Our study from Scripture concerns the subject of holiness. This week, the biblical instruction is taken from 2 Timothy 2:20-21.
20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:20–21 (ESV)
The Apostle Paul used many metaphors to describe the church of the living God. In today’s featured biblical text, the metaphor he used for the visible church was a great house or a large home.
In every home, there are cooking utensils, pieces of furniture, pots and pans, assorted dishes, towels, blankets, clothing, appliances and many more. Paul referred to these various household items as “vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.”
Such a large house contains all kinds of utensils; that is, furniture, vases, pots and pans, etc., in short, all those material objects which one expects to find in a mansion, the entire “household contents”; hence, not only gold and silver but also wooden and earthen vessels; not only articles to be kept and displayed, but also those which are taken to the dump or junk-yard when they have served their purpose. In passing, note that Paul must say large house, because a small house might not contain gold and silver utensils[1]
However, the Apostle Paul was referring to the house of God. The inanimate vessels of a physical home were comparable to various individuals, the converted and unconverted who participate in a local church’s ministries and worship services.
Similarly, the visible church, as it manifests itself on earth, contains true believers (some more faithful, comparable to gold; others less faithful, comparable to silver) and hypocrites. Cf. Matt. 13:24–30: wheat and tares. The genuine members are destined for honor (see Matt. 25:34–40); the others, for dishonor (see Matt. 25:41–45). Cf. 1 Sam. 2:30b; Rom. 9:21.[2]
Genuine believers in Christ “cleanses himself from what is dishonorable.” The word cleanses (ἐκκαθάρῃ; ekkathare) is an aorist, active, subjunctive singular verb. Each believer in Christ actively seeks to remove and get rid of whatever is unclean, or unholy, in their life. This refers to a thorough, moral cleansing (Matt. 5:8; I Cor. 5:7). Dishonorable (τούτων; touton) refers what is disrespectful and valueless.
“Paul uses this metaphor of the purging out of everything leavened prior to the Passover to show that all heathen sins and abominations must be set aside if Christ, our Passover Lamb, is to reign (I Cor. 5:1-7). The word is also used at 2 Tim. 2:21 of the setting aside of shameful things (opp. ἡγιασμένος).”[3]
When believers consistently cleanse themselves from moral impurity, they become “a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.” Let’s unpack each of these verb phrases.
To be set apart as holy (ἡγιασμένον; hegiasmenon) is a perfect, passive participle. This is a work by God upon the believer. It means consecration, dedication and sanctification. It involves a service and loyalty to God (I Cor. 1:2).
To be useful to the master of the house (εὔχρηστον δεσπότῃ; euchreston despote) means to be valuable to the Lord.
To be ready (ἡτοιμασμένον; hetoimasmenon) is also a perfect, passive participle. God enables the believer to be prepared for every good work (πᾶν ἔργον ἀγαθὸν; pan ergon agathon). The tasks God gives the believer to complete will contain a biblical and high, moral content.
Now if anyone will thus effectively cleanse himself, he will be a utensil for honor. The reality rises above the figure: a cheap dish will always remain a cheap dish, but God’s grace enables a sinner to become a saint, “a utensil for honor.” Such a person, having cleansed himself, is sanctified. Through the purifying operation of the Holy Spirit he has now become “a saint in experience as well as position” (K. S. Wuest, Golden Nuggets, p. 72), having been wholly set apart for the Lord and his work, and this abidingly. Accordingly, he is now “very useful” to his Master, the One who exercises full authority over him (cf. 1 Tim. 6:1, 2; Jude 4; Rev. 6:10), namely, Jesus Christ. Once for all he is prepared for every good work (cf. 2 Tim. 3:17; Titus 1:16; 3:8, 14; then 2 Cor. 9:8).[4]
The privilege of serving the Lord comes with great personal and moral responsibilities. We must all strive to be instruments for noble purposes. Otherwise, God will not bless our ministry.
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles, vol. 4, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 270.
[4] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles, vol. 4, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 271.
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, 2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith: grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” (1 Timothy 1:1–2 (ESV)
The following excerpt is by Pastor J. Ligon Duncan. He preached the message entitled Encouraging Disciples June 13, 2004 when he served as Sr. Minister at First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, MS, He currently serves as Chancellor of Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, MS where he continues to teach in the department of Systematic Theology. The biblical text is I Timothy 1:1-2.
If you have your Bibles, I’d invite you to turn with me to I Timothy, chapter 1. This is the first of three letters often referred to as Paul’s pastoral epistles, or pastoral letters. They are written to individuals, but they’re meant for congregations. And they’re not simply meant for the original individual and the original congregation to whom they are addressed: they are meant for us. Because as the Apostle Paul tells us, all Scripture is given by inspiration and is profitable for reproof and correction and training in righteousness, and so Paul is not simply sharing his opinions in these letters, he is telling us God’s word for the church today. And so, we’re going to be looking at especially what these letters teach us about the church.
What is the church supposed to be like? We all have our opinions. You may have some things that you would like First Presbyterian to be different than are. You may be here at First Presbyterian because you didn’t like another church and the way it was, and you found certain things here to your liking.
Oh, we’re not talking about matters of taste or matters of opinion. We’re talking about matters of the principles of God’s Word. And so, we’re going to be asking some questions about what the church should be like. Does the Bible say anything about how the church should be? Does God say anywhere what the church ought to be and do? Yes! All through the Bible God is telling us these things, but especially here in these pastoral epistles. God directs His word through Paul to the pastors of these local congregations that were in existence within thirty years of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and He gives to us timeless principles which are just as applicable to us today for how the church is to be and do.
