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First Letter to Timothy - Chapter 4
- Paul now advises Timothy how to correct the false teachings that stimulated the writing of the letter and
how to develop the Christian community.
- 1 Picking up on the "Spirit" of 3:16: in later - or last times - people will falter in their faith by being
misled by false teachings by "deceitful spirits" and "devilish teachings" - as appears to be happening in
Timothy's community. Not just about truth and falsehood but now between the forces of good and evil.
The prophetic Spirit who had vindicated Christ is also looking towards the end time.
- 2 Lies are also expected to be a feature of the end times, but liars will be branded - carry the devil's mark.
Perhaps reacting against excessive hedonism by forswearing the good things - food, drink, sex, &c,
seeing all as tainted by sin, and their consciences seared as by a branding iron. But these things are not
bad in themselves, they are part of a good creation. We are not to abandon humanity but to take part in its
rescue and perfection. The created order is not bad, although abusing it can be.
- 3 Unusually the false teachings are spelled out: belief that the material world was not good, and perhaps
that believers have already been resurrected into the spiritual world. So they have no need of food or
marriage - indeed some foods are to be avoided. Not so says Paul: God created all things and "he saw that
they were good" (Gen 1:31) - nothing God created is bad, and we have God's word on this. But sects have
always risen teaching that the material world is bad, eg Gnostics, Manichees, Albigensians, - and the
Church must always deny this.
- 4 And by giving thanks to God for the creation he has given us we confirm both our belief in God and our
acceptance that the world he has created is good. Nothing in creation is to be rejected as bad - no food,
no person, no activity - nothing is bad in itself, and we should give thanks to God for it all. Thanksgiving
is more than recognising that all we have is from God: it is the fundamental human stance between God
and creation, both renouncing idolatry which treats material things as if divine, and rejecting dualism -
treating created things as shabby or bad. Both rejecting and idolising creation should be avoided as from
the devil. Thanksgiving helps us to steer between these 2 extremes.
- 5 By giving thanks to God for creation we make it holy. EG Grace before meals, and at the beginning and
end of the day, before and during marriage.
- 6 These are the teachings you - as a true teacher - should give to the community - and you, the deacon
also, will be nourished and your faith will grow in explaining the correct teachings and doctrine.
- 7 The false teachings involve "godless and silly myths", unjustified ascetism based on false
understanding of the spiritual life. For the true spiritual life you have to train yourself,
- 8. And while training your body for bodily improvement has value, training for spiritual improvement
has much greater and everlasting value, because it benefits both the present and the future life.
- 9 Another "trustworthy saying", but the only one in which the implications are spelt out:
- 10 (a) you must "toil and strive" - the spiritual life takes effort, it is not a good feeling, but requires
continuous hard work. (b) God is the basis and object of our Christian hope of eternal life. (c) God has
given the gift of salvation - available to all, and especially likely to be accepted by those who believe,
and who continually toil and strive for knowledge and truth. Not what people might expect of spiritualty,
often seen as good feelings, being aware of the presence and love of God. No, it is something you have to
work at. This how you are changed into the perfect work of art God intends you to be.
- 11 These are the teachings Timothy is commended to give to his community. The twofold responsibility
of Church leaders: to teach the faith and to witness to it by the way they live their lives. Christianity is
not a way of being religious, while our lives continue as usual. We have to be taught clearly, truthfully
and understandably how we should live our new lives according to the gospel. It is a new kind of life, a
self-conscious life of enormously overwhelming depth and complexity.
- 12 And this in spite of his youth, in an age where age and wisdom were often seen as together. He must
win respect by his conduct and teachings, by his love, faith and purity. Christian leaders do not get given
respect by appointment, rather they must gain it by the way they live.
- 13 Timothy is to ensure the Scripture is read aloud at public worship, he is to preach/exhort, and to teach.
And to attend to his own reading - part of his spiritual development, not only a relaxation. How many
homilies have been enriched by the preacher's wide reading? Daily tasks should not distract from
reading.
- 14 And he must not neglect his own gift of being appointed leader. It was given by prophetic utterance by
the Christian community and confirmed by the laying on of hands by the elders. The only description of
how Church leaders were appointed - the beginning of church structure. Leaders have both charismatic
and transmitted authority.
- 15 This gift has to be nourished and developed by practising his duties of teaching &c, so that he makes
progress in his leader role, and is seen to do so - it does not appear ready-made on day one! He has to be
diligent, be absorbed, attend, persevere.
- 16 And "pay attention to yourself" - don't neglect your own training - essential for all leaders! He must
work at his own development and spirituality, take to develop his teaching and understanding. In that
way he will lead both his hearers and himself to salvation. By his appointment as minister he has been
brought in to play a part in God's plan. Christian leaders have this awesome responsibility for their
Christian communities and will be held to account for their leadership by God.
