THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST
SPREADING THE SOUL-SAVING MESSAGE OF JESUs
(Chapters 3-6)
Introduction by narrator accompanied by a cappella singing:
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. Spreading the soul-saving message of Jesus. And now, Timothy Sparks and Ben Bailey.
Ben Bailey:
“These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly, but if I am delayed I write so that you may know how to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth” (1 Tim. 3:14-15). I’m Ben Bailey.
Timothy Sparks:
And I’m Timothy Sparks. Welcome to our study of 1 Timothy. These lessons are being brought to you by individual members and congregations of the churches of Christ. We invite you to visit the church of Christ in your area. We are making these broadcasts available on CD and DVD. If you would like to have one or more of these, visit us at our website at www.thegospelofchrist.com. There, you will find a request form that you can complete, and we will send you what you need, completely free of charge. If we can help you in any way, we would be glad to assist you in your study of the Word of God. If you have Bible questions, you may send those to us and we will be happy to correspond with you.
We begin our study today by completing our examination of 1 Timothy 3. At the end of chapter 3, we learn Paul’s reason for writing. In 1 Timothy 3:14-15, Paul says that he had hoped to see Timothy shortly. He then says, “But if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” Paul’s main reason for writing this first letter to Timothy is so that Timothy, and all other Christians, can learn about proper Christian behavior inside and outside the assembly of the church. Paul’s next comment, in 1 Timothy 3:16 (“Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory”), has been called “the Gospel in a nutshell.”
Ben Bailey:
In this passage, Paul is going to talk about the scheme of redemption—the Gospel plan of salvation. He says, “Great is the mystery of godliness.” What is that mystery? It is that God was manifested in the flesh. The mystery of godliness is that God, through Jesus, took on human form, came to Earth, and died for each one of us. It reminds us of the word “Immanuel” (Mt. 1:23), which is translated “God with us.” The message of Colossians 2:9 (“For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily”) might also come to mind. Jesus is the Godhead in bodily form. So what is the mystery of godliness? It is this: God was first manifested in the flesh, and then He was justified in the spirit. The idea is that Jesus was pure, righteous, and holy. Jesus was perfect in spirit. Hebrews 4:15 tells us, “He was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” We learn from 1 Peter 2:22, “He committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth.” When we talk about Jesus coming in human form, what makes that so important is that He lived a perfect life, and therefore He was able to provide the perfect sacrifice for each and every one of us. When He cried out on the cross, “My God, My God why have You forsaken me” (Mt. 27:46), you can rest assured that God had not forsaken His Son because of His sins. Rather, it was because of my sins, and because of yours. Jesus died for each one of us. So, yes, great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifested in the flesh. He was justified in spirit. And He was seen by angels. Think about that for a moment. Jesus was seen by the angels that were present at His tomb after His death and resurrection. But He was seen by more than just angels. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15 that there were over 500 brethren who saw Him at different times after He was resurrected. This is the most solid kind of evidence, which establishes the fact that our faith is not a “leap into the dark.” Paul then goes on to point out that Christ also was preached to the Gentiles. He came in the flesh, died for each one of us, was resurrected, and then was preached to the Gentiles. This is very important, because the Jews were God’s chosen people. The fact that Jesus was preached to the Gentiles is part and parcel of the mystery of godliness that many of the Jews had overlooked. They thought they were the only ones who would receive God’s promises. But if you go back to Genesis 12 and the original promise that God made to Abraham—that he would be a blessing to all nations—you see that Christ was promsied to the Gentiles as well. I am so thankful for that, because there are so many of us today who are Gentiles.
Timothy Sparks:
After Christ was preached among the Gentiles, we know that many who heard of Him believed on Him. Before someone can believe, of course, the Gospel must be preached. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. 10:17). Once the Gospel is preached, people in the world can believe that Gospel. Isn’t this the reason why God sent His Son into the world—“that the world through Him might be saved” (Jn 3:16-17)? Ultimately, Christ was “received up in glory”—a statement that is a reference to the ascension of Christ (as recorded in Acts 1—“He ascended to the right hand of the throne of God”). This was the fulfillment of Psalm 24:7-10.
“Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory will come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord is strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, everlasting doors! and the king of glory will come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.”
