together but it should not make it impossible for him to answer the call of God as a pastor.  I believe that Paul is saying that a pastor should be devoted to his wife.

9. The next qualities are based on behavioral aspects of the pastor. The NASB says that a pastor should be “temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable”.  Oxford Languages defines “temperate” as “moderation or self-control”.  Holman’s commentary says the word “temperate” “comes from a word meaning “sober,” or “calm in judgment.” It carries the idea of objective thinking and clear perspective.”

10. So far none of these qualities would keep you from being hired in the secular world and they would be difficult to determine in a couple of interviews. The pastor and his wife are a team and in most cases they are interviewed together.  The NLT says, “He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation.” 

11. A pastor should be hospitable which the NLT says, “He must enjoy having guests in his home” and Holman says, “open to strangers”. From this quality you get a sense that a pastor should be welcoming or a people person.

12. The final quality of a pastor in verse 2 is “he must be able to teach.” This is what I consider Paul’s greatest gift.  Sometimes he may have been a little weak in interpersonal skills but then Paul did not desire or aspire to become an overseer.  He would get the church started and then move on.  He would insert Timothy or Titus in to pastor the church.  The Apostle John was the pastor of the church at Ephesus for a while.

Read verses 3 – 7

13. In verses 3 through 7 the list of pastoral qualities Below is a list of these qualities from the NASB.  I could go into detail about each of these qualities but I view them as self-explanatory.

1. Not addicted to wine or pugnacious (The NLT says, heavy drinker or be violent).

2. but gentle, peaceable

3. free from the love of money.

4. He must beone who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity.  Verse 5 says that if a man cannot manage his own household then how can he be expected to manage God’s household.

5. not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. 

6. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Read verses 8 – 10 and 12 – 13

14. In these verses, Paul gives the qualities of a deacon. Holman defines a deacon as “those who serve people in the name of Christ and the church. He did this so the church would know how to select for this office men and women who serve well and please God.”  The deacons in our church fit in as spiritual leaders like an elder or overseer but also serve as deacons or servants of the church.  They fit somewhere between an overseer and a deacon as defined by Paul.

15. The word “deacon” translates as a servant. In the Bible, deacons were originally selected to ensure that widows had food and take care of the practical part of ministry so that other disciples could focus on teaching and spreading the Gospel message.  Acts 6:1-6 describes the first time that deacons were chosen to serve.

16. A deacon should possess many of the same qualities seen in an overseer or pastor. Paul may have said it slightly different but many qualities are the same.

1. Men of dignity – NLT says “well respected”.

2. Not double-tongued – NLT says “has integrity” or Gusik says “A man who speaks the truth the first time, with no intent to deceive.”

3. Not addicted to much wine – Just like an overseer, not a drunkard.

4. Not fond of sordid gain, but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. NLT says, “dishonest with money. They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience.” 

5. Husbands of only one wife – Just like an overseer

6. Good managers of their children and their own households. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. – Just like an overseer

17. Verse 10 says that a deacon should be tested. Holman says, “This is not a formal, written exam but the test of public scrutiny. A life which withstands observation is the best credential for a ministry of service. If no charge can stand, then the person is free to serve.”  The way he lives his life is to be looked at.  In our church, no one can serve on a board in the church without attending for at least one year.  This is the test.  We must get to know him.

18. Many of the qualifications for becoming a deacon are the same as becoming a pastor or overseer. Today, the biggest difference would be the educational background. Although it may not be necessary, pastors go through seminary.  A deacon is selected from the congregation while a pastor is called from outside the church.  Although Paul doesn’t say it but much prayer is necessary before calling either a deacon or a pastor.  Filling either position should not be taken lightly.

Read verse 11

19. In the middle of Paul’s discussion of deacon qualifications, Paul adds a verse to discuss women. The NLT actually says “wives” but most theologians believe that Paul is speaking specifically about the wives of deacons and some believe that Paul is speaking about “deaconesses”.  The Greek word used is “gynē “ which can mean woman or wife.

“The big debate swirling around this verse is whether these qualifications were intended for the wives of deacons or for women who served in the church in some official capacity. We cannot argue too conclusively for either position.”  Holman New Testament Commentary

20. In Romans 16, Paul mentions a woman named Phoebe who the NIV calls a deacon and most other translations call her a woman who is a servant. The NIV says, “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae.”  The NASB says, “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchreae”.  There have been women deacons in our church in the past.

Read verses 14 – 16

21. In these verses, Paul gives the reason for his instructions. The first reason is in case Paul is delayed at reaching Ephesus.  “This verse makes it clear that Timothy’s position was a temporary one; he was acting as St. Paul’s representative at Ephesus.” (White)

22. The second reason is so that Timothy knows how to conduct himself as a leader in the church at Ephesus. Paul refers to the church at Ephesus as the “household of God” and “church of the living God.”  Guzik says that it is God’s church because:

• He is the Architect.

• He is the Builder.

• He lives there.

• He provides for it.

• He is honored there, and He rules there.

23. Pastor Mickey was once asked, “So, is this your church?” He replied, “It is God’s church and he lets me preach here.”  We should always come here and expect to see God.

24. Guzik calls verse 16 “an early hymn to express the foundation of Christian truth.” The NIV says, “Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great”.  To true believers, the Gospel message is “Beyond all question”.  There are times that Satan attacks and makes you doubt your salvation but most of the time you doubt whether or not you are good enough.  The true Gospel says that “Everyone who calls on the name of the lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)  Salvation comes from what Jesus did on the cross and not what Satan tells you.

25. Let’s break down the next 6 statements in this verse.

1. “He appeared in the flesh,” – Jesus was born of a woman. He walked this earth, just like us.

2. “was vindicated by the Spirit,” – Matthew 3:16-17 tells us, “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” The Spirit of God called Jesus, “My Son“.

3. “was seen by angels,” – Mark 1:13 says that after Jesus was tempted by Satan then He was attended to by angels. When He was in the Garden, Luke wrote “Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.” (Luke 22:43)

4. “was preached among the nations,” – Paul can testify to this statement, preaching all around the Mediterranean Sea.

5. “was believed on in the world,” – Again Paul can testify to this statement, having been considered one of the greatest believers ever and having converted an unmeasurable number of people to Christianity.

6. “was taken up in glory.” – This statement tells us of Jesus’ ascension. (Luke 24:51 – “While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.”) There were witnesses there when Jesus was taken up.

Takeaways:

• Church leaders are meant to be models in character, family life, and relationships.

• There are clear guidelines about how church people should live and behave. Church leaders have a greater weight of responsibility because of their influence on others.

• Our Christian commitment is based upon the life of Christ—his incarnation, ascension, and redemptive achievements.

• We are God’s people on earth, his representatives. We must live in close relationship with him. Our lives should model the intimacy and power we receive from him.”

Larson, Knute. Holman New Testament Commentary – 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon . B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

1 Timothy 4

Read verses 1 – 3

1. Paul gives us a warning from the Holy Spirit. Paul says, “There will come a time when people will fall away from having faith in Jesus.”  This is called an apostasy.  Apostasy means a falling away or abandonment of religious belief.  This is not the Great Apostasy mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 which says, Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.”  This verse in 2 Thessalonians is talking about End Times prophecy.  Paul is speaking about an apostasy that happens with time.

2. Paul continues in verse 1 that along with the apostasy, people will “follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” If you compare sharing the Gospel with people in the U.S. today to people 60 years ago, you would see a big difference.  Today more and more people are not being raised in a Christian  The number of people attending church since Covid is down significantly even though it was declining before Covid.

3. Look at the number of cults and pastors teaching things that are not biblical in churches today. Consider God warned Adam and Eve in Garden that if they ate from the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they would surely die.  He didn’t mean that they would be struck dead at that moment. He meant that death would enter the world.  Paul is saying something similar.  He was saying that at some future time, then number of new believers would start   At the time of Paul’s writing, the number of believers was less than 1000 but by 350 AD, today the number of believers is estimated to be 34 million.  At some point, Christian growth will become Christian decline.

4. In verse 2, Paul continues his thought from verse 1. There will be those that do not teach the true Gospel and have “abandoned the faith”, as well as “follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.”  “These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.” (NLT)  These people are of Satan, the master of deception.

5. This verse is Paul’s version of what Jesus said in John 8:44, “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Again, there are so many people preaching false Gospels  They can sound close to the true Gospel, like Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, 7^th Day Adventists, prosperity Gospel and many would add Catholism to the list.

6. At the end of verse 2, Paul says that these false teachers have no conscience. The NLT says that their consciences are dead.  The NASB says that their consciences were seared with a branding iron.  They are able to teach what they know is not in the Word of God and aren’t bothered by it.

7. In verse 3, Paul continues speaking about the things that false teachers will teach. He says, “They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods.”  Guzik says, “This describes the legalistic teaching of those who have departed from the faith. They taught that it was by following this list of man-made rules that one was justified in God’s sight — that you would be more holy to God if you didn’t marry, and if you did not eat certain foods.”

8. In Acts 10, Luke records visions by Peter and a Roman centurion named Cornelius. The visions are given by God to teach Peter that there isn’t anything that God has created that is unclean, both men and for food. Paul is teaching the same thing.  Paul is speaking about man-made laws.  Remember from the laws of God, man increased the number to more than 600.  Many of these laws were meant to suck the pleasure out of life.

9. Paul covered marriage in 1 Corinthians 7:8-9, “Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.”  He was not opposed to marriage, it just wasn’t for him.  He felt that it would distract him from God.

10. Paul concludes that nothing is forbidden as long as it is “received with thanksgivingby those who believe and who know the truth.”  James 1:17 tells us that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above”.  Paul is saying the same thing but he adds that we should thank God for all of the blessings that we receive.

Read verses 4 – 5

11. Paul continues with these same ideas. Paul says what God had to teach Peter in Acts 10, God does not make any unclean things, either people or food.  When God created in Genesis 1, He finished by saying “it was good.”  At no point did God create and say “Oh this is a bad one.”

12. We are the ones that make it bad by not being thankful or wasting it. Again Paul tells Timothy that whatever we get from God is good if we thank God for it.

13. In verse 5, Paul spells it out why it is good when we are thankful. He says, “it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer.”

Read verse 6

14. In verse 6, Paul says that we are to teach others the correct way to live. If they are not living right then we should point it out to them.  Instructing them to live can be by example.  When Jesus taught His disciples how to be a servant leader, he did not preach to them.  He showed them.  He lead by example.  John 13:4-5 says, “so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”  He didn’t say “You go do it.”

15. In order to teach them from God’s Word, then Timothy must remain grounded in God’s Word. Just like Timothy then we should do the same.  It is more than just listening to a sermon once a week.  It is doing what you can to grow as a Christian.  Spending time in God’s Word.

16. I keep going back to this but how do we know that what Pastor Brian is teaching from the pulpit is correct if we don’t spend time reading and studying God’s Word. Just because the Bible uses the example of us being sheep, we don’t want to follow blindly. As it says in verse 6, “you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.”

Read verses 7 – 10

17. During Paul’s time in this region, almost everything had a myth connected to it. Paul is saying don’t get caught up in these things, focus on things that help you grow in godliness.  Sound familiar?  Jesus said something similar in Matthew 6:19-21.  He said, 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

18. When we studied Tony Evans book on “Living as an Overcomer”, he devoted an entire chapter to “some practical applications for not only pursuing godliness but for continuing to grow in godliness.” (Chapter 12) Our goal is to be like Jesus.  Our godliness can never be as good as Jesus but we have to move in His direction.  He will give us some practical applications of pursuing and growing in godliness.

19. In verse 8, Paul says that don’t just focus on the physical aspects of life but they have limited value. Godliness will impact every aspect of your life.  The Holman New Testament Commentary says, “Godliness affects everything: our view of self, marriage, parenting, business, civic responsibilities, environmental outlook, relationship with our next-door neighbors.”

20. As we read above in Matthew, godliness has benefits in Heaven. We are to store up treasures in Heaven and godliness is one of those treasures.  Godliness is not just beneficial in the present and future here on Earth, it has benefits in Heaven.  It is the only thing that we can take with us when we die.

21. Paul says in verse 9 that striving for godliness is the best thing. We and Timothy should accept it this statement fully.  Paul uses this statement several times in 1 Timothy.  He says that “spiritual godliness has value for all things” is just about as important as these things.

1. 1 Timothy 1:9 – “We also know that the law is made not for the righteous”

2. 1 Timothy 1:15 – “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.”

22. Verse 10 gives the reason to strive for spiritual godliness which that we “have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.” We learned in Revelation that when it comes to Christianity, we are to be all in, not lukewarm (Laodicean church).  James 4:4 says that “friendship with the world means enmity against God”.

Read verses 11 – 14

23. In verse 11, Paul says it straight out. Timothy and a church leaders job is to “Command and teach” others about Jesus.  Holman’s Commentary says, he is to command and teach about our Savior and that “Grace is no side issue. Legalism is no weak enemy. Rules are great for discipline but not for righteousness.”

24. This verse gives Timothy the right to take control of the church at Ephesus. He tells Timothy not to give his opinion but to preach the true Gospel. He is not to water down the Gospel message.

25. In verse 12, Paul says for Timothy not to let others belittle him because of his age. Physical age has nothing to do with spiritual growth.  I have seen boys with more spiritual develop than men.  For some reason, people associate age with spiritual growth.  Timothy was estimated to be in his late 20’s or early 30’s.  He was about the same age as Charlie Kirk at the peak of his ministry.

