OUR FATHER WHO BLESSES THOSE WHO ARE CONTENT

1 Timothy chapter 6 verses 1 - 10 says this,

1 Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. 2 And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

The apostle Paul passed some intructions to those who among the church who were slaves. He instructed them to honor their masters so that the name of God would not be associated with dishonor and rebellion. He also insructed that the slaves who had masters who were believers to honor them as well because the beneficiary of their honorable service would be believers.  

3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

Paul, aware that his counsel would have detractors, strongly conveyed to Timothy that those who spread a different ethic regarding how slaves were to relate to their masters, were prideful, obstreporous, envious, contentious, abusively critical, purveyors of evil intrigues, pointlessly political with no understanding of the truth and who viewed the path of righteousness as a means of materially benefitting themselves and he advised Timothy to avoid contact with such people.

6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Paulˋs comment to Timothy was to teach believers to cultivate contentment with what ever they had and to avoid scrambling to gain material wealth which would invite temptation that would ensnare them in destructive lusts and their attendant consequences.

Paul, recapitulating the teaching of the Lord Jesus, tells Timothy that the love of money was the root of all types of evil. This establishes the concept that the love of money is what entrenches evil conduct in a community where the pursuit of money causes people to involve themselves in all manner of unsavoury practices that lead them away from the faith and cause them to suffer painful physical and spiritual injuries.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER WHO

In 1 Timothy  Chapter 5, the Apostle Paul turns the focus of his letter to Timothy onto the subject of whom it was appropriate to show honor.

First and foremost, Timothy, who was himself a young man at that time, was forbidden by Paul to rebuke an older man. Instead, he instructed Timothy to respectfully encourage the man towards correction as he would his own father. Similarly, older women were to be afforded the same respect and  young men and young women could be respectfully corrected as one would a brother or a sister.

1 Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.

Paul then counsels Timothy to ensure that proper honor was paid to widows who were genuinely widowed. He tells Timothy that if a widow had children or grandchildren, those people should be given the first opportunity to honor their mother or grandmother with caregiving which is good and acceptable before God. 

If, however, a widow was alone and trusted God and was continually active in prayers, it was appropriate for the church to provide for her.

On the other hand, Paul declared that a widow who sought pleasure and luxury was already dead so Paul directed Timothy to teach everyone these standards so that they could be blameless because the ones who needed to provide for their widowed parent but failed to do so, were repudiating of the faith and were in worse condition than unbelievers.

3 Honor widows who are really widows. 4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. 5 Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. 6 But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. 7 And these things command, that they may be blameless. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

 Timothy is given additional criteria by which a widow would qualify for church assisatance;

• Over sixty years old
• Married to one man 
• Had a reputation for good works
• Raised children
• Hospitable to strangers
• Cared for travelling saints 
• Was merciful to the downtrodden and unfortunate
• Were diligent in attending to all good initiatives

9 Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, 10 well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.

11 But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, 12 having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. 13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. 

 For younger widows, Paul gave instructions to exclude them from church support giving the reason that they were using their free time to pursue idleness, gossip and uttering inappropriate words and in doing so, they carelessly discarded their faith in Christ.

The advice Paul gave was that younger widows should remarry, bear children and care for their housholds so that their lives would be beyond the reproachful scorn of the enemy. Without these standards, some widows had already been diverted into the service of the kingdom of darknes

The general principle that Paul established with Timothy was that the church was not to be overly burdened by the care of widows while their own family members were available to care for them.

14 Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 15 For some have already turned aside after Satan. 16 If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.

 Paulˋs letter continues with a list of articles for Timothy to observe related to governance of the church;

• Honor and compensate those who served the church especially in teaching 
• Accusations against elders must be corroborated by two or three witness
• Publicly rebuke those sinning so that sinful conduct would be discourage
• Be fastidiously fair and impartial in enforcing the standards in the church
• Do not confer authority to people without careful observance and investigation
• Stay away from influencers trying to normalize sin but stay pure

17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” 19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. 20 Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.

21 I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality. 22 Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.

23 No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.

24 Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. 25 Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.

After advising Timothy to drink a little wine for the stomach ailments he frequently suffered, Paul cryptically writes that some men are clearly headed for judgement because of their conspicuos sins while the sins of other men become evident later. 

Similarly, the good works of some men are conspicous and readily seen as the fruit of the Spirit while for other men, their good works, though done in secret, eventually percolate to the surface and become perceptible.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER WHO IS THE SAVIOUR OF ALL MEN ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO BELIEVE

1 Timothy chapter 4 verses 1 - 15 says this;

1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 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. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

6 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. 7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 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. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. 10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 11 These things command and teach.

12 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. 13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14 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. 15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 16 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.

The Apostle Paul alerted Timothy of a specific detail that the Holy Spirit expressed which was about the way that that parts of the body of Christ would drift away from faith in the gospel and adopt the false doctrines of demons.

The false doctrines would include dietary and marital strictures that these false doctrines would be administered by people who had contravened their own consciences so greatly that they would have been numbed to normal understanding of spiritual truth. 

For example, Paul mentions the people who had seared their concsciences would forbid certain foods as a route to acquire righteousness but this would be an obvious deception because food over which thanks had been given for by those who had believed and knew the truth, was santified by the word of God and prayer.

Paul encourages TImothy by telling him that he would be a good minister if he followed and taught such doctrine and rejected fables. Paul counsels Timothy to exercise godliness in his life similar to the way one would do physical exercise except that physical exercise gave temporal benefits while godliness provided benefits in this life and in the eternal life to come. 

The apostle mentioned that their efforts in the kingdom undertaken in hardship and resistance was done in trust in God who was the saviour of all men and particularly those who believed. This implies that there is a stratification that will occur where some people are saved to a greater placement by their faith in Christ while there are others who will be generally saved who trusted in God but by means other than by faith.

Paul tells Timothy, in spite of his youth, to be an example in behaviour, love, spirit, faith and purity and to keep up with reading, teaching and with the observance of doctrine.

Paul reminds Timothy not to neglect the gift that was bestowed on him by the elders when they laid hands on him, Paul informs Timothy that meditating on those things continually and commiting wholly to them would yield noticable spiritual growth.

Pauls also writes that Timothy should be self-aware and careful about his own affairs and to be attentive to doctrinal issues because by doing this, he would save himself and those who are reached by his ministry.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER WHO MANIFESTED IN THE FLESH AND WAS SEEN BY ANGELS

1 Timothy chapter 3 verses 14 - 16;

14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:

God was manifested in the flesh,

Justified in the Spirit,

Seen by angels,

Preached among the Gentiles,

Believed on in the world,

Received up in glory.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER WHOSE SERVANTS SHOULD CARRY A GOOD TESTIMONY

1 Timothy chapter 3 verses 1 - 13 says this;

1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, [c]not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. 10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. 11 Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. 

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO IS ONE AND WHO APPOINTED ONE MEDIATOR (THE MAN JESUS CHRIST) BETWEEN HIMSELF AND MAN

1 Timothy chapter 2 verse 1 - 15 

1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; 9 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, 10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. 11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. 12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 15 Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

Amen.

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