The pastoral epistles give us both a description and a prescription of the pattern and the life of the local church. They give us a description of what it would have been like to have been in a local Christian congregation in the days of the Apostle Paul. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be part of a congregation pastored by Paul, or pastored by a pastor who had been sent to that congregation through Paul’s missionary work? Well, you get a good description of what it would have been like here, but you get more than a description. Paul is not just tickling your historical interest here. He’s not just giving you some interesting information. He’s actually instructing you how it is supposed to be.
Let me demonstrate that for you by asking you to look back to II Thessalonians, chapter 3, verse 14. You should be able to look back across your page, or maybe just turn one page or so back in your Bibles from I Timothy. In II Thessalonians 3:14, Paul says this to the Christians in Thessalonica: “If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that man and do not associate with him, so that he may be put to shame.”
Now look, every preacher has wished that he could write a letter like that! But we can’t! But Paul can, because he’s an apostle. Jesus called Paul to his office. Jesus invested Paul with his authority. Jesus told Paul how he wanted his church to be, and so Paul gets to say, ‘Now, take special note of what I’ve written to you. And if anybody doesn’t like it or disagrees, that’s fine. Just kick them out of the church.’ Now, he’s not being mean. He’s making it clear that the church belongs to God, and therefore, the church is going to be done the way that God wants the church to be done, not according to human opinion.
You see this as well, if you turn back a little bit further to I Thessalonians, chapter 2, verse 13, where he congratulates the Christians in Thessalonica for their attitude to the message that he is bringing. In I Thessalonians 2:13, he says “For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received from us the word of God’s message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is: the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.”
In other words, Paul is saying, “We thank God that when you heard our message you recognized that this was not our opinion, this was not of our making. This was God’s word, and you received it that way.”
Now Paul in I Timothy, and II Timothy and Titus is not writing his “Best-Seller on Helpful Hints for a Healthy Church.” This is not the wisdom culled from years of pastoring to give you tips on how to be better Christians in the local congregation. No. This is God’s word for how it is supposed to be in the local church. Let’s bear that in mind as we turn to I Timothy 1:1-2. Before we read God’s word, let’s look to Him in prayer and ask for His blessing on the reading and preaching of His word.
Lord God, since You created the church, You alone can tell us how it is supposed to be. Grant that as we come under the hearing of the word, we would submit all our opinions to Your holy Bible. Grant that we would hear with faith and understanding, and get for Yourself glory, even in our hearing and harkening to the word of God. We ask it through our Lord Jesus, the Messiah. Amen.
This is the word of God:
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope, to Timothy: my true child in the faith. Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” Amen. And thus ends this reading of God’s holy, inspired and inerrant Word. May He write its eternal truth upon our hearts.
If you enter into a Christian bookstore just about anywhere, chances are there is going to be a large section on “How to Do Church.” Seems like every successful pastor of a large church feels obligated at some point to write the story of how he did it. “How I grew my church from three to 38,312, and how you can do it, too, in five easy steps.” They’re everywhere! Models for how we ought to do church. I don’t want to make fun, there are lots of good common-sense ideas to be found in many of those books. I’ve read a few myself, from time to time. But it seems to me that when you look at the church today, especially in our part of the world, the United States, there are in fact three basic models of approaching how to do and be the church.
There is what we might call the Liberal Model; there is what we might call the Modern Evangelical Model; and then there’s a third model—and I’ll not title that until we’ve explained the other two. You see these models, all three of them, here in Jackson. If you’ve looked around at the churches, you would find examples of churches that fit into one of these three models if you visited Jackson.
The Liberal Model says that the Gospel needs to be rethought in contemporary terms if we are going to be able to effectively reach out to our culture. The Liberal Model says, “Look, the Gospel as it was written 2,000 years ago is just not very appealing to modern men and women. It needs to be updated, it needs to be rethought, it needs to be reformulated. We need to take away certain parts that are offensive to the modern mind and intellect, and we need to bring it up to date.”
The idea is that the key to the vitality of the church is an updated message that will really meet the needs of people around us, and will really grab their attention and attract them to the church. And you can find churches in Jackson, around Mississippi and around the United States that essentially bought into that model: that in order for the church to meet this culture, the message needs to be updated.
The leaders of this congregation took a stand against that very model of church life. They said, “No, we believe the Bible message. We don’t believe that it needs to be updated. And we’re not going to affiliate with folks who believe that that message needs to be changed.” It was an act of faith, and it was an act of courage.
But you can find that particular model just about everywhere in the United States.
The second model I call the Modern Evangelical Model. It’s evangelical because, with us, these friends would agree that the Gospel does not need to be updated. The Gospel is just fine. It’s true. It’s historical. It needs to be understood and proclaimed. But these Modern Evangelical brothers and sisters who would agree with us on the Gospel message also believe that our methods need to change. They would say, “the Gospel message is fine, but the old methods aren’t working anymore. The message is great, but we’re going to need to update our methods if we’re going to be able to reach the lost.”
The third model is the Biblical Model. The biblical view believes that God’s message and method always accomplish what He intends. The biblical view of the church says that the crucial task of the church is not to update the Gospel or to find new methods that work, but to always be striving to be faithful in believing and living out both God’s message and His method.
