“Healthy Leaders”
1 Timothy 3:14-4:16
Jim Dalrymple | Ozark Christian College
How one ought to behave:
● Our behavior reflects our family identity, not a means by which to enter into the family. How we behave as a church family has been a major emphasis for Paul up to this point and will continue into the following chapters. Why? Because we hold up truth and God “desires all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth” (2:4).
Great is the mystery of godliness:
● Echo of Acts 19:28 (“Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”)
● Mystery is a “divine wisdom that was previously hidden but has now been revealed.” In context it should “alert the reader that the topic at hand stands both in continuity and discontinuity to the Old Testament.” (G.K. Beale, Pastoral Epistles, 20). In many ways it is synonymous with the entirety of the gospel.
● Elements of Mystery:
The incarnation
The deity of Jesus who fulfilled the program of God promised in the OT
The cross
The inclusion of the Gentiles
The nature of the Kingdom
● Mystery of Godliness—our lives continue to proclaim/reveal Jesus! It is a profound mystery that we play a role in this revelation of truth.
He was manifested in the flesh
Vindicated by the Spirit
Seen by angels
Proclaimed among the nations
Believed on in the world
Taken up in glory
Later times:
● This phrase highlights Paul’s eschatological view that they were living in the “later times” pictured in the OT (See also 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 4:3-4). Our study of the word “mystery” above hints that this is in part a continuation of an expectation in the Old Testament. This understanding would have amplified the threat as well as the unprecedented opportunity.
A Good Servant:
● Trained
4:6Trained [Nourishment] in the words/doctrine
4:7Train [Physical] for godliness
● Excuses himself/herself (“have nothing to do with” – to decline or refuse to accept an invitation)
− Irreverent – In Greek literature this term is used to talk about the outer courtyards of temples where those who were unclean could walk. Thus the term can imply unholy. In Acts 24:6, Paul was accused of desecrating the
temple.
− Silly Myths – derived from what appears to have been a slang phrase similar to, “old wives’ tales.” Can imply superstitions or oral traditions.
● Toils
− Elders toil (1 Tim 5:17)
− Farmers toil (2 Tim 2:6)
− One of Paul’s favorite metaphors to describe the life of a servant (cf. Col 1:29).
● Strives
− 1 Tim 6:12 “Fight the good fight...”
− 2 Tim 5:7 “I have fought the good fight...”
● Hope is set on the living God
− Living God – again an OT echo used when addressing idolatry.
− Paul’s view is heavenward and forward to the return of Christ.
Let no one despise you for your youth
● This word typically applies to a range anywhere from teens to thirties.
● Why do people tend to despise/disregard those who are young?
Set an example—To strike an impression that is a copy [cf. Tit 2:7].
● Five areas in which Timothy was to set an example:
in Speech - How you talk
in Conduct - How you act
in Love - How you interact
in Faith - How you react
in Purity - How you relate (cf. 5:2, “...as sisters, in all purity.”)
Devote yourself [contrast to 1:4 “they devote themselves to myths...”]
● You are “devoted” to whatever occupies your time and attention. This is a snapshot of how the early church kept the Word at the core of their identity.
Public reading of Scripture
Exhortation/preaching
Teaching
You will save yourself and your hearers (cf. James 5:19-20):