Daniel 7 is a prophecy that explains how the Son of Man would ascend to the ancient of days. Jesus Christ has indeed ascended to that throne at God’s right hand. All of this provides “the mystery of godliness.” But this mystery is not something that is concealed or hidden. In fact, it has now been revealed to us through God’s Word.
As Paul discusses proper Christian conduct, he talks about “the house of God, which is the church of living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” The church is supposed to uphold and support the truth. The truth of God does not depend upon the church for its veracity, but the truth does depend on the church for its dissemination. In 1 Timothy 3:14-15, we find Paul’s reason for writing to Timothy. Then, in verse 16, we find “the Gospel in a nutshell,” to explain to us Jesus’ coming, what He accomplished through justification, how He was seen by angels, and how e was preached among the Gentiles.
Ben Bailey:
We could sum up “the Gospel in a nutshell” by saying that it is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, and the fact that He died for all men. That is what this “mystery” is all about.
Timothy Sparks:
We learn that very thing from 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. It is the resurrection that puts power into Christ’s death, burial, and ascension.
Ben Bailey:
Romans 1:3 says that Christ was “declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” Here, in 1 Timothy 3:16, we see the power of the Gospel. This passage (1 Tim. 3:14-16) is the key text of the entire book. Why did Paul write Timothy? “I write so that you know how to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God.” Paul is not talking about our conduct only in worship services. We are members of the church of God wherever we are —whether we are at services, at work, or anywhere else. In every part of our lives, we must be good Christian examples. But now, Paul is going to be more specific. He addressed the roles of elders and deacons in chapter 3. Now, in chapter 4, he is going to speak specifically about how the church can conduct itself properly because it has qualified men who will preach the Gospel. In 1 Timothy 4:1-3, we learn,
“In latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.”
Paul tells Timothy that he should not get caught up in such things. What sorts of things would be taught by some? They would forbid certain people to marry, and they would forbid the eating of certain foods. Paul says in verse 5 that there is nothing wrong with food. It is, in fact, “sanctified by the Word of God and prayer.” In this context, Paul probably was speaking about a form of Gnosticism. Gnostics were a group of people who believed that they had greater knowledge than other people. The Gnostics said that you had to deny yourself all pleasures. You could not marry. You could not eat certain foods that tasted good because, according to the Gnostics, if the foods tasted good, they must have been sinful. However, as you think about these types of things, aren’t there some groups among us today that have taught that their religious leaders are not to marry, and that certain foods must not be eaten at certain times? [Wasn’t it popular several years ago not to eat meat on Fridays, for example?] Doesn’t the Bible apply to our times as well? So what is the work of a preacher? He must preach the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). But he also must make people aware of the fact that there are things that are being taught that are not according to the Word and will of God, that cannot be supported via the Bible and that therefore must be opposed. The preacher is not to “beat people over the head with a Bible.” He is not to preach and teach to be mean or ugly. Rather, he is to preach the truth because of a genuine love for people’s souls. Paul also makes it clear, in the first part of 1 Timothy 4, that part of the work of a preacher is to speak out against false doctrine.
Timothy Sparks:
In 1 Timothy 4:4-16, we are going to see what it means to be a good minister of Jesus Christ. In verse 6, Paul says, “If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good servant of Jesus Christ.” What is Paul talking about? “Instruct the brethren” in what things? Paul addressed the issue of apostasy when he spoke of how people were going to depart from the faith, and when he discussed various false teachings about forbidding to marry or forbidding the consumption of certain foods. Paul’s point, therefore, is that if the minister instructs people concerning the truth of these matters, then he will be considered a good servant—a good minister of Jesus Christ. In verse 8, Paul says that “bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things.” There are some people who spend all their time trying to perfect their physical body. But Paul says that such a pursuit is not what our lives are supposed to be about. Why? Bodily exercise “profits a little.” Paul is not saying that we do not need to exercise. As a matter of fact, there is some profit in it. But, as the old saying suggests, we must not “let the tail wag the dog.” In other words, we must remember what our lives are all about. Godliness is profitable for all things. Godliness is what is most important. We need to put first things first. As Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Ben Bailey:
In 1 Timothy 4:12, Paul says to Timothy, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers, in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity.” Timothy was a young man. Many times, young people (especially preachers) are not taken seriously because of their age. But Paul says, in essence, “Don’t let anybody despise your youth. Don’t let anybody tell you that you are too young to be doing what you are doing. Be an example in faith, in love, in purity, in the Word of God, and in your conduct. Instead of letting people look down on you, lift them up by your good example.” So, a preacher, as a servant of Jesus Christ, must set a good example. In 1 Timothy 4:13,16 Paul then says, “Until I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, and to doctrine…. For in doing this, you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” Paul stresses that Timothy must “give attention” to certain things. Where should a preacher put his attention? He should read and study the Word of God. He should give attention to exhortation, to doctrine, and to encouraging people to do right. The work of the preacher is to study God’s Word, pray, and preach that Word to others. Paul says to Timothy, “Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all” (vs. 15).