26. In verse 13, Paul tells Timothy to spend his time waiting for Paul’s arrival in Ephesus by preaching and teaching the Gospel message. The NIV also says public preaching.  Unless he goes out into the public to preach, then he is not going to reach the lost.  Interesting though, the KJV and NKJV says, “Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”  The NASB is like the KJV except is says, “public reading of the scriptures”.  This is not like what Jesus warned us about, being seen praying or reading the scriptures so that people could see you doing so.  He wants Timothy to publicly read the Word of God so that the people of Ephesus could hear what it says.  There is power in the Word of God to change  In Romans 10:17, Paul said, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

27. When Paul says “public reading of the scriptures”, he is also saying that the Word of God should be read in the church. It should be read during the worship services.  It should be read during Sunday School and VBS.  We should never get to the point as Israel did.  During the reign of King Josiah, they were surprised when they found the Word of God in the Temple.

28. In verse 14, Paul tells Timothy and us not to neglect his spiritual gifts. We can neglect or even waste our spiritual gifts if we do not recognize what they are and ask God to help us use them to the fullest.  Guzik says that “At Timothy’s ordination service, when church leaders performed the laying on of the hands, they recognized God’s call on Timothy’s life to ministry.”  If you haven’t done so, then you should be sure to take a spiritual gifts test that can help lead you to knowing your spiritual gifts.

29. In verse 15, Paul tells Timothy and us to “meditate on what Paul is teaching about the ministry within the church.” There are types of meditations that are not acceptable in Christianity.  They usually include emptying your mind to decrease your stress as in Zen or Yoga.  Paul is telling Timothy to meditate on what Timothy is telling him in this letter so that they can become a part of his life.  If we meditate, it should be on a verse or verses from the Word of God.

30. If Timothy makes Jesus, God’s Word and Paul’s teachings his focus then it will be life changing. It will become obvious to others that he knows and encounters that Timothy is growing in his walk with Christ.  They will see that he knows and has a personal relationship with Christ.  They will know that they can trust what Timothy is teaching them.

31. In verse 16, Paul tells Timothy and every teacher and pastor today to examine (take heed) yourself and doctrine to make sure that you are teaching and leading your flock what is right and true and comes from God. The NLT says, “Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching.” 

32. This is similar to what Jesus taught in Matthew 7:13-14, “13 “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.”  If Timothy stays true to the Gospel in how he lives and what he teaches then he will be on the road that leads to salvation or entering the narrow  Paul adds that not only will Timothy get salvation but so will those that hear and live what Timothy is teaching.

“The outward life of a person flows from his or her inner spirit. Those who discipline themselves to follow after Jesus Christ, who are focused on living out the truth of God’s revelation, will develop a life of growing intimacy with Christ. They will delight God, producing goodness and godliness in what they do.”

 (Larson, Knute. Holman New Testament Commentary)

ec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

I am text block. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

1 Timothy 5

Read verses 1 – 2

1. The NKJV gives this section the title, “Treatment of Church Members”. Paul begins with a warning not to “rebuke” old men in the church.  The NLT uses the phrase, “never speak harshly” instead of “rebuke”.  The online dictionary defines “rebuke” as “express sharp disapproval or criticism of (someone) because of their behavior or actions”.

2. He says that you should treat them as if he were your own father. When I was growing up I may not have understood the word “rebuke” but I would have understood the concept.  I was taught to respect my elders.  I viewed my teachers in this same light, I viewed them as a surrogate parent or an extension of my parents.  Today, that idea has all but disappeared in the world.

3. Many children do not treat their parents with respect. They would think that “I don’t respect my parents so I won’t respect my elders.”  I am not saying it is all children but a significant number.

4. Paul continues the thought about treating older men like your father. He says to treat younger men as your brother and older women as your mother and younger women as your sister.  At the foundation of this type of thinking is love and respect.

5. Paul was writing this letter specifically to Timothy but I am sure that he knew his audience would be all believers. Paul knew that Timothy was raised well because Paul personally knew Timothy’s mother and grandmother.  In 2 Timothy 1:5 Paul wrote, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”  Paul knew of their faith which they passed on to Timothy, then they would have also taught Timothy proper manners.

6. Timothy, as the pastor of the church, should honor and respect his members. If we go back to the 10 Commandments in Exodus 20.  Verse 12 says, “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”  Paul reiterated this commandment in Ephesians 6:1-3.  He called it the first commandment with a promise.  The promise was “, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”  In these verses in 1 Timothy 5, Paul is expanding that commandment to older men and women.

7. The motivation is different than the original commandment. The 10 Commandments were given to point out your sin, Paul is telling Timothy and us to expand the commandment because it is the right thing to do and we should do it out of love.

Read verses 3 – 8

8. In verse 3 through 16, Paul gives special attention to widows. Some widows are able to continue to live their lives even after their husbands pass.  They have grieved and have a way to care for themselves or have someone to care for them such as a family member.

9. In Acts 6, the position of deacon was created specifically care for the widows. These deacons allowed the apostles and elders to focus on studying the Word of God, focusing on God and teaching.  In our church, the Pastor is encouraged to have a deacon accompanying him to visit widows and other church members.  Verse 1 in Acts 6 says, “In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.”  Hellenistic Jews blended traditional Judaism with Greek culture, this type of Jew was influence by the period when Alexander the Great was in power.

10. In verse 4, Paul says that if the widow has family that is willing to take care of her and feel obligated to “repay their parents and grandparents” then by all means allow them to do so because it pleases God.

11. Verse 5 says that special attention should be given to the widows with no family and are alone. He says that more specifically, the widows who do not have anyone to care for them and put their hope and faith in God and they continue to pray day and night.

12. Providing financial assistance and visitation are a gift from God. In my experience, whether it was visiting the elderly in a nursing home or in their home, I was the one that was blessed when I left.  Unfortunately my mindset going in was, “I would rather be home,” but God and the person I was visiting turned it around to “I am glad that I came.”

13. In verse 6, Paul sounds really harsh but it applies to all If we are living our lives for our own pleasure then we are not focused on God and others.  Remember what Jesus said were the two greatest commandments.  Love God and love others.

Clarke said, “It does not indicate grossly criminal pleasures; but simply means one who indulges herself in good eating and drinking, pampering her body at the expense of her mind.”

Guzik says, “Those who should be legitimately helped by the church must have godly lives. It is appropriate to say, ‘You’re not living a godly life, so you won’t receive financial assistance from the church.’”

14. King Solomon in Ecclestiastes 8:15 said what is paraphrased as “Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow you may die.” This is the attitude in widows and us that Paul is preaching against.  Solomon also said that “Everything is meaningless under the sun.”  In both cases what Solomon was saying that if this life is all there (“under the sun”), then life is meaningless or you may as well take pleasure in this life.  By the end of Ecclesiastes, Solomon came around and determined in his wisdom that fearing God was the right path.

15. Paul is saying the opposite. He believed it didn’t matter what you went through serving Jesus and giving others is the true route to salvation was the most important thing and anything that he endured it was worth because of what he would experience in Heaven. In Romans 8:18, Paul wrote “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

16. In verse 7, Paul says that Timothy is to teach what Paul is giving him in this letter so that they will all know the correct way to behave. Paul considered these things almost as important as the Gospel.  Just like in the church at Corinth, if everyone knows how to behave then there will be less trouble in the church.

17. In verse 8, Paul says that family is supposed to take care of family. If they don’t then this is as bad as having no faith at all.  By family, Paul means those in need and the congregation.  If they are true followers of Jesus, then love should abound.  If they do not love their family enough to take care of them then it is the same as being an unbeliever.  What did Jesus say?   “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Read verses 9 – 10

18. Verse 9 is interesting. Paul puts an age limit on widows that are to be taken care of.  He says if they are at least 60, then they can be put on a list of those widows to be taken care of.  If they are under 60, then there was a good chance they could take care of themselves or a chance of remarrying.

19. He adds an additional stipulation that they must have been faithful to their husband. He is not saying that they cannot have been divorced and then remarried.  They had to be faithful to the man that they were married to at the time of their husband’s death.  Just like the qualifications of being an overseer or deacon as a one woman man, Paul seems to be saying that a widow must be a one man woman which speaks of faithfulness and loyalty.

Read verses 11 – 16

20. Paul says to not put the younger widows on the support list. Now, since in verse 9, he said older widows are “over sixty”, then these younger widows must be under sixty.  Stating that younger woman may have “sensual desires” that “overcome their dedication to Christ”.  Needless to say, I prayed about bringing this up in Sunday School.

21. When we went through 1 Corinthians 7, Paul covered what his opinion of married life. There is no record of Paul ever marrying.  Guzik says that “in Paul’s day, Jews considered marriage a duty, to the extent that a man reaching 20 years of age without marrying was considered to be in sin.”  In 1 Cor. 7:8-9, we read “8 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.”

22. You have to consider that anything of this world to Paul interfered with his serving the Lord. If Paul had married then he felt that he would have family or marital responsibilities that would prevent him from being as effective of a messenger for Christ.  He would have had to divide his time between his wife and the Lord.  In Philippians 3:7-8, Paul wrote “7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 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.”

23. At my son’s wedding, his wife said, “I have spent my entire life planning for today.” My son replied, “I have spent my entire life trying to avoid this day.”  Most women think about marriage more than men.  This was Paul’s opinion too.  He believed that the younger widows at some point would stop grieving and start thinking about marriage as they did when they were younger.  There is nothing wrong with that until the desire and focus on getting married draws your focus away from Christ.  Paul focuses on the sensual side of married life but there is so much more to being married.

24. These younger widows were to be kept off the support list because for one, being younger allows them the opportunity to remarry. Also, younger woman  could work to provide for themselves.

25. Paul says in verse 12 that if they remarry they would bring judgment on themselves. Our wedding vows usually include a statement like, “until death do us part.”  The Jewish wedding vows taken from Hosea 2:19-20 say, “I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion.  20 I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord.”  How long?  Faithfulness forever.  In the 1^st century, marriage was a contract between two souls.  Ruth’s vows included,”Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”(Ruth 1:17) Be careful what you pledge.

26. Paul continues in this paragraph with the ills of idle I would apply this to all of us but Paul specifies the young widow evidently without children to keep her busy.  Holman’s Commentary on this verse says, “Channeling the energies of the individual believer to good works robbed Satan of the chance to infiltrate the heart and thinking of these young women; the church was then free from disgrace before the unbelieving community.”

27. We always say “It is my life, what is it to you how I live it?” When we are part of a church, the world is watching.  The world’s response to that question is “Oh, they are part of that Alexandria Baptist Church.”  Everything we do in public reflects on our God, our Savior and our church.  Again, Paul wanted his focus to be on Jesus, 100% of the time, anything that interfered with that is wrong to Paul.  It is a great goal but difficult to accomplish.

28. In verse 14, Paul says, “So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.” My mind goes back to a movie about Babe Ruth.  Babe Ruth was dropped off in an orphanage run by nuns.  Evidently when they punished him, he had to repeat, “God makes work for idle hands.”  That appears to be what Paul is saying for young widows.  Get married and you will have someone to take care of you, someone for companionship and maybe give you children the job of running a household will keep you busy.

29. All of things that Paul lists in these verses lead to Satan or give him a chance to lead you down the path that leads away from serving Christ. As believers, we are by Paul to “do not give the devil a foothold. (Ephesians 4:27).

30. In verse 16, Paul warns women who are believers that have widows in their care but it applies to anyone taking care of the elderly. This was a different time.  Men were providers and women were caregivers.  I have known men that have taken care of aging parents which includes widows.

31. Paul gives the reason for these women to take care of the widows as so they do “not let the church be burdened with them.” Again, Paul’s mission and one of the missions of the church is to reach the lost.  Anything that prevents that from happening is viewed as a burden by Paul.  Remember the position of deacon in the church was originally created so that the widows don’t burden the pastors so they could focus on preaching and teaching.  Sounds cold but again Paul was raised to serve God and not as a socialite.

32. Holman’s Commentary says, “Paul concluded the section on widows by drawing a line back to the family. Women are not just recipients of welfare; they may also be the deliverers of compassion.” We love because we were loved.  I look at Terry and Betty.  There is an internal need within Terry to take care of her mother because Betty gave birth to her and raised her as a child.  The mothering that Betty gave her as a child is reciprocated by Terry to Betty in her time of need.

Read verses 17 – 18

33. In these verses Paul gets back to church leadership. He seems to write like I do.  He should have handled this in the Chapter 3 with overseers and deacons.  Regardless, he puts the elders at the top of the church.  He says, “the elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor. . . for preaching and teaching.”  Guzik says, “Some think the church should not support pastors and staff, and that the paid ministry is an abomination — they say that the church instead should be using the money to support the needy. This is an attractive way of thinking; but it isn’t Biblical.”

34. Over the years, the functions of the overseer, deacon and elder have been blended, altered to become pastor and deacon in our church. Our saints of old have defined what we call a pastor to be an overseer and an elder.  We blend some of the functions of an elder and deacon together and call them deacons.  We give the pastor more responsibility for preaching and teaching, as we being responsible for pastoral care.  The deacons are responsible for spiritual leadership and decision making functions within the church.  The pastor is the only paid person in church leadership.

35. Paul says that the elder or in our case the pastor should be paid. He uses an Old Testament reference from Deuteronomy 25:4 and a reference from Jesus from Luke 10:7 to justify paying them.  The reference in Deuteronomy refers to letting an ox eat while threshing the grain.  It says, “If he is going to do the work then let him eat.”  The reference from Jesus says, “the worker deserves his wages.”  Here Jesus knew it would not be long before He would die.  He was sending His disciples out as messengers of the Gospel message.  He was advising them that they should be paid or taken care of for their preaching and teaching.

Read verses 19 – 21

36. These verses cover when the pastor or deacons are caught sinning. In verse 19, Paul says that the number of witnesses has to be 2 or 3 that bring the accusations before church leadership.  In Matthew 18:15-19, Jesus teaches His disciples how to deal with church and the number of witnesses is also 2 or 3.  Church leaders are more open to criticism and gossip, so before action occurs, the accusations must be verified by more than one person.  So much damage can be done in a church with false accusations and gossip.

