Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
…older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
Summary: Paul’s words challenge men to treat women with purity, echoing the words of the Old Testament laws.
Paul’s instructions to Timothy provide clear guidance on how to treat people. Not only people in church, but all people. In this passage, Paul once again instructs Timothy about those older and younger than he is. This time, the focus is on women.
Continue reading “1 Timothy 5:2a – In Search of Purity”
Treat younger men as brothers…
Summary: Paul’s instruction to Timothy about younger men is part of our Lord’s plan for setting things right in the world.
Life is hard without Jesus.
I remember, when I was very young, hearing someone say, “Too bad life doesn’t come with an instruction manual!” It was a comment that seemed to capture all the confusion of life’s many decisions and turning points.
Continue reading “1 Timothy 5:1b – Little Brother”
Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father.
Summary: Paul gives Timothy specific instructions for correcting the behavior of older men.
Old men hate to be rebuked, especially “harshly”!
Let’s face it, “old men” have been around for a while. They know things. Even if the things they know are not useful anymore, they still know things simply because they have survived as long as they have.
Continue reading “1 Timothy 5:1a – For Father’s Sake”
Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Summary: Once again, Paul challenges us to dive into the Greek to understand what he is trying to tell us.
In the last meditation, “1 Timothy 4:16a – Me, Myself, and I,” we looked at Paul’s admonition to Timothy to “Watch your life and doctrine closely.” Paul wasn’t reprimanding Timothy in any way, but was instead encouraging and cautioning him as one worker does to a co-worker.
Continue reading “1 Timothy 4:16b – The Test of Fire”
Watch your life and doctrine closely.
Summary: Paul’s use of Greek once again challenges us to consider the deeper meaning of what he was trying to say.
We often talk about the difference between the meanings of the original Greek words and the English translations, but in this case, we have one more barrier to cross.
Continue reading “1 Timothy 4:16a – Me, Myself, and I”
Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.
Summary: Paul’s choice of words becomes important as we push hard to better understand his meaning.
Now and then, we have to stop, pause, and ask, “What did Paul really say?”
Continue reading “1 Timothy 4:15 – A Mind Made New”
Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
Summary: Paul’s instruction in this verse is quite simple and straightforward.
Have you ever neglected a gift?
Continue reading “1 Timothy 4:14 – A Gift from God”
Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.
Summary: In this passage, Paul gives Timothy specific instructions; read, preach, and teach.
Much of Paul’s letter to Timothy is background information. In Chapter One, Paul explains about false doctrine, where it comes from, and why.
Continue reading “1 Timothy 4:13 – Read, Preach & Teach”
[but set an example for the believers] … in purity.
Summary: Paul completes his example of Christian living with a simple word, “purity.”
The word “purity,” both in English and Greek, conveys two concepts. First is the idea of cleanliness; that is, being without contamination. The second is an absence of moral corruption, especially sexual immorality.
Continue reading “1 Timothy 4:12f – Pure Faith”
[but set an example for the believers] … in faith…
Summary: Paul’s instruction to set an example moves from things we can observe into a realm that is both less obvious and more substantial. Faith is both invisible and very personal. For the believer, it is the foundation of our relationship with God.
It is one thing to set an example in speech and conduct: we can see that. It is another to set an example in love (agapē): we can feel that. But when we get to faith, we are talking about a different kind of thing. We can’t see or feel someone’s faith in God. All we can do is observe them over time and try to discern with our minds why they do what they do.
Continue reading “1 Timothy 4:12e – Finding Faith”