“Healthy Words & Wants”
1 Timothy 6:1-21
Jim Dalrymple | Ozark Christian College
Slaves/Bondservants:
[1 Cor 7:20; Gal 3:28; 5:13; Eph 6:5-9; Col 3:22-25; Tit 2:9-10; Phlm 1-25; 1 Pet 2:18-25]
● We must not anachronistically import the constructs of American colonial slavery on this or any other NT passage. Nor should we use this to justify our history of slavery. Paul recognizes its presence and gives commentary on how to witness within the social construct. However, one could argue that the NT pointed toward an abolishment of slavery altogether. Philemon 15-16 — that you might have him back forever, no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother.
Principle of equality and family (Gal 3:28; Phlm 16)
Principle of mutual servanthood (Gal 5:13; 1 Cor 9:19; 1 Pet 2:16)
Principle of freedom and jubilee
What are the motivations of the false teachers in 1 Timothy?
● 1:7 Unhealthy desire for position
● 6:4 Unhealthy desire of pride
● 6:4 Unhealthy desire for controversy
● 6:5 Unhealthy desire for :money:
Money theme in 1 Timothy:
● 2:9 Women “Not with gold or pearls or costly attire”
● 3:3 Overseers “Not a lover of money”
● 3:8 Deacons “Not greedy for dishonest gain”
● 5:3-16 Widows “Honor widows who are truly widows...”
● 5:17 Elders “Worthy of double honor”
Healthy Teachers vs. Unhealthy Teachers
Teach “these things” / Teaches a “different doctrine”
Sound/Healthy words / Puffed up, unhealthy cravings - Depraved in mind, deprived of truth
Produces godliness / Produces envy, dissension...
Godliness with contentment / Imagine godliness as a means of gain - Love of money - ruin and destruction
_But you...Man of God [Four Imperatives (6:11-12)]_
● Flee
− 1 Cor 6:17 flee sexual immorality
− 1 Cor 10:14 flee from idolatry
− 2 Tim 2:22 flee youthful passions/desires
● Pursue
− Pursuit of virtues: Rom. 12:13; 14:19; 1 Cor. 14:1; 1 Thess. 5:15.
− Similar virtue lists: 2 Cor. 6:6–7; Gal. 5:22–23; Col. 3:12–14; 2 Tim. 2:22–25; 3:10; 2 Pet 1:5-7.
● Fight (Paul will fight this fight as an example)
1 Timothy 6:12-14
Fight the good fight (12)
Keep the commandment (14)
Until the appearing (14)
2 Timothy 4:6-8
I have fought the good fight
I have kept the faith
Reward on day...of his appearing
● Take hold of eternal life
− Term often implies the taking hold of a prize (1 Cor 9:24; Phil 3:12-14)
− This is the same word used when Jesus grabbed on to Peter (Mt 14:31).
I charge you...in the presence...until the appearing
● Paul viewed life as in the presence of God and awaiting the appearing of Jesus.
This heavenly perspective trumped any earthly pleasures or pressures.
● Contrast this with those who “want to be rich in this present age” (6:17).