Timothy Sparks:
In Psalm 119:97, we read, “Oh how I love your law, it is my meditation all the day.” When we talk about meditating on the Word of God, we are not talking about just a fleeting moment of thinking. We are talking about careful consideration and study. Paul told Timothy, “Give attention to reading, to exhortation, and to doctrine…. For in doing this, you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” Yes, there is a sense in which we have to strive to save ourselves. There is a sense in which we do “work out our own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12). It is not that we “pull ourselves up by our own boot straps,” however. If we are saved at all, it is by Jesus Christ and His blood, because He died for us. We do not earn or merit our salvation. But from 1 Timothy 4:16, we learn that we can save ourselves (through our faithfulness), as well as those who hear us (by encouraging them to be faithful as well).
Ben Bailey:
In 1 Timothy 5:1, Paul tells Timothy, “Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father,” We must not look down on older men who are members of the church. Rather, we need to look up to these men as fathers, and look upon younger men as brothers. Paul’s point is that each person has a role, just like in a family. The older men are like the fathers, the younger men are like the brothers. And what about older women? How should we look upon them? We should look at them just as we would our mothers. We should give them honor. What about the younger women? We are to look upon them just as we would a sister. This is a discussion about the family of God. We should look up on older men as we would our fathers. We should look upon younger men are we would our brothers. We should look upon older women just like we would our mothers. And we should look upon the younger women as we would or sisters. Paul then adds “in all purity.” Paul thus teaches us, “Act with purity, and give honor to all the members.” If the church is going to be what it ought to be, each person must have his or her respective role. We need to encourage each person, help them, and honor them. As Romans 13:7 instructs, we must “give honor to whom honor is due.”
Timothy Sparks:
Parents need to be worthy of honor. If a father has not conducted himself properly toward his children (perhaps he abused them or beat them), then it is difficult for children to want to honor such an individual. Those who are being honored (like those mentioned in 1 Timothy 5:1-6) need to be worthy of that honor. Paul is saying that if everything is in its proper order, and if people have kept their proper roles, then a widow who has done everything she is supposed to do is certainly worthy of honor. However, she is not to receive help from the church if she is younger than 60. Why? It has to do with the fact that she still has the ability to work. This kind of teaching certainly strikes at the welfare mentality of our society today. In 2 Thessalonians 3:10, Paul says, “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” There is a legitimate reason why we find that a widow should not be supported by the church if she is below 60 years old. She must be “a widow indeed.” That is to say, she must be one who really needs help.
Ben Bailey:
Yes, and if she has children or grandchildren, they should take care of her. That is their God-given responsibility as family members. Paul then goes on to say,
“Refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. Therefore, I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. For some have already turned aside after Satan” (1 Tim. 5:11-15).
Paul’s point is that the church ought not to support people like the younger widows, because they can remarry again. They can have another home, have children, and let their husband provide for them. Paul urges this so that the church will not be overburdened. If there are older widows who are above the age of 60 and who do not have anyone to take care of them, them the church ought to support them financially. But younger widows who still have the ability to have a husband, have children, and have their own household, should not be supported by the church. Again, this strikes at the heart and core of our current welfare system. People ought to work if they are able. If they have children, they ought to take care of them. If not, the church ought to do what it can to assist. God has set it up so that the church is to “give honor” to certain people.
