Pastors Jim and Marie Watt
(From: 1 TIMOTHY #3 - 4:1-16)
D. 4:1-10 FOREWARNING OF LAST DAY APOSTASY
1. 4:1-5 FALSE TEACHING FORETOLD FOR LATTER DAYS
a. 4:1-3 DEMONS AND FALSE TEACHERS
To de PNEUma 'reTOS [4490]LEgei, HOti en huSTErois kaiROIS a-poSTEsonTAI [868]ti-nes tes PIste-os,
But the Spirit says expressly, that in later seasons some shall fall from the faith,
proSEchon-tes [4337] PNEUma-si PLAnois [4108] kai di-da-skaLIais [1319] dai-moNIon [1140],
giving heed to deceiving spirits and teachings of demons,
en hu-poKRIsei [5272] pseu-doLOgon [5573], ke-kau-ste-ri-asMEnon [2743]ten iDIan suNEIde-sin [4893];
2through hypocrisy of lying speakers, their own conscience branded;
koluONton [2967]gaMEIN [1060], ePEches-thai [567]broMAton [1033],
3 forbidding to marry, commanding to abstain from meats,
ha ho TheOS EKti-sen [2936] eis meTAlem-psin [3336]meTA eu-cha-riSTIas [2169]
which :God created to be received with thanksgiving
tois piSTOIS kai e-peg-noKOsi [1921]ten aLEthei-an.
by them that believe and know the truth.
b. 4:4-5 ALL FOOD GIVEN BY GOD
HOti pan KTISma TheOU kaLON, kai ouDEN aPOble-ton [579], meTA eu-cha-riSTIas lam-baNOme-non:
Because every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if received with thanksgiving:
a-giAze-tai [37] gar diA LOgou TheOU kai enTEUxe-os [1783].
5for it is sanctified through God's word and prayer.
2. 4:6-10 THE CORRECTIVE TO THE FALSE TEACHER
a. 4:6 PUTTING IN MIND
TAUta hu-po-tiTHEme-nos [5294] tois a-delPHOIS, kaLOS EsediAko-nos [1249]ChrisTOU IeSOU,
If you put the brethren in mind of these things, you shall be a good minister of Christ Jesus,
en-trePHOme-nos [1789] tois LOgois tes PIste-os
nourished in the words of the faith
kai tes kaLES di-da-skaLIas [1319]hepa-re-koLOUthe-kas [3877]:
and of the good teaching which you have followed on:
tous de beBElous [952]kai graOdeis [1126]MUthous [3454]pa-raiTOU [3868].
but refuse profane and old women's fables.
b. 4:7-8 THE VALUE OF GODLINESS
GUMna-ze [1128] de se-auTON pros euSEbei-an [2150]:
And exercise yourself unto godliness:
hegar so-ma-tiKE[4984]gum-naSIa [1129]pros oLIgon [3641]esTIN oPHEli-mos [5624];
8for the bodily exercise is profitable for little;
hede euSEbei-a [2150]pros PANta oPHEliMOS [5624]es-tin,
but :godliness is profitable for all things,
e-pag-geLIan [1860] Echou-sa zo-ES [2222]tes nun, kai tes melLOUses.
having promise of the life now, and of the one to come.
c. 4:9 Faithful the saying, and worthy of all acceptation.
piSTOS ho LOgos, kai PAses a-po-doCHES [594]Axi-os [514].
d. 4:10 HOPE IN GOD: AN INCENTIVE TO GODLINESS
eis TOUto gar ko-piOmen [2872]kai a-go-niZOme-tha [3679], HOti elPIca-men [1679]ePI TheO ZONti [2198],
For unto this we labor and strive, because we have our hope set on a living God,
HOS es-tin soTER [4190]PANton anTHROpon, MAli-sta [3122]piSTON.
who is Savior of all men, specially of the faithful.
E. 4:11-16 STANDARDS FOR THE MINISTER
a. 4:11 These things command and teach. PaRAGgel-le [3853] TAUta kai DIda-ske [1321].
b. 4:12 TIMOTHY: AN EXAMPLE
meDEIS sou tes neOte-tos [3503]ka-ta-phroNEIto[2706]; alLA TUpos [5179]GInou ton piSTON, en LOgo,
Let no one despise your :youth; but be an example to the faithful, in word,
en a-na-stroPHE[391], en aGApe, en PIstei, en hagNIa [47].
in behavior, in love, in faith, in purity.
c. 4:13 Till I come, give heed to the reading, the exhortation, the teaching.
HEos ERcho-mai, PROse-che [4337]te a-nagNOsei [320], te pa-raKLEsei [3874], te di-da-skaLIa [1319].
d. 4:14 THE CHARISMATIC MINISTRY: HOW GIVEN
meaMElei [272]tou en soi chaRISma-tos [5486], ho eDOthe soi diA pro-pheTEIas [4394],
Neglect not the gift in you, which was given you through prophecy,
meTA e-piTHEse-os [1936]ton cheiRON tou pres-bu-teRIou [4244].
with laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
e. 4:15 Be diligent in these; give yourself wholly to these; that your :progress be manifest to all.
