From the detailed instructions of chapter 3 and the glorious picture at the end, we come down to earth with a bump!
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.” (v1)
Paul knew that amid the wonderful establishment of the church, the Devil would try to infiltrate and make a mess of it. What foresight he had, because it is still happening today, some 1900 years later. Danger would be lurking and often come to the fore. So, he gives them a warning which was from God, the Holy Spirit Himself. Quote one commentator who put it like this –
- The danger of apostasy (some will depart).
- The danger of deception (deceiving spirits).
- The danger of false teaching (doctrines of demons).
I’m sure that you will agree with me that this is still the case today. Timothy would need to be on the look out, but so do we. Perhaps that’s why Paul said, “…. The latter times”. Probably indicating that it would get worse and worse. They were not immune from it in Timothy’s day and we are certainly not, so the phrase covers all time.
Paul says that many would ‘depart from the faith’. The faith was vital, it included the whole of Scripture, and Timothy was to preach and teach it. We hear often today of people who have ‘a faith’. I’m not always sure what that means, and to hear them talk, it doesn’t always indicate being born again. It can be religion, and not always true Christianity. In fact, it can mean a faith in almost anything.
What is important is that people have the faith. Jude v3 says, “…. contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints”. This calls believers to vigorously defend the complete, unchangeable body of Christian truth—the Gospel and apostolic doctrine—given by God. It signifies a final, authorised revelation that requires preservation against distortion.
Thus, a faith is not just something one has, but something which changes a person, and leads us to fight for it, and defend it in all its fulness. We cannot hold to other doctrines, we must hold to the one, otherwise we are liable to compromise, and be led to depart from the essential teachings of the Christian faith as laid down in the Bible.
I have seen and heard of Christian leaders, ministers and lay people who have departed from the faith and turned to other religions. They have been deceived by lies so powerful that they are clearly from deceiving spirits and have enticed them away from the truth. Doctrines of demons goes right back to the Garden of Eden where Satan deceived Eve by suggesting that God was a liar and suggesting that we can all be gods and accept false teaching.
Verses 2 and 3 enlarge upon this, “Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.”
“Speaking lies in hypocrisy.“ Their departure from the faith is embracinglies and false teaching and claiming to to teach the Bible to support their own ideas.
“Having their own conscience seared with a hot iron”. They no longer have a conscience, and their feelings and beliefs are dead to departing from the truth. Paul had once been extremely religious, but his conscience was dead to the truth of Jesus Christ before he was converted on the Damascus Road, when he was set free from the chains of useless religion.
However, this statement goes on – “Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from food”. This is leading to legalism. Some religions lay down rules of celibacy and abstaining from certain foods. There are always those who consider themselves as more spiritual because of their lifestyle which, of course leads to pride, and which is not of God.
In history there have been those took celibacy and types of abstinence to extremes, even to the extent of torturing themselves, in an effort to attempt to receive God’s favour. Perhaps not as much but there are still some today who believe they have to go to extremes, even of self-denial, to receive God’s favour. No such things are necessary, but that is not to say that sometimes a certain amount of abstinence is good for us. This is salvation by works which is totally foreign to God’s Word, where it is clear that salvation is by faith alone, in Christ alone in His finished work, by grace alone. It is a free gift of Christ’s righteousness.
No amount of good works or sacrifice or abstinence can earn God’s favour or make us righteous before God.
God is not indebted to us by anything we do or do not do. These things are indeed the doctrine of demons.
We are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24). It is not by works, if it were, we could boast. (See Ephesians 2) and we have nothing to boast about.
“For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” (v4,5)
Some have said that Christians should be vegetarians. I can find no authority for that. It seems that before the flood humans lived on the land etc., but after the flood God gave Noah the animals for food. Jewish laws forbade the eating of certain animals, classed as unclean, but in Acts 10, when Peter was told to go the the Gentile Cornelius, and his refusal leading to the sheet coming down with all kinds of animals on it, clean and unclean. He was told not to call anything unclean which the Lord had cleansed. Thus, he ate unclean animals as well as clean ones. There seems, therefore, nothing wrong with eating meat, and to forbid it is not scriptural. We can eat and receive all things with thanksgiving, gratitude to God for his provision as gifts from God.
We are limited by kinds of diet. Obviously, we eat healthily, but it does not make us more righteous, and acceptable to God.
For most religions they have certain prohibitions regarding certain foods and certain days, however, God is not impressed by our ideas and insistence on abstaining from certain foods, such as meat, and such can in effect be idols. Our works, however impressive we might think they are, are nothing in God’s sight, we are justified freely by His grace, and His righteousness is imputed to us.
It being sanctified by the word of God and prayer, seems to be the giving of thanks before eating, thanking Him for providing the food for us to eat. It should not be in a ritualistic way, nor as a superstition, and definitely not to show how spiritual we are. The Word of God sanctifies the food. (See Genesis 1:29, Genesis 9:3, Acts 10)
Forbidding to marry is also not scriptural, although singleness can be used for His glory. Whatever our status we must put God first and seek to be used by Him.
