Spiritual Growth and Avoiding Distractions

Welcome Prayer Song

1st Timothy 4.7-end 5.1-2 October 11th 2020 Meat

So, we left off with 1st Timothy 4:6 last week where Paul tells Timothy

6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

And Paul continues at this point, supplying Timothy with more insights and saying:

7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. 10 For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe. 11 These things command and teach. 12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Refusing Fables and Pursuing Godliness

Alright, back to verse 7 where Paul adds:

7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

Don’t pay attention to old wives tales. Do not consider them of sufficient importance to occupy your time. There are more important things to worry about. This goes hand in hand with the doctrines floating about then that we talked about last week – not marrying and not eating meats. Paul says stay away from all that riff-raff, there are more important things to focus on. I could be tempted to apply the same advice to ourselves today, as believers. You know to advise people on how to spend the time of the life they have been given wisely. I could say be very careful about the trap of social media, of cultural demands, and the endless circles and cycles of gossip, myth-making and political arguments. I never would say that but perhaps I could.

Going all the way back 2000 years ago, Paul proves Solomon’s claim that there is no new thing under the sun, saying:

7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

The word, profane used here is bebylos and refers to non-spiritual tales that were outside the realm of faith. So “refuse tales and old wives ‘ fables” OR stories that could not be established as fact but illicit frightening or fearful reactions in people or cause people to place faith in superstitions rather than God. We may be familiar with some of these when it comes to determining the gender of a child, things like that. Such were abundant in that day and Paul is warning Timothy about getting wrapped up in them – which, frankly, religiously minded people have historically been enticed to do.

Cultural Tales and Spiritual Focus

There is a horrific book that deals with such called, The Painted Bird, by Jerzy Kosinski. Read it years ago – if you are somehow interested in the back-wooded beliefs of some early Jews this is it. The Cohen Brothers movie, A serious Man, also deals, beginning to end, with the subject of old Hebrew wives and husband tales. Paul tells Timothy to instead “exercise thyself rather unto godliness” rather than attempting to understand or live by those fables.

Do not occupy your time and attention with them, but rather cultivate piety, and seek to become more holy. The next verse begins with “for,” and from this we can see that what he says next is connected to what he said in verse 7. So verse 7

7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 8 For “bodily exercise profiteth little:” but godliness is profitable unto all things,

He had mentioned to Timothy that he ought to “exercise himself rather unto Godliness” in verse 7. Then at verse 8 he adds:

8 For “bodily exercise profiteth little:” but godliness is profitable unto all things,

Bodily Exercise and Christian Piety

Having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

The term, “profiteth little” is better understood as profiteth for “a little time.” And there are several points to consider when interpreting Paul’s meaning here – all assisted by proper context. First of all, we know that bodily exercise profits a great deal in the human realm, so we have to resist from being literal about the verse. That being said, relative to the eternities, we could also say that the statement is frankly true – that bodily exercise profits for a little time relative to the eternities. We also know that there are people out there who exercise daily and die early deaths and people like my Dad who have never exercised a day in his life and is almost 90 years old.

Immediately, I think we can say that Paul, then, is probably referring to some wives tale going around that was promoting some form of bodily exercise, perhaps something that dovetailed nicely into meditation or prayer or fasting or whatever. And since the Greeks were all about exercise and the Olympics and stuff, it could very well be that specifically this is what Paul as referring to. Finally, what Paul is really saying it that compared to Christian piety and holy living, by comparison, bodily exercise profits only a little; that a heart tender for God and Man is superior to a heart physically robust. That the muscles of faith are far more valuable than toned biceps, etc. And so Paul adds:

Godliness Versus Bodily Exercise

“But godliness is profitable unto all things, or in every respect.”

And if we think about this seriously I think we would conclude, as believers at least, that by comparison again (because this is what Paul is making here) if you take a person who is the consummate human being relative to all the traits of what could be deemed “successful human living” – they are physically fit, intellectually developed, financially secure, controlled, wise in all things (except the things of God) and you take a person who is consummately in tune with God, that all parts of the latter’s life will wind up superior, relative to the eternal picture, than that of the former.