TAUta meLEta [3191]; en TOUtois ISthi; HIna sou hepro-koPE [4297]pha-neRA [5318]e PAsin.
f. 4:16a Take heed to yourself, and to the teaching.
Epe-che [1907] se-auTO, kai tedi-da-skaLIa [1319].
g. 4:16b SALVATION CONTINUES TO FLOW: WHEN STEWARDSHIP MAINTAINED
ePIme-ne {1961] auTOIS; TOUto gar poiON
Continue therein; for in doing this
kai se-auTON SOseis [4982]kai tous aKOUonTAS [191]sou.
you shall save both yourself and your :hearers.
NOTE: In 1947 a book came into my hands while I was attending St. Andrew's College in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It was entitled, “Let God Say What HeWants to Say, and Let the Bible MeanWhat It Wants to Mean!”It made a decided impression on me, and though it may seem like a small incident in my past life - yet I believe God was in it - and to this day I stillaim to walk in this truth. The last mailing on 1 Timothy 2 & 3 with my Notes on these two chapters reveal that I do not regard the “traditions”, thinking and writings of man as highly as I do what God and His Word say!
Is it costly to take this stance? Decidedly! It is like salmon swimming and fighting upstream to spawn. They are going against the current of human customs and much more. To go against the current writing and teaching in the church is running counter to what in a spiritual sense is politically incorrect. But Daniel in his day lived this way, and God looked after him in 3 Empires, putting him high up to Emperors in each case. But if we take our eyes off things in the world, and live “With Eternity's Values in view” - we may not like Daniel be promoted and protected as was he - but we will notmiss out in eternity. There isa “Judgment Seat of Christ” for each believer at His return - and therewe will receive righteousjudgment, even though down here it does not always come.
So I am committed to stand with God's word entirely, as I am able to understand it. I dolove the Word of God - the Bible - and have given myself to making it known and available as simply and as accurately as I know how. I had an assistant who consistently departed from the standard in producing Panin's Interlinear Greek NT, and I had to take a stand in renouncing his inaccurate and self-serving work. Unfortunately for him, he spent 1000's of hours doing his own thing, and wonders why he does not have open doors for his ministry. Panin has had 4 friends who in the past claimed to be his friends - but were actually stabbing him in the back. “Who needs enemies, when they have such self-proclaimed friends?”
I am also committed to bringing to pass both Panin's Greek and English NT texts into an Interlinear format, along with Greek Word studies true to letting the Word mean what it wants to mean, and seeking not to insert my own private interpretations.
4:1-5 - A seriousunveiling of the dangers we face from those who forsake the truth is here. For such understand where we are coming from, and know how to cause us to go astray if possible. See for instance, how “Soros” has forsaken his Jewish heritage, and has made such serious inroads into American Jews today in the Diaspora. Paul clearly reveals that those who forsake the faith become aided by demons - so we have two areas about which to be concerned. Even our government has been undermined by this Soros.
4:6-10 - Then Paul shows what Timothy can do positively to overcome the danger of false teachers. Be aware of the danger. Don't be naive and bury your head like an ostrich in the sand. Those who go “overboard” in being “politically correct,” fall into this foolish syndrome. Keep to sound teaching. Refuse the fables of old women. And - don'tgo overboard in physical excellence; godliness will do much more for us in the long run as we majorin thisdirection. Then Paul underlines this position by accentuating the faithfulnessof it, and that it should be accepted. Our hope set on a Living God, Jesus - the Saviorof all men - will see us through. All of these positionsare for us - but through apostolic city pastors such as Timothy and Titus, they will come to us with effectiveness.
- 4:11-16 - Here is a truly personal word from a mentor to his son in the faith! What has been given to Timothy is to be both commandedand taught. And - this is best doneby example. To say, “Do as I say, but not as I do,”is rank hypocrisy!
Notice the 3 things Paul picks out for Timothy to emphasize: Reading! John promises a special blessing for reading the book of Revelation. Paul's letters are to be read and commented upon. Mostimportant!
Exhortation! Like a cheer leader! Like the “cloud of witnesses” for usin the Arena!
Teaching! - Timothy is not to take this for granted. Ensure that all believers in Ephesus are thoroughly grounded first in the “milk of the word” - the foundation truths (Hebrews 6:1-2) - and then on to strong meat! We stand victoriously when we are solidly grounded. When the Word is our great Plumbline - then we can quickly spot error.
4:14 is an enlargement on 1:18! Not only did Paul lay hands on Timothy for ordination, but so also the Eldership of the 3 cities from where Timothy came. This was accompanied with prophecy. This doctrine was restored in action in 1948 at North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Gifts of the Spirit - the “Charismata” - were imparted at that time. These gifts can fall into disuse through neglect. Paul was ensuring that Timothy would not fail in this respect.
To me, 4:15 is a most crucial insight. The word “meLEta” - be diligent - can also be translated “meditate” on my instructions to you - vocally and prayerfully! Like Joshua in 1:8 - Keep these words in your mouth. Don't be silent in these things of faith! And meditate with the end in view to dothem! Thenone's way becomes prosperous - and thenhe has good success!
Maintain and keep up to date on these teachings! Salvation for selfand hearersis the sure result! J.A.W.