37. Verse 20 says that those church leaders that are found guilty of sinning should be “reprimanded in front of the whole church; this will serve as a strong warning to others.”(NLT) It sounds a bit worse than “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” (John 8:7)  On the other extreme,  Holman says, “According to John Calvin, in the Middle Ages the church protected its corrupt bishops against accusation by demanding that 72 witnesses be brought forth to confirm any accusation against a bishop. This is an extreme example of corrupt leaders protecting other corrupt leaders.”

38. In verse 21, as Timothy’s mentor and superior, Paul charges Timothy to follow all of these teachings in this letter without favoritism or partiality. I understand promising before God and Jesus but Paul adds in “the elect angels”.  White says that “We are safe in saying that the elect angels are identical with ‘the angels which kept their own principality’ (Jude 1:6), ‘that did not sin’ (2 Pet. 2:4).”  2 Peter 2:4 says, “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment.”  Jude 1:6 says, “And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.”  Just as God does not show favoritism then neither should Timothy. (Romans 2:11)

Read verses 22 – 25

39. Paul finishes this chapter by giving Timothy some miscellaneous advice. In verse 22, he tells Timothy not to be too eager to give approval to someone else’s ministry.  Most translations say “the laying on of hands” of others.  The NLT says, “Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader.”

40. Over this past year we have seen where our actions as Christians can impact the way that others view Jesus and God. Similarly, if Timothy quickly gives approval to someone that has an improper Gospel or does not live right, then it would reflect on Timothy and the church but ultimately on Jesus and God.

41. In verse 23, Paul tells Timothy to drink a little wine from time to time, instead of just drinking water. In the first century, the water quality was poor at best.  There was no way to treat the water, so Paul was recommending that Timothy drink some wine which was much cleaner than water.  Remember what Jesus’ first miracle was.  Fortunately we do not have this problem today unless we travel to another country like Mexico.

42. Paul finishes this chapter by telling Timothy that “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” He says that some people’s sin is obvious.  You can look at them and know that they are sinning and how they are sinning.  But then there are others that are good at hiding their sin.

43. In verse 25, Paul says that the same thing applies to their good deeds. When I look at our church, I can see that something has happened but I don’t know who did it.  People serve the Lord in numerous ways without ever being recognized for what they have done.  When someone would praise Pastor Mickey McManus for something that he did, his response would be, “No need to thank me, my blessings will be in Heaven.”

44. When I read, “And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light”, my mind goes to “Storing up treasures in Heaven” (Matthew 6:19-21). Google AI says, “To “seek treasures in heaven” means to prioritize spiritual values, God’s kingdom, and eternal good works over temporary earthly wealth.”

1 Timothy 6

Read verses 1 – 2

1. Paul starts this final chapter in his letter to Timothy by addressing slaves. We had seen Paul address slaves and masters before.  It wasn’t that Paul was in favor of slavery, it all goes back to whatever we do as Christians reflects on Jesus.  As members of the church if we do not behave properly then it reflects on our church and ultimately on God.

2. To the church at Colossians, Paul wrote that whatever work you do, work as if you are working for the Lord. (Colossians 3:22-23) He was speaking specifically to slaves but we tend to expand to our jobs.  I have worked for men that gladly took the praise for things that I did.  If you work as if you are working for Jesus, then at least Jesus is getting the praise.

3. To the church at Galatians, Paul wrote “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)  Paul is saying we are all equal in God’s eyes.  It doesn’t change our earthly situation but we are to remember that our God loves us regardless of our earthly standing.  We are to remember to not lose sight of our goal which is in heaven where all are equal in God’s eyes.

4. I doubt that Paul viewed masters any different than he did our leaders whether church or otherwise. We are to pray for them.  God is in control and He has put them in authority over us, so we should treat them with respect.  And again, everything we do reflects on God and our beliefs.

5. In verse 2, Paul says that if the masters are believers then we should not treat them with any less respect. If anything, the believing slave should work even harder because his/her hard work will benefit another believer.  Additionally, the slaves shouldn’t expect to be able to take it easy because “After all, we are brothers in Christ.”  They may be brothers in Christ but there is still an order of authority that has to be followed.

Guzik says, ”We can almost imagine a slave saying, “My master is my brother! We are equal before the Lord. He has no right to tell me what to do.” This attitude ignores the fact that God calls us into many relationships where submission is commanded — in the home, in the church, in the workplace. Our equality in Jesus doesn’t eliminate God’s order of authority.”

Read verses 3 – 5

6. At the end of verse 2, Paul makes sure that Timothy understands that what he is teaching is not just “nice to knows”. Everything in this letter is to be taught and taught regularly.  The NASB says, “Teach and preach these principles.”

7. Paul begins these verses with “If anyone teaches otherwise”. Paul is wrapping up this letter and wants to warn Timothy that what he is being taught is factual.  If anyone says anything different, then they are wrong or “conceited and understand nothing”.  John and Paul ran into numerous false teachers throughout their travels.  Paul knew that Timothy would face the same troubles from people teaching an improper gospel.  Remember that one of the biggest tools in Satan’s tool bag is deception.

8. These false teachers and Satan want to cause us troubles. If we are fighting amongst ourselves then how can we reach others for Christ.  Paul lists the results of the “controversies and quarrels about words”.  He says that they result in:

1. Envy

2. Strife

3. Malicious talk

4. Evil suspicions

5. Constant friction between people of corrupt mind

9. Paul says that the people of corrupt mind are those “who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.” Thinking of godliness as a chance for financial gain makes me think of Philip and the magician in Acts 8.  Simon the magician wanted the Holy Spirit, not for salvation but so he could impress people and make money from the magic of the Holy Spirit.  Evidently Paul had run into other people like Simon.

10. There are numerous false pastors that view being a man of God as nothing more than an opportunity to get rich. When I was growing up there were numerous faith healers and tele-evangelists that were willing to make you well if you just send or give them money.  The whole idea of the prosperity gospel fits what Paul is talking about.  They think “If I will believe then God will bless me financially.”  The response to this prosperity gospel is John 16:33, “ I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Read verses 6 – 10

11. In verse 6, Paul connects godliness to contentment. I think of the difference between “joy” and “happiness”.  You can have joy regardless of your circumstances.  Paul speaks about being content in your circumstance in Philippians 4:11-13.  Read these verses in Philippians 4.  He says that we should be “content whatever the circumstances.”  The strength to be content in all circumstances comes from God.

Holman Commentary says, “For Paul, godliness was the entire scope of the faith—correct doctrine combined with new life, truth measured by right living. The spiritual goals and disciplines necessary to progress in Christlikeness are to be the consuming passion of all his followers. This has nothing to do with material wealth or poverty. Material possessions are irrelevant.

12. In verse 7, Paul says that we had nothing when we were born and when we die, we can’t take anything with us. It is like Genesis 3:19, “In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”  This fits what Holman said, “Material possessions are irrelevant.”  Or what Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes, “Everything under the sun is meaningless.”  Solomon had tried to fill his life with things and women but in the end, true contentment had escaped him.

13. In verse 8, Paul says that you should learn to be content with the clothing on your back and food to eat. Remember what the root of all evil is?  It isn’t money, it is the love of money that is the root of evil.  This applies to things or possessions.  Evil is opposite of godliness.  How can you strive for godliness if you are pursuing things?

14. In verse 9, Paul says that if you are pursuing things and riches then you will fall into the trap that leads to “ruin and destruction”. When my youngest son was in high school, our BYF took a group to “Acquire the Fire”.  There was a speaker there that gave a good description of a person headed toward this trap that Paul is talking about.  He said that people are born with a hole in their lives.  They try to fill the hole with everything possible, possessions, money, fame, drugs and alcohol.  Nothing fills the hole or the desire to fill it.  This is because the hole is Christ-sized.  Only Jesus can perfectly fill this hole.  Paul recognized this same thing.

15. In verse 10, Paul says what I told you above. The love of money is the root of all evil.  If you are focusing or pursuing money, then you are not pursuing God.  You are making money your idol or god.  In the Old Testament, idols were manmade figures and those that worshiped them, knew what they were doing.  Today our gods are anything that takes away God’s importance to us.  They may be people or things.  How can you love the Lord your God with all your soul, heart and mind if you are pursuing other things?

Read verses 11 – 16

“Those who have chosen to identify with and follow after Christ, those who dare call themselves Christians, are to exhibit God in this world. We do this through our words and lives — our public witness and private disciplines.” (Holman New Testament Commentary)

16. This section in my Bible is labeled “Final Charge to Timothy”. In verse 11, Paul lists what Timothy as a man of God should be   He says, “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.”  Most of these appear on the list of “fruits of the Spirit” in Galatians 5:22-23.  The fruits of the Spirit are what we as believers should be pursuing with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  If we are truly following the Holy Spirit then we will develop these attributes.

17. In verse 12, Paul tells Timothy and us to “Fight the good fight of faith.” In Ephesians 6:12, Paul tells us who the fight is against.  He says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”  The closer we get to having godliness the more that Satan will attack  We have said numerous times before that Satan doesn’t have to attack you if you are not pursuing godliness.  He doesn’t have to attack you because he already owns you.

18. When does our eternal life begin? When were born again?  When we die?  It begins when we accept Christ.  Paul tells Timothy to take hold of his eternal life.  If we fear death or what happens to us on the earth then Satan is winning.  He is preventing us from doing everything possible to reach others for Christ or bear fruit.  I think of Kylie Terry.  She accepted the call to be a missionary.  She is currently living and learning in an Arab country.  Her parents cannot tell others where she is.  She is fully trusting God on a day to day basis.  This is what taking hold of your eternal life means.  It is living fully for Christ.

19. In this verse, Paul says that “God has called you (Timothy), which you have declared so well before many witnesses.” Some of those witnesses were when Timothy was ordained by the elders.  Back in 1 Timothy 4:14, Paul encouraged Timothy, “Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.”  Timothy was called and he volunteered to reach others for Christ regardless of the consequences.  We can choose to deny our calling by God.

20. In verses 13 and 14, Paul charges Timothy to obey his command to serve God as pastor of the church without fail. These verses would be perfect for an ordination service for any pastor taking responsibility for a church.  Paul is having Timothy swear it before God and Jesus.

Holman’s Commentary says, “Timothy was to flee from unrighteousness and pursue the fullness of the Christian life. He was to devote himself to growing intimacy with Christ, to compassionate relationships with others, and unwavering guardianship of truth as found in Scripture. The full spectrum of life is to be lived under the reign of Christ, and it is to be done with consistency so that no sin interferes with such a life.”

21. Verse 15 tells how long Timothy must do these things. It says until second coming of Christ.  Paul uses his closing in verses 15 and 16 to exalt God as “the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever.”  In Paul’s words you can feel how humbled he is toward an all-powerful God.

Read verses 17 – 19

22. The previous part of the letter has stirred in Paul a reminder that Jesus came to save all people even the rich. Remember in 1 Peter 3:9b, we are told that God does not want “anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  Paul tells Timothy to tell the rich these things:

    1. “Not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth

    2. “Put their hope in God

    3. “Command them to do good”

    4. “To be rich in good deeds

    5. “To be generous and willing to share.

23. Paul says in verse 19 that if they do these things then they will lay up treasures for themselves in Heaven. “The treasure which accumulates in the life to come is not money, stock portfolios, or real estate. The treasure of which Paul spoke is spiritual, and it lasts for eternity.” (Holman)  Remember Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-21, “19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

24. How easy is for a rich man to make it into Heaven? Mark 10:25“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”  Jesus says that it would be difficult but Paul is telling Timothy to not give up on the rich.

Read verses 20 – 21

25. In verse 20, Paul encourages Timothy to “guard what has been entrusted to your care.” Through this letter and other letters, Paul has stated that the Gospel message that he has preached is the accurate and true Gospel.  This is what Paul is entrusting to Timothy’s care.  At this time there were many people teaching an inaccurate gospel.  There were numerous Gnostics teaching that “the mortal body belonged to the world of inferior, worldly powers and only the spirit or soul could be saved.” (Wikipedia)

26. Paul warns Timothy to steer clear of those false teachers. Paul has committed himself to preach the one true Gospel. His true Gospel taken from Philippians 2:6 . . .”Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

“For most people, becoming a Christian does not entail a dramatic change in occupation, living conditions, salary, or neighborhood. Christ calls us to extend his kingdom from the place we now occupy, whether as CEO, student, mother, clerk, or migrant farmer. Contentment, the pursuit of godliness, and bold identification with Christ are foundational to effective Christian living.”  (Holman New Testament Commentary”

2 Timothy 1

Read verses 1 – 2

1. Paul wrote this letter to Timothy from a Roman prison. The opening of this letter is much like many of the other letters that Paul wrote.  He immediately declares that he is an apostle called by God.  It was not Paul’s will that he was an apostle, but the will of God.  Of all the men that have been called by God, Paul was the least likely one to be sharing the Gospel message to the Gentiles.  He was so deeply rooted in Judaism that he was persecuting followers of Jesus when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus.

2. Paul says, “in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus”. This is different than how he begins his other letters.  John 3:16 is the promise that Paul is writing about.  “For God so loved the world” that He sent His Son Jesus to bring us everlasting life.  Paul was so focused on everlasting life with Christ that he wrote, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)  Paul also wrote that we are to “prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8)

“The Bible doesn’t tell us the details, but it seems that after Paul was released from the Roman imprisonment mentioned at the end of the book of Acts, he enjoyed a few more years of liberty until he was re-arrested and imprisoned in Rome again.  One can go to Rome today and see the place where they say Paul was imprisoned. It is really just a cold dungeon, a cave in the ground, with bare walls and a little hole in the ceiling where food was dropped down. There were no windows; it was just a cold, little cell that would have been especially uncomfortable in winter.”  (Guzik)

3. Paul was always focused on Heaven. To the Corinthian church, Paul wrote, “16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

4. In verse 2, Paul prays a blessing on Timothy. As far as Christians are concerned, there are no greater blessings than we could hope for than “Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord”.

