1 Timothy 4:13-16

Introduction

At the end of 1 Timothy 4, Paul gives Timothy several commands. We examined the first command last week.

1 Timothy 4:12 “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

The phrase: “Let no man despise thy youth” has two possible meanings. First, Paul commanded Timothy to teach his church no to despise the youthfulness of his age as the senior pastor of the church in Ephesus so that he can be an example before the church in:

Word

Conversation

Charity

Spirit

Faith

Purity

Second, Paul commands Timothy to do nothing that would cause the people at the church in Ephesus to despise his youthfulness as the pastor of the church; therefore, be am example in:

Word

Conversation

Charity

Spirit

Faith

Purity

Based upon the construction in verses 11-12, it is quite possible that Paul had both in mind.

Give attendance to:

1 Timothy 4:13 “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”

Kent Hughes wrote: This simple sentence is a landmark text in defining the major work of the pastor and the worship of the church.

Give attendance

This is the 4th time Paul used the Greek word for “attendance” in this epistle.

1 Timothy 1:4 “Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.”

1 Timothy 3:8 “Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;”

1 Timothy 4:1 “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”

In each case, the idea is to not entertain, not attach yourself, not be controlled by.

Therefore, 1 Timothy 4:13 “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” The idea is to entertain, attach yourself and be controlled by reading, exhortation, and doctrine.

Digging deeper into the phrase “give attendance,” we discover The verb indicates "give attendance” involves more than the activity. Speaks to the preparation of the activity.

Donald Guthrie Writes: “Implies previous preparation in private.

Though Paul writes how Timothy must publicly read, exhort an teach God’s word. This cannot be done without private study and preparation.

Devote yourself, focus on, give priority

Steve Lawson - "Timothy was “to apply himself” or “devote himself” with undivided allegiance to this foundational ministry of biblical preaching and teaching....He was to preach when it was convenient as well as when it was inconvenient (“in season and out of season”)....Before he gave attention to anything, he must devote himself to preaching. This same vigil is absolutely necessary for all ministers today. Men of God are to give themselves fully to their preaching. Nothing less will suffice.

Warren Wiersbe wrote, “Ministering the Word was not something Timothy was to do after he had done other things; it was to be the most important thing he did."

The central theme in each of these 3 commands that Paul gave to Timothy is God’s word

I mentioned earlier that these commands Paul gave to Timothy were to be fulfilled in a public venue. Why?

God’s word should be read in public

1 Timothy 4:12 - Timothy was to be a public example.

The meaning of the word “attendance” indicates an activity that started privately but blossoms publicly.

In the Greek there is a “the” in from of reading. The idea is “the reading.” This helps us to identify what Paul had in mind with “reading.” Every Jew understood what “the reading” was.

The reading took place in the Synagogue.

Luke 4:16–21“And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”

Acts 13:14–15 “But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.”

The reading that Paul had in mind was the text that Timothy was to preach

This involved both praying and studying so that Timothy would rightly divide the word of God.

We are responsible to give them as much of God’s word as God has allowed us to prepare for them in our studying.

Kent Hughes voiced concern about “the contemporary slide to dys-exposition,” referring to the trend of many preachers who depart from the text and never return.

Hughes identified several abuses of Scripture associated with this type of preaching, including taking the text out of context, moralizing the text and attempting to preach where the text is silent. Using a “homiletics of consensus,” which focuses on the congregation’s felt needs, fails to realize that “their deepest needs are far deeper than their perceived needs,” he said.

Paul wanted Timothy to stay away from fables and endless genealogies and

JM - 7 “be’s”

Be prepared

Be interesting

Be biblical

Be prayerful

Be enthusiastic

Be Authoritarian

Be relevant - instead of saying we have to bring the Bible into modern times, that is exactly the opposite of what we need to do. We need to take the modern hearer into Bible times. I think the adventure for us at Grace Church is that we have lived in the Bible. Our people have dirt on their feet from walking the dusty roads with Jesus. They live in the New Testament world. They know the Pharisees. They feel the ethos of Jesus in a crowd in a village because they have lived that, because we have painted that picture for them. They know what Isaiah was going through. They understand what it meant for Jeremiah to be thrown into a pit.

2 Peter 1:19 “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:”

After God’s word is read, it should be exhorted (preached.)

Wuest on paraklesis - The word has various meanings; “a calling near, a summons, imploration, supplication, entreaty, exhortation, admonition, encouragement, consolation, solace.” The well-rounded all-inclusive idea is that of encouragement, of aid given the needy person, whether it be consolation, exhortation, or supplication.

Timothy, after reading and preaching God’s word, you must call people to God’s word. They need to make a decision on what was just preached.

Marshall - “Timothy is to summon his hearers, to respond to the Scripture that has been read. Whether he does so in exhortation or in comfort will depend on the message of the passage, but common to these two senses is the noted encouragement”

MacArthur wrote, “Exhortation challenges people to apply the truths they have been taught. It warns people to obey in light of the blessing to come to them if they do, and the judgment if they do not. Exhortation may take the form of rebuke, warning, counsel, or comfort, but always involves a binding of the conscience.”

