Mr. D's Notes on I Timothy
Rev. Stanley L. Derickson Ph.D.
Copyright 2000

CHAPTER 21

One of the great preachers of the past is Bishop of Constantinople John Chrysostom. Some called him Golden-mouthed. MacArthur quotes Stott:

'He is generally and justly regarded as the greatest pulpit orator of the Greek church. Nor has he any superior or equal among the Latin Fathers. He remains to this day a model for preachers in large cities.

"Four chief characteristics of his preaching may be mentioned. First, he was biblical. Not only did he preach systematically through several books, but his sermons are full of biblical quotations and allusions. Secondly, his interpretation of the Scriptures was simple and straightforward. He followed the Antiochene school of "literal" exegesis, in contrast to fanciful Alexandrian allegorizations. Thirdly, his moral applications were down to earth. Reading his sermons today, one can imagine without difficulty the pomp of the imperial court, the luxuries of the aristocracy, the wild races of the hippodrome, in fact the whole life of an oriental city at the end of the fourth century. Fourthly, he was fearless in his condemnations. In fact, "he was a martyr of the pulpit, for it was chiefly his faithful preaching that caused his exile."" Stott. John R. W.; Between Two Worlds; Grand Rapids; Eerdmans; 1982; 21

Infopedia encyclopedia mentions: "Chrysostom, John c.347-407. Syrian prelate. Called soon after his death Chrysostom, i.e. Golden-mouthed. Became hermit monk; returned to Antioch, gained great reputation as preacher; ordained priest (386); archbishops of Constantinople (398-404); gained popular following by eloquent criticisms of wealthy and powerful; deposed at a synod near Constantinople and banished at an instance of Empress Ataxia and patriarch of Alexandria (403); recalled because of wrath of people, but banished again (404), to Armenia. Authors of homilies, commentaries, and letters that had great influence. Later recognized as Doctor of the Church."

Interesting to me that a man that interpreted the Word literally, was a Biblicist and preached against the ills of his society was banished! Maybe there is hope for me and my desire for a mountaintop cabin away from all mankind.

Riddle mentions "THE pre-eminence of Chrysostom as a preacher remains undisputed, despite the many reversals of judgment that have resulted from modern historical investigations; no voice has been raised against the popular verdict, repeated in every age, that awards to him the first place among pulpit orators in the Eastern Church.

"Nor has there been any serious difference of opinion in regard to his personal character. His intense moral earnestness has always been recognized, and the man has been honored because it was distinctly felt that the man gave power to the oration. "Golden mouth" avails little, unless it belongs to a golden man." From an INTRODUCTORY ESSAY "ST. CHRYSOSTOM AS AN EXEGETE" BY M. B. RIDDLE, D.D.; found in a book of Chrysostom's homilies.

Verse 11 These things command and teach.

Aaahhh, you didn't know that word was allowed in the Bible did you! COMMAND - one of those words that seems to be left out of most of our current world vocabulary.

"Command and teach" Note command and teach - not command and then teach at a later date. Command seems to give the thought of laying out what is to be done and then teaching would indicate a need to show how to do what is commanded.

Recently at work I told one of the new associates to do something. Normally the job would take about an hour and a half at most. I noticed about two hours into the day she was only about a third of the way through the project. I inquired as to what was going on and was informed that when I told her what to do, she didn't know how to do it. I had assumed that she had been trained in that area, but not so. I HAD COMMANDED, BUT HAD NOT TAUGHT!

Someone gave me a pin sometime back that states that the ten commandments aren't multiple choice. Paul tells Timothy to command and teach these things. They are not optional, they are not multiple choice, and they are not for only the pastors, teachers, and missionaries.

I hope I'm not bursting any bubbles in this study but every single one of us have received this command and it is our responsibility to do it from this point on until we meet the Lord.

We will be looking at PERSONAL EXAMPLE in verse twelve, PERSONAL MINISTRY in verses thirteen and fourteen, and PERSONAL PREPARATION in verse fifteen and sixteen.

I. PERSONAL EXAMPLE

Verse 12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

"Let no man despise thy youth," Now that is one I can forget about very quickly - been there can't do that no more! Timothy was probably thirty-five to forty by now according to some writers.

Many years ago we were attending a little Baptist church with a wonderful preacher. He asked me to take a senior citizen class which I did. One day the folks voiced their concern that they weren't helping in the church. I asked them what in the world they thought a bunch of old people could do (they knew my humor).

Before the class was over, they had filled a large blackboard with jobs they felt they could do. I took the list to the pastor and he went straight through the roof. He accused me of all sorts of things and indicated just how ignorant I was to believe that those old folks would ever do anything.

I left and prayed for a couple days and decided to call one of the deacons and talk to him. I had barely told him who I was when he started telling me off for being a young know-it-all etc. I finally hung up without talking to him - just listened a lot.