Read verses 3 – 5

5. The common response of Christians when a friend goes through trials and troubles is to say, “I’ll pray for you.” Paul goes beyond that, he sends Timothy the prayer in these verses.  In verse 3, Paul tells Timothy, “I thank God for you”.  There is nothing more uplifting than to know that someone cares enough about you that they are willing to put your name before the all-powerful God.

6. How often does verse 3 say that he prays for Timothy? “night and day I constantly  remember you in my prayers.”  Too often today, we say that we will pray but we get distracted or forget.  You should always take prayer seriously, especially if that someone is in need.

Holman’s commentary says, “Paul, at the end of life’s journey, offered thanks for this young man of faith. Sitting alone in the chill of a Roman prison, perhaps Paul reflected upon the shared struggles and joys of ministry together. As events replayed in his mind, there stirred within him a thankfulness for Timothy’s loyalty and commitment to Christ.”

7. In verse 4, Paul says that he remembers Timothy’s tears. Paul doesn’t say why Timothy had tears but I can guess that it was when they parted ways. You get the sense of how close Timothy and Paul were from reading these verses.  Remember that in the first century when you traveled together, you walked for hours or even days at a time.  You had no earbuds or music to distract you.  You would have to make conversation with the people that you are traveling with.  You would get to know your fellow travelers.

8. In verse 5, Paul says that he is reminded of Timothy’s sincere or genuine faith. I would imagine that on their journeys, Paul would know for sure that Timothy had a genuine faith.  How did Timothy know what a genuine faith was?  Paul says that his genuine faith was modeled to Timothy by his grandmother Lois and his mother  Timothy was brought up in a godly household.

Holman’s Commentary says that “Timothy’s father was Greek. His mother and grandmother, however, were Jewish (Acts 16:1 “Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek.” Apparently, they had trained Timothy in reading and memorizing Old Testament texts because Paul later remarked how Timothy had from childhood known the holy Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:15).”

Read verses 6 – 8

9. In verse 6, Paul says that Timothy is to “fan into flame the gift of God” (NIV) or “kindle afresh the gift of God” (NASB). Remember Timothy’s spiritual gifts (in 1 Timothy 4:14) were most likely teaching and preaching.  Paul tells Timothy to kindle or fan his spiritual gifts.  1 Corinthians 4:11 tells us that spiritual gifts are distributed by the Holy Spirit.  “All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.”  We are given these gifts to glorify God and build up the Church.

10. The Holy Spirit distributes the gifts, but we are to develop them or grow them and to use them. According to Paul we are to fan the flames of the gift.  I can see myself starting a brush pile on fire.  If I fan the embers, I can get the flames to grow bigger and bigger.  Paul is saying fan the flames of your spiritual gifts so they can grow or rekindle them so that they impact everyone in the church.

11. In verse 7, Paul tells Timothy and us that we are not to use our gifts timidly. We are to use the gifts boldly.  This verse makes me think of the children’s song, “This little light of mine.”  Hide it under a bushel, No.  Won’t let Satan blow it out, No! I’m gonna let it shine.”  This is how we are to use our spiritual gifts.  They are not to be hidden.  Don’t let Satan convince you not to use your gift.  Let them shine.

Read verses 8 – 12

12. In verse 8, Paul says what he said in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” We have the easy job when it comes to salvation.  We may not think so, but our job is to tell others about the saving grace of God.  God has the power to help us to speak out.  It is God’s message and if they reject it then they are rejecting God.  Many people who share the Gospel message take it too personally and get offended.  Remember that one introduces the Gospel message, another leads them to Christ but God ultimately gives them salvation.  It can take numerous introductions to the Gospel message for them to accept it, and some people only need one.

13. Paul tells Timothy not to be ashamed of sharing the Gospel but also not to be ashamed of Paul. Paul was imprisoned for the Gospel.  He could have gone back to Judaism and the Jews that were pursuing him (and who were responsible for his imprisonment) would have left him alone.  Paul warned young Timothy that there was a good chance that prison could be in his future.

14. The NIV translates the last part of verse 8 to say, “join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.” Remember God doesn’t take you out of your trials, He will be beside you through them.  This applies when you are sharing the Gospel.  He will give you the right words to say and the strength to say them.

15. In verse 9, Paul points out that we are Christians not because of who we are but what Christ has done. We are Christians because we had heard the Gospel message and responded to it.  Think back on when you first heard the call from Jesus to step down that aisle and claim His salvation.  I mean truly heard it.  When you couldn’t resist the call any longer.  When you could do nothing but act on it.  That is the call that Paul is writing about.

16. He says that this is God’s plan of salvation. Calvinist might read this verse and say, “See it is predestination.”  What Paul is saying here is that this was God’s plan of salvation from the beginning of time.  God didn’t have to alter the plan when Adam and Eve failed in the Garden.  He didn’t have to shift gears when His only begotten Son was crucified.  This has been His plan from the beginning of time, Grace through faith in His Son.

17. Verse 10 says this plan was not made known until Jesus came to earth, lived a perfect obedient life, was crucified to take on our sin and give us everlasting life. God told His people of His plan but they refused to accept that His Son was that Messiah, the Christ.

18. Paul is saying what Jesus said in John 3:16-17. For God so loved the World that He sent His one and only son to “destroy death and has brought life and immortality”.  This is the Gospel message.  Our only contribution is our faith.  We have to have faith that Jesus is that Messiah, our Savior.

19. In verse 11, Paul says this is the Gospel message that he was sent to tell the Gentiles. This is the Gospel message we should have heard when we accepted Jesus as our Savior.  This is the message that we should be passing on to everyone that we know and meet.  Paul points out that this is the message that has brought him physical suffering to deliver.

20. In verse 12, Paul says that there is no shame in this message. There can be no shame in sharing the Gospel if you have the same faith that he does.  He says, “Because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.”  Sounds like good lyrics for a hymn.  If you have full faith in Jesus as the Messiah and you believe that He is the Son of God then at the end of your life you will have complete confidence that Jesus will say “Well done my good and faithful servant.  Welcome home.”

“That Day was precious to Paul because he had committed everything to Jesus. To the degree we commit our life and all we are and have to Jesus, to that same degree that Day will be precious to us.” (Guzik)

Read verses 13 – 14

21. In verse 13, Paul tells Timothy and us to hold fast to his teachings which are the truth. It is important to stay faithful to the correct Gospel.  In his letters, Paul has always pointed out that the Gospel that Paul teaches in the correct Gospel.  It was given to him by Jesus.  Galatians 1:11-12 says, “11 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.”  This is what qualifies Paul to be called an apostle of Christ.

22. Paul tells Timothy and us to be faithful to teaching the correct Gospel “with faith and love in Christ Jesus.” When educators teach, they teach solely for the purpose of knowledge.  When pastors or church teachers teach, they should teach out of faith and love.

23. They aren’t teaching for financial gain or for educational purposes. They are teaching because it is the Great Commission by Jesus.  Matthew 28: “18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

24. Why do you tell others about Jesus? Because you have faith in Him and you love Him and others. If you had a cure for cancer, wouldn’t you share it.  You have the cure for death and sin, why wouldn’t your share it.

25. In verse 14, Paul says, “Guard the teachings that he has given us and Timothy.” We are to guard them to make sure that what we are teaching is accurate and the true

26. Today as it was in Paul’s day, there are false teachers all around us that aren’t teaching out of love and faith. They are teaching for personal gain.  Look at the number of cults in the world today.  Look at the number of preachers teaching what you want to hear.  In a few chapters we will read an extension of the verse.  2 Timothy 4:3 says, “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”

27. We have read in Hebrews 13:5 which echoes God’s promise from Deuteronomy 31:6 and Joshua 1:5, “I will never leave you nor forsake you“. Today how do we have God with us wherever we go?  Through the Holy Spirit.  Paul says we are to guard what he has taught us with the help of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit will help us discern what we are being taught.  We are also supposed to spend time in God’s Word so that we can check what we are being taught.  As Pastor Brian says, “Don’t trust what I say, check what the Bible says.”

Read verses 15 – 18

28. My Bible closes this chapter with a section entitled “Examples of Disloyalty and Loyalty”. Paul tells Timothy in verse 15 that, “You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.”  By the end of his life most people had turned away from Paul. (Guzik)  Think back on what Jesus said to the churches in Revelation 2 and 3.  The church at Ephesus had forgotten their first love which is most likely the love for God and each other.

29. It would be great to have your name listed by Paul so that people could see it for all time. However, as a Christian this is not the way you would want to be remembered.  This is the only place that Phygelus and Hermogenes are given in the entire Bible and they are remembered for deserting

30. On the opposite side, verse 16 gives the name of someone who seemed to always be there for Paul. Paul says that “he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.”  Verse 17 says that when he was in Rome, he even “searched hard for me until he found me.”  Guzik says, “Onesiphorus was a different sort of man than Phygellus and Hermogenes; he was faithful to Paul in difficult circumstances. Paul therefore prayed for mercy on Onesiphorus and his whole household.”

31. Onesiphorus was also very helpful to Paul when he pastored at Ephesus. This is the way a Christian should want to be remembered as someone that lifts up the pastor and is willing to help him in any way he can.

2 Timothy 2

Read verses 1 – 2

1. Throughout his letters, Paul spent a small amount of time confirming that he was sent by Jesus. He received his commission from Jesus on the road to Damascus.  In Acts 9:15, Jesus tells Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” The word ‘apostle’ literally means “sent one”.  Paul was sent by Jesus and now Paul is sending Timothy to Ephesus.

2. Paul tells Timothy to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” Receiving and giving grace to others is important to a Christian and is part of loving one another.  We should always keep 1 John 4:19 in the front of our minds.  It says, “We love because He first loved us.”

“Again, this is one of the twenty-five times Paul encouraged Timothy to be strong and endure in his work in Ephesus. Perhaps Timothy was naturally timid and easily discouraged, or perhaps he was a man of normal courage who had great responsibilities. He needed to be told often, ‘be strong.’ ”

3. In verse 2, Paul tells Timothy to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those “reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” He is saying more than make disciples.  Paul is saying make the most reliable believers into teachers.  He is saying, “Teach them as I have taught you.”  Similar to the Great Commission given by Jesus, Matthew 28:16-20. “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations.”  Except the “all nations” are those believers in Ephesus.  Sounds to me as if Paul is saying, “Find replacements for yourself so that when I send you somewhere else, the church at Ephesus will be in good hands.”

4. We should all learn what Paul taught so that we can share the gospel message with our families and other people that we meet. Every church leader should be teaching others in the church.  On the Deacon Board we have discussed grooming our own replacement.  If we look at Brenda’s passion for VBS.  The worst thing for VBS in our church is for Brenda not to develop that passion in the next

Read verses 3 – 7

5. In verse 3, Paul encourages Timothy to join him in serving Jesus, which in Paul’s experience causes suffering. 2 Corinthians 11:16-31 lists much of the suffering that Paul while endured sharing the Gospel message.  Paul does not sugarcoat the persecution that Timothy could receive as a Christian.  We are fortunate that we do not receive this kind of treatment today in the U.S.A.

“The killing of Christians in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Mozambique, is a significant and ongoing human rights crisis. . . In Nigeria alone, over 50,000 Christians have been killed by Islamist militants since 2009. . . In early 2025, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 70 Christians were reportedly beheaded in a single attack. “  (https://www.opendoorsus.org/)

6. Verse 4 reminds me of the song, “Onward Christian Soldiers Marching as to War”. Paul points out that the goal of a soldier is to please his commanding officer.  Look at those protesting or demonstrating today.  The police or military have orders to keep peace and as Paul puts it, “No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs”.

Guzik put it this way.  “Timothy must take the attitude of a soldier, who willingly separates himself from the things of civilian life.”  “It is well remarked by Grotius (a Dutch humanist, diplomat, lawyer, theologian, jurist, statesman, poet and playwright.), on this passage, that the legionary soldiers among the Romans were not permitted to engage in husbandry, merchandise, mechanical employments, or anything that might be inconsistent with their calling.” (Clarke) Their job was to just follow orders.

7. In verse 5, Paul applies the same thinking to an athlete. A good athlete obeys the rules and puts in the work, with no shortcuts.  A good Christian obeys God and goes where he is sent by God, regardless of the consequences.  A good Christian must persevere.  He/she trusts God fully.

8. Paul and the writer of Hebrews wrote about a Christian’s perseverance.

   1. Galatians 6:9 (NKJV):“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

   2. Romans 5:3-4 (NIV):“…we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

   3. Hebrews 10:36 (NKJV):“For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.”

   4. Philippians 3:14 (NIV):“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

9. In verse 6, Paul says that the farmer should be first to receive his share of crops. If we consider that Paul is talking about a pastor teaching the Word of God.  Before a pastor can deliver a heartfelt message, he must first feel it in his heart.  It must touch him first so that he can share it with the congregation.

10. In verse 7, Paul, as Jesus did when He was teaching in parables, was saying if you pray and truly think about what I am saying then you will see that it makes perfect sense. One of the jobs of the Holy Spirit is to enlighten you on what the Word of God is saying and how it applies to you in your life.  This is similar to what Isaiah 55:11, “. . . my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”  

Read verses 8 – 10

11. In verse 8, Paul shortens the Gospel message to “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David.” The Jews of this time were studying and looking for the Messiah.  They were severely oppressed by the Roman Empire.  They still did not see Jesus as the Messiah.  Paul puts it all together so on point.  If I paraphrase, “Jesus is the Messiah, He was raised from the dead and He was a descendant of King David.”  They would have studied Isaiah 53, “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.  5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”  Isaiah 11:1 starts, “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse”.

12. ­In verse 8b and 9, Paul says that he is willing to suffer for this Gospel because it is true. One of the proofs of the truth of the history associated with Jesus birth, life, death and resurrection is the willingness of His disciples to die for their beliefs.  Paul is saying that if it were not true, he would not be so willing to suffer for it.  Even today, people are willing to give up their lives because they know Jesus is the Messiah.