Paul actually explains why this would be the case, saying in verse 8:

8 For “bodily exercise profiteth little:” but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

And he adds:

9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.

So, choose wisely your priorities. Set your sites on eternal things while here, and the wisdom that comes with such a choice will flow over into all areas of life here, AND all areas of eternal life there. I wish I could bottle this perspective up and give it to the masses – especially the youth. To teach them that the most rewarding approach to life here is to actually live for life there. In so doing, priorities are automatically rearranged in the most valuable order all things considered. And in the process life here becomes more abundant, not less.

So Paul continues and adds at verse 10:

Trusting in the Living God

10 For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe.

When Paul writes, “For therefore,” he is referring to the fact that to approach godliness, with the result being a better life here and a better life there, so – For therefore, with the fact that godliness leads to a better life here and a better life there, “we both labor and suffer reproach because we trust in the living God.” At the end of the road, this is really what it all comes down to, right?

Do we trust that living a Godly life now is worth it (now) and later? Do we trust that being honest with others, that refraining from gratuitous sex, that not exacting revenge, that turning the other cheek and living a life of agape loveSelfless love marked by patience, mercy, and humility—central to living in spiritual liberty. is a benefit to life here and now and to life later? This is the basic question as God promises that “all things will work out for good for those who love him,” and that there are eternal rewards for choosing to live godly lives, and that His ways are superior to ours – is this faith and trust valid and worth surrendering our ways, our lust, our greed and our revenge.

Faith and Salvation

This all amounts to faith – or not. Those who will not look to him in faith look to this life, and build their house, in some respects relative to the eternities, on sand. So, Paul wrote:

10 For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, and he adds a line that must be dealt with which describes God, and Paul saying of him “who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe.”

Now, this passage is interpreted in a few ways and the biggest way, because most interpreters cannot accept that God would ultimately be the actual savior of all men, says that God is the general savior of humanity in that he provides for our physical needs and he provides for our actual heavenly salvation by providing the world His Son. The other “less popular view” says something to the effect that God is the savior of all men in the specific senses listed above but that the focus of the passage should be on the second line where Paul writes, “especially those who believe.” Meaning, believers are the ones who are truly, actually and especially saved and this is the important part of the passage to focus upon and not the general message that God is the savior of all men.

One commentator that I appreciate greatly wrote the following (which I don’t appreciate at all) about the passage, saying: “It cannot mean that he brings all men to heaven, especially those who believe–for this would be nonsense.”

To me, since scripture plainly teaches that Jesus paid for the sins of the world (as in)

1st John 2:2 “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Then to me, God is the savior of all men in that he saved all from the judgment of our sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace. and the associated deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God. that comes as a result. And then this is especially true of those who believe for the simple reason that the shed blood and its value on believers is amplified ten million fold in the fact that they are then imputed with the righteousness of Christ upon belief, gifted with the Holy Spirit and adopted into the Kingdom of GodGod’s spiritual reign—fulfilled and present, not political or future. which ensures them a heavenly home with the Lord God Almighty.

Command and Teach

Saving all men from the judgment of sin on their lives caused by being born in fallen flesh seems like an equitable gesture on the part of a loving God; but especially saving those who choose to believe also seems right in the face of a God who gives all people choice. Then Paul adds:

11 These things command and teach.

So funny, but I don’t often hear pastors and preachers teaching that God is the Savior of all men especially those who believe. Do you? And yet Paul specifically tells Timothy that this is something he ought to suggest and teach others. Then he adds something important to Timothy himself, saying:

12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Be an Example

For Paul to say, “Let no man despise thy youth,” the meaning is, do not give any person reason to despise you because of your age.” In other words, “act maturely and be an example of the believers in WORD (teachings) in conversation, in love, in spirit (probably meaning from his soul – his mind and will and emotion) in faith and then in purity. (verse 13)

“And until I come to you,” he adds, “give attention to reading, to exhortation and to doctrine.” Reading of what? Certainly, the Old Testament, and whatever epistles he may have had access to, but he could have also included readings of anything that would have enhanced his knowledge of the people and world around him. For instance, Paul himself shows a knowledge of ancient Greek culture in Acts 17:28 and Titus 1:12, so I doubt that he was telling him to only read holy writ.