We left the class/church. We later found out that I was the third in a line of teachers he had run off. We also heard later I was not the last. He could not stand to have anyone in his church that was young and that ministered to the congregation.

It is not uncommon for older men to try and run a younger man's ministry. It is not uncommon for the older men to have knowledge and wisdom which far surpass that of the young man. True, they know much and are wiser, but young men have been alive for several years and have learned many things also. The proper attitude is one of co-learning and co-teaching. Many older pastors could benefit from advice from younger men if they weren't too proud and obstinate to take it.

Likewise the younger pastor can benefit greatly from having the wisdom of the older if he isn't too proud and obstinate to take it.

Be an example to the believers that you minister to in, word, or might we say in speech, teaching and preaching.

Being an example was important for Timothy in that he was one of the leaders - one of the shepherds. Adam Clarke listed a little poem of note concerning a wondering pastor.

"Himself a wanderer from the narrow way,
His silly sheep, no wonder if they stray."

Stedman expands on this thought somewhat "Charles Spurgeon, in a lecture to his students in London in the last century said, "Beware of being like some, who go about with theological revolvers in their ecclesiastical trousers." Stedman continues "Some young men have a tendency to shoot from the lip. Modern-day jet fighters, however, give us a better picture of how the battle in the public Christian ministry is fought: Today the whole plane has to be aimed in order to bear upon the target. Here the apostle tells Timothy that his whole life has to be aimed at his objective. " From a sermon at http://www.pbc.org/dp/stedman/timothy/3776.html

Be an example by your conduct or manner of life. Be careful of where you go and what you do. Don't give anyone the chance to attack you because of your conduct.

Be an example by your love. If a leader doesn't show love then he will not be well accepted. There must be a concern and compassion for those around them.

Be an example by your spirit. The term spirit is not in most manuscripts though Young lists it in his literal translation. It would have the idea of your spiritual life being above board and in order. Your attitude and spirit must also be in proper order.

Be an example by your faith. How can a man of little faith lead a group to great spiritual heights? He can't.

Be an example by your purity. He must have sin under control in his life. If sin enters, he must confess it on the spot. No one is going to follow a man that is living in sin.

Purity may well relate to Timothy's age and young women. This is a very serious area of concern for young single men in the ministry.

IN SHORT IF YOU ARE DOING ALL OF THESE THINGS THEN YOU WILL NOT HAVE MANY WONDERING ABOUT YOUR YOUTH!

Once you have your personal example down, you can begin to concentrate on your ministry.

II. PERSONAL MINISTRY

Verse 13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

"Give attendance to" or pay attention to your reading etc. Give the time required to this part of your life.

The New American Standard and New International Version insert public before reading indicating that this speaks to reading in the public services. This is most likely a part of Paul's thought, but since the previous verse speaks to Timothy and his example, I would assume that it also relates to his own personal reading.

"Reading" This is to be an integrated part of the believers life as well as a part of the church.

Acts 13.15 mentions the reading of the Law, and here we have reading again mentioned as important. Just what was Paul encouraging Timothy to read? We don't know for sure, but it would be my assumption that it would be the Old Testament that he might have had as well as any copies of any of the epistles that had been around.

Personal reading is a must for our increased knowledge. My father was not well educated formally, but over many years of reading the Omaha World Herald, he became quite knowledgeable about a large number of subjects. Seldom did anyone ask him a question that he did not have an answer for them.

In personal readings of the Christian world, today you might wonder why they read. Most of what is on the market is of the self help vintage or fiction. There is little interest in good Bible study or commentaries these days.

Many asked why Dallas Seminary didn't republish Lewis Chafer's seven volume Systematic Theology and the reported answer was that there just weren’t enough people interested - it would not be cost effective.

There is also the possibility that Paul wanted him to acquaint himself with the teaching of the world at that time. There were writers and philosophers in this time that would have been read by some that he might minister to.

It is difficult to relate well to lost people if you don't know what they are being taught, what they are reading, and today what they are viewing.

Reading also relates to public church gatherings.

Many of our churches are getting away from reading of the Scriptures. There are many reasons for this.

a. While interim pastor at a church in the Midwest I noticed that they stopped having Scripture reading and it occurred to me that it was probably due to my not having my sermon together early enough in the week to call them with an appropriate text. In such a case, give your interim a hint or two to get his act together.

b. The proliferation of so many different translations has been a real hindrance to the Scripture reading. When someone reads from a different translation from mine, I spend more time trying to figure out where they are, or why the translator used that particular word, than I do listening to the Word and allowing it to sink into my mind for consideration.

