May 4th 1 Timothy 6 v 12 - 21
V 12. Fight The later epistles of Paul and others had as one of their purposes to inform and prepare Christians for the rising tide of opposition and persecution which was to come in the ages immediately following. The good fight involves holding fast the faith and committing it to others.
In this context it is closely related to holding fast and laying hold of eternal life.
The same word translated fight is used by the Lord in Lk 13 v 24 as "strive".
Called. Calling is the gracious work of the Holy Spirit in bringing us to faith in Christ.
Professed. The same word is also translated "confess" (Rom l0 v 9). This is a basic doctrine in the Lord's teaching (Mt 10 v 32).
V 13, I give thee charge. The solemn charge which begins here is one sentence running through the verses 15 and 16. It symbolizes God as the one who gives life to all things ( cf. Rom 4 v 17 for the same emphasis on God's sovereign power and purposes in salvation).
Paul had just spoken of eternal life in the preceding sentence; here it is emphasized that God is the one who gives it by effectual calling. Christ is considered as the one who gave a good confession before Pilate. Just as Timothy had been called to life and had given a good confession, so Paul refers first to the Giver of all life and then to One who gave the good confession before Pilate.
The good confession is to confess Jesus as Lord (Rom 10 v 9); such was the Lord's claim before Pilate and others.
God and Christ are the witnesses of Paul's charge to Timothy.
V 14. That thou keep this commandment.
Commandment seems to be used here as a all-inclusive word for the Gospel, as Jesus used it in Jn 12 v 50 ( see also I Jn 3 v 23; 11 John 6) Keeping the commandment spotless and without reproach means both teaching and living above reproach.
Until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the high point of Paul's religious teaching emphasis.
The apostle uses it as the climax of his solemn charge to Timothy and as the change to his great song of praise to the triune God.
V 15 In his times. This expression is identical with "in due time" in 2 v 6 and Titus 1 v 3; in its own times; at the proper time, - in the fulness of time as known to God.
The triune God is the one who will reveal the appearing of Christ ( 1 Cor 15 v 28).
V 16 Paul's thought moves from God's manifestations to men as Potentiating King through his sovereign prerogative of immortality, back to his mysterious and inscrutable being, and leads to the final ascription of honor and eternal omnipotent sway.
V 17 in this world. (This present world). Paul's eschatological horizon has in view the age to come, the new heavens and new earth.
High-minded. (Proud.) The expression is a single verb in Greek, combining two elements found in both Rom 11 v 20 and 12 v 16.
Trust. Not having your hope set on
Enjoy. God has given all he has created for blessing and pleasure, which is realized only when possessions are put in the right relation to him; they are a stewardship from him.
V 18, This indicates how to use wealth.
To do good and to be rich in good works are parallel;
to be ready to distribute and willing to communicate (be liberal or sharing).
In regarding and using wealth, one lays up a good foundation and lays hold on the life to come.
V 19 Laying up in store . . . a good foundation against the time to come is a commentary on and parallel to Mt 6 v 19-21.
Eternal life. "The life which is truly life."
V 20) Final Appeal to Timothy.
With deep emotion and personal appeal Paul begins his final exhortation:
O Timothy (the interjection is especially frequent in Paul's epistles; see Rom 2 v 1,3; 9 v 20; Gal 3 v 1).
He then briefly reiterates the principal theme of the entire epistle
(a) Keep that which is committed to thy trust.
The whole phrase is the rendering of three words:
guard the Gospel. This is the central message of the Pastoral letters: Guard the Gospel tradition by life and sound teaching,
( b) avoiding profane and vain babblings. There are two forms of learning which hide the Gospel:
(1) profane (implies blasphemous desecration of holy things) and vain babblings, consisting of high-¬sounding, empty words and speculations used for purposes of flashiness:
(2) science (., knowledge) falsely so called.
V 21 Paul makes it plain that he is able to distinguish solid learning and fact from speculations without evidence, mere myth and fancy,
which some professing have erred.
"Some, promising these fictions as truth and reality, leave the pledge and promise of God, which is the faith" ( cf. II Pet 2 v 19).
Grace be with thee. This is the characteristic ending to all Paul's epistles ( II Thess 3 v 17, 18; the briefest form is found here and in Col 4 v 18).
News from the Church New dates
7th May …..Friendship Group, (this covers all ages and the lonely people)
21st May…. Knit and natter is a time to finish old projects or learn new skills
26th to 31st May….. History Week 9am to 6pm
ANSWERS TO 27th April QUESTIONS
1) Built an Altar to God 2) Death of the first born 3) Grapes 4)Manna 5) A tiller of the ground
6) Turned water to blood 7) A famine 8) The great flood 9) God’s 10) All their money 11) Samuel
12) Gopher wood 13) A golden calf 14) In the beginning God 15) Camel 16) Tabernacle
Bible Quiz this week’s Quiz is the OLD TESTAMENT
1 How long was Jonah in the great fish?
2 What animal did Samson kill with his bare hands?
3 What disease was Miriam healed of?
4 What did God call light and darkness?
5 What was God’s sign of no more flooding the whole world?
6 How did the Israelites cross the Red Sea?
7 What kind of tree did Absolom get his hair caught in?
8 What animals did David kill while looking after the sheep?
9 What bird did Noah first release from the Ark?
10 What did Jacob give to Joseph to show his love for him?
11 Which tree did God forbid Adam and Eve to eat from?
12 What was Able’s occupation?
13 What musical instrument did David play?
14 What did Jacob dream he saw reaching up to heaven?
15 What kind of Special building did Solomon build?
16 What kind of weapons were used to defeat the Midianites?
God Bless