Personal Work

1 Timothy 4:16

Introduction

In the first and fourth chapters we have some overlapping instruction though not identical.

In between those chapters we have some instruction about the way the church is organized that Marshall walked us through last week.

So, it is as if Paul begins his instruction about false doctrine and love of the truth and then takes a moment to talk about the structure that will help maintain sound doctrine, then comes back to Timothy’s role in that once again.

So we are back to focussing on the work of the evangelist.

How can such a focus be helpful for the whole group.

I think one thing it does is help us to have proper expectations. Too often, we let mere preference or the metrics of the world guide how we evaluate preachers. But Paul gives us godly measures here.

It is important that we constantly lay the picture of God’s evangelist out there not only for the evangelist but also for the groups who desire to have such a man.

Still More Balance

There are similarities between the words here and chapter one (1 Tim. 4:7).

But the direction here is more specified (1 Tim. 4:3).

I focused on how the previous chapter could be taken into the leftward ditch and here is the ditch on the other side.

The dangerous appeal of asceticism (1 Tim. 4:3).

It is so dangerous because it is response to what is perhaps even more obvious error.

And, there is nothing wrong with personal asceticism to a degree.

What’s more, there is actual value to self-deprivation and it causes people to extrapolate (1 Tim. 4:8).

You can find all sorts of extra biblical support for such personal devotion (1 Tim. 4:7).

But in the end, you have to numb yourself to parts of God’s word to hold to such a doctrine (1 Tim. 4:2).

The answer is to move away from reactionary thoughts and direct our attention towards God (1 Tim. 4:3-5).

If we only stare at some false doctrine or another, we are likely to come up with another false doctrine to answer that one.

Asceticism isn’t the answer to libertinism.

A Good Servant

Pointing out error is a mark of a “good” servant of Christ (1 Tim. 4:6).

The capacity to do this is based on a personal devotion to study (1 Tim. 4:6, 14-16).

That personal study must be accompanied by personal purity (1 Tim. 4:7, 12).

So public ministry is an outgrowth of personal ministry (1 Tim. 4:13-16).

A Fixed Hope

The false doctrines described here are a contrast to the proper focus of the believer (1 Tim. 3:16-4:1).

That same focal point is repeated twice more in this passage (1 Tim. 4:8, 10).

False doctrines are a distraction from what we ought to be about (1 Tim. 4:7-8).

This doesn’t mean that they should be ignored.

On the contrary, they should be addressed so that we are not distracted by them from our purpose.

Conclusion

So Paul leaves no exhortation regarding style or personality.

Those may be of some practical concern but they are not the essential quality.

The essential quality is a man who works hard to develop his knowledge, faithfully delivers that knowledge, and maintains personal purity that is above reproach.

Of course, it isn’t just evangelists who must avoid worldly fables and distracting doctrines.

Do you want to save others? Save yourself first.