13. He says in verse 10 that he continues to teach and preach this Gospel because he wants everyone to see and know that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. He is willing to suffer and go to his death because it is the truth.

Read verses 11 – 13

14. In verse 11, Paul says “Here is a trustworthy saying”. Occasionally Paul shared Christian hymns or “folk wisdom”.  Many believe this is part of a Christian hymn.  When preparing for a cantata, I know that I am ready when I have the songs stuck in my head and they just keep coming to the front of my mind.  I have known people who practice for a test by doing the same thing.  They sing it or repeat it so that it is the most important thing on their minds.

15. Whoever came up with this hymn was paying attention to biblical teachings. The first line of the hymn says, “If we died with him, we will also live with him”.  Paul wrote in Romans 6:5, “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.”  The first half of Romans 6 speaks to our resurrection as believers in Jesus.

16. The second line of this hymn says, “if we endure, we will also reign with him.” This saying is interesting because it is written about by John in Revelation 20 and 22.  Throughout his letters, Paul wrote about having great endurance throughout our trials and tribulations on this earth.  In Colossians 1:10-12 Paul writes that the power to endure comes from God.

17. The third line of this hymn says, “If we disown him, he will also disown us”. These words are right from Jesus’ lips in Matthew 10:32-33.  Jesus said, 32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.”

18. Verse 13 gives the final line of this hymn as presented by Paul to Timothy. It says, “if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”  My mind goes to 2 other verses in the Bible.  The first is 2 Peter 3:9 which says God is patient, not wanting anyone to perish.  It is important to note that there will be times in our Christian walk when we have faithlessness.  There are highs and lows in our lives when bad things happen and we ask, “Where is God now?”  He is still around us, lifting us up, still caring for us.  We just don’t recognize it.

19. The second verse that comes to my mind is Romans 5:20b. “But where sin increased, grace increased all the more.”  The song from DC Talk says, “What if I stumble?  What if I fall?  What if I lose my step and I make fools of us all?  Will the love continue?  When my walk becomes a crawl?”  You could add to this, “What if I am the one lost sheep and not the 99 following?”

“It is a terrible thing when people who name the name of Jesus show themselves unfaithful; many have been turned off from Jesus because of the hypocrisy of those who take His name. But all the faithlessness of man doesn’t disprove the faithfulness of God.” (Guzik)

Read verses 14 – 19

20.   My NIV Bible entitles this section as “Dealing with False Teachers”.  The NKJV entitles it “Approved and Disapproved Workers”.  It is clearer when you think like Paul.  Paul considers anyone who teaches God’s Word to be a Teacher.

“Paul gave practical instructions on how the true servant of Jesus Christ will live. He warned about activities which sabotage our efforts to live a life worthy of God’s calling, especially those things which prove divisive. Paul always presented two clear choices without any neutral options. We either choose Christ’s way, or we fall into the devices of Satan.”  (Holman New Testament Commentary)

21. Sometimes I think, “How did we get here?” or “Why are there so many denominations?” Consider that in the first century there should have been only one church based on the teachings of Jesus and His disciples.  Even in the first century, there were false teachers teaching an improper gospel message.  Throughout history, men have thought of their ideas were better than God’s ideas.  They have always thought that being a pastor or evangelist could give them the notoriety that they crave or they view it as an easy way to make money.  In either case, these people were a problem in the first century and today.

“As a minister of the gospel, Timothy must remind all those in the church about the instructions and warnings Paul had delivered to him. Pastors are to keep reminding their congregations of the truth of Scripture, the nature of God, and the demands of holy living. This task is never complete.”  (Holman New Testament Commentary)

22. We have different denominations because men “quarrel about words”. They give more importance to certain parts of Scripture than they should and no importance to others.  Consider that Snake Handlers put more importance on Paul being shipwrecked in Malta and subsequently bitten by a snake.  Acts 28:6 says, “The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.”  Men have always wanted to be considered a god.  They built an entire religion or cult based on these words.

23. At first, I thought verse 15 is for the pastors and teachers but then I think it is for all of us. We should all be spending time in God’s Word so that we know what God has said.  Teachers and pastors are held more accountable, but we too should make sure that we are not being led astray.  James 3:1 gives a warning specifically for teachers and pastors.  “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” This verse says that teachers and pastors will be judged more strictly but we as believers will be held accountable for what we tell others and what we believe.

24. Verse 15 says that we should do our best to make sure that God will approve of what we believe and what our motives are. We are to make sure that on that day of judgment that we are not ashamed.  Paul wrote in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”  He was not ashamed of what he was teaching others.  Are you?

“God bestows his approval on the one who exhibits truth, love, and godliness in daily living, and who correctly handles the word of truth. (Holman New Testament Commentary)

25. In verse 16, Paul says to “Avoid godless chatter” (NIV) or “Avoid worthless, foolish talk“.  Paul is not talking about chatting with the people that you meet throughout the day.  He is saying when preaching or teaching.  There was an old adage used at OC, “If you can’t dazzle them with your brilliance, then baffle them with your bull.”  Paul is saying leave that to the false teachers, preach the true Gospel.

26. In a couple more chapters, Paul will tell Timothy, “For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires”. (2 Timothy 4:3) These pastors that tell you what you want to hear are, as Paul says, “more and more ungodly.  They are like gangrene.”

27. Then in the second part of verse 17, Paul calls out 2 men for their ungodliness, Hymenaeus and Philetus. Then in verse 18, Paul says they have departed from the truth. Hymenaeus was mentioned in 1 Timothy 1:20 where he said he “had handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.”

28. It is one thing to have your name mentioned in the Word of God forever for good behavior but not for this reason. He goes on to say what these men have done.  Not only have they “departed from the truth”.  The lies that they were teaching were that the Rapture had already occurred and that they were living in the millennial kingdom of Christ.  If this had happened, then there would be no hope for the future.  It would mean that this is the best that it will ever get.   Paul says that this type of teaching is false but it “destroys the faith” of those who believe it is true.  Paul taught, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)

29. In verse 19, Paul says that 19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm”. The Bible is full of examples of God’s solid foundation.  Jesus is described as the cornerstone by Paul in Ephesians 2:20, “Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone”.  Jesus’ parable of the wise and foolish builders says, “24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24-25)  Jesus spoke about Himself when He quoted Psalm 118:22, “The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner”.  Without a solid cornerstone or foundation, the building will not stand.

30. Paul finishes verse 19 with the foundation is “sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” Since Jesus sees what are in the hearts of men, then He truly knows what is in our hearts.

31. In His parable of the Good Shepherd in John 10, Jesus says “14 I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me”. At the end of our lives, Jesus will use His knowledge of us to say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” or “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”  Have you turned away from your wickedness?  Does He know you?

32. “Upon this rock I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18) was said by Jesus at Caesarea Philippi. It was a statement by Jesus to Peter, signifying the establishment of the Christian Church. Some believe that the “rock” as Peter but others identify it as Peter’s confession of faith (“You are the Christ“) or Jesus himself.  Based on this verse, the rock is the statement of faith that “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord” so Jesus is the foundation.

Read verses 20 – 21

33. Normally, when Paul talks about a church, he says that it is like a body with each part with a function and all working together for the good of the body. In verses 20 and 21, Paul equates the church to a household with some things made of gold and silver and others made of wood and stone, “some are for special purposes and some for common use.”

“If we cleanse ourselves from dishonorable things, God will regard us as vessels of honor, sanctified and useful for the Master.  Paul spoke about a cleansing that isn’t just something God does for us as we sit passively. This is a self-cleansing for service that goes beyond a general cleansing for sin. . . This work of cleansing is really God’s work in us and not our work. This is the sense of 1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (Guzik)

Read verses 22 – 26

34. Paul would tell Timothy and us to cleanse ourselves with telling us how to do so. He starts with “Flee the evil desires of youth”.  This is similar to what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:12, “When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.”  But Paul says that in order to cleanse yourself then put off “the evil desires of youth.”  This suggests that only youth have evil desires.  Some translations call them “youthful lusts”.

“Youthful lusts describe the sort of desires and temptations that are especially prominent when someone is an adolescent or young adult. Sexual temptation, illicit pleasure of the flesh, and a longing for fame and glory often mark one’s youth. (Guzik)

35. The second thing Paul says is to “pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace.” Righteousness is being right with God.  In 1 Corinthians 13:13 Paul said that, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”  This list is much like the list in 1 Timothy 6:11 or in Galatians 5:22-23 which are the Fruits of the Spirit.   Once again, the fruits of the Spirit are what we as believers should be pursuing with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  If we are truly following the Holy Spirit then we will develop these attributes.

36. Paul finishes verse 22 with we are to “pursue . . . peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” Jesus said in John 13:35 that “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  These verses say the same thing.  Of all of people that should get along, it is the fellow members of a church that we should seek to love and seek to be at peace  Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen.  Our humanness gets in the way.

37. In verse 23, Paul handles the disagreements that happen between fellow church members which are believers. He says, “Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.”  These quarrels happen because we are human and we make it all about us and not about God.  If we put God first then these quarrels won’t happen.  I think that Paul lists things in the order that he did because if we “pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace” then we will not be putting ourselves first and having “stupid arguments”.

38. Verse 24 says that as believers, we should not be quarrelsome and should not be resentful. Paul makes it very clear when he says, “must be kind to everyone”.  These verses still go back in my mind to the Fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 which includes “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”  If you have the Holy Spirit living in you then kindness should be coming out of you.

39. In dealing with the human nature of being quarrelsome, Paul throws in that Timothy must be able to teach. Guzik says, “With the great emphasis Paul placed on God’s Word, a pastor who is not able to teach is like a surgeon who can’t use a scalpel.”

40. In verse 25, Paul says that if a quarrel does happen, then send the ones quarreling to neutral corners and hope that God talks to them and causes them to repent of their quarreling and “learn the truth” (NLT)

41. When we studied Satan in Sunday School, we learned that he is not happy unless there is conflict in the Church. These quarrels are brought on by Satan.  Paul finishes this chapter with, repentance brings a coming to their senses so they can escape Satan’s trap because they are doing Satan’s will.

2 Timothy 3

Read verses 1 – 5

1. In verse 1, Paul says if you think things are getting worse now, wait until the Last Days. Each generation thinks that things are worse than the previous one.  Many people believe that, “Surely, things are so bad that this is the end.”  Paul starts the chapter with “Mark my words, There will be terrible times in the last days.”   Not bad times, but “terrible times”!

2. The Greek word translated as “terrible” is “chalepós”. It is also used in Matthew 8:28, after Jesus calmed the raging storm on the Sea of Galilee, He and the disciples came upon two demon possessed men.  “They were so “chalepos” or violent that no one could pass.”  There are times that I think that we must be getting close to the End Times that Paul was talking about in verse 1.

“The terribleness of the last days results from the continual decay of man’s spiritual nature. As people neglect the spiritual dimension of life, they turn in upon themselves to find meaning and consolation in the face of life’s absurdity.” (Holman New Testament Commentary)

3. In verses 2 through 4, Paul gives the attributes of people living in the End Times. I have known lots of people with some of these attributes, but not to the extreme that Paul is talking about.  Paul’s End Times list says:

4. Some of these fit together. If you are focused on yourself and money, there is very little love left for others and God.  These are the two commandments that Jesus said were most important.  You have no love if you do not love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul and you don’t love others as yourself.  So if you love only yourself and money, then you are without love and will not be lovers of good and God.

5. This list is the opposite of the Fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” A couple of verses before Paul lists the Fruits of the Spirit, Paul gives the acts of the flesh.  “19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  From this list and the list here in 2 Timothy 3, you should be able to conclude that people in End Times will not be influenced by the Holy Spirit but by their own flesh.

6. On January 20, 1961, President John F. Kennedy delivered a speech that included: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country.” As I look at the next generation and the current political leaders, I can’t help but believe that ideology is gone.  People vote today based on the thought “What can I get out of it?” and not who is the right person to lead us into the future.

7. In verse 5, Paul says, “having a form of godlinessbut denying its power”.  It is the idea that Church is something that we do on Sunday, just like going out to Sunday dinner.  It fits with the prosperity gospel.  They say, “I will do godliness if there is a chance that something good might happen in MY”  Guzik says, “In our self-obsessed world, people feel very free to have a “salad bar” religion — they pick and choose what they want. They feel free to be very “spiritual,” but sense no obligation to be Biblical.”

8. What does Paul say we should do with these people? “Have nothing to do with such people.”  He is not saying “Do not evangelize such people.”  He is saying do not make them your friends or do not socialize with them.  In 1 Corinthians 15:33, Paul says, “Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good”  This is the same idea.

Read verses 6 – 9

9. Paul continues with the way people will behave during the end times. When I think about the world today, I believe the End times must be close at hand.  Paul says that there will be people “who work their way into people’s homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires.”  I look at the SPAM calls that we get today.  They worm their way into your home and into your finances in order to take advantage of people, not just vulnerable women.  I have helped friends and family make sure that nothing was taken when they fall victim to these calls or emails.

10. Paul uses a term that gets translated as “gullible women”. I believe that part of it is that women of Paul’s day were less educated.  They didn’t have careers and didn’t go to war.  They were expected to take care of the household and children.  Finding a husband was looking to be taken care of for the rest of your life.  However, just like today they did live longer than men.  There are times when I have trouble trying to distinguish what is a scam or what is real.  What was a good price for the work that they did?  There are so many opportunities to be scammed today.  This may be what Paul is calling gullible.

“I do not believe Paul targeted women as inherently weak-willed or prone to deception. Instead, he recognized and pointed out a pattern he observed. Women offered easier access into homes, and those women whom the false teachers could most easily exploit were vulnerable: loaded down with sins and … swayed by all kinds of evil desires.”  (Holman New Testament Commentary)

11. At the Adult Education on Resurrection, I said, “Make sure that you know what you believe and make sure that it is correct theology.”  There was an adage attributed to Malcolm X that says, “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything”.  Now and during the End Times, there will be numerous false prophets trying to lead you away from God.  You should be spending time at home, in Sunday School, at Adult Education classes, learning what the true Gospel is.  Satan is like a lion seeking a weak Christian to devour.  Know what God’s Word says.  Don’t leave it to a 30 minute sermon on Sunday to know God’s Word.

