11-1Tim4:12

1Tim4v12

1 Timothy 4:12–16 (ESV)

12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Treating people in a congregation

V.12 – Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. (4:12)

Timothy was maybe in his 20s at the start of Pauls’ 2 nd tour and not some 15 years has past. Making him 35Y..
“Youthfulness” to generally translated as under 40Yr. To off set – Timothy was urged to be a model – example in speech. Jesus said: Matthew 12:34–37 (ESV) You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil ? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

1 – A man’s speech reflects what is in his heart .

2 – Timothy was to be an example in Godly conduct . A model of righteous living – manifesting his biblical convictions in every area of his life. James 3:13 (ESV) Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

3 – To be an example in love – Biblical love involves self-sacrificing service on behalf of others, thus giving up his time and energy to the people he is called to serve. Spending time and energies to strengthen and build up in the Lord.

4 – an example in faith – an unswerving commitment.

5 – an example in purity – in the area of sexuality both in actions and in the intentions of the heart.

Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. (4:13)

Focus on ‘public reading of Scripture’ – exhortation – teaching

Exhortation – challenges people to apply the truths and may take the form of rebuke.

Teaching – appears 15 times in the Pastoral Epistles and involves systematic explanation of the word of God.

Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed upon you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. (4:14)

Paul gives three motives for NOT abandoning the ministry:

•  The spiritual gift within – the gift given all believers at salvation – evangelism, preaching, teaching and leadership

•  Bestowed upon him through prophetic utterance – public affirmation of his gift through direct revelation from God. Today, God’s call comes not through special revelation, but through providence. If God wants a man in the ministry, He will give him that desire and open a door of opportunity for him.

•  The laying on of hands by the presbytery – Confirmed subjectively and through the affirmation of the church.

Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to all. (4:15b)

Need a single-minded, consuming devotion to his calling or totally engulfed (absorbed).

Necessary to show spiritual progress in their walk with God.

The Concluding Exhortation

Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things; for as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. (4:16)

Concentrate totally on personal holiness and public instruction. Via his godly life and faithful teaching of the Word will have a saving impact on those who hear him.

1 Timothy 5:1-2

“Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity.” (Many metaphors and analogies are given for the ‘church’. – some of these are:

•  A holy nation , emphasizing believers’ common citizenship in the heavenly realm.

•  Revelation 5:10 calls the church a kingdom , emphasizing believers’ common submission to the King of kings and Lord of lords.

•  Peter calls the church a priesthood (1 Peter 2:5, 9), emphasizing the privilege all believers have of direct access to God.

•  Our Lord calls the church a vine (John 15:5), emphasizing believers’ common connection to the life of God that enables us to bear fruit.

•  The apostle Paul calls the church a temple (Eph. 2:20–22), built upon the solid foundation of the apostles’ doctrine, with Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone.

•  First Corinthians 12:12 calls the church a body , emphasizing believers’ common life and dependence on their Head, the Lord Jesus Christ.

•  Hebrews 12:23 calls the church an assembly , emphasizing believers’ common calling to be gathered into the eternal presence of God.

•  First Peter 5:2–3 calls the church a flock , emphasizing believers’ common need to be led and fed by the Great Shepherd.

•  Galatians 6:10 The church as a family (cf.. Eph. 2:19; 3:15;) Galatians 6:10 (ESV)10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.).
The word “family” speaks of intimacy, care, openness, and love . Jesus said in
John 13:34–35 , “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Love is the backbone of the family, and of the church

Importance of Discipline:
1. In 2 Samuel 7:14 God said of David’s descendant, “I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men.”
2. Job 5:17 says of God’s discipline, “Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves, so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.”

Proverbs says much about discipline and its outcome for the person:

•  It leads to understanding (Prov. 15:32),

•  knowledge (Prov.19:25),

•  wisdom (Prov.15:31; 29:15),

•  honor (Prov.13:18),

•  and a happy life . (Prov.6:23).

•  Jeremiah 44:4–5, “I sent you all My servants the prophets, again and again, saying, ‘Oh, do not do this abominable thing which I hate.’ But they did not listen or incline their ears to turn from their wickedness, so as not to burn sacrifices to other gods.”

V1a- Do not sharply rebuke…but rather appeal

Rebuke is a strong terms – meaning harsh or violent rebuke. One would not hammer a sinning Christian with harsh words.

Appeal means to: encourage, admonish, entreat – ‘strengthen’ – the idea of coming alongside to hold up one who is weak. Use a ‘spirit of gentleness’ looking to self first.

DEALING with sin in the family of God:

V1b – an older man.. as a father

Proverbs 16:31 (ESV) Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.

A warning: Proverbs 30:17 (ESV) The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.

When rebuking an ‘older man’ one needs to show the same respect as one’s father.

Example: Galatians 2:11–14 (ESV) Paul rebukes Peter: – 11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all , “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?” He used ‘questions’ not make an accusatory declaration.