The love of money
● Haughty (a false self-sufficiency)
● Set their hope on uncertainty (a false security)
Rich in good works...storing up treasure (Mt 6:19-20)
● Philippians 4:11–13 — I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content...I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
● Hebrews 13:5 — Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
● Matthew 6:19–21 — “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Healthy Doctrine
● 1 Tim 1:3 Charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine
● 1 Tim 1:10 Sound doctrine
● 1 Tim 6:3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine
Good works
● 1 Tim 2:10 Proper for women who profess godliness—with good works
● 1 Tim 5:10 Having a reputation for good works
● 1 Tim 5:25 Sins and good works are/will be conspicuous [visible]
● 1 Tim 6:18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works
Godliness
● 1 Tim 2:2 Lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified
● 1 Tim 3:16 Mystery of godliness
● 1 Tim 4:7 Train yourself for godliness
● 1 Tim 4:8 Bodily training...godliness is of value in every way
● 1 Tim 6:3 Teaching that accords with godliness
● 1 Tim 6:5 Imagining that godliness is a means of gain
● 1 Tim 6:6 Godliness with contentment is great gain
● 1 Tim 6:11 Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love
Above Reproach
● 1 Tim 3:2-3 An overseer must be above reproach
● 1 Tim 5:7 Command these things so that they may be without reproach
● 1 Tim 6:14 Keep the commandment free from reproach until the appearing
Witness
● 1 Tim 1:15 I was formerly a blasphemer...I received mercy...as an example
● 1 Tim 2:1–6 Pray for kings...God desires all people to be saved
● 1 Tim 3:7 He must be well thought of by outsiders
● 1 Tim 4:10 God is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe
● 1 Tim 4:16 For by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers
● 1 Tim 6:1 So that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled
Epistolary Greeting
1:1-2 Greeting
Attacks against the household
1:3-11 Stand against false teaching and ungodliness
1:12-19a Entrusted with the Gospel as an example
1:19b-20 A negative example
Healthy living inside the Household
2:1-7 Witness of prayer, godly, and quiet lives
2:8-15 Qualities of godly men and women
3:1-7 Qualities of godly overseers
3:8-13 Qualities of godly deacons
3:14-16 Mystery of godliness in the household of God
Attacks against the household
4:1-5 False teaching and ungodliness
Healthy living inside the Household
4:6-5:7 Instructions for a young servant in the household
● Handling false teaching (4:6-7a)
● Godliness (4:7b-10)
● Witness by your teaching and life (4:11-16)
● Older men (5:1a)
● Younger men (5:2b)
● Older women (5:2a)
● Younger women (5:2b)
● Honor widows (5:3-16)
● Honor elders (5:17-25)
● Honor masters (6:1-2a)
● Teach these things (6:2b)
Attacks against the household
6:3-5 False teaching and ungodliness
6:6-8 Godliness with contentment
6:9-10 The love of money and its destruction
Healthy living inside the Household
6:11-16 Pursue godliness
6:17-19 Be rich in good deeds
6:20-21 Final Charge to Timothy
Acts Narrative
● Acts 2 (quoting Joel 2) Your sons and daughters will prophecy...
● Acts 21:8 – Philip’s four daughters who prophesied.
● Questions people ask: Is prophesying parallel to preaching? Is it authoritative?
1 Corinthians 11:5
● “But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered...”
1 Corinthians 14:26–35
● Let all things be done for building up. If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.
Junia (Romans 16:7) [Note: 9/26 individuals in Rom 16 are women]
● She is possibly referred to as an “apostle” along with Andronicus (her husband?). The Greek text allows for either reading:
a. “They are well known to the apostles” [ESV] or
b. “They are outstanding among the apostles” [NIV]
● Either way, most suggest that “apostle” here as elsewhere does not refer to the more specific designation as one of the twelve, but a “sent one” or a missionary on par with Barnabas (Acts 14:14), James (Gal 1:19), and Epaphroditus (Phil 2:25). BUT! Let us not miss her significance as such which is highlighted by Paul. Women played a significant role in the early church as Paul mentions nine names here.
Phoebe (Romans 16:1-2)
● She is called a "helper/deacon/minister/servant” and a “benefactor/helper” by Paul.
Prisca/Priscilla [Paul] (Priscilla [Luke]) (Acts 18:2, Rom 16:3; 1 Cor 16:19)
● She, along with Aquila, were tentmakers from Rome who were expelled during Claudius’ expulsion of the Jews (c. A.D. 49). Paul met them in Corinth, and they traveled with him to Ephesus where they, “explained the way of God more adequately” to Apollos (Acts 18). Notice that her name is listed first 4/6 times (Acts 18:18, 26; Rom 16:3; 2 Tim 4:19 // Acts 18:2 and 1 Cor 16:19). The significance of this order is left to conjecture. However, notice that she along with her husband was responsible for explaining the Gospel to Apollos.
