PAUL'S LETTERS TO TIMOTHY (2)
PAUL’S LETTERS TO TIMOTHY (2)
1 Timothy 1:17 - 20; 1 Timothy 2: 1 - 15
We considered at this reading:- 1. Paul’s emphasis on the truth of the gospel in this epistle, exposing at the same time what would nullify it.
2. Paul’s sense of mercy preceding the doxology.
3. The doxology itself, and ministry as to the service of God.
4. The charge, involving warfare.
5. The two’s of Matthew and the two’s of 1 and 2 Timothy.
6. The need of good leadership in our localities.
We noticed this morning the place Timothy had in regard to Ephesus, suggesting the high level of the truth that has been recovered to us, also that the gospel is called the “glad tidings of the glory of the blessed God” 1 Timothy 1:11. Chapter 2 brings out further thoughts as to the gospel, “God is one, and the mediator of God and men one”. Much more as to this came in the next reading, for at this time we really only finished chapter 1.
We were affected by Paul’s sense of mercy preceding the doxology. He says in verse 13, “Mercy was shewn me because I did it ignorantly, in unbelief” 1 Timothy 1:13, and verse 16, “But for this reason mercy was shewn me, that in me, the first, Jesus Christ might display the whole long-suffering, for a delineation of those about to believe on him to life eternal” 1 Timothy 1:16. Then he breaks out in this remarkable doxology. Our brother said these remarks of Paul bring out the great thought of God in regard to everything. It is what we have come to, what Genesis begins with — God: and in the end, God and men. We have been helped lately as to the knowledge of God, of God Himself, and then in chapter 2, God and men finally. Timothy is [p. 465] to be instructed in all this. We are learning in these days to rightly speak of God and to God, the Deity itself. This whole wonderful matter has been opened up to us in view of the end.
The “King of the ages” involves rule in kingship. Royalty must come from God, it does not belong to man. God’s being invisible would suggest what He is essentially. This was linked with “God is a spirit” in John 4:24 and would involve the three Persons of the Deity. As having God before us, as having turned to Him, we would be kept from idolatry. It is important to view things contextually, especially the way the Spirit of God uses the names of divine Persons. The Father represents Deity in revelation but this does not exclude the idea of Deity from the Son or the Spirit, nor can it be excluded. Inquiry was made if the Father is not supreme in the Deity. This was said to be derogatory to Christ and the Spirit, for in abstract Deity the Persons are co-equal. In revelation the Father is supreme; “To us there is one God, the Father”, 1 Corinthians 8:6. The question was asked if the “only God” in verse 17 alluded to the Deity or the Father. It was said that it might be the three Persons or the Father; and we were reminded of what was said in Indianapolis three years ago that in speaking to one of the divine Persons there is light in our minds as to all Three. It was indicated that in reading contextually “My God and your God”, John 20:17, the Person there is the Father; that it is the Lord as man speaking of the Father as God, but not to the exclusion of the Son and the Spirit. We do not see the Father, we do not see God at all: what we see is Christ.
Coming to Paul’s charge in verse 18 we spoke of the prophecies preceding, involving what we receive from others, as the word is, “What hast thou which thou hast not received?” 1 Corinthians 4:7. This brought up the recovery under J.N.D. coming on down to [p. 466] our own day. All this makes us responsible in the ministry. Warfare is not optional.
In connection with the ‘charge’ it was said that each brother and sister has two positions to maintain, (1) to protect the local assembly; (2) to be subject to the assembly in every way.
Hymenaeus and Alexander came before us at the close of the meeting; two men acting wilfully in regard of the assembly is a dangerous thing; it is partisanship and is like the evil two’s of Matthew as over against the “two of you” (Matthew 18), our brother adding, We can always look for an overcomer in the local assembly.
The need of good leadership locally was stressed. It may be some would not detect Hymenaeus and Alexander.
The matter of shipwreck as to faith brought up the subject of innovations in localities, and we were reminded of the new cart which David used to bring up the ark, and how careful we must be to avoid Philistine ideas in assembly matters.