1 Timothy 4:6-16 (1)

Since a local church is the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15), and given the reality of doctrines of demons being an issue for a church, we must conclude that a church, every church, must offer what Acts 6:4 calls the ministry of the word.  Each church must have those who teach the word of God and who are on the lookout for savage wolves as well as wolves in sheep’s clothing who would seek to draw away the disciples after themselves.  As Paul told the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:27-32), there must be those who will watch and warn.

In light of this we are not surprised that Paul takes time to encourage Timothy in this matter.  He must be a good minister of Jesus Christ (4:6).  Timothy is in what we could consider a pastoral position.  He is responsible to call attention to and to teach sound doctrine.  He is to warn those who want to follow fables or become experts on the law.  In other words, he is to watch and warn.  1 Tim. 4:6-16 is an essential passage to be considered by those who are involved in the ministry of the word in any local church.

But before we consider Paul’s encouragement to Timothy, let us be sure we do not fall into a traditional way of thinking about the pastor(s) in a church.  It is not appropriate to call him THE Minister.  When Paul tells Timothy he needs to be a good minister he uses the common term diakonos, a term that is applied to every believer in Christ.  We are ALL ministers of Christ and we all need to be GOOD ministers of Jesus Christ.  This passage has something to say to all believers.

Throughout this passage there are two questions that Paul is answering: What is Timothy to be and what is Timothy to do.  These questions are inseparable for two reasons.  First, the qualifications for elders (overseers) are primarily character (what he is to be); you can’t simply do leadership without being leaders in the Biblical sense.  Secondly, and related to this, we have noted that sound doctrine is not the end all of being a disciple of Christ.  Sound doctrine must be lived out in a life.  We are grounded in truth so we can be pillars of the truth!

Notice this in 4:6:

·        What is he to be?  He is to be nourished (brought up, fed) in the word and carefully following the word.

·        What is he to do?  He needs to instruct the brothers (point out truth, the most gentle to-do term in the chapter).  

We will look at this in more depth tomorrow.  Consider Ezra 7:10 where you see a wonderful and powerful example of this.  For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.  First Ezra prepared his heart; Paul will address this with Timothy in 4:14-16.  Then he lived the Law of the Lord (this is what he was).  THEN he taught the Law of the Lord.  Lord, deliver us from the hypocritical notion that we can teach to others what we do not know by experience ourselves!