Those are the three views, basically. Everything that you see out there can be dropped into one or more of these categories in terms of church life today. And I want you to see the Apostle Paul here, in I Timothy and Titus and II Timothy, calling us to both God’s message and God’s method. Let me say that one more way. Liberalism says that the Gospel won’t work unless the message is changed. Modern Evangelicalism says that the Gospel won’t work unless our methods are changed. The Bible says that the Gospel works, and that God has given us both the method and the message to build the church.
Think of it. In Galatians, Paul defends the message. Remember what he says in Galatians, chapter one? If someone else, even someone who claims to be a messenger from God, comes and tells you a different Gospel than the one that I have preached, let him be eternally accursed. In fact, Paul says, “even if I were to come back to you and tell you, ‘Oh, by the way, I’ve improved the Gospel a little bit, here’s the new improved version’— “he says, ‘reject me!’”
Because God authored the Gospel, it doesn’t change. So, he’s defending the message in the book of Galatians, but here in I Timothy, and then later in Titus and II Timothy, he’s defending the method. Paul is concerned both about what we believe and how we live together as Christians. And in this book, he gives us instructions on how to live in the local congregation in accordance with His method and message.
How would evaluate the church you’re currently attending? Is it a Liberal Church, a Modern Evangelical Church, or a Biblical Church? It is no less a matter of life and death and obedience to the One, True God and His Word.
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
ONE HAMMER in the hand of an obscure Augustinian monk changed the world forever. Martin Luther posted his Ninety-Five Theses on the church door in Wittenberg, Germany calling his fellow professors to examine issues of supreme theological importance. Thus began the Reformation through which the light of God’s Word was brought out of the darkness to shine with clarity once more.
One of the central cries of the Protestant Reformation was this: “The just shall live by faith.” Luther’s development of the doctrine of justification by faith alone recovered the gospel that had been hidden during the Middle Ages.
And at the center of that gospel is the affirmation that the righteousness by which we are declared just before a holy God is not our own. It’s a foreign righteousness, an alien righteousness, a righteousness that Luther said is extra nos—apart from us. Namely, it’s the righteousness of Jesus Christ—that righteousness that’s imputed or counted for all who put their trust in Him.
Because of that affirmation Luther was involved in serious controversies—controversies that culminated in his being brought to trial before the princes of the church and even before the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Charles V. And there at the Diet of Worms, summoned in Germany, Luther was called upon to recant his views. He answered his interlocutors by saying, “Revoco? You want me to say revoco? That I recant? I will not recant unless I am convinced by sacred Scripture or by evident reason. I cannot recant for my conscience is held captive by the Word of God. And to act against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me.”
In every generation the gospel must be published anew with the same boldness, and the same clarity, and the same urgency that came forth in the 16th century Reformation. The church has always done this in both the spoken word and in song—producing hymns that tell us of the great salvation that has been wrought by God alone through Christ alone.” Dr. R. C. Sproul
“To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” (1 Timothy 1:2 (ESV)
The Apostle Paul had many companions in ministry. All of his epistles, to not only churches but also individuals, mentions many men and women who faithfully served alongside him in the Gospel ministry. However, there were only two individuals who the Apostle Paul referred to as his spiritual children. Titus was one (Titus 1:4) and Timothy was the other (2 Tim. 1:2; 2:1).
In today’s text, Paul referred to Timothy as “my true child in the faith.” The word true (γνησίῳ; gnesio) means genuine and sincere. Child (τέκνῳ; tekno) refers to a young son or daughter (Mark 13:12, Luke 1:7, Acts 7:5; See also Mat.t 7:11, Mark 7:27, Luke 1:17, Eph 6:1, al.; τέκνα).[1]Faith (πίστει; pistei) means one who is trustworthy, committed, dependable and honorable. This is a corresponding result of Timothy’s trust, commitment, dependence and worship of the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 3:21-26; Eph. 2:1-9).
“Only Timothy (2 Tim. 1:2; 2:1) and Titus (Titus 1:4) received this special expression of Paul’s favor. “Child” emphasizes Paul’s role as spiritual father to Timothy. “True” speaks of the genuineness of Timothy’s faith (cf. 2 Tim. 1:5). Timothy was Paul’s most cherished pupil, and protégé (1 Cor. 4:17; Phil. 2:19–22).,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.
“Apostolic authority and tender love are beautifully blended, for the apostle of Jesus Christ calls the addressee ‘Timothy (my) genuine child in faith.’ Timothy was Paul’s child because it was to the apostle as a means of God’s hand that he owed his spiritual life (I Cor. 4:15; Gal. 4:19),” explains Dr. William Hendrikson.2
Paul’s familiar greeting follows. “Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” These wonderful words appear in all of the apostle’s epistles.
Grace (χάρις; charis) means unmerited favor. It is a predominant term in Paul’s theology (Rom. 5:1-2, 20; 6:14; 11:6; I Cor. 15:10; 2 Cor. 9:8; 12:9; Gal. 2:21; Eph. 2:5,8; 2 Tim. 2:1; Titus 2:11; 3:7). It is God giving sinners what we do not deserve; salvation from the penalty, power and eventual presence of sin. The underlying truth of the believer’s justification, redemption, and reconciliation is by grace alone, through God given faith alone, in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone.