12. In verse 8, Paul says that these false teachers are like “Jannes and Jambres who opposed Moses”. Holman’s Commentary says that “Jannes and Jambres are not mentioned in the Old Testament but tradition says these are probably the sorcerers who opposed God’s authority through Moses in Egypt.”  Paul calls them and other false teachers are those “that oppose the truth.”

13. In verse 6, Paul said that Timothy (and us) should not be a “worm” like “Jannes and Jambres”. In continuing here in verse 9, he says that these types of men have “depraved minds” and it will be obvious to the believer that they are evil and will be rejected.  It will be clear to the believer that their gospel is false and they will not get very far.

Read verses 10 – 12

14. In verses 10 and 11, Paul says that Timothy knows everything about Paul. As I said earlier, when traveling together then you get to know your companion.  Timothy was like a son to Paul.  As family, Timothy would have heard everything that Paul preached.  Additionally Timothy would have seen and heard him when he wasn’t preaching.  If Paul would have preached one way and behaved differently in private, Timothy would have known.

15. The NKJV translates what Paul said in verse 10 as, Timothy “carefully followed my doctrine”. Guzik says regarding “carefully followed” “Carefully followed” means that Paul did not merely teach Timothy these things in an academic sense; Timothy learned these things by carefully following Paul’s example. The best kind of Christianity is not only taught, it is also caught by seeing it lived out in other people.”

16. Timothy experienced Paul’s life with him. Through everything that they endured together, most important of all, Timothy saw how God/Jesus rescued him from the trials that he faced.

17. In verse 11, Paul tells Timothy that he witnessed the persecutions that Paul endured. In 2 Corinthians 11:24-25, Paul lists most of what he had endured in the name of the Gospel.  Timothy would have been with Paul for at least part of these court trials.

18. In verse 12, Paul disputes Prosperity Gospel. He says what Jesus said in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  Jesus also said in Matthew 10:22, “You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”  Unfortunately, the world is changing.  It seems fewer and fewer people are receptive of the Gospel message.  More allowances have been made for Muslims than for Christians.  I have seen prayer rooms at airports and heard that schools are allowing Muslim prayer in schools.

19. Paul tells us in verse 12 that, “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  Satan doesn’t want us to live a godly life in Jesus.  He attacks believers to distract our focus from Jesus and to keep us from reaching others for Jesus.  Are you putting on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) to protect yourself from Satan daily?

Read verses 13 – 17

20. Verse 13 is a continuation of verse 12, but it pulls us back to the non-believers during the End Times. As he started this chapter, Paul says that people will go from bad to worse.  Satan’s favorite tool is deception so you should expect lots of deception in the End Times.  I think of politicians when I read this verse.  Today, there is no oversight on what politicians say in their advertisements.  They can promise the world or say lies about their opponent and no one checks the facts.  They are not held accountable or made to follow through on their promises.

21. Verse 14 says that as Christians and believers of the truth, we are to grow and continue in Christian Focusing on what we have learned from the Word of God and church.  In Timothy’s case, he was taught by Paul so he can have confidence in what he was taught.  For us, we should make sure that we spend time in the Bible and as Pastor Brian says, “Check what you are being taught for ourselves.”

22. In verse 15, Paul speaks to Timothy’s learning the Word of God from his mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois.  Paul has confidence in Timothy’s biblical foundation because he knows that it will be wise through his foundation and his faith in Jesus Christ.

“Two elements are necessary for faithful living. First, we must possess knowledge of the truth. Truth enlightens a person about what is right and wrong, what constitutes purpose and happiness. We cannot trust or love what we do not know. The second element is conviction or belief. We express our belief system in the daily decisions we make and the behaviors in which we engage. No one acts contrary to belief (though we may act contrary to our professions of belief).”  (Holman New Testament Commentary)

23. Verse 16 is one of the most quoted verses when it comes to the truth of the Bible. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness”.  The Bible was written by approximately 40 authors over a span of about 1,600 years.  The authors were human but the inspiration was God.  The Bible has one common theme and that is God’s love for His people shone through His redemption and restoration through Jesus Christ.

24. The final verse in this chapter says that the Word of God is all you need for every good work.  I have heard others say that it is just an old history book but I believe it speaks to us today.  I can read the Scriptures and then come back and re-read the same verses and they help me in different ways.  The first step of BSF is for each person to read the assigned Scriptures and answer questions about them all on their own.  The second step is to discuss their answers with a small group.  I am often surprised how God speaks to each of us differently.  God gives us exactly what you need at the precise moment that we need it.

25. Do you notice that Paul ends this chapter with, all Timothy needs to step out on his own is his biblical foundation and the Word of God. When I said “on his own”, it includes what Paul started this letter with, “Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Paul assumed that the power of the Holy Spirit was a given.

2 Timothy 4

“Paul gave his final charge to Timothy about faithfulness and ministry. Then, as he looked toward his own impending death, he summarized his life goal and purpose, concluding with thanks to others who partnered with him in his ministry and a personal request for Timothy.” (Holman New Testament Commentary)

Read verses 1 – 5

1. In verse 1, Paul says that he gives this charge to Timothy before God and Jesus. Paul doesn’t take this charge lightly and neither should Timothy.  He says that this is the same God and Jesus that will judge the living and the dead during the End Times.  So if Paul is in error, he will be judged ever so severely whether he is alive or dead.  Guzik says that the charge that Paul is giving Timothy is also his “testimony”.  It is Paul swearing before God and Jesus in Old Testament proportions that it is what he has taught Timothy and now send him out into ministry is true including the Gospel that Paul has taught.

2. In verse 2, Paul states what he expects Timothy to do. Paul tells Timothy to “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season”.  Even though Paul has given Timothy the tools on how to keep a church running smoothly, Paul says “preach the word”.  Timothy’s number 1 objective is to tell others corporately and individually about salvation through Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God which is Grace through Faith.

3. Secondly, as a pastor of a church, Timothy’s responsibility is to “Correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful” He doesn’t say it but it is implied, as Jesus said “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble.” (John 16:33a)   When you have people involved in running things, there will be trouble.  Paul says take care of the trouble but when you do, fix it with “great patience and careful instruction, with love.”  I have experienced people trying to fix things with a “bull in a China shop” mentality and it does not work.  Feelings get hurt and it causes trouble in the church.

4. Continuing in verse 3, Paul says that a time is coming when people will not accept “sound doctrine”. Instead of changing their lives to accept and live the true Gospel, they will call pastors that teach what they want to hear.  People will say that the Bible is just an old book and is not applicable for today.  They will pick and choose what they want to believe.  Some of this type of thinking has happened throughout history.

5. They will and do teach things like “If I am a good person, then I will be allowed into Heaven.” Or “Replacement theology” which says “The church has replaced the Jews as God’s chosen people.” You can see this in numerous cults that alter the gospel message based on other people who claim to have had visions which change the true Gospel which Paul taught, like the Mormons, Jehovah Witness and Seventh Day Adventists.

6. In verse 5, Paul tells Timothy that he has one thing to do, preach and teach the true Gospel message. Evangelize, but while you do that be a good example of Christian living by keeping your cool in all situations and “endure hardship” as Paul did.  When we studied Paul’s letters to the Corinthian church, we read that Paul said, “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial.” (1 Corinthians 6:12)  There is such a thing as “dead right”.

7. Paul tells Timothy to “discharge all duties of your ministries”. What Paul is telling Timothy is above all else teach the Word of God and grace through faith.  Don’t get caught up is running the church.  Sometimes we get so caught up with making everything in a worship service run smoothly that no one gets fed the word of God.  We spend too much time with the church programming that we forget to worship.  I often warn Zack to make sure that he is taking time to worship even though he is flipping slides.

Read verses 6 – 8

8. In verse 6, Paul tells Timothy that his time on earth is nearly through. He has given God his entire life.  From his childhood, Paul was raised to serve God as a Pharisee in the Sanhedrin.  Then he met Jesus on the Damascus Road.  He served Jesus from that time on, risking death at every turn.  Paul was essentially passing the torch to Timothy.

“There was also a Roman idea here. Every Roman meal ended with a small sacrificial ritual to the gods — a cup of wine was taken and poured out before the gods. In this sense Paul said “The day is done, the meal is just about over, and I’m being poured out unto God.” (Guzik)

9. Paul says in verse 7 that he has done everything that he could to reach the Gentiles with the message of salvation through faith in Jesus. He uses two metaphors here to point to “keeping the faith”.  “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race.”

10. In verse 8, Paul says that there is a “crown of righteousness” waiting for him in Heaven. This crown is one of the five crowns in Heaven.   David Jeremiah in his book, “What Every Christian Should Know” says that the five crowns of Heaven are:

• The Incorruptible Crown (1 Corinthians 9:24-25): Awarded for self-discipline, controlling the flesh, and living a dedicated Christian life.

• The Crown of Rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:19, Philippians 4:1): Also known as the “soul-winner’s crown,” this is for sharing the gospel and leading others to Christ.

• The Crown of Righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8): Promised to those who love and anticipate the second coming of Jesus Christ.

• The Crown of Life (James 1:12, Revelation 2:10): Given to those who endure persecution, trials, and temptation faithfully, even unto martyrdom.

• The Crown of Glory (1 Peter 5:4):  Awarded to pastors, elders, and spiritual leaders who faithfully shepherd and shepherd God’s people.

GotQuestions.com says, “We inherit this crown through the righteousness of Christ which is what gives us a right to it, and without which it cannot be obtained. Because it is obtained and possessed in a righteous way, and not by force and deceit as earthly crowns sometimes are, it is an everlasting crown, promised to all who love the Lord and eagerly wait for His return. Through our enduring discouragements, persecutions, sufferings, or even death, we know assuredly our reward is with Christ in eternity (Philippians 3:20). This crown is not for those who depend upon their own sense of righteousness or of their own works. Such an attitude breeds only arrogance and pride, not a longing, a fervent desire to be with the Lord.”

Read verses 9 – 13

11. In the next few verses, Paul adds some personal information into the letter. He knew that he was not long for this world.  It seems that Paul wanted one last opportunity to say “Goodbye” to Timothy.

12. Paul also uses these verses to fill Timothy in on where his coworkers in Christ have gone at this point.  Paul says that “Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.”  “12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.” He says that Luke is the only one currently with him.

13. He says the Demas went to Thessalonica but he didn’t leave to do ministry, Paul says, “Demas has deserted me, because he loved this world.” Obviously, it was not a favorable departure for Demas.  Demas did not go to Thessalonica to reach people for Jesus.  Have you ever asked yourself if you could have endured what Paul endured?

14. In verses 11 and 13, Paul gives Timothy a couple of assignments. First, he tells Timothy to stop and get Mark.  Mark or John Mark was a cousin of Barnabas and the writer of the Gospel of Mark.  He travels with Paul and Barnabas on Paul’s first missionary journey.  Paul and Mark had a disagreement and they parted ways (Acts 13).  Based on verse 11, they must have reconciled because Paul says that “he is helpful to me in my ministry”.

15. In verse 13, Paul has Timothy stop in Troas and pick up a cloak and his scrolls.

Read verses 14 – 15

16. In these verses, Paul calls out a man named Alexander. He specifies that Alexander is a metalworker that opposed the Gospel message.  Based on what happened when Paul visited Ephesus the first time, Alexander’s opposition was based on the financial aspect of the idols.  During Paul’s first visit to Ephesus, he caused a riot of people, specifically metalworkers that made idols or metal figures of the Goddess Diana.  It wasn’t based on religion or idolatry, but it was based on earnings or sales of the metal figurines.

17. Regardless of who Alexander the metalworker was and what harm he caused Paul, he leaves Alexander’s punishment to God. Paul repeats what he wrote in Romans 12:19 which came from Deuteronomy 32:35.  “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.”

Read verses 16 – 18

18. Paul shifts topics. He transitions to his first trial.  He says that he was alone to defend himself at his first trial.  This trial was probably the preliminary trial written about at the end of Acts.  Jesus was the only one there to help him endure, just as the disciples abandoned Jesus, Paul’s helpers had abandoned him.

19. Paul forgave them for the abandonment. Through it all Paul says that Jesus was with him.  As the writer of Hebrews (13:5) repeating Deuteronomy 31:6, 8 “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  Just as Acts 1:8 says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witness”.  This is the power that Paul is writing about in these verses.

20. Paul did not just defend himself, he took advantage of this opportunity to share the good news of Jesus Christ with everyone that could hear him. He shared his testimony just as he did to the crowd in Jerusalem (Acts 22), before Governor Felix and Festus (Acts 24–25), and his persuasive testimony before King Agrippa II (Acts 26).

21. Do you realize that Paul shared the Gospel message as his defense knowing full well that his life was in the balance. He was willing to do so for the sake of those hearing his message, as well as those throughout history that have read and studied this letter.  Similar to the Easter message, Jesus was willing to die so that we can have salvation.  We can read this letter and know that Jesus walks beside us even today and gives us the strength to share the good news of Jesus Christ regardless of the consequences.

22. As Paul says, “He will save us from the lion’s mouth.” In verse 18, Paul states that Jesus will be with him and give him strength to share the Gospel message to the Gentile or to take him up to Heaven, pretty much regardless of the consequences here on Earth and he gives all glory to Jesus for doing so.

23. In 1 Peter 5:8, Peter called Satan a lion seeking to devour This could have been the lion that Paul was talking about or it could have been Nero who was the lion that Paul faced.

