Year 2, Week 49, Day 1 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 49, Day 1

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of 1 Timothy 5-6; Titus 1-2.

Today’s reading covers the concluding chapters of 1 Timothy. The Book of 1 Timothy is a personal letter of instruction to one of Paul’s proteges, Timothy, who had been sent to the church at Ephesus to assist in the work, and received guidance from Paul containing how the church was to conduct itself. 1 Timothy 5 consists of of several particular pieces of counsel to Timothy pertaining to various ministry situations such as widows: “Honor widows who are truly widows” (1 Timothy 4:3); and elders: “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching” (1 Timothy 5:17). 1 Timothy 6 says much about wealth: “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17). Today’s reading also covers the opening chapters of Titus. The Book of Titus is a personal letter of instruction to another one of Paul’s proteges, Titus, who is on the island of Crete to carry out key work among the churches: "This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you” (Titus 1:5).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was Paul’s charge concerning how to live: “But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:11). Timothy was charged to “flee” some things while he was to “pursue” other things. While Timothy is the personal recipient of the letter, the address for this passage suggests that the instructions pertained to all believers: “O man of God.” Timothy is certainly to model before the church at Ephesus concerning what he was to “flee” and “pursue,” but this charge was not for Timothy only. 

Paul’s instructions as to what should be fled pointed back to the immediate preceding verses: “flee these things.” The notion of fleeing connotes running to safety from some impending danger. The impending danger described in the previous paragraph was assorted vices that the false teachers displayed: “he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people…those who desire to be rich…For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils” (1 Timothy 6:4-5a,9a,10a). These vices pose great eternal danger to those clinging to them for they turn hearts away from the Lord, as is the case specifically connected to the vice of loving money: “some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Timothy 10b). A life filled with these vices is a life that is incompatible with: “the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness” (1 Timothy 6:3b).

Fleeing from evil vices, however, is of little value if it is not accompanied by an active pursuit of good virtues. So Paul tells Timothy to “pursue” six character qualities: righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness. The notion of pursuing connotes an intense chasing toward something highly prized. “Righteousness” refers to conduct that is in accord with God’s will and pleasing to him. “Godliness” denotes living with an awareness of God’s presence and a sensitivity to living in relationship with Him. “Faith” refers to trust and dependence in God. “Love” refers to care and affection toward one another. “Steadfastness” refers to the attitude of patient endurance when bearing up under unjust treatment. This attitude is one confidence in the final outcome that God has ordained. “Gentleness” is the opposite of an overbearing attitude, and is a type of patient endurance towards others. While these virtues are similar to the list found in Galatians, labeled as the fruit of the Spirit, the emphasis in 1 Timothy is that of putting forth genuine effort to cultivate these virtues. The Spirit manifests these virtues in cooperation with our intentional efforts. We could not pursue these apart from the presence of the Holy Spirit; but neither does the Holy Spirit display these in our lives without our active pursuit of them.

A life that flees vices and pursues virtues is a fight: “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:12). No one lives up to the tag, “man of God,” without a fight. The false teachers had “wandered away from the faith,” and, “swerved from the faith” (1 Timothy 6:21b). While “faith” was mentioned in the previous verse as a virtue to be pursued, not “faith” is mentioned as something involving a fight. The term “faith” in the previous verse refers to the act of trusting the Lord, while the term “faith” here refers to the body of doctrine that is to be confessed. Paul opens this letter to Timothy with a similar exhortation: “wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith” (1 Timothy 1:18b-19). Therefore, fighting “the good fight of the faith” entails understanding and grasping the doctrines surrounding the Gospel, so that as such doctrines are cherished in the soul, they transform the life of the believer.

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe