Vision & Values Lesson 5

Book of Timothy

Timothy was from Lystra () in Asia Minor, today in Turkey. His mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois, were Jews, and were noted for their sincere faithfulness to God (). Nothing is written of his father, except that he was a Greek (). (see Ancient Empires - Greece)

Timothy was from Lystra () in Asia Minor, today in Turkey. His mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois, were Jews, and were noted for their sincere faithfulness to God (). Nothing is written of his father, except that he was a Greek (). (see Ancient Empires - Greece)

Timothy is first mentioned during Paul's second visit to Lystra (), where he was apparently converted during Paul's earlier visit there (, ). Paul certainly thought highly of him, calling him "my true son in the faith" ().

The book of Timothy is considered a pastoral letter that the aging apostle Paul sent to him that would continue his work. Timothy had been assigned to lead the church at Ephesus, a church needing order in worship as well as doctrinal correction, plagued as it was by false teachers.

2 Timothy 3:10–15 ESV

You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

“All scripture is breathed out by God”

We must note that Paul here makes a distinction. He speaks of ‘all God-inspired Scripture’. The Gnostics had their own fanciful books; the heretics all produced their own literature to support their claims.

Gnostics: the heretical movement popular in the second century that based salvation upon acquiring inner knowledge

Gnostics: adherents of Gnosticism, the heretical movement popular in the second century that based salvation upon acquiring inner knowledge

Paul regarded these as manufactured things; but the great books for the human soul were the God-inspired ones which tradition and experience had sanctified

Paul regarded these as manufactured things; but the great books for the human soul were the God-inspired ones .

Admitting to God’s authorship is an acceptance of his authority over every aspect of life. By stating that Scriptures are God breathed, Paul established the Bible’s claim as God’s authoritative Word over all people.

Admitting to God’s authorship is an acceptance of his authority over every aspect of life.

By stating that Scriptures are God breathed, Paul established the Bible’s claim as God’s authoritative Word over all people.

The Scriptures were written by men “as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (). The picture is that of a sailboat being moved along by the wind. Indeed, men wrote the Bible, but the words and substance of what they wrote came from God. This makes the Bible useful.

The Letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon The Value of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:14–17)

We must note that Paul here makes a distinction. He speaks of ‘all God-inspired Scripture’. The Gnostics had their own fanciful books; the heretics all produced their own literature to support their claims. Paul regarded these as manufactured things; but the great books for the human soul were the God-inspired ones which tradition and experience had sanctified

Holman New Testament Commentary: I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon B. Paul’s Charge to Timothy (3:10–17)

Admitting to God’s authorship is an acceptance of his authority over every aspect of life. By stating that Scriptures are God breathed, Paul established the Bible’s claim as God’s authoritative Word over all people.

The Scriptures were written by men “as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:21). The picture is that of a sailboat being moved along by the wind. Indeed, men wrote the Bible, but the words and substance of what they wrote came from God. This makes the Bible useful.

2 Peter 1:21 ESV

For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Profitable for teaching

Profitable: beneficial adjs. — promoting or enhancing well-being.

beneficial adjs. — promoting or enhancing well-being.

Teaching -

Teaching involves instruction. Since Timothy was feeling the attacks of false teachers, Paul encouraged the young pastor to continue in teaching correct doctrine and correct living. The Scriptures must be known so people will grasp their need of salvation and so the confessing community will adhere to its instructions on proper Christian conduct.

The Message of 2 Timothy 4. The Origin and Purpose of Scripture (Verses 15b–17)

The Bible is essentially a handbook of salvation. Its over-arching purpose is to teach not facts of science (e.g. the nature of moon rock) which men can discover by their own empirical investigation, but facts of salvation, which no space exploration can discover but only God can reveal. The whole Bible unfolds the divine scheme of salvation—man’s creation in God’s image, his fall through disobedience into sin and under judgment, God’s continuing love for him in spite of his rebellion, God’s eternal plan to save him through his covenant of grace with a chosen people, culminating in Christ; the coming of Christ as the Saviour, who died to bear man’s sin, was raised from death, was exalted to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit; and man’s rescue first from guilt and alienation, then from bondage, and finally from mortality in his progressive experience of the liberty of God’s children. None of this would be known apart from the biblical revelation.