24. In verse 18, Paul says that Jesus will protect him regardless of what he faces. Do we believe as Paul did?  Do we trust in Jesus to protect us and be with us no matter what we face in life?  Do we rely on our own strength or do we call on the unlimited power of Jesus?  I have said numerous times that I don’t know how a non-believer gets through the loss of a loved one without Jesus.  As the poem, “Footprints in the Sand” says that during the worst times Jesus carried

25. Before Jesus was arrested and taken to be crucified, He prayed, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.” (John 17:1)  This is what Paul is talking about.  He is saying, “God give me the strength to go through my coming ordeal glorifying”

Read verses 19 – 22

26. He ends this letter by sending greetings to those serving God and updating Timothy on where the others are located at this specific time. Guzik points out that Paul states that he “left Trophimus sick in Miletus.”  Paul did many miraculous healings but he couldn’t heal  Charles Spurgeon wrote an entire sermon on this statement.  He made points of:  Sometimes it is God’s will to be in sick; Good men may be laid aside when they are needed most; and Good men will want the Lord’s work to go on, even when they can’t be a part of it.

27. Then he tells Timothy to get there before winter. Traveling in that region in the winter was bad.  The Mediterranean Sea was treacherous in the winter.  It is also possible that Paul knew when his final trial would be.

“Paul was martyred in the aftermath of the great fires that swept Rome in A.D. 64 — which Nero, in some manner, tried to blame on Christians. According to some traditions, he was beheaded on the same day Peter was crucified upside-down. Paul was a Roman citizen and could not be legally crucified.”  (Guzik)

28. In verse 22, Paul sends a final blessing to Timothy. “The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.”

Titus 1

Read verses 1 – 4

1. Paul calls himself a servant (NIV) or bondservant (NASB or NKJV) or slave (NLT). He used the Greek word “doulos” which means “low slave” or “slave by choice”.  Once he was humbled by his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, it is an appropriate description of Paul.  In 1 Timothy 1:15, Paul even called himself the chief sinner.

2. In verse 1, Paul begins just as he did in most of his letters. He points out that he is an apostle called by Jesus Christ.  He is a messenger sent by Jesus to share the Gospel message with the Gentiles.  Acts 9:15 tells us that Jesus gave this commission to Paul through Ananias.  “But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.”

3. As this lengthy sentence goes on through verses 1, 2 and 3, Paul elaborates on his commission from Jesus. His commission is to “further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth”.  The Jews would say that they are God’s elect because they were born Jewish. 

4. In Ephesians 1:4 Paul wrote, “For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence.” The Calvinist would call this further proof of predestination, but I believe that what God predestined was for both Jew and Gentile to receive salvation through their faith in Jesus.  I don’t believe that God specifically said that John Green would have salvation before he was born.  I believe that John Green had salvation made available to him if he called on the name of Jesus as his savior.  If God specifically chose each one of us, then why did He send Paul?

5. So who are God’s elect? Jesus tells us in John 10:27-28.  He says, “John 10:27-28 “27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”  They are true Christians.

6. Paul says that understanding this true gospel “leads to godliness”. Paul spent a significant amount of time explaining godliness in his first letter to Timothy.  In 1 Timothy 6:6 Paul says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”  He says that true godliness is about your relationship with God and contentment with who He is and what He has done and not material wealth.  It is knowing that God is in control of every situation.  It is living your life and trusting  It is truly understanding, Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

7. Righteousness leads to godliness but it also leads to eternal life. Our hope that leads to eternal life does not rely on our own righteousness.  It requires us to have faith in Jesus.  Our righteousness is imputed righteousness, which means we have His righteousness because of our faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, who was the only truly righteous man.

8. I can’t read about our “hope of eternal life” without quoting John 3:16-17, “16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” As the old hymn says, “My hope is built on nothing less

   than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

   but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.”

9. Throughout the Bible, we can see that God only speaks the truth. Hebrews 6:18 says, “it is impossible for God to lie”.  Lying is not in His nature.  He has no reason to lie.  God is holy.

10. Then Paul says that God promised salvation and eternity “before the beginning of time”. Nothing that has happened in history has taken God by surprise.  He knew from the beginning that Adam and Eve would fail.  He knew that we would fail and would need a savior.  His Word lists too many examples of failings to count.  He knew that He would have to send his only begotten son to bring salvation to the world.  He knew that they would put Him to death.  Grace wasn’t added after sin happened.  He knew that He would have to give us His Grace.  Why?  Because, as 2 Peter 3:9 says, He wanted everyone to come to salvation but no one can be righteous, not one (Romans 3:10).

11. In verse 3, Paul says “this season” and in Galatians 4:4, he says “fullness of time”. Galatians 4:4-5 says, “4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”  This is the season of salvation but like our seasons, it too will come to an end.  Either through death or the Rapture, the offer of salvation will end.

12. No one knows how many people the Apostle Paul has reached. His letters are impacting lives even today.  I thank God for His Word which includes these letters.  His preaching that he is writing about is still alive 

13. Paul says in the last sentence of verse 3 that he was sent to share the Gospel message by God. He calls it a “work” but he was so devoted to it that I doubt he considered it work.

14. In verse 4, Paul tells us that he is writing this letter to Titus. Paul started 1 Timothy with “2 To Timothy my true son in the faith:  Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Paul has a similar relationship to Titus that he did with Timothy.  Titus is not mentioned in the Book of Acts.  Paul does mention him a few times in 2 Corinthians.  2 Corinthians 8:16 says, “Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you.”  He also says that Titus walked in the same spirit as Paul. And here in this letter to Titus, Paul says that Titus has a common faith as Paul.

Read verses 5 – 9

15. Paul said that he left Titus on Crete to “appoint elders in every town”. This shows the confidence that Paul had in Titus.  This job was not something that you would leave to just anybody. 

16. Just as he did in his letter to Timothy, Paul outlines what types of men are to be elders and overseers. For the attributes of an elder, Paul gives Titus the “Cliff Notes” version.  He says, “An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.”   The church is God’s church so the qualifications do not change based on where the church is located.

“The list in this passage means that God has specific qualifications for leaders in the church. Leaders should not be chosen at random, or just because they volunteer, or because they aspire to the position, or even because they are “natural leaders.” Leaders should be chosen because they match the qualifications listed here. It is fine if a man thinks he is “called.” Yet he must also be qualified.” (Guzik)

17. Remember that the overseer would be equivalent to a pastor Having Titus select church leadership in each town would have been an impossible task.  These are the men who are to ensure the success of the church.  Calvin said that the men chosen by Titus would have been men that the churches would have respected but they still had to meet the qualifications set by Paul.

18. Many of the qualifications for pastor, elder, deacon or other church leaders are similar. It is important that the people in leadership of the church do not turn others away from Jesus.  I consider the blameless qualification the one most difficult to achieve.  Is Paul talking about blameless in the sight of God, men or your family?  Men and your family may not see everything that goes on in your life but God sees everything.  I would assume that blameless would mean that neither God nor man would have issues with putting you in charge of the church.

19. In verse 7, we see that both an overseer (pastor) and elder need to be blameless, “Since an overseer manages God’s household”. Paul does not stop with blameless though.  He continues with the qualities of an overseer, “he must not be overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. ⁸ Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. ⁹ He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.”  These are very high requirements; sometimes they appear to be too lofty, but then again they are qualities that all Christians should strive to obtain.  Also, if you think you have all of these qualities, then maybe you don’t.

Read verses 10 – 16

20. Just as it is today, there were teachers who preached an improper What have we learned about deceit?  It is one of the main tools of Satan.  Paul battled with men that preached an improper gospel for their personal gain.  He also constantly had trouble with the Jews and Jewish Christians.  Salvation comes from grace through faith in Jesus alone.  The Jewish Christians wanted the Gentiles to convert to Judaism in addition to faith in Jesus.  Paul was unyielding on this point, in Christ alone!

21. Even the Christian counsel in Jerusalem during Paul’s time gave in to the pressure from the Jews stating that salvation comes from Jesus but “You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.” (Acts 15:29)  As Paul says in verse 10 that there are teachers that say that men must be circumcised to be saved.  These are the Jewish Christians trying to force new Christians to be more Jewish.

22. In verse 11, Paul says what needs to be done with these men who are teaching an improper gospel. They must be stopped.  They are causing all sorts of problems in the towns, churches and homes.  They are ruining all aspects of Christian life.  They are watering down the true Gospel message for personal gain.  Sounds like 2026 to me.

23. In verse 12, Paul says that there are people on the island of Crete who are teaching an improper I had always heard the term “Cretans” but didn’t realize that this is where it came from.  Paul says that one of their prophets says that “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”  Cretan is definitely not a complimentary name.

24. As for these Cretans and the people like them that are described in verse 10, Paul says that Titus is to “rebuke them soundly” so they will start teaching the proper Gospel and thus be “sound in faith”.

25. In Paul’s journeys, he would go first to the synagogues to preach to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. These Jews often caused him lots of problems and he was imprisoned because of his teaching.  These Jews even followed him to Jerusalem where he was put on trial by the Sanhedrin.  Eventually, he was  beheaded based on accusations from these Jews.

26. It is interesting that in verse 14, Paul tells them not to pay attention to the “Jewish myths”. These myths would have included things like:  You can’t have salvation unless you are circumcised or you have to convert to Judaism in order to be saved.

27. In verse 15, Paul adds some more “Jewish myths”. The Jews had a list of clean and unclean foods.  Acts 10:9-16 records Peter’s visions regarding clean and unclean foods.  God tells Peter, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” 

28. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God”. Paul says if you are pure in heart then all things are pure but if you are corrupt and not a believer then you will see everything as corrupt or impure.  By “everything”, Paul is actually speaking to those things that are seen as corrupt by the Jews or legalism. 

“True purity resides not in the practice of ritual or in devotion to rules and regulations. Purity that God recognizes and commends comes from within, and a person can attain this only through faith in Jesus Christ. Cleansed from within, that person becomes free to live in purity, washed of all selfishness. The mind, transformed by the truth, ignites the conscience to obey God willingly in all manner of living.”  (Holman New Testament Commentary)

29. In verse 16, Paul continues his description of these legalists or Cretans that Titus will encounter on the island of Crete. He says, “They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.”  This sounds like some televangelists that I have heard in my lifetime.  They preach a gospel close to the true Gospel but they make it benefit themselves but then they live differently than they should.

“While they appear to seek God, following rituals of outward purity, before the Almighty, they are disgusting. While they demand strict obedience to rules and regulations, before God they remain defiant. Though they trumpet their actions, Christ declares them unfit and useless. (Holman New Testament Commentary)

Titus 2

Read verses 1 – 2

1. When you think of a church and church members, I hope that you think of a safe haven with people that you would want to call friends or family. Paul wanted the church to be a place where people on the outside would look and wonder what they have because it looks like something to be wanted.  After all, as Christians, we are called to love others as ourselves.

2. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always happen that way. When you put yourself first.  We think that our worship experiences should be what we want or we have hidden agendas.  In the first verses of Titus 2, Paul tells Titus what kind of behavior should be expected from the church membership.

3. In verse 1, Paul says that Titus should “promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching.” When we accepted Christ, we should have undergone a radical life-changing experience.  Much of what Paul says should become second nature to us as Christians.  The behavior of children reflects on their parents.  We have said numerous times that our behavior as Christians reflects on Jesus and God.  If we were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict us?  Would others see your lifestyle in the world and know that you have had “wholesome teaching”?

4. Continuing with Paul’s instruction to Titus on Christian living and teaching, Paul tells Titus to teach older men how to behave. He says that older men should learn to be: 

1. Temperate or restrained or sober

2. Worthy of respect

3. Self-controlled

4. Sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

5. When I was in high school and college, there were numerous men that come to my mind that I would say had these characteristics: John Hankinson, John Brooks, Elmose Mowrey, Gene Brown, Ed Lehman, and George Price. As a younger man, I would have learned these characteristics from these men.  I could add more to the list.  They taught me that it was important for men to be in church.

6. In the early 2000’s, a leader of the American Baptist Men gave a talk at one of the Mohican Men’s meetings. I have included some statistics that show the impact of fatherless families in our society today.

“Our world is suffering. Our young men are suffering. Men are dealing with a world that now is experiencing a fatherless generation with serious consequences. Note the following warnings all around us:

• 65% of youth suicides today are from fatherless homes.

• 90% of all homeless and runaway youth are from fatherless homes — 32 times higher than average.

• 80% of rapists come from fatherless homes.

• 71 % of high school dropouts come from fatherless homes.

• 85% of youth incarcerations in prison today are from fatherless homes.

• 90% of youth arsonists have no father at home.

Without strong Godly men leading marriages, families, children and church we are in trouble.  We need men, fathers, disciples, leaders, models, examples and mentoring. We need men of God in the word of God led by the spirit of God teaching the children of God — many without fathers. We have been warned. The patterns of this world are not working. Be a Godly pattern for the younger generation. Blame no one else, the warnings are for us, for the body of Christ.” (Pastor Ron McClung)

7. Years ago, I had a junior-high aged young man ask me in Sunday School, “How much longer do I have to attend church? My father doesn’t go to church, my grandfather doesn’t go to church, so I should be getting old enough to stop coming to church.” 

Read verses 3 – 5

8. In verse 3, Paul moves on to “older women”. He tells Titus to teach them to be reverent, not slanderous or heavy drinkers.  In the same way that I listed men who influenced my life, I could list women who did the same  When I think of the characteristics of these women, their attributes were much like those possessed by the older men. 

9. Hopefully, there are men and women in our church who will be good examples for the next generations. The list of characteristics that Paul lists in verses 4 and 5 are limited to those of his time.  Today the number and types of characteristics would include those of women that work outside the home.

10. In Paul’s day, women took care of the household and raised their children. Some of the characteristics that Paul wants younger women to have are still appropriate for young women today.  Today it is just as important for women “to love their husbands and children.”  In case you missed it, it is important for ALL Christians to be self-controlled.  Paul says that a young woman should be “pure” or “chaste” but in his letter to Timothy, Paul said that the deacons, elders and overseers should be the husband of one wife; this is the same idea.

