Sorry for the delay in getting these posts up...I have not been feeling that well the last few weeks and I went to The Philippines for a conference this week. This weeks post we will discuss 1 Timothy 5:1-6:2 (Why this unusual break up...because the chapter and verse break up seems to break up a thought that Paul was writing—after all Paul did not use chapter and verse divisions—so I have chosen to try and keep the thought together). Before we go on let me put the Scripture here for your reference:
1 Timothy 5:1 - 6:2 (From the English Standard Version):
Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.
Honour widows who are truly widows. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work. But refuse to enrol younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. For some have already strayed after Satan. If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows.
Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The labourer deserves his wages.” Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality. Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.) The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.
Let all who are under a yoke as bond-servants regard their own masters as worthy of all honour, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.
These verses are a continuation of the various instructions for the church that Paul is giving to Timothy, and the first two verse of this chapter actually should have been included in my last post as they continue the instructions Paul had in regards to Timothy's behaviour as a church leader: At the end of chapter Paul tells Timothy to be the example of his church, demonstrating to all how to a Christian should live. In the first two verses of Chapter 5 Paul also tells Timothy that when it comes time to helping the congregation members grow in their Christian faith he must approach them in the right way: Do not rebuke an older man, instead encourage him as a father, younger men as brothers, older woman as mothers, and younger woman as sisters, in all purity. People tend to respond poorly to rebuke (though there are times it is need, and we will get to that in later verses) Paul specifically tells Timothy not to rebuke older men, and then tells him to encourage everyone. I am not sure if the "Do not rebuke" also applies to all demographics as well...but a good practice would be to encourage our fellow believers towards godliness.
Verse of the verse tells Timothy to honour widows who are truly widows and then the next few verses (verses 4-16) go on to discuss the ministry towards widows and who should be considered eligible to benefit from this ministry. Many of the early churches would provide assistance to widows who had no family to take care of them. As with any outreach or ministry, we can imagine that resources would have been limited so Paul gives Timothy some very specific criteria: eligible widows would be (and I am paraphrasing here) those over the age of 60, been faithful in her marriage, was an upstanding woman who is dedicated to good works, well thought of by others, cared for their own families and others, and now are left all alone with no one to care for them in return. Younger widows should not be enrolled as they tend to "become idlers, gossips, and busybodies" Paul would rather the woman who loose their husbands at young ages remarry or take on work to care for their own families. Also Paul is clear that members of the church should take care of their own elderly parents and not expect the church to take care of them as this prevents the church from ministering to those who are in true need.
Verses 17 to 21 give some more further instructions regarding the leaders of the church; first saying that they are worthy of double honour, especially the teachers a preachers. Those who give up their personal pursuits and time to lead a ministry our church are worthy of honour. We should not speak poorly about them, but respect them. Furthermore, we should not belittle or think ill of a church pastor our ministry leader that is given wages from the churches income. "A workman is worth his wages" is what Paul says. I have seen churches where they ask some one to volunteer in a key leadership position, expecting the volunteer to put in almost full-time hours despite not receiving any monetary incentive, expecting him to give up paid work for the unpaid position in the church. This is not right. Yes the church needs volunteers, but if a volunteer position in the church requires more the volunteers to sacrifice beyond what is reasonable, it may be time for the church to consider making the position paid (not to put numbers in place—because each volunteer and church is different—if a ministry requires the key volunteer, or volunteers, to put in over more than, say, 15 hours a week it is most likely time to start paying a stipend). So do not be stingy when it comes to supporting ministry leaders, they are worth their wages...
