Guarding Against Error: 1 Timothy VIII

INTRODUCTION

Just as Adam was assigned the task of protecting and guarding his wife in the Garden, so the minister is assigned the task of guarding the congregation of God against error. There is always a need for it.

THE TEXT:

“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; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. These things command and teach. 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. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 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” (1 Tim. 4: 1-16).

OVERVIEW:

The Spirit is very specific about this. He expressly says (v. 1). The phrase “latter times” does not mean the very end of the world, but applies in Timothy’s case. It is most likely talking about the end of the Judaic aeon (70 A.D.), but of course, applications of these instructions would continue down to the end of the world. Some will apostatize, falling for diabolical doctrines (v. 2). But they are hypocrites, knowing at some level that what they are saying is false (v. 2). They ensnare others, forbidding the enjoyment of things that God created as good (v. 3). Gratitude covers everything (vv. 4-5). A good servant of Jesus Christ will remind the people of this (v. 6). Reject fables, and give yourself to the spiritual disciplines (v. 7). Exercise profits a little, but godliness is the real deal (v. 8). The faithful saying is probably v. 8 and not v. 10 (v. 9). Why do we work so hard? Because God is the Savior of all men, especially believers (v. 10). All this should be commanded and taught (v. 11). Timothy should allow no one to despise his youth, but rather to set an example (v. 12). In public ministry, Timothy should pay attention to three things: public Scripture reading, exhortation, and teaching (v.13). He is not to shrink back from exercising his gift (v. 14). He is to give himself to these things, so that his growth will be visible (v. 15). He is to watch himself and the doctrine so that both he and his hearers might be saved (v. 16).

SO WHAT WOULD A DEMON TEACH?

The Holy Spirit is very specific about warning us against a certain kind of error. Ironically, this error seems very “spiritual” and religious, and dedicated. Resistance to this error seems very earthy—which is true spirituality. The Church has stumbled at this point repeatedly. Spirits do not just seduce into known error, but devils also teach falsehood (v. 1). The hypocrisy is in the teachers influenced by these demons—they have a non-functioning conscience, one that has been cauterized with a hot iron (v. 2). What do they teach? First, they prohibit or disparage marriage. Sex is thought by them to be very unspiritual (v. 3). They are also killjoys in the kitchen, forbidding foods that God in His creational intent mandated for us to enjoy with thanksgiving (v. 3). There is a deep prohibitionist streak in American Christianity on this point and we need to know that we are particularly vulnerable to these demonic whispers. The Scriptures (objectively) and prayer (subjectively) sanctify all creaturely acts—from marital lovemaking to eating bacon the morning after. Godly Christians put refined sugar, the really white kind, into their coffee. And a good servant (diakonos, deacon), a good minister, is one who regularly reminds his people of these things. Prune-faced piety is not just something that somehow falls a little short. It is treason to the gospel.

THE VALUE OF TRUE GODLINESS:

Timothy is not to allow himself to get distracted by a bunch of myths and fables (v. 7). Godliness is something you work at. It is comparable to athletic training, which does a little good (v. 8).  But to be in spiritual shape is profitable across the board, in this life and in the next. What you do here matters eternally. We should take this to heart because it is a worthy saying (v. 9).  This is why we work so hard, and this is why we endure such slanders (v.10). It is because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially believers. This use of “Savior” does not make Paul a universalist, or reduce salvation to a mere offer. Christ is King of the world objectively, and the lot of the whole world is completely different as a result. He is the Savior of the world, just as Caesar thought he was the savior of the people. But God is the personal Savior of believers. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. This is what Timothy is to require and teach (v. 11). 

TIMOTHY’S EXAMPLE:

In the context of leading the congregation, Paul gives Timothy a number of pointed instructions. First, despite his youth, he is to establish his example across the board, in every aspect of life (v. 12). Second, he is to build on the only authority a mortal man can have in this kind of vocation—that of Scripture. He is make sure the Bible is publicly read, provides the basis for moral exhortation, along the basis of all doctrine (v. 13). Third, he must exercise his gifts (v. 14). Fourth, his private life must have public manifestations (v. 15). He must study what he is doing, and the people must see that he is learning, just as they are. Fifth, he must maintain personal and public balance (v. 16). And last, carrying over into the next chapter, he is to be prudent about all his relationships (5:1-2).