Today, I am reading and commenting on 1 Timothy 5-6.

Paul concludes his letter of instruction to Timothy by saying that those who teach otherwise to what he just laid out are conceited, understand nothing, and do not agree to sound teaching.  Paul gives us some clues on how to recognize such people, and how to recognize if we are becoming one of them.  Paul writes that they have an interest in controversies and quarrels which result in strife, malicious talk, and friction between people.  These false teachers think that godliness is a means to financial gain…which is the clearest counter to the various types of “prosperity gospel”.  Paul tells us that the true gain, the blessings, of following the gospel comes from being content with what God gives us as we live a godly life.  In fact, Paul writes that the love of money, and its pursuit has led many people into being the false teachers which he has just warned against, thus warning us not to fall into the same trap.  Paul instructs us that rather than pursuing material wealth we should pursue spiritual wealth which can be found as we acquire righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.  I want to note that Paul’s warning against false teachers who have an interest in creating friction between people can help us recognize those who are not acting in good faith in other areas.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on  1 Timothy 1-4.

Paul wrote that Timothy should command “certain people” to stop teaching false doctrines and promoting controversial speculations.  Both of which took people away from advancing God’s work.  Those to whom this command is directed have abandoned focusing on having a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith in favor of meaningless talk.  They seek to be seen as teachers of the law, as spiritual leaders, but fail to understand what they are talking about.  Paul then explains that the law is not for the righteous, it does nothing for them as they do what is right without needing a set of rules to tell them what to do.  Rather the law exists for lawbreakers and rebels.  It exists to show them all of the ways in which they fail to be righteous.  I never noticed today that Paul lists slave traders among the ungodly and sinful for whom the law is intended.  And why is that significant?  Because there are some who claim that Paul defends slavery.  So, while Paul did not seek to do away with slavery, he clearly considered it something which was not a good thing.

Paul also writes a bit about how men and women should behave.  He writes that men should pray without anger or disputing and that women should adorn themselves with good works rather than with elaborate hairstyles, jewelry, and expensive clothes.  I would say that all of us should pray without anger or disputing AND adorn ourselves with good works rather than elaborate hairstyles, jewelry, and expensive clothes.  This is followed by a passage which has caused much controversy in the Church.  Most translations record that Paul wrote that women should learn in quietness and submission and that he would not permit them to teach or assume authority over a man.  The translators’ notes for the NIV say that the word translated as “women” could be translated as “wives”, and the word translated as “man” could be translated as “husband”.  That change takes away most of the controversy.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.