...moving on. Paul continues by telling Timothy to not accept, or believe, accusations against a person in leadership, unless it is supported by two or three witnesses. That is, if some one comes up and says: "I saw the worship leader doing getting drunk" or "Pastor, the head usher was shoplifting last week" or "the associate pastor was treating the congregation members in appropriately" do not believe it, unless you have heard it from more than one source...or have seen it for yourself. Quick side note: by "two or three witnesses" Paul does not mean three people come together to tell you something because one of them had seen it and she asked for moral support; but that two or three people have each observed the behaviour with their own eyes (either at the same time, or on different occasions). In verse 20 Paul tells us how to deal with elders that continue in sin (i.e. those that you observe continuing to sin, or that "two or three witnesses" have confirmed the behaviour): "Rebuke them in the presence of all." Elders and church leaders must be the example of Christian behaviour in the church, if they are continuing to live in a life of sin it must be made clear that the behaviour is not appropriate, that this type of conduct is not becoming of a Christian. It must be noted that Paul is talking about church elders/leaders/bishops/overseers/deacons when he tells Timothy to "Rebuke them in the presence of all." We should not rebuke the average congregational member in front of anyone, for that is not encouraging them in the manner Paul told us to at the beginning of the chapter. However, because Church leaders are the representatives, the examples of the church, they need to be rebuked in front of the church, failure to do so would be the church endorsing the sin—I would make a note here: this rebuking should be for the case of open and obvious sin (i.e. seen by two or three witnesses), in the case of "hidden sins" that the leader has come to you in private asking for help, I would most likely not rebuke them in front of everyone, unless it is needed, but I would seriously consider having them step down from their position. (This is, of course, my opinion at this moment in time, and how a church pastor disciplines a deacon who confesses his struggle with alcoholism or pornography will have to decide the best method with much prayer, discernment and leading of the Spirit.)
In verse 21 Paul tells Timothy to be careful to not show any partiality when keeping the rules of conduct. Discipline all elders the same, do not show favouritism or leniency to a person because of who they are, aside from being a church member. There is no social hierarchy or privilege in the church, treat everyone with the same respect, decency, and love. In verse 22 Paul tells Timothy not to be to quick to lay hands on people...if I remember some of my bible studies correctly this is referring to putting individuals into a position of authority, which was down by the pastor laying his hands upon the person and praying for them (some churches call it "releasing them into the ministry") But in context of the rest of the verse "nor partake in the sins of others..." I would just as soon read it thus: "Do not be to quick (or be careful) who you endorse, be careful to not endorse (or appear to endorse) sin. Keep a standard of purity in all you do." Verse 23 is a bit odd, it is in brackets in the ESV, Paul basically tells Timothy to enjoy a little wine, for the sake of his upset stomach. This verse has caused people to use it as a license to drink, which is not really what Paul is saying. He is just giving Timothy some health advice: Timothy must have suffered from some stomach ailment, and wine was proven to help, so drink a little to relieve the pain.
Verse 24 and 25 Tell us that nothing can remain hidden: that sin, even sin done in secret will be found out. Likewise good works make themselves know, even the ones done secret. Truly there is nothing that can be kept a secrete, at some point it will come out. Of course during the final judgement everything will be made plain, but there is more to it than that: A person that continues to sin and live in the way of the world (even if they hide it really well) while show the characteristics of the world. A man's character is revealed by the way he acts, and the way he continually acts will shape his character. Those who pursue godliness and good works will have the truer, more righteous spirit.
The last bit to look at today is the start of chapter 6; verse 1 and 2: Paul encourages slaves to work diligently for their masters. While in the church all people where created equal, and it is good for people to stand up against things like slavery, it does not paint a very good picture of a Christian if a slave starts disobeying his master "because I am a Christian" all this shows a master is that Christianity teach slaves to be disobedient. To put this in more modern day thought: An employee, who is a Christian, should be the best employee an employer has ever had. How do you know that you are not the only Christian your boss may meet? what better way to witness to him than to be a faithful and diligent worker? Paul says we should be even more faithful when the master (or employer) is Christian because it is a fellow brother who benefits from the good service.
That is everything for this week. Next week I should be able to get Chapter 6 up, which will be the last study in this book.
Thank you for your time,
Tyler
A Boy WonderLabels: 1 Timothy, Bible Teaching, VABC