The Bible is essentially a handbook of salvation.

The whole Bible unfolds the divine scheme of salvation—man’s creation in God’s image, his fall through disobedience into sin and under judgment, God’s continuing love for him in spite of his rebellion.

Holman New Testament Commentary: I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon B. Paul’s Charge to Timothy (3:10–17)

Teaching involves instruction. Since Timothy was feeling the attacks of false teachers, Paul encouraged the young pastor to continue in teaching correct doctrine and correct living. The Scriptures must be known so people will grasp their need of salvation and so the confessing community will adhere to its instructions on proper Christian conduct.

God’s eternal plan to save him through his covenant of grace with a chosen people, culminating in Christ;

the coming of Christ as the Saviour, who died to bear man’s sin, was raised from death, was exalted to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit;

and man’s rescue first from guilt and alienation, then from bondage, and finally from mortality in his progressive experience of the liberty of God’s children.

None of this would be known apart from the biblical revelation.

Reproof

Reproof: rebuke n. — an act or expression of criticism and or strong disapproval.

rebuke n. — an act or expression of criticism and censure.

Correction

correction n. — the act of offering an improvement (according to a standard) to replace a mistake.

Training in righteousness

Rebuking and correcting are the disciplinary authority of Scripture.

Because the Bible is God’s Word and because it reveals truth, it exercises authority over those who deviate from its standard.

“Rebuking” points out sin and confronts disobedience.

“Correcting” recognizes that a person has strayed from the truth.

Training in righteousness

Training in righteousness is the counterpoint to correction. The Scriptures give us positive guidance for maturing in faith and acceptable conduct.

Training in righteousness is the counterpoint to correction. The Scriptures give us positive guidance for maturing in faith and acceptable conduct.

Holman New Testament Commentary: I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon B. Paul’s Charge to Timothy (3:10–17)

Rebuking and correcting are the disciplinary authority of Scripture. Because the Bible is God’s Word and because it reveals truth, it exercises authority over those who deviate from its standard. “Rebuking” points out sin and confronts disobedience. “Correcting” recognizes that a person has strayed from the truth. Graciously, lovingly, yet firmly, we should try to guide the errant individual back into obedience.

Many times the Old Testament relates Israel’s disobedience to God, how the people suffered God’s chastisement for their rebellion, and how God corrected their sinful habits. The New Testament continues with stories and instructions, warnings regarding disobedience, disciplinary actions for those who fail to heed God’s revelation, and teachings on proper conduct.

Training in righteousness is the counterpoint to correction. The Scriptures give us positive guidance for maturing in faith and acceptable conduct.

2 Timothy 3:17 ESV

that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Complete: means to bring to a suitable state for Christian moral action.

Equipped: to be fitted out v. — to be or become furnished or equipped with every necessary component for a task.

Complete: means to bring to a suitable state for Christian moral action.

Every good work:

Timothy could withstand the attacks of false teachers, the abandonment of professing believers, and the persecution that surrounded him because God had equipped him for the task. God never calls us to do something without first enabling us through his Spirit and the power of his truth to accomplish the task.

to be fitted out v. — to be or become furnished or equipped with every necessary component for a task.

We neglect the Scriptures at our own peril. Through them we gain the ability to serve God and others. The Scriptures not only point the way; through the mysterious union of God’s Word and faith, they give us the ability to serve.

Holman New Testament Commentary: I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon B. Paul’s Charge to Timothy (3:10–17)

Timothy could withstand the attacks of false teachers, the abandonment of professing believers, and the persecution that surrounded him because God had equipped him for the task. God never calls us to do something without first enabling us through his Spirit and the power of his truth to accomplish the task.

We neglect the Scriptures at our own peril. Through them we gain the ability to serve God and others. The Scriptures not only point the way; through the mysterious union of God’s Word and faith, they give us the ability to serve.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Timothy was from Lystra () in Asia Minor, today in Turkey. His mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois, were Jews, and were noted for their sincere faithfulness to God (). Nothing is written of his father, except that he was a Greek (). (see Ancient Empires - Greece)

Timothy is first mentioned during Paul's second visit to Lystra (), where he was apparently converted during Paul's earlier visit there (, ). Paul certainly thought highly of him, calling him "my true son in the faith" ().