Possibly an answer to this would be to request that the congregation just listen to the Word being read or possibly have them read silently.

c. Boredom with the Word. Many believers have little interest in what the Word says so as a result they become very bored with listening to it.

d. Our society says that we can only give one hour to God and we have to get four songs in plus the offering, and announcements and the pastor needs 35 minutes and something just has to be left out.

e. There is also the probability that in our MTV society that we can't get interested in anything unless it comes in a forty-five-inch model.

The term translated "exhortation" is a term that is related to one of the terms used of the Holy Spirit - one called along side for comfort and encouragement. Many take this to be preaching, but that is not the thought, though sharing of the word is not inappropriate in the Biblical exhortation.

II Cor. 1.3 mentions the term as comfort. "Blessed [be] God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;"

Verse four also uses the term and is of note to our context. "Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."

This pictures one of the important ministries of the elders of a church. One of comforting those in hardship or loss.

Lets take a moment and consider what we have learned concerning public worship so far in our study of Timothy?

1. Chapter one, we are not to have false teachers.

2. Chapter two, if it is speaking of public worship tells us to have men praying for leaders and those in authority. Women are to dress modestly and be in subjection in the worship service.

We might think about "public worship" for a moment or two.

a. There was no such thing as "public worship" in the early church except that which took place at the temple. The worship that the New Testament speaks of was mainly on a personal level and during those times when the believers gathered in homes.

b. Public worship as we view it today, that is in a church or public building where many people gather together, is not what we see in the New Testament.

c. We should understand I Timothy in that light rather than a complete guide for worship and practice for our churches.

3. Chapter three, We find the qualifications for those leading the church and services.

4. Chapter four speaks to the minister’s example as well as public reading of Scripture, exhortation and doctrine.

Paul tells him to pay attention to what is read and taught in the public services.

Why was Timothy to pay attention to what was read and taught in the services?

To see that no false teachers get in and start teaching.

That my friend is one of the things that your church leaders should be doing. When you have speakers of any kind the leaders should be seeing if the teaching is correct. If it is not then they have the responsibility to correct that teaching, SOON! I would personally recommend the very next service. Stop false teaching in its tracks. I would also attempt to be sure that all people attending the error were personally contacted if they weren't in the service when the error was refuted.

This also can include the responsibility of checking out guest speakers beforehand to see to it that they are sound teachers.

This includes music as well as speakers. Our home pastor many years ago invited the son of another pastor in the fellowship to present a music concert. The son brought a bunch of young people with him, unannounced as I remember, and the music was getting quite lively, when the youth that had arrived with him began bopping up and down the aisles while they sang. The pastor had to stand up and stop the program. Both the musician and the pastor were embarrassed.

Don't feel bad about asking for a tape of THE program that will be presented and tell them to stick to the program.

Many churches are doing this. Indeed, many churches are instituting music policies to protect against music that is inappropriate from getting into their churches.

Verse 14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

"Neglect not the gift" Paul spoke of a gift given to Timothy. This gift is seemingly different from spiritual gifts, but probably very similar in nature and operation. I would assume that he would have mentioned it as a spiritual gift if that was what it was.

Paul states this as a command and it is for us today. Do not neglect the gift you have - use it so that God can be glorified. Every believer has a gift, and if he is not using that gift then he is hindering the smooth workings of the church.

"Which was given thee by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery" Evidently a gift was given by prophecy from God. How, we aren't told. In the context we can expect the gift to relate to the fact that Timothy was an apostolic representative - indeed, this may be what the gift was - the appointment to that position and/or authority.

Today we do not have the gift of prophecy unless you view preaching as prophecy, which some do hold. Prophecy in the early church seemed to have a dual function. That of future telling as in the case of Agabus and Paul before Paul went to Jerusalem and then the forthtelling or idea of continuing revelation in the early part of the book of Acts.

The gift was bestowed upon Timothy by the presbytery or elders. I suspect it may have been the elders at Ephesus that were involved, though we aren't told specifically. II Tim. 1.6 includes Paul's own hands within this context as well.

It would be of note to the church leaders in Ephesus, if this be true, to hear what Paul stated in the context of let no man despise thy youth. These men had started him into the ministry, so they should have no problem with him doing that ministry in their church.

III. PERSONAL PREPARATION

Verse 15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

"Meditate upon these things;" When is the last time you took a verse much less the thoughts of an entire book and just thought about it, about what it said, what it meant and how it applied to you? The best part of my study comes when I just look through the Scripture passage and the notes and let the Holy Spirit teach me.

Meditate evoked an interesting comment from Robertson in his Word Pictures. "It is like our "up to his ears" in work and sticking to his task." Paying close attention to what you are doing. When in the Word we need to really pay close attention to what we are doing - we need to be up to our ears in the Word!

Barnes mentions another area of meditate upon these things: "Meditate upon these things. Upon the train of events by which you have been led into the ministry, and upon the responsibilities and duties of the office. Let your mind be deeply impressed with these things; make them the subject of profound and serious thought."

