Our reading challenge for the day is 1 Timothy 1-6. I’ll hit a few highlights. You make comments too and fill in the gaps. What strikes you as specially significant?
1 Timothy 1 - Consistent doctrine deserves to be held carefully, not departing from the faith first delivered to us. Jesus has changed us, especially Paul, from the foolish and sinful unbelieving life, making us over into his image.
1 Timothy 2 - We pray for leaders to be submissive to God. All are to live peaceably and in submission to God. Paul specifically points to women as having a ministry of good works, learning, not exercising authority over the men. The role of governance is appointed to men.
1 Timothy 3 - The overseers here - elders - are perfectly normal men who lead in the local church. All should strive for these character qualities. Likewise the deacons - servants of the Church - akin to the elders but without the teaching office. All the church leaders point to godliness as shown in Jesus.
1 Timothy 4 - Some depart from the faith by imposing strict asceticism, legalistic demands. Rather, we live by faith in Christ, following him. Timothy is to emphasize Scripture in reading, exhortation, and teaching.
1 Timothy 5 - The leaders of the Church encourage the believers in living wisely for Christ. This includes Timothy and the other elders who rule and teach.
1 Timothy 6 - Above all, hold to genuine Christian doctrine. Pursue righteousness, not other types of gain. All our doctrine is based on Jesus and his work on our behalf.
No comments:
Post a Comment