Paul’s
Instructions
First Timothy 1:18-20
by Paul
George
Here are Paul’s
instructions to Timothy. First, “fight the good fight.”
Timothy was involved in spiritual warfare. We are
involved in spiritual warfare. Timothy is to fight the
good fight. We must fight the good fight. Timothy must
diligently, courageously, vigorously and conscientiously
discharge his duty as soldiers of the cross. We must
diligently, courageously, vigorously and conscientiously
discharge our duty as soldiers of the cross. There will
be opposition and discouragements. There always is in
warfare. We can overcome them if we follow Our Captain
Lord Jesus Christ. We can overcome them if we hold fast
to both faith and a good conscience. Those who do not
hold fast to both faith and conscience will find
themselves shipwrecked. Fighting the good fight requires
the keeping of the conscience void of sin, and this will
be a means of keeping us sound in the faith.
Hymenaeus and Alexander made a profession of faith but
turned away from their profession. Paul said he handed
them over to Satan, declared them to belong to the
kingdom of Satan. There are scholars who believe through
some extraordinary power Paul handed them over to Satan
to be terrified or tormented by Satan that they might
learn not to blaspheme. If Paul literally handed these
two over to Satan, the reason why he handed them over,
“to be taught not to blaspheme” would not happen. What
would happen, Satan would teach them how to be more
blasphemous.
Paul was probably referring to a last resort form of
punishment, which excluded the help and fellowship of
the church. Therefore, let us hold fast to faith and a
good conscience. If we let go we do not know where we
shall stop.
First Timothy chapter three contains Paul’s instructions
to the bishops and deacons. The two epistles to Timothy,
and that to Titus, contain a scripture-plan of
church-government, or a direction to ministers. Because
the church at Ephesus was a newly planted church, the
bishops were unsure of their ability to oversee the
operations of the church. This is why Paul left Timothy
at Ephesus. He was to instruct the bishops and deacons
in matters pertaining to the ministry of the church.
The office of a scripture-bishop is an office of divine
appointment, and not of human invention. This office is
one of the great gifts Christ has bestowed on the
church. The ministry of the bishop requires diligence
and application. It comes under the definition of a work
and not of great honor and advantage, for ministers
should always look more to their work than to the honor
and advantage of their office. It is a good work, a work
of the greatest importance, and designed for the
building of the kingdom of heaven. The concern of the
ministry is bringing the lost to Christ; open their eyes
and turn them from the darkness to light and from the
power of Satan to the love of God. The desire in the
heart of those who are in the position of a bishop
should be to bring greater glory to God, and of doing
the greatest good to the souls of men by this means.
In order to discharge the duties of the bishop he must
be blameless in character, he must not lie under any
situation, he must give as little occasion for blame as
he can, because this would bring reproach upon his
office. He must be the husband of one wife; not having
given a bill of divorce to one, and then taken another,
or not having many wives at once, as it was common to do
among Jews and Gentiles, especially among the Gentiles.
He must be vigilant and watchful and not be caught in
the snares of Satan. He must watch over himself, and the
souls of those who are committed to his charge because
our adversary the devil goes about like a roaring lion,
seeking whom he may devour (First Peter 5:8). He must be
sober, temperate, and moderate in all his actions, and
in the use of all creature comforts.
The bishop must be both able and willing to communicate
to others the knowledge, which God has given him. Fit to
teach, and ready to take all opportunities of giving
instructions in the things of the kingdom of heaven. He
must not be a drunkard. He must not be quarrelsome but
do every thing with mildness, love, and gentleness. He
must not desire the wealth of this world. He must be
patient. He must not be covetous. It is not a good thing
when covetousness is in the heart, it is worst in the
heart of the bishop.
He must be one who rules well over his own house that he
may set an example for other fathers to follow and prove
he is able to take care of the church of God. The family
of the bishop should set an example of good all others
families can follow. He must not be a novice, one newly
brought to Christ, or one who knows no more of religion
than the surface of it; such a man may let pride
overcome him and fall into the condemnation of the
devil. The devils fell through pride, which is a good
reason why we should be aware of the dangers of pride, a
sin that turned angels into demons.