Mercy (ἔλεος; eleos) means to have pity and compassion. Nowhere, except in his two letters to Timothy, does Paul insert the noun mercy. Since grace is God giving sinners what we do not deserve; salvation, then mercy is God “not” giving sinner what we do deserve; judgment.
The logical result of God’s grace and mercy is peace (εἰρήνη; eirene). Peace is harmony and reconciliation between humans and before God.
This triad of grace, mercy and peace is solely originating from and given by God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The phrase God the Father refers to His transcendence and immanence. Christ Jesus our Lord is a statement of deity.
John Calvin states, “While Paul claims for himself the appellation of father, he does it in such a manner as not to take away or diminish the smallest portion of the honor which is due to God. (Hebrews 12:9.) It is a common proverb “That which is placed below another is not at variance with it.” The name father, applied to Paul, with reference to God, belongs to this class. God alone is the Father of all in faith, because he regenerates us all by his word, and by the power of his Spirit, and because none but he bestows faith. But they whom he is graciously pleased to employ as his ministers for that purpose, are likewise allowed to share with him in his honor, while, at the same time, He parts with nothing that belongs to himself. Thus God, and God alone, strictly speaking, was Timothy’s spiritual Father; but Paul, who was God’s minister in begetting Timothy, lays claim to this title, by what may be called a subordinate right.”
Are you a true child of the faith? Do you have individuals in your life in which you regard them as such?
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
2William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles, vol. 4, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 53.
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,” (1 Timothy 1:1 (ESV)
As was the case with all of his epistles, the Apostle Paul immediately identified himself as its author. A salutation is a greeting immediately preceding the contents of a letter. It may contain various introductory words such as “good morning,” or even the word “greetings.” Today’s text is Paul’s salutation to Timothy.
Acknowledging Paul’s authorship should not negate the Holy Spirit’s role in divine inspiration and biblical revelation (2 Tim.3:16-17; 2 Peter 1 :20-21). There is a dual authorship involving the divine and the human.
Paul identified himself as an apostle of Christ Jesus. An apostle (ἀπόστολος; apostolos) was a special messenger. It was “generally restricted to the immediate followers of Jesus Christ, but also extended, as in the case of Paul, to other early Christians active in proclaiming the message of the gospel.” [1]
However, the word apostle also refers to a select number of individuals who held the office of apostle. It was a select and restricted group, of which the exact number varied (Matthew 10:2; Acts 1:2, 26; Acts 14:14; 1 Corinthians 12:28, 29). It also should be noted that the office and responsibility of an apostle was sourced and originated from God alone. The phrase of Christ Jesus meant Paul was solely an apostle sent by and belonging to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul’s self-identification as an apostle was not the only title he used. Note the following New Testament (NT) references from the Pauline epistles.
“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God.” (Romans 1:1).
“Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus,” (I Corinthians 1:1).
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,” (2 Corinthians 1:1).
“Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— “(Galatians 1:1).
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,” (Ephesians 1:1).
“Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 1:1).
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,” (Colossians 1:1).
“Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,” (1 Thessalonians 1:1).
“Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,” (2 Thessalonians 1:1).
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,” (1 Timothy 1:1).
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,” (2 Timothy 1:1).
“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness,” (Titus 1:1)
“Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,” (Philemon 1).
Paul then described by whose authority he was an apostle of Christ Jesus. He wrote, “by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,” Command (ἐπιταγὴν; epitagen) refers to an order, a decree or instruction. The phrase God our Savior refers to God the Father. This title for the first person of the Trinity is found only in the Pastoral Epistles but has its roots in the Old Testament (Ps. 18:46; 25:5; 27:9; Micah 7:7; Hab. 3:18). God the Father by nature is a saving God and the source of the sinner’s salvation from eternity past (Rom. 8:29-30; Eph. 1:3-6; I Tim. 4:10; 2 Thess. 2:13; I Peter 1:1-2).
Additionally, Paul spoke of Christ Jesus our hope. The title Christ Jesus obviously refers to the second person of the Trinity. The word hope (ἐλπίδος; elpidos) refers solely to the confident expectation each believer has in the Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, the salvation God promised to accomplish by the Lord Jesus He will fulfill.
Dr. William Hendriksen explains, “The fact that here in the Pastorals the name Savior is frequently applied to God is, after all, not at all surprising, for even in his earlier epistles Paul frequently ascribes the work of saving man to “God. “For example, “It was God’s good-pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe” (1 Cor. 1:21); “but God … made us alive together with Christ … for by grace have you been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:4, 5, 8); “your salvation, and that from God” (Phil. 1:28). To “God” he also ascribes the distinct acts in the program of salvation. It is God who spared not his Son but delivered him up for us all. It is God who sets forth his Son as a propitiation for our sins. It is he who commends his love toward us. It is God who blesses us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. Foreknowledge, foreordination, calling, justification, glorification are all ascribed to him. It is he who chose us. It is he who causes the gospel to be proclaimed. It is he who bestows his grace upon us. Faith is his gift,”[2] (See Rom. 1:16; 3:24–26; 4:17; 5:8, 15; 8:3, 4, 11, 28–30, 31–33; 9:10, 11; 15:5, 13; 1 Cor. 1:9, 26–31; 15:57; 2 Cor. 2:14; 4:7; 5:5, 8, 19, 20, 21; 9:15; Gal. 1:15; 3:26; 4:4–7; Eph. 1:3–5; 2:4, 5; Phil. 2:13; 3:9; Col. 3:3).