This is to call the people to apply the text.

As pastors we need to lead people to a decision but not lead them in their decision.

And, the preaching needs to be doctrinally (teaching) sound.

Lawson - True expository preaching is always doctrinal preaching. While “exhortation” is more application-oriented, “teaching” is more doctrine-oriented.

Thomas Lea writes “Teaching makes an appeal to the intellect and informs listeners about the truths of the Christian faith."

We need to systematically teach God’s word.

Timothy was to deseminate sound teaching to all people at all times through all means. That is the heart and soul of ministry. This explains why one of the bishops qualifications is to be apt to teach.

Justin Martyr, taking you all the way back to the middle of the second century, a hundred years after the church was born, Justin Martyr has written for us a typical early worship service a hundred years after the church was born, and this is what he says. “On the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place. And the writings of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read as long as time permits. Then when the reader has ceased, the presider verbally instructs and exhorts to the imitation of these good things.”

John Chrysostom, called the golden-mouthed orator, recognized by most people to be the finest orator and preacher of ancient times. He preached for twelve years at the cathedral in Antioch, and then in 398 A.D. became bishop of Constantinople, for which he is well known, presiding over the church there. His biographer writes about him that he is a model to this day for preachers, and here’s why. Four characteristics of his preaching must be mentioned. First - this is 398 A.D. - he was biblical. Not only did he preach systematically through books, but his sermons are full of biblical quotations and allusions.

Secondly, his interpretation of the Scripture was always simple and direct. He followed the Antiochene school of literal exegesis in contrast to the fanciful Alexandrian allegorizations. Thirdly, his moral applications were down to earth. In fact, reading his sermons today, one can imagine without difficulty the pomp of the imperial court, the luxuries of the aristocracy, the wild races of the hippodrome, in fact, the whole life of an oriental city at the end of the fourth century. And, fourthly, he was fearless in his condemnations. In fact, he was a martyr of the pulpit. It was his faithful preaching that brought him to exile.”

Dear preacher or teacher, if you are not laboring over the Scriptures in preparing your message, then you are falling woefully short of the Biblical standard and the sheep will surely be malnourished and vulnerable to the "wolves!" (not to mention that you will be held accountable at the Bema seat for your stewardship of this gift from God,

Be all in

1 Timothy 4:14–16 “Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”

Neglect not the gift that is in thee.

Or stop neglecting

Timothy is where a lot of people in the ministry have been, a point of departure. The place where you say, “That’s enough, I’m getting out, I can’t handle the pressure externally, I can’t handle the pressure internally, I don’t need this, I’m not cutting it, it’s not happening, it’s not fulfilling me, it’s not what I want.” And there is Timothy on the edge of that kind of thinking, whether he’s actually begun to neglect or about to neglect, he’s close to that, therefore comes the warning.

2 Timothy 1:3–8 “I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up (REKINDLE THE FLAME) the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;”

2 Timothy 2:1 “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”

2 Timothy 2:3–6 “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.”

2 Timothy 2:22 “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

Barna - Recent poll

58% of full-time pastor have considered quitting

58% - The immense stress of the job

48% - lonely and isolated

38% - Current political division

29% - My vision conflicts with church’s direction

29% - I am not optimistic about the future of the church

29% - the effect this has had on my family.

Paul argues the reason he needs to be all in, instead of one foot on and one foot out is God’s gift.

Prophecy regarding the spiritual gifts given to Timothy at his ordination.

In the first century there were apostles and prophets of God who spoke or wrote a revealed word from God.

Spiritual gifts come from God.

The purpose of spiritual gifts is to edify the body.

You can neglect the spiritual gift.

God never puts us into a position where we lose; He will gift us with the ability to fulfill our purpose.

Meditate upon these things

Be diligent

An excellent minister is a one-minded man, he’s not a double-minded man who is unstable and vacillating in all his ways, as James 1:8 says, but he is more like the apostle Paul that said, “This one thing I do.” He is really a single-minded person. Ministry is all-consuming.

Give ourselves wholly to them.

To be them.

To be totally absorbed.

Profiting -

A Military term that spoke of an advancing army

Speaks of growing or progressing in the things you are giving yourselves wholly to.

Conclusion

1 Timothy 4:16 “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”

Save Himself - If God is our savior (1 Timothy 1:1 “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope).

And if Jesus saves sinners 1 Timothy 1:15 “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”

Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Then how is it possible for Titus to save himself?

Philippians 2:12 “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

John 8:31 “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;”

Romans 2:7 “To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:”

The reality of our salvation is determined by our good works of love.

JM - Genuine assurance comes from seeing the Holy Spirit’s transforming work in one’s life, not from clinging to the memory of some experience.

John Stott: Perseverance is not the cause of our salvation but the ultimate evidence of our salvation.

Hebrews 3:14 “For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;”

Save others

Acts 26:18 “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”

1 Corinthians 1:21 “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”

Romans 10:13–14 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”

A minister by taking heed to himself, and doctrine, saves himself from the pollutions of the world, from the errors and heresies of false teachers, from the blood of all men, and from all just blame in his ministry.