I must admit, briefly gone through the qualifications
of a bishop, I must ask, “Who is able to fill the
position of a bishop?” What piety, what prudence, what
zeal, what courage, what faithfulness, what watchfulness
over lusts, our appetites, passions, over ourselves and
over those under our charge, is required. What
watchfulness over self is necessary? So much is
required and work necessary. How far short of the
requirements we often come. Yet let us bless God, and be
thankful for we have the promise “Lo, I am with you
always, even unto the end of the world.” If He is with
us, He will enable us to fulfill our call and carry us
through the difficult times.
The deacons had the responsibility to see to the
temporal concerns of the church, that is, the
maintenance of the ministers and provision for the poor:
they served tables, while the ministers and bishops gave
themselves to the ministry of the word and prayer. The
same requirements for the bishops were the same for the
deacons because they were assistants to the bishops and
ministers. They must not be doubled tongued, say one
thing to one and another thing to another. The deacon
must not be addicted to wine; this is repulse in any man
but more so in a Christian. Addiction to wine opens the
door to many temptations. He must not be a seeker of the
power of money this could lead to embezzlement and the
converting of church funds for personal use.
When someone who has a trusted position in the church
betrays that trust it is heart breaking. Worst it brings
reproach upon the body of Christ. There is an old
saying; one bad apple ruins the whole barrel of apples.
Violating the call to shepherd the lambs of Christ can
place a black mark on the body of believers.
The servants in the house of God must see to it that
they behave in a godly way so they will not bring
reproach upon the house of God. Ministers must not only
be involved in preaching and praying they must be aware
of the impact their behavior will have on the community.
Timothy must know how to behave not only in the
particular church where he was now appointed, he must
also learn how to behave as an evangelist, and the
apostle's substitute in other churches, where he might
be assigned to pastor.
Our God is the one true living God; He is the fountain
of life, He is life and He gives life and breath to all
His creatures. In Him we live, and move, and have our
being. The church is the house of God, he dwells there;
the Lord has chosen to dwell there. "This is my rest,
here will I dwell, for I have chosen it;" in the house
of the Lord we see His power and glory.
It is the responsibility of the servants of the Lord to
proclaim the truth, even to the principalities and
powers in heavenly places. The servants of the Lord must
proclaim the manifold wisdom of God to the foolish of
this world. Let us be diligent and impartial in our own
enquiries after truth. Let us be careful to keep and
preserve it. Let us transmit it safely and uncorrupted
into posterity. Let us hold firmly to the mystery of
faith. The mystery that is not of philosophy or
speculation; but of godliness, designed to promote
godliness and it exceeds all the mysteries of the
world. It is a revealed mystery, not shut up and
sealed; and it does not cease to be a mystery because
now is partly revealed.
Paul said the deacons were to hold firm to the mystery
of the faith with a clear conscience. What is the
mystery of faith? It is Christ; and there are six things
concerning Christ, which make up the mystery of faith.
He is God manifest in the flesh. In the flesh, Christ
died on a cross. On the third day, He rose from the
dead. Angels worship him. They announced His birth,
ministered to Him after His testing in the wilderness.
They announced His return to earth. He is the Lord of
angels. The greatest part of this mystery of faith is He
is the Redeemer and Savior of the Gentiles. The fifth
thing in the mystery of the faith the Gentiles believed
Jesus is the Promised Messiah and the Jews reject Him as
their Promised Messiah. The sixth thing in the mystery
of the faith He ascended into heaven.
His ascension into heaven is not the last of the events
in the mystery of the faith. Christ’s ascension is the
sixth thing in the mystery of the faith because it was
the crown of His exaltation. In this present age, Christ
is in heaven, seated at the right hand of God where He
is making intercession for us, and has all power, in
both heaven and earth.
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