“In view of all this we can almost say that it would have been strange if somewhere in his epistles the apostle would not have called God “our Savior.” Calling God “our Savior” is entirely proper. And since for Paul God ever saves through Christ, verse 1 is also a fitting prelude to verse 15: “Christ Jesus came into the world sinners to save.”[3]
Dr. Hendriksen concludes by saying, “Amid circumstances which to man might seem hopeless Christ Jesus is pictured as “our Hope,” that is, the very foundation for our earnest yearning, our confident expectation, and our patient waiting for the manifestation of salvation in all its fulness (cf. 1:16; 6:14–16, 19). It is he who made this hope possible and actual. It is he who revitalizes it from day to day. The Source as well as the Object of this hope is he (cf. Acts 28:20; Col. 1:27).[4]
Have you repented of your sin and received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Hope for deliverance from sin’s penalty, power and eventual presence is found solely in Him.
Mat the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
[2] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles, vol. 4, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 52.
[3] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles, vol. 4, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 52–53.
[4] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles, vol. 4, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 53.
Our next study will focus on the New Testament Pastoral Epistles of I Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus. They are referred to as Paul’s Pastoral Epistles because Timothy and Titus were respectively pastors in the Roman city of Ephesus and on the Island of Crete, which is located in the eastern portion of the Mediterranean Sea. We begin with an introduction of I Timothy.
I Timothy is the first of two inspired (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21) epistles Paul wrote to his beloved son in the faith. Timothy means “one who honors God,” or “honoring God.”
“This is a very personal letter. From elsewhere in the New Testament we know that Paul was very fond of Timothy; he speaks of his love for the younger man and of his conviction that he was faithful (1 Cor. 4:17). Paul says further that Timothy could remind the Corinthians of Paul’s way of life, which indicates a certain intimacy and shows that Paul trusted him. It accords with this that he likens Timothy’s relationship to him to that of a son to his father (Phil. 2:22), and with a cheerful disregard for consistency speaks of him as a brother (and fellow worker, 1 Thess. 3:2). He links Timothy with himself in the opening greetings in some of his epistles (2 Cor. 1:1; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:1; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1), which argues that he was a trusted colleague. Paul asks the Corinthians to ensure that Timothy “has nothing to fear” if he should visit them (1 Cor. 16:10), which seems to indicate a certain diffidence about the young man. He sent him to the Thessalonians, he assures them, “to strengthen and encourage you in your faith” (1 Thess. 3:2), and he plans to send him to the Philippians, explaining, “I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare” (Phil. 2:20),” explains D. A. Carson & Douglas J. Moo – An Introduction to the New Testament.
“All this gives point to Paul’s greeting, “To Timothy my true son in the faith” (1 Tim.1:2). The letter is written to a younger man for whom the apostle had a deep affection and whom he had for years entrusted with important missions. What Paul now says brings out the truth that Christians are linked in the service of the Lord and that there is significant help they can and should give to one another.”
After Rome released Paul from his first Roman imprisonment (cf. Acts 28:30), he revisited several of the cities in which he had planted and ministered, including Ephesus. Paul left Timothy behind in Ephesus to deal with problems that had arisen in the church, such as false doctrine (1 Tim. 1:3–7; 4:1–3; 6:3–5), disorder in worship (2:1–15), the need for qualified leaders (3:1–14), and materialism (6:6–19), Paul then traveled to Macedonia, from where he wrote Timothy this first letter to help him fulfill his pastoral and leadership duties (cf. 3:14–15).
First Timothy is a practical letter containing pastoral instruction (cf. 3:14–15). Since Timothy knew well Paul’s theology, the apostle did not need to give him extensive doctrinal instruction. However, I Timothy expresses many important theological truths. These include the proper function of the Mosaic Law (1:5–11), salvation (1:14–16; 2:4–6); the attributes of God (1:17); the fall (2:13–14); the person of Christ (3:16; 6:15–16); election (6:12); and the second coming of Christ (6:14–15).
What are some of the interpretative challenges in I Timothy? Here is a top ten list.
First, who are the false teachers (1:3) and the genealogies (1:4) involved in their teaching?
Second, what is meant to be “handed over to Satan” (1:20)?
Third, the letter fosters debate over the extent of the atonement (2:4–6; 4:10).
Fourth, the teaching on the role of women (2:9–15). What, if any leadership role is there for women in the church?
Fifth, what is meant be women being saved by bearing children (2:15)?
Sixth, what does it mean when an elder must be “the husband of one wife?” Does this exclude divorced or unmarried men from eldership (3:1)?
Seventh, does Paul refer to deacons’ wives or deaconesses (3:11)?
Eighth, can Christians lose their salvation (4:1)?
Ninth, who are the widows in 5:3–16—are they needy women ministered to by the church, or an order of older women ministering to the church?
Tenth, Does “double honor” accorded to elders who rule well (5:17–18) refer to respect or money?
I encourage you to begin reading I Timothy. May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Our next study will focus on the New Testament Pastoral Epistles of I Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus. They are referred to as Paul’s Pastoral Epistles because Timothy and Titus were respectively pastors in the Roman city of Ephesus and on the Island of Crete, which is located in the eastern portion of the Mediterranean Sea. We begin with an introduction of I Timothy.
