Pillars

Illus: Churchill and hitler

Knight of Long Knives: June 30-July 2, 1934 Declared war: September 3, 1939

Context:

Paul is writing to Timothy

Historical:

Timothy is in Ephesus.

Ephesus was the capital of the Roman province of Asia

in modern-day Western Turkey

center of pagan worship for Artemis

Timothy’s role in Ephesus: 1 Timothy 1:3–4 “3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.”

Literary:

Paul begins the letter with Timothy’s charge.

He expounds on Timothys charge in 1 Timothy 1:18–19 “18 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith,”

He then moves to the Lord’s universal desire for salvation in ch. 2.

Out of the Lord’s desire for all to be saved, Paul begins to discuss proper conduct of Christians in the church.

The rest of the letter continues this focus, starting with the Elders and then moving all the way down to the individual family members of Christian homes.

This passage

1 Tim 3:14-4:5

Paul now explicitly gives his purpose in writing: That Timothy may know how one ought to behave in the household of God.

There are no explicit commands in this passage, though there does seem to be some implicit commands which lay claim on our lives.

He gets to explicit commands in the following passage

Roadmap:

3 truths

2 broad considerations for how this passage lays claim on this household of God.

MPS: As the sole pillar and buttress of truth in the world, the Church—and therefore each of its members— must uphold truth at all costs.

I. It is vital that The Church Upholds Truth

what is the church?

household of God

Paul writes ahead so there is no time wasted

The Letters to Timothy and Titus 1. Conduct in God’s Household and Its Basis in Christ (3:14–16)

“The house of God” is the place of worship in Jerusalem (

II. The Gospel Message is Truth

Vindicated by Spirit: Romans 1:4 “4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,”

III. It is Vital that the Church stands against all that is false

this is seen in Paul’s comments in Ch 4

“teachers of the Law”: 1 Timothy 1:6–7 “6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.”

Consideration I: In order to uphold truth, Christians must first stand on it.

Paul discusses the mystery of the Gospel because it is the foundation which the church stands as pillars of the truth

Consideration II: Truth Matters

even in daily conduct

The end does not justify the means.

How does this look in the life of Kenner

The Letters to Timothy and Titus 1. Conduct in God’s Household and Its Basis in Christ (3:14–16)

Perhaps in anticipation, he confirms for Timothy here that “truth” exists and that it matters, especially in issues relating to God, humans, sin, and salvation