“If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.” (v6)
Timothy’s ministry was to instruct the brethren, that I take to mean the brothers and sisters who make up the church. Clearly, the initial instruction would be to the men who lead, but it would permeate down to the whole church. Timothy was to be an example of the teachings given, not just one who instructed others.
“But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of those who believe.” (v7-10)
We are not told any details of these fables, but they are clearly myths and not the truth. Some other translations refer to them as irreverent, silly myths; profane fables; worldly fables; godless ideas; godless myths, and others. Old wives’ tales is a colloquial expression referring to spurious or superstitious claims. Timothy is told to reject these. The Bible is the only solid, true, unchanging message that we can rely on, and he is told that it must be his priority. He is also to exercise in pursuit of godliness. Greek and Roman culture put a great emphasis on physical exercise, but Timothy that the same commitment to physical exercise must be given to spiritual in pursuit of godliness. Godliness requires effort and dedication. Godliness is in effect Godlikeness.
Bodily exercise profits a little – it has some value, it can be good for a while, only for this life, but godliness is for eternity, it is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
Godliness does not make life the most comfortable, the richest, most pleasurable, or easiest, but it will make it contented and fulfilling. The ways of sin are not to be compared with it, however much they offer in worldly terms. Godliness is the only guarantee for eternal life; the things of the world do not even feature.
“For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of those who believe.” We trust in the living God. Remember David when he came out to fight Goliath, he said, ‘You come to me with a sword and spear, but I come to you in the name of the living God.’ (1 Samuel 17)
Do we trust in Him? If we do, we can accomplish great things for God. We do not need to fear anything if our trust is in the living God, even if we suffer reproach.
He is the Saviour of all men, meaning that there is only one Saviour for all men, not meaning that all will be saved, but that there is no other way to be saved. He becomes our Saviour when we believe. All may be saved, but those who perish, do so because they do not believe.
“These things command and teach. Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” (v11-16)
Timothy is urged to teach these things, even to command them. These were not suggestions or his own opinions but the Word of God. The only things we can command, they are the truth, and God’s Word never changes.
He was a relatively young man, and Paul assures him that his youth is no drawback, in fact, he must not let anyone despise his youth. He was to live an upright life so that no-one was able to complain. Not only was he to teach with authority but to live an impeccable life. He was to be an example to the believers in every part of his life. He was to teach God’s word fearlessly.
Timothy’s progress was to be evident to all. The Greek word ‘progress’ indicates pioneer advance soldiers who go ahead of the troops to clear the obstacles.
Whether we are young or old or any age, we are to be an example in what we say, what we do, in love, attitude, faith and purity, just as Timothy was instructed. It is one thing to teach, but another to live it, and we must do both. People will better be persuaded to listen to us if we live it. Sadly, many teachers do not live it, and they bring the name of The Lord Jesus Christ into disgrace, we must not.
Paul clearly expected to see Timothy soon, but until he did, Timothy was to give himself to reading, exhortation, and doctrine.
Reading is an interesting word – they wouldn’t have the books like we do, but they would have some because in
Acts 19 where the magicians were converted to Christ they burned their books, and they amounted to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So, there must have been books around, and lots of them, but we don’t hear of many spiritual books as such. They were mostly documents written on parchment or papyrus in scrolls. The Bible refers to the Book of Life, and a Book of Remembrance, and books being opened. These were written by God, and the word book is used, but maybe that is to help us understand, but I never underestimate what God can do.
I assume that Timothy was to give his time to reading God’s Word, mostly Old Testament but may possibly have had some more of Paul’s letters. Romans and Corinthians and some other letters had thought to have been written by this time, so, he may have had access to those, but certainly, he had access to Paul who had written them. Paul recognised that God had gifted Timothy, and the elders had recognised it and laid hands on him in confirmation of that. He was urged or warned not to neglect the gift he had, it obviously being possible to neglect it. The wording indicates the idea that God gave Timothy supernatural gifts, and he should trust that God would do great things through him – learning to flow with the moving and leading of the Holy Spirit. If God has given anyone a spiritual gift it should be evident and provided it is in accordance with the Bible, recognised by the church elders. The elders at Lystra and Derbe had done so and laid hands on Timothy, and, apparently prophesied over him.
Meditating on God’s Word is not emptying one’s mind as in Eastern type meditation and a feature referred to as Mindfulness which is often practised by churches today, which is emptying the mind as practised in Buddhism, and should be avoided by Christians.
Meditating on God’s Word indicates filling the mind with the truth contained in it.
He was to give himself entirely to these things so that his progress would be seen by all. If he did, how much should we? We will not if we do not give ourselves to God’s will. How can we give less than our all when God gave His all for us.
Timothy was to give heed to his life and doctrine. His own life was important because failing to do so would lead to his own downfall. His doctrine was important because failing to do so would affect his congregation, and lead others astray. Bible doctrine was essential for his own growth and the growth of those under his care.
Life and doctrine are vital for salvation. We cannot earn our salvation by good living or even good teaching. It is God alone who saves but he uses faithful ministers to take the gospel to and teach it to all. The great commission stated that we are to make disciples of all men, thus He uses humans to spread this gospel and help those whom He saves to become true followers.