I Timothy is the first of two inspired (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21) epistles Paul wrote to his beloved son in the faith. Timothy means “one who honors God,” or “honoring God.” His mother Eunice, and grandmother Lois, were devout Jews who became believers in Christ (2 Tim. 1:5). They taught Timothy the Old Testament (OT) Scriptures from his childhood (2 Tim. 3:15). His father was a Greek (Acts 16:1) who may have died before Timothy and Paul met.
Timothy was from Lystra (Acts 16:1–3), a city in the Roman province of Galatia (part of modern Turkey). Paul led Timothy to Christ (1 Tim. 1:2, 18; 1 Cor. 4:17; 2 Tim. 1:2). This occurred during Paul’s ministry in Lystra during his First Missionary Journey (Acts 14:6–23). Revisiting Lystra on his Second Missionary Journey, Paul chose Timothy to accompany him (Acts 16:1–3).
Although Timothy was young, since about 15 years later Paul still called him a young man (1 Tim. 4:12), Timothy had a reputation for godliness (Acts 16:2). Timothy was Paul’s disciple, friend, and co-laborer for the rest of the apostle’s life. He ministered with Paul in Berea (Acts 17:14), Athens (Acts 17:15), Corinth (Acts 18:5; 2 Cor. 1:19), and accompanied him on his trip to Jerusalem (Acts 20:4).
Dr John MacArthur states, “Many modernist critics delight in attacking the plain statements of Scripture and, for no good reason, deny that Paul wrote the Pastoral Epistles (1, 2 Timothy, Titus). Ignoring the testimony of the letters themselves (1 Tim. 1:1; 2 Tim. 1:1; Titus 1:1) and that of the early church (which is as strong for the Pastoral Epistles as for any of Paul’s epistles, except Romans and 1 Corinthians), these critics maintain that a devout follower of Paul wrote the Pastoral Epistles in the second century.”
“As proof, they offer five lines of supposed evidence:( 1) the historical references in the Pastoral Epistles cannot be harmonized with the chronology of Paul’s life given in Acts; (2) the false teaching described in the Pastoral Epistles is the fully developed Gnosticism of the second century;( 3) the church organizational structure in the Pastoral Epistles is that of the second century, and is too well developed for Paul’s day; (4) the Pastoral Epistles do not contain the great themes of Paul’s theology; and (5) the Greek vocabulary of the Pastoral Epistles contains many words not found in Paul’s other letters, nor in the rest of the NT.”
What is the response to these objections to Pauline authorship? Note the following.
(1) Historical incompatibility is valid only if Rome never released Paul from his Roman imprisonment (Acts 28). However, he was released since Acts does not record Paul’s execution, and he also expected to be released (Phil. 1:19, 25–26; 2:24; Philem. 22). The historical events in the Pastoral Epistles do not fit into the narrative of Acts because they occurred after the conclusion of the Book of Acts.
(2) While there are similarities between the heresy mentioned in the Pastoral Epistles and second-century Gnosticism, there are also distinct differences. Unlike second-century Gnosticism, the false teachers in the Pastoral Epistles were still in the church (cf. 2 Tim. 1:3–7) and their teachings were from Jewish legalism (1 Tim. 1:7; Titus 1:10, 14; 3:9).
(3) The church organizational structure referred to in the Pastoral Epistles is consistent with what Paul established (Acts 14:23; Phil. 1:1).
(5) The subjects in the Pastoral Epistles required a different vocabulary from Paul’s other epistles.
There is more introductory information to come. I encourage you to begin reading I Timothy. May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Our study from Scripture concerns the subject of holiness. This Lord’s Day, the focus continues to center on I Peter 1:13-16 and God’s call for His children to be holy as He is holy.
13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:13–16 (ESV)
As we noted in our previous devotional, one of the most basic disciplines in the Christian life is to not be conformed to the world’s desires which stem from a disobedient spirit towards God. The Apostle John described these desires as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life (I John 2:15-16). The Apostle Paul also encouraged believers to not be conformed to the world but to be transformed by the renewing of their minds (Romans 12:1-2).
The Apostle Peter wrote, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance.” To be obedient (ὑπακοῆς; phypakoes) means to give evidence or testimony of one’s compliance to the Lord. It is a positive response to God’s commands. This is to be the identity of a child of God.
As such, God encourages believers to not be conformed (συσχηματιζόμενοι; syschematizomenoi) presently, personally, and collectively. This is the word the Apostle Paul used in Romans 12:2. It means to “pattern one’s actions or life after.”
“Peter reminds these Christians that obedience to God and holiness of life are radically different from a life that follows ‘natural’ desires wherever they lead. Doing God’s will is the opposite of doing what remaining sin makes us feel like doing (Rom. 6:12; Gal. 5:16-24),” explains Dr. Wayne Grudem.
The phrase “former ignorance” (πρότερον ἀγνοίᾳ; proteron agnoia) refers to a prior lack of knowledge and willful disobedience. This an ignorance of God and His ways (Acts 3:17; 17:30; Eph. 4:18). The unbelievers’ passions evidenced their previous ignorance of the Lord. Passions (ἐπιθυμίαις; epithymiais) are desires, longings and lusts.
Along with what God calls believers not to do, God also reveals to us what believers are to do. God commands each believer in Christ to be holy. The holiness of God is His most important attribute (Isaiah 6). It stands to reason that the Christian should be holy as God is holy (Leviticus 11:44; 19:2; 20:7).