"Give thyself wholly to them," would relate to the entire passage - example, reading, doctrine, gift and laying on of hands.

"That thy profiting may appear to all." has the idea of blazing a trail through a wilderness. In short, leave a trail easily followed by your students and congregation.

Verse 16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

"Take heed" may mean personal appearance, but more in keeping with the context I would say it means be watchful how you live and teach.

UNTO

"Thyself" personal upkeep possibly but more than likely spiritual upkeep. Don't be a slouch physically or spiritually.

AND

"The doctrine" Any teaching is doctrine. This passage certainly flies in the face of much of the modern contempt for doctrine and theology.

"Continue in them" Don't stray into false doctrine - don't leave it.

"For in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee."

This is a difficult text. Just what is Paul getting at here? A number of explanations have been set forth over the years.

1. You insure salvation in that they and yourself know the way of salvation. Since Timothy and his listeners were already believers this does not fit all that well.

2. You insure by works that you will be saved. This is held by those that have a works based salvation, but not most of those in the fundamental/evangelical circles. A problem with this is that Timothy's works can't save others nor can listening to sermons save a listener.

3. You save yourself and your listeners from something else, is another possibility.

FACTS:

1. Salvation is not in the context. Church order and the actions of the man Timothy are in view. The context dwells on the personal and public life of the man, Timothy. The following context is a continuation of Chapter 4

The term save is not used exclusively of spiritual salvation.
Literally it means deliver or protect. It is also translated make whole and heal. The term is usable in several contexts.

2. The fortifying Timothy is to do is against heresy. Vss. 1, 2, & 7. He is to save from these things by proper doctrine (v16) and exhortation (v13).

A Derickson paraphrase -

"For in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee" (paraphrase) from "seducing spirits, doctrines of demons and "old wives' fables."

We must be founded in the Word and the Lord.

I read an illustration years ago of the buoys that are still used to mark ocean traffic lanes. They are anchored to the rock below the surface of the sea. No matter how hard the storms and seas pound the buoy, it always is in its place guiding the seafarer. The writer then described how the Devil has attached the church from within and from without, but yet it is still there to point the seeker to the rock upon which it is founded - Jesus Christ.

If you are anchored anywhere other than the Word of God then you are in line for a sinking.

Paul is not speaking of spiritual salvation in this text, but of the saving of men from false doctrine. In the case of a lost person being within the ministry of Timothy, it would be fitting that the person would be saved, yet salvation comes from God and not men. The text speaks of keeping from false teachings.

Many commentators dance on their tippy toes trying to get around the words to show that this is speaking of eternal salvation, but it is illogical in my mind. Timothy can't save himself by his teaching, thus he can't be speaking of salvation of the eternal nature.

Weirsbe follows my line of thinking, or I his. He relates this to a warning from Paul to Timothy to watch how he lives so that he will not mess up his ministry. He mentions ministers that have not "kept up with their profession. Moral problems, divorces, and other kinds of shameful conduct have destroyed many of god's servants." THE BIBLE EXPOSITION COMMENTARY; Warren Wiersbe; Victor Books; Wheaton; 1989; P. 228.

MacArthur takes this to be a security of the believer issue. He believes that Timothy can save himself if he persevers in the faith. In my mind this however is inconsistent in that his perseverance can't save others!

"The benefit of so doing is twofold: it will insure salvation both for the minister himself, and for those who hear him. It will bring about salvation for him in the sense that final salvation, deliverance from sin and entrance into eternal glory, demands perseverance. It is a mark of genuine salvation." THE MACARTHUR NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARY I TIMOTHY; John MacArthur; Moody Press; Chicago; 1995; P. 181. (I think this is a quote that should set a believer’s teeth on edge. This is an example of why many fundamental people are questioning MacArthur's teaching.)

It seems that the whole concept of keeping on top of truth is the key to keeping down false doctrine and trouble for the believer.

The pastor, teacher or missionary that does not keep up on all that is going on and compare it with truth is going to have an uninformed congregation that is in danger of falling into real problems.

False doctrine always comes in nice wrapping with a large bow on top. Run it through the X-ray machine before you ship it to your brain!

I am sure that many tire of my constant warning of the isms and falsehoods of our day, but to my mind it is my responsibility to proclaim truth and point out falsehood.

I would guess that my children, grown and with their own children, may even tire of my continued watchfulness over them. I have no way to stop them from entering into falsehood but I can surely warn them of what dear old dad thinks. My systematic theology originated from my desire for them to have what the old heretic believed on as wide a group of topics as possible.

I may not be able to stop them from making mistakes, but I certainly can keep my "I TOLD YOU SO" rights current and in order!

Any minister of the Lord that does not watch for wolves is not protecting his sheep. A shepherd watches over as well as leads to truth.