And Paul adds at verse 14:

14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

That reading in the English sounds very much like Paul is saying to Timothy: Don’t neglect the gift that is in you which you received by prophecy with (meaning through) the laying on of the hands of the elders.

“Neglect not” is clear

The Gift and Accompaniment

Enough, but “the gift” comes from the word “charisma” and could as easily be translated grace – as in, “neglect not the grace that is in you.” And then (dia prophêteias) “or by prophecy” does not mean that Timothy received the grace or gift by prophecy but that he was to use his gift “accompanied by prophecy.” This hearkens back to 1st Timothy 1:18 where Paul wrote “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare,”

And so the meaning is, “use the gift or grace in you along with the prophecies or teachings you have received” (probably meaning the lessons he received from Paul – both in this letter and elsewhere). “With (meta in the Greek) the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.” Here again “meta” does not express instrumentality or means, but merely accompaniment. We will read in 2nd Timothy 1:6 that Paul speaks only of his own laying on of hands, but the rest of the presbytery no doubt did so at the same time and the reference is to this incident.

So, taking all of this, I would read this passage as Paul saying: “Don’t neglect the gift or grace in you, accompanied by the things you have been taught along with the setting apart you received from the elders of the church.” The setting apart was done when souls were going to go out into the world and perform a service. It was done by the laying on of hands (a practice taken from the Old Testament) and in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Even Paul and Barnabas received this setting apart in Antioch before sojourning out. But we know that they were set apart specific to that trip and not to the ministry because that occurred before.

Common Interpretation

The common interpretation of this passage is that Paul is telling Timothy to never forget a virtue or gift that was bestowed upon him BY some sort of ordination through the laying on of hands by elders, also translated bishop. It is possible that this was the case, as that age was rife with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, but the better Greek analysis of the passage seems to support my first explanation.

15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

When we heard mediate we think of “oooohmmm.” But the word in that language and day means “to think about or imagine”. “Think about these things,” Paul says, “this gift, the teachings you have received, the laying on of hands by the elders,” and “give yourself wholly to them,” meaning, “live them and make them part of your daily life – (be in them),” To what end? “That thy profiting might appear to all.” That your advancements and progress and growth might appear to all.

Personal Growth and Witness

Paul will say something similar to Timothy his second epistle when he writes in 2nd Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Paul was advising Timothy to move forward in the things he possessed so that those watching him would see his growth or maturity. And that is what we want to do with our own lives – to grow in the gifts and graces that have been bestowed upon us as a means for others to see or witness our advances in the Gospel.

I don’t know how this happens without there being constant changes in both the individual involved and the things they teach and believe. Nothing temporal that is alive stays the same – not a fish, not a tree, not a person. And for me, a living faith is no different. God certainly allows, perhaps even programs these changes in human development, and it’s a sad, sad day in my mind when a grown man or woman postulates their opinions in their twenties and those same postulations are being promoted in their forties.

At this point, Paul adds at verse 16 a line that is sort of the opposite of what he said above about Timothy showing his advances to others when he says:

16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

The line, “take heed unto thyself,” speaks to maintaining a diligent view over his personal nature, and piety, habits

Emphasis on Faith and Salvation

and “unto the doctrine,” Paul says. “Did-ask-ah-lea.” To your public teachings and instructions. Watch both of these areas of your life – your manner and the matter you present. And, “continue in them,” meaning, the things that have been pointed out to you. And Paul adds:

“For in doing thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee.”

Now, if we have passages that tell us “we are saved by grace through faith,” and that “there is no salvation but by Christ,” we have to include these teachings in our understanding of what Paul means here. Essential to the Gospel is the primary fact that human beings cannot save themselves. There is nothing we can do, merit or accomplish that will ensure we are saved to His Kingdom. The salvation is a graceful gift of God but it is predicated on faith on His only begotten Son.