What does it mean to be holy? Holiness (ἅγιος; hagios) means to be separate from sin. It means to have pure, moral qualities. Consequently, we are commanded to be holy in all our behavior or conduct (ἀναστροφή; anastrophe). This refers to how we daily live and conduct ourselves. A holy inner life from God (Romans 5:1; 2 Corinthians 5:21) leads to a holy outer walk before God (Ephesians 2:10) and other people.
As one commentator has written, “Though absolute holiness can never be achieved in this life, all areas of life should be in the process of becoming completely conformed to God’s perfect and holy will.”
Our standard of holiness is God. It is His moral perfection which we are to pursue (Matthew 5:48; Ephesians 5:1). As people recreated in His image to be like Him in His holy character, let each of us today reflect His holiness. Read Isaiah 6:1-7 and Revelation 4-5 today.
God is holy (Isaiah 6:1-7; Leviticus 11:44; I Peter 1:16). This means that He is absolutely different or apart from His creation and that He is absolutely pure. As Dr. R.C Sproul comments, “The saints of Scripture were called saints not because they were already pure but because they were people who were set apart and called to purity.”
While it is true that God is our heavenly Father (I John 1:12-13) and that He has adopted us as His children (2 Corinthians 6:18; Psalm 68:5-6; Galatians 4:4-5; Romans 8:14-17), believers will still be judged and rewarded for their good works before God (Romans 14:10-12; I Corinthians 3:12-15). Augustine called this “God crowning His own gifts.”
Therefore, we conduct ourselves while we live on this earth in fear. We must still approach God with humble reverence (Psalm 34:11). We must not approach Him in worship, in prayer, or in service with a flippant or casual attitude of indifference. We serve Him, and not the other way around.
Recalling I Peter 1:1, Peter once again refers to the believer’s time here on earth as one of exile. Our status in this fallen world is that of aliens, strangers and pilgrims. We do not seek to be like the world, but rather to be distinct from it, as befitting our status as belonging to God’s kingdom. To his first century audience, this took on not only a spiritual meaning, but also a physical one. It may also for many today.
16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.” (2 Thessalonians 3:16 (ESV)
The following sermon excerpt is by Pastor Charles H. Spurgeon entitled The Jewel of Peace. Spurgeon preached this on Sunday, March 18, 1877.
First, then, let us look at THE MANY-SIDED BLESSING, “The Lord of peace himself give you peace.”
Some have thought to restrict the expression to peace within the church, since disorderly members were evidently increasing among the Thessalonians. But that is a very straitened and niggardly interpretation, and it is never wise to narrow the meaning of God’s Word.
Indeed, such a contracted explanation cannot be borne, for it does not appear that the disorderly persons mentioned in the chapter had as yet created any special disturbance. They had been quietly fattening at the expense of their generous brethren, and would not be very eager to quarrel with the rack from which they fed.
Although no doubt church quiet is included as one variety of peace, yet it would be a sad dwarfing of the meaning of the Spirit to consider one phase of the blessing to the neglect of the rest. No, the peace here meant is “the deep tranquility of a soul resting on God,” the quiet restfulness of spirit which is the peculiar gift of God, and the choice privilege of the believer. “Great peace has all they that love thy law, and nothing shall offend them.”
The peace of the text is a gem with many facets, but in considering its many-sidedness we must remember that its main bearing is toward God. The deepest, best, and most worthy peace of the soul is its rest towards the Lord God Himself. I trust we know this, and are enjoying it at this moment.
We are no longer afraid of God—the sin which divided us from Him is blotted out, and the distance which it created has ceased to be. The atonement has wrought perfect reconciliation and established everlasting peace. The terrors of God’s law are effectually removed from us, and instead thereof we feel the drawings of His love.
Now, secondly, let us note THE SPECIAL DESIRABLENESS OF PEACE.
It is a very great thing for a soul to realize perfect peace, for if it does not do so, it must miss the joy, and comfort, and blessedness of the Christian life. God never meant His children to be like thistle-down, wafted about with every breath, nor as a football, hurled to and fro by every foot. He meant us to be a happy, restful, established people.
The cattle crop the grass, but they are not fattened till they lie down and ruminate in peace—the Lord makes His people to feed and to lie down in quietness. You do not know the Gospel, dear friends, if you have not obtained peace through it. Peace is the juice, the essence, the soul of the Gospel. Doctrines are clusters, but you have never trodden them in the wine vat, you have never quaffed the flowing juice of their grapes, if you have not peacefully considered divine truth in the quiet of your heart.
Without peace you cannot grow. A shepherd may find good pasture for his flock, but if his sheep are hunted about by wild dogs, so that they cannot rest, they will become mere skin and bone. The Lord’s lambs cannot grow if they are worried and harried—they must enjoy the rest wherewith the Lord makes the weary to rest. If your soul is always sighing, and moaning, and questioning its interest in Christ, if you are always in suspense as to what doctrine is true and what is false, if there is nothing established and settled about you, you will never come to the fullness of the stature of a man in Christ Jesus.
Neither without peace can you bear much fruit, if any. If a tree is frequently transplanted, you cannot reasonably look for many golden apples upon its boughs. The man who has no root-hold, who neither believes, nor grasps, nor enjoys the Gospel, can never know what it is to be steadfast, unmovable, neither will he be always abounding in the work of the Lord.
Now, thirdly, we shall get into the very heart of our text while we consider for a minute or two THE ONLY PERSON FROM WHOM THIS PEACE MUST COME,
“Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace.”