Timothy Sparks:
As Paul continues his comments in 1 Timothy 5, he says, “Let an elder be counted worthy of double honor” (vs. 17). But what kind of elder is Paul discussing? He continues by saying, “especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.” Then he quotes two passages—one from the Old Testament, and one from the New Testament. The first (from Deuteronomy 25:4) is, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” The second (from Luke 10:7) is, “A laborer is worthy of his wages.” Are you going to withhold food from the ox that is treading the grain? No, because if you do, then it is going to become weak and will be unable to continue its work. If it is producing food for you, why would you not want to feed it? Paul also said, “A laborer is worthy of his wages.” Elders can receive financial benefits as servants of God. An elder can be supported financially in his work in the church, just a preacher can be supported. We know from 1 Corinthians 9:16 that those who preach the Word should live off of the Word. Thus, an elder who is serving as a shepherd is “worthy of double honor.” That is, he should be able to receive pay, if a congregation sees fit to provide it.
Ben Bailey:
Paul also tells us that we must be very careful before we receive an accusation against an elder. The Bible tells us here not to listen to such an accusation unless we receive it from two or three witnesses. However, if the accusation is substantiated by proper evidence, then the elder is to be rebuked before all, so that others may not sin as well. The work of an elder is critically important. If an elder is caught up in sin, and others know about it, such a situation needs to be handled in a biblical fashion. In 1 Timothy, Paul talks about elders, deacons, all members, and widows. Then, in 1 Timothy 6:2, Paul discusses another group of people that is worthy of honor—masters and servants (or employers and employees). The employer ought to give honor to the employee, and the employee ought to be a hard worker and give honor to the employer. This is a very practical lesson for Christians today. If you own a business and have employees, you ought to honor those employees. You ought not to take advantage of them, you ought not to pay them less than they deserve, and you ought not to make fun of them or belittle them. Instead, you should give them the honor they are due. If you are an employee, what should you do? You ought to be the hardest worker on the job. Paul tells us in Colossians 3:24 that Christians work “unto the Lord, and not to men.” We learn from Ecclesiastes 9:10, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” So if you are an employee, show up on time, do not steal, and give a day’s work for a day’s pay. Do the best job you can, so you can show honor to the one to whom God has told you to show honor—your employer.
Today if you are not a Christian, we want you to obey God’s will. Believe in Jesus as the Son of God, repent of your sins, confess His name before men, be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins, and you can become a Christian. If you would like to have a copy of today’s lesson on CD or DVD, we will be happy to make that available to you. Log onto our website at www.thegospelofchrist.com, complete the request form you will find there, and we will send you what you need. As always, we hope that you will conform your will to the Gospel of Christ.
Narrator accompanied by a cappella singing:
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1. According to 1 Timothy 3:14-15, why did Paul write Timothy this letter?
2. The text of 1 Timothy 3:16 (“Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory”) is sometimes known by a catch-phrase. What is that catch-phrase?
3. While it is true that Jesus was manifested in human form, there is one thing that did not happen while He was in that form. According to 1 Peter 2:22, what is that one thing?
4. According to 1 Corinthians 15, how many people saw Christ after His resurrection?
5. What is the significance of the answer to question #4 above when it comes to documenting the resurrection of Christ as a historical event?
6. When Paul wrote (1 Tim. 3:16) that Christ was “received up in glory,” to what was the apostle referring?
7. According to Psalm 24:7-10, who is “the King of glory”?
8. Daniel made a prophecy in the Old Testament that reads as follows: “I beheld till thrones were placed, and one that was ancient of days did sit: his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and the wheels thereof burning fire” (Dan. 7:10). To whom does Daniel’s phrase, “the ancient of days,” refer?
9. The truth of God does not depend on the church for its veracity, but it does depend on the church for something else. What is that “something else”?
10. Why was it part of “the mystery of godliness” that Christ was “preached to the Gentiles?
11. If you wanted to sum up “the Gospel in a nutshell,” how would you do it?
12. According to 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, something puts power into Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. What is that “something”?
13. What did the Gnostics of the first century believe?
14. According to Paul’s discussion in the first part of 1 Timothy 4, part of a preacher’s job is to speak out against something. What is that “something”?
15. Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:6 that he ought to “instruct the brethren in these things.” To what does the phrase “these things” refer?
16. What did Paul mean when he told Timothy, “Let no one despise your youth”? (1 Tim. 4:12)?
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