11. Again, Paul says, “busy at home”. At that time in history, women were stay-at-home moms.  Men were the bread winners and women took care of the household.  Responsibilities in the home have changed to fit the time, but the idea is still the same.  Even in the early 1900’s, this was the model for family life.  My dad was the head of the household and we were all subject to him.

12. Paul says at the end of this section that it is proper for older men and women to be good examples for the next generations, “so no one will malign the word of God.” Guzik say regarding this, “This shows how important it is for the older women to teach these things, and for the younger women to learn them. When Christians don’t live in a Biblical, godly manner it means that the word of God may be blasphemed among the ungodly.”  “Look the Green’s are Christians, but look how they are living.  Doesn’t the Word of God say . . .”

Read verses 6 – 8

13. Paul moves on to young men. He tells Titus to teach young men to be “self-controlled”.  Who better to do the teaching, than a self-controlled young man, Titus.  Often with young men, you cannot tell them how to live, but you can show them by example.  There are things, both good and bad, in my life that my dad taught me without saying a word. 

14. How did you know the difference between right and wrong when you were growing up? You learned it by example or through correction by your parents.  That is essentially what Paul is saying and has been saying.  In verse 4, Paul said that older women will be examples for younger women.  In verse 7, Paul says that older men should be good examples for younger men.  He says, “show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech”.  Paul is says make sure your life matches what you are saying.  Don’t say one thing and then live another.

15. We covered this previously, but what are the fruits of the spirit? Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  Paul is saying the same thing in verse 8, “so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.”  There is no law against good behavior and nothing bad can be said about good behavior either.

Read verses 9 – 10

16. In these two verses, Paul tells Titus what to teach slaves. He says that the slave should be subject to the master in everything.  Unfortunately, in the first century slavery was a fact of life.  It wasn’t something new, all through the exile to Babylon the invaders took the defeated people to be slaves.  This region was also poor after the defeat and the survivors couldn’t afford to live.  They had to go into servitude in order to feed their families.

17. When we studied the Book of Philemon, we got an idea of Paul’s feelings about slavery. He was not a fan and he wanted Philemon to take Onesimus back, not as a slave, but as a Christian brother even though Onesimus was not just a slave, but a slave that stole from Philemon.

18. What occurred between Onesimus and Philemon may have been why Paul specified “not to steal from them”. Paul knew what happened to slaves that talked back to their master or slaves that stole from their masters.  They were beaten and could even have been put to death.  Angering your master would have very bad consequences.

19. As a Christian slave, you should still have the fruit of the Spirit. Remember, Galatians 5:22 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”  It doesn’t say that only the free have these characteristics, all Christians must have these characteristics.  Paul says that if you possess the fruit of the Spirit, then you will be trustworthy and they “will make the teaching about God our Savior  attractive.”

Read verses 11 – 14

20. In verse 11, Paul says that salvation is for all In Galatians 3:28, Paul says that, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”  Regarding salvation, all people have an equal chance.  Again, this is an argument against Calvinism.  If we are chosen or predestined to be a believer, then how can salvation be for all people?

21. In verse 11, Paul says that it is the grace of God that brings salvation. Paul preached throughout his entire ministry that salvation comes from grace through faith.  We put our faith in Jesus as the Christ and God gives us grace.  He gives us so much grace that all of our sins are forgiven.  We definitely don’t deserve it, but God gives us the righteousness of Jesus through His grace.  There is no 10 step process to allow us to earn our way to salvation; it is grace through faith.

22. When we accept Jesus as our savior, then we begin living in the hope that heaven follows this life on earth. By the Rapture or by death, we will see Jesus face to face.  Without Jesus’ work on the cross, then we have no hope.  Many non-believers believe that this life is all there is, when we die, our soul ceases to exist.  The dead body in the grave is all there is.  As believers, we know that the dead body in the grave was just a shell or a vessel that held our soul for a short time.  Through Jesus Christ, the soul continues to more glorious things, what a blessed hope.  Paul expands on what happens after death in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.  This is the “blessed hope” that Paul is talking about.  The grave is not the end.

23. In verse 14, Paul says that our salvation was bought and paid for by Jesus on the cross. We have been redeemed.  Because we are sinners, our salvation was lost.  Redemption is defined as buying back something that was lost.  Jesus bought and paid for our salvation and all we have to do is claim Him as our savior.  We have not and cannot live a perfect sin free life, but Jesus did.  God takes Jesus’ perfect life to pay for our own.  2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

24. Paul ends this chapter by telling Titus to teach these things. This letter is much shorter than Paul’s two letters to Timothy.  I am sure that by this time Titus would have had access to most of Paul’s letters, especially the letter to Timothy.

25. Armed with most of the New Testament, Titus would have been able to teach and preach the true He would have been able to “encourage and rebuke” in the name of Jesus Christ.

26. The final sentence in this chapter, “Do not let anyone despise you.” Titus would be despised if he did not live what he was teaching.  It was necessary for Titus and all preachers of the Word to not just give lip service to the Word of God, but to apply it and live it.

Titus 3

“The true Christian is the true citizen, lofty of purpose, resolute in endeavor, ready for a hero’s deeds, but never looking down on his task because it is cast in the day of small things; scornful of baseness, awake to his own duties as well as to his rights, following the higher law with reverence, and in this world doing all that in his power lies, so that when death comes he may feel that mankind is in some degree better because he lived.” Theodore Roosevelt

Read verses 1 – 2

1. Paul starts this chapter telling Titus to remind the people to be obedient “to rulers and authorities”. If Paul had expounded on this thought, he would have brought up that this earth is not your home.  In Hebrews 13:14 (NLT), Paul wrote, “For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.”  Keep in mind that Paul believed that Jesus’ return was eminent. 

2. By subjecting yourself to “rulers and authorities”, you would have had less trouble in your life. Being rebellious would have brought you beatings, imprisonment and possibly death.  Civil obedience was not something that Paul had not taught about.  In Romans 13:1-7, Paul says the same thing.  We should subject ourselves because God has put these people in charge for His  He says that if you rebel against them, then you are rebelling against God.

3. Peter taught the same thing. In 1 Peter 2:13-17, Peter covers the same topic and tells believers to “submit yourselves to human rulers”.  In verse 14, Peter says, “For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.”  He says that God is punishing the Israelites through the treatment by these rulers.  If you look at the history of the Israel from the exiles to the Roman rule of Paul’s day, they were being punished for not being obedient to God.

4. In verse 2, Paul tells us how to treat others regardless of whether they are Christian or not. He says, “to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.”  This behavior is contrary to what you see on the highways in the U.S.

Read verses 3 – 8

“He urged us to recall our past alienation from God and our disobedience and then to remember that our righteousness comes from God’s mercy and grace. Our goodness is not self-generated. Purchased by Christ, it is empowered by the Holy Spirit.” (Holman)

5. In verse 3, Paul reminds us all Christians that before we were saved we were enemies of God. Paul says this in Romans 5:10, “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!”  We were lost sheep and now we have salvation through Jesus Christ.

6. Paul goes into more detail explaining what we were like before Jesus came into our lives. He says, we were “foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures.”  We are sinners saved by grace.  I often think of the Hebrew nation in the wilderness.  God made them wander around in the desert for 40 years because they were disobedient.  When you think about it, we would and do have behave exactly the same way.  God tells us that He has great things for us and then we get caught up with the “when” or we lose focus on God and ignore Him completely.

7. When I read these verses, I think of the end of the Love Chapter. 1 Corinthians 13:11 says, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.”  In these verses, the childish behavior is “At one time.”   Paul takes away the age limit of acting foolish, being disobedient and being self-absorbed.  In the 70’s, the Hippie motto was, “If it feels good do it.”  Some people spend a lifetime with this attitude.

8. In the second half of verse 3, Paul says that before we asked Jesus to come into our lives, “We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.” I have met nonbelievers that are not this way but I have known many that do have these attributes.  Without Christ, we tend to focus on ourselves.  I think of children arguing over a toy.  Both children are screaming “Mine, mine!”  As humans we have something inside us pushing us to self-preservation, self-absorption and survival of the fittest mentality.  Jesus knew it.  Why do you think He said the second most important commandment was to love others as ourselves.

9. This all changed when we brought Jesus into our hearts. He changed us from a self-absorbed individual to a faithful loving Christian.  As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

“Remembering this work of God builds four things in us.

• First, gratitudefor how God changed us.

• Second, humilityas we see that it was His work that changed us.

• Third, kindnessto others in the same place.

• Finally, faiththat God can change those who are still in that place.”  (Guzik)

10. The great thing about this is that God will continue to work to transform you into the image of Jesus until you are just like Jesus. Philippians 1:6 tells us so, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

11. Verses 4 and 5 says, “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us”.  It is not because we deserved it.  It is not because we earned it.  It is because of who He is. Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”   

12. When I read the story of the exodus from Egypt, I am amazed that He did not wipe them out. Psalm 103:8 says, “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”  In the midst of God’s 400 years of silence after Malachi, He sent His only begotten Son as a Savior for the world.  Again, not because they deserved it but because He is merciful.

13. Verse 5b says, “He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.” (NLT) The NIV says, “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”  John the Baptist said that Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit.  If we look at the change that occurred in Jesus’ disciples when the Holy Spirit came upon them, it was truly a “rebirth and renewal.”  They began to speak boldly.

14. “Acts 1:8 says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” This is the Holy Spirit coming into you which is a life changing  Where does the power come from because it was not there before you accepted Jesus?  It comes from God through the Holy Spirit living in you.

15. Verse 7 says that we are justified. We are made clean “just as if I’d never sinned” through the grace of God which we get because we have faith in who Jesus is and what He did for us, His work on the cross.  It is all about Him and not about me.  When God looks at me, He sees Jesus, my savior all because of His grace poured out through Jesus Christ.

16. Here we are again.  It always comes back to John 3:16.  God sent His Son so that whosoever believes in Him will have everlasting  In verse 7, Paul says that we are heirs and our inheritance is eternal life.  Again, it is not because we deserve it, it is because of grace through faith.  It would take a perfect life lived with no sin, obeying all 10 commandments perfectly with no slip-ups in action or in thought to earn your way into Heaven.

17. In verse 8, Paul tells us why God saved us. Paul says that God saved us so we can do good.  The salvation doesn’t come from doing good, it what God expects from us as His children.  He saved us because He is merciful and full of grace.  We in turn are to do good.  The doing good does not benefit us at all.  We are not saved because we are good, we are saved to do good, God’s idea of good and not ours.

Guzik says, “Our salvation isn’t based on any works of righteousness which we have done. In and of itself, response to an altar call does not save. Saying the sinner’s prayer does not save. Baptism does not save. Church attendance does not save. Giving does not save. Reading the Bible does not save. Each of these may be wonderful works of righteousness, but they do not save us. Instead, according to His mercy He saved us.

18. Ephesians 2:8 and 9 says it so perfectly. “8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.” As Pastor Brian has said numerous times, “Preaching won’t save you.  Singing in the choir won’t save you. Being a deacon won’t save you.”  It is not what we do but what He has done for us.

19.  

Read verses 9 – 11

20. In verse 9, Paul says, “Don’t get pulled into disagreements about the Law because these arguments are useless or not beneficial.” In Paul’s day, there were Jews around every corner.  These Jews as we said previously wanted to make salvation about the Law.  They wanted Christians to go through circumcision or be forced to adopt Judaism for salvation. 

21. In verse 10, Paul says, “If they want to argue the Law, warn them twice, don’t get drawn in, then just move” Even for Paul, who was a Jew’s Jew, it was difficult to convince the Jews that salvation comes by God’s grace and not by works or keeping the Law.  Even the Christian counsel in Jerusalem at that time made it about works or being “good”. (Acts 15:29)

22. In verse 11, Paul gives the state of men willing to argue the Law. He says that they are “warped and sinful.  He says that they are “self-condemned.”  Interesting how man cannot save himself but he can easily condemn  Salvation by works means that you have a stake in your own salvation.  It means that you have to follow these 10 steps to get into Heaven.  Again, our salvation is all about Him and not about us.  Not to the point of Calvinism which says that God chooses whether or not you are saved.  Your salvation is still open to your freewill. 

Read verses 12 – 15

23. My NIV Bible calls this section “Final Remarks”. Paul is closing the letter to Titus.  This letter does not have nearly as much detail as the letters to Timothy but I believe that Titus had access to those letters too.

24. Paul does what he has done in many of his letters. He handles the planning and logistics of ministry.  He tells Titus where to meet him so Paul can teach him more.  He says, “I will be wintering in Nicopolis so come meet with me there.”  A Wiki page on Nicopolis says that “historical and biblical evidence strongly suggests the Apostle Paul went to Nicopolis in the winter of 65–66 AD.

25. Paul says that he is sending Artemas or Tychicus to Titus provide him with help or even possibly temporary replacements in the ministry on the island of Crete.

26. In verse 13, Paul tells Titus to provide Zenas the lawyer and Apollos with meeting their physical needs as they travel through Crete. It was not unusual for the early churches to provide financial support or a place to stay during their travels.

27. In verse 14, Paul gives one more reminder that as Christians we all are to do “good”. Being good is not a prerequisite of salvation but is a result of loving God and being obedient to Him.  There is nothing worse in Paul’s eyes than being an unproductive  James 2:14-26 tells us that faith without works is dead.  However, we don’t all do that same jobs.  In this case, just meeting the physical needs of missionaries like Zenas and Apollos is a good work.  We are not all called to be the missionaries.

28. In some of the final verses of the letters, Paul goes into great detail on who is with him. But in this letter to Titus, he just says, “Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith.  Grace be with you all.”

“The closing benediction harmonizes with the opening salutation. It is a benediction of grace, the only difference being that whereas at the beginning it was addressed to Titus, at the close all those to whom he ministered were included.” (Morgan)