Who is this “Lord of peace” but the Lord Jesus, the Prince of peace, born into the world when there was peace all over the world? It was but a little interval in which the gates of the temple of war were closed, and lo, Jesus came to Bethlehem, and angels sang, “Peace on earth.” He came to establish an empire of peace which shall be universal, and under whose influence they shall hang the useless helmet high, and study war no more.
“The Prince of peace!” How blessed is the title! So was it written of old by Isaiah, and Paul, the true successor of Isaiah, changing but a word, now speaks of, “the Lord of peace.” This is He who, being in Himself essential peace, undertook to be the Father’s great Ambassador, and having made peace by the blood of His cross, ended the strife between man and his offended Maker.
This is He who is our peace—who has made Jew and Gentile one, and broken down the middle wall of partition which stood between us. This is the Lord who, when He stood in the midst of His disciples, gave them peace by saying, “Peace be unto you.”
And this is He, who in His departure made His last will and testament, and wrote therein this grand legacy, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth give I unto you.” This is that Lord of peace to whom it is part of His nature and office to give peace.
Now I must conclude with the fourth head, which is a consideration of THE SWEEP OF THE PRAYER,
“The Lord of peace himself give you peace always.” What! always at peace? Yes, that is what the apostle desires for you. May you have peace given you always. “Well, sir, I feel very happy on Sabbath days. I have such peace that I wish I could have a week of Sundays.” May the Lord Himself give you peace always, on all the weekdays as well as on the Lord’s days.
But there are some to whom this peace cannot come, some concerning whom the Lord says, “What hast thou to do with peace?” “There is no peace, saith my God, unto the wicked.” Your works, your prayers, your repentances—none of these can bring you peace. As for the world and the pleasures thereof, they are destructive to all hope of peace.
Come you this day and believe in the great sacrifice which God Himself has prepared in the person of His crucified Son. Come look into Emanuel’s face and read where peace is to be found. Come to the great gash in Jesus’ side, and see the cleft of the rock where God’s elect abides in peace. Trust in Jesus, and you shall begin a peace which shall widen and deepen into the peace of God which passes all understanding, which shall keep your hearts and minds by Christ Jesus. Amen.
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. 17 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.” (2 Thessalonians 3:16–18 (ESV)
In today’s text, the Apostle Paul’s second epistle to the Thessalonian believers comes to a conclusion. Paul shared his final thoughts to this faithful church. It was a benediction of encouragement, integrity, and comfort.
Paul encouraged the Thessalonian believers when he wrote, “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.” The Thessalonians experienced conflict from opponents to the Gospel (3:1-5). Paul encouraged them by praying for the Lord of peace to give them peace. This would occur because the Lord is the source and originator of peace.
Peace (εἰρήνης; eirenes) refers to tranquility and freedom from worry (Rom 5:1-2; Philippians 4:6-7). This tranquility is because of the Lord’s presence with all believers in union with Christ.
“The Lord of peace is the Lord Jesus Christ. It is he who established peace through his cross. It is he who not only pronounces it but actually imparts it,” explains Dr. William Hendriksen.[1]
“Implied in the peace is the fellowship, which, however, because of its superlative worth, merits special mention. Hence, there follows The Lord (i.e., the Lord Jesus Christ) with you all (with the verb “be” understood). Note: you all, not even the disorderly ones are excluded! Did not the writers proceed from the idea that the censored persons were, after all, brothers? Cf. 1 Cor. 16:24; 2 Cor. 13:13.”[2]
Paul also appealed to his apostolic integrity. He wanted these young believers to know how genuine he loved them. He wrote, “I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write.” Although inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21), the words Paul wrote were sincerely his own.
“Paul always wrote the closing greeting with his own hand, but he did not always make a point of saying so. He did not need to. The difference in handwriting in the original copy between the closing greeting and the body of the letter would reveal two different writers to those who would see the epistle. In any case, Paul sometimes made a note that he was writing the greeting, probably for the benefit of listeners. His epistles were read aloud to Christian congregations, and not all of them could see the difference in handwriting between the body of the letter and Paul’s self-written closing. But all of them could hear him make a note of it,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
Dr. Hendriksen asks, “Why did the apostle, here in 2 Thess. 3:17, call special attention to this mark of genuineness? The following reasons have been suggested and may well point in the right direction:”
a. “To prevent the disorderly persons from being able to say, “We admit that the letter which was read to us during the service (II Thessalonians) contained some rather uncomplimentary things with respect to us, but we do not believe that it actually represents the thought of Paul. We deny that he either wrote or dictated it.”
b. To discourage the spread of spurious epistles and/or the claim that someone had in his possession (or had seen) a letter from Paul stating that the day of the Lord had already arrived; see on 2:2.”[3]
Finally, Paul wanted to comfort these believers who God led him, Silas and Timothy to evangelize and disciple. “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.” How comforting this was, and is. Regardless of who they were, the well regarded or the rebuked, Paul wanted them all to know God’s grace would be with them all.
“Take some time to skim the book of 2 Thessalonians today and note a teaching or two that are particularly applicable to where you currently find yourself. Ask the Lord to help you follow the teaching and to give you the courage to stand on God’s Word. Thank Him for this Apostolic instruction and for the spiritual life that it gives,” concludes Dr. Sproul.
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of I-II Thessalonians, vol. 3, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 207.
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