Understanding Grace and Faith

Scripture makes it clear that we are “justified before God by faith.” The reason I think we can say that salvation is by grace through faith is that our willingness to believe bestows upon us an enormous unmerited gift that outweighs the decision to believe a trillion fold. What I mean by this is the meager decision to believe on the life and works and death of Christ cannot be compared to the weight and magnitude of the grace bestowed as a result by the living God. Add in the idea that by the Spirit God gives us the ability to believe and we can even more readily see that we do nothing to merit salvation. Truly it is a gift.

Paul's Guidance to Timothy

So what Paul must be saying to Timothy is that by his attendance to the things Paul has mentioned, Timothy’s faith will remain intact, and that he will increase the faith of those who watch and hear him speak… that by his holding to the truth, and by the faithful performance of his duties, he would continue to secure the salvation of the soul not by earning it or proving himself worthy but by continuing to fortify his belief – which is essential to being a recipient of God’s grace. We could not possibly believe that Paul meant that Timothy could save himself or others meritoriously, but that these faithful labors he engages in would be regarded as evidence of His salvation and would serve to keep him in the faith, by which he is saved.

I am personally convinced that while salvation is the most wonderful unmerited gift from God, every individual holds their own salvation in their own hand and chooses to retain it in their life (by faith) or to discard it (by non-faith). And the enemies to the latter are more than abundant. With this belief in tow, it becomes important to sustain and support and nourish and grow our faith. And to me this is Paul’s overall point to Timothy.

Let’s jump to chapter 5 and read the first sixteen verses which we won’t get through today, but will at least get our feet wet with the content as it’s a set of scriptures that are certainly to them/then with some principles to us now.

5:1 Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; 2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.

3 Honor widows that are widows indeed. 4 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. 5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. 6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. 7 And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless. 8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. 9 Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, 10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. 11 But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; 12 Having damnation,

The Teachings of Paul to Timothy

because they have cast off their first faith. 13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. 14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 15 For some are already turned aside after Satan. 16 If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.

Guidance for Relating to Others

Alright then, lets go back as Paul throws down some pretty strict insights for Timothy and he begins by talking about the way Timothy was to relate to others, beginning with elders, and he says

5:1 Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;

Rebuke not an elder – which means an elderly man or one his senior and we know this from the fact that he then will speak of “younger men,” right?

Rebuke not an older man BUT treat him as a Father. The Command to honor parents is loosely referred to her and since children are to honor their fathers and mothers, then when communicating with people older than himself, Timothy was to speak to them respectfully, and with honor. This does not mean Timothy could not take an elder to task, but he was to do it the way a child was to take a parent to task – with respect – and not harshly. And he adds, “And the younger men as brethren.” Meaning, treat them as you would your own brothers. Do not consider them as aliens; strangers, or enemies, but engage them, even when they go astray, with the loving feelings one would have for an actual blood brother.

2 The elder women as mothers; (so the same thing with older women – as mothers whom we honor) and the younger (women) as sisters, with all purity.

Importance of Honoring Elders

If we would only adopt this advice today, right? What a different world this would be? There have been times historically where younger people treated the aged with respect and the younger with love, so we know that it is possible. But I am not so sure anymore.

And with respect to younger women, I have discovered that when I have found myself attracted to younger women over the years a sure fire way to quench improper ideas toward them is to bring Jesus into the conversation. Almost immediately I will experience a shift in perspective and truly view them as my “literal siblings” (younger sisters) in the Lord. And younger sisters need someone she can trust rather than someone seeking to prey upon her.

The Topic of Widows

So, I find Paul’s advice to Timothy here absolutely on point and still valuable in our day. And when he adds to the idea, “with all purity,” we get the point. At this point, however, he enters into a topic about widows which, we will see next week, would be really difficult to put into action or to apply to ourselves in this day, and he begins with

3 Honor widows that are widows indeed.

And I think we ought to cover this verse – along with the others that speak to the same subject – next week.

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