1 Tim 4:11-16, Being Faithful to God's call

• The theme
• Titus and Timothy are Pastoral letters
• These letters expound on church order not church doctrine
1. The greeting 1:1-2
• Not personal but rather formal -- emphasizes Paul's authority
2. Timothy's Mission 1:3-20
1. The task Timothy faced 1:3-11
2. Exhortations 1:12-20
3. Instructions concerning the life of the local church -- "order" (2:1-4:5)
1. The priority of prayer 2:1-7 -- It is good to pray -- we need prayer
2. The primary responsibilities (roles) of the men and women in church meetings (2:8-15)
1. The men have failed to take a spiritual leadership role
2. There is no argument on the capability of women, only where she should teach and lead
3. The qualifications for Church leaders -- Elders and Deacons 3:1-13
4. The nature of the local Church 3:14-16
5. The problem of apostasy in the Church 4:1-5
4. Instructions concerning leadership of the local Church 4:6-5:25
5. Instructions for groups within the church 6:1-19
6. Concluding charge and benediction 6:20-21


1 Timothy 4:11–16 (ESV) — 11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.


• Passage as a whole. What is the tone and intent?
• This is now a personal comment to Timothy
• It probably has good advice for church leaders
• Verse 11. Again we see the phrase "these things" and you can view it two ways -- the recent things on false teaching (asceticism, Judaistic practices, and Gnostic teachings) or all of the things (men's role in leading spiritually, the qualifications for leadership, and the importance of sound doctrine in the teaching). What makes the most sense?
• Command and teach seems to care a much broader sense
• Why is Paul so emphatic with Timothy?
• Timothy seems to struggle with a certain lack of assertiveness
• Timothy is a good easy-going man who seems to prefer acceptance over conflict
• Verse 12. What additional insight do we get from Paul about Timothy?
• He is young (actually the Greek word would include anyone younger than 40)
• People naturally look down on a younger leader
• Timothy needs to set the example -- he needs to be the leader. LEADERS set the example
• Interesting that the example is not necessarily in ministry activity but in character quality
• Verse 13. What is the point?
• Set the right priorities as a leader
• It is great to serve on projects and help people, but make sure you are doing what a leader needs to do be doing
• Paul is saying that your priorities need to focus on three things
1. Public reading of scripture
1. This is also a Jewish synagogue practice
2. The foundation of all we do has to be first on the word of God
3. This also gets the church away from non-biblical sources
2. Exhortation
1. This fits with preaching
2. It is expository but with purpose of challenging and comforting others to do what the word says
3. Teaching
1. This takes the word of God to a different level of understanding
2. This can also be done in a one-on-one and one-on-few setting for specific application
3. I see this as also making disciples
• Verse 14. What is the gift given?
• The word gift does not have to mean a spiritual gift
• It is used for spiritual gifts but it is also used in other contexts, such as Paul's visit to a church
• The Holy Spirit gives gifts, not men
• Since this gift was given by the laying on of hands, it probably refers to a ministry or an ordination--where the person is set aside for ministry
• Timothy was set aside for full-time ministry
• Apparently, one could still take an outside job as Paul did
• Ordination means that a person's life is dedicated to God in service of ministry
• Verse 14. What does it mean "do not neglect?"
• Neglect is Greek word ameleo, and means to make light of, or regard not or be negligent (careless)
• We have a special responsibility to use and to refine the gifts God has given us -- especially for those in leadership
• EXAMPLE: my gift is teaching. Actually, teaching helps me to improve my gift. I need to study to teach. I need to read to be a better teacher. I need tools to teach. Sometimes I need to do additional background work in order to teach a subject. The actual teaching (one hour) is preceded by many more hours, probably 6 hours plus each week to teach a one-hour class
• Every spiritual gift can be approved if you are willing to put some thought into and to work at it
• Verse 15. This verse actually explains how not to neglect your gift -- what does it say?
• Practice it
• Needs to be a part of the personal habits of your life
• Greek word for practice means to learn
• Immerse yourself in it
• Needs to be part of your whole life
• Greek word for immerse is "be"
• Make progress
• We should be getting better
• Greek word can also be translated as "advance"
• Verse 16. This is a warning
• Keep a close watch on yourself
• We need to be applying God's word in our life on a regular basis
• When you stop applying God's word, you don't plateau, you digress
• Keep a close watch on your teaching
• Teaching should add regular input
• Suggests an idea of regular bible study, regular reading, and regular discussion of God's word
• Persist
• King says "Stickability is an essential quality for effective leadership"
• Aim: Save (protect)
• Not all uses of the word save are for spiritual salvation. The word also means physical salvation
• A teacher can protect himself and his students by good teaching


APPLICATION:
• What are you doing to grow your spiritual gift?
• What are you doing to grow?
• Make application
• Read the word regularly
• Pray regularly
• Get involved in spiritual fellowship
• Share your faith with others

1 Tim 4:6-10, What is really important?

• The theme
• Titus and Timothy are Pastoral letters
• These letters expound on church order not church doctrine
1. The greeting 1:1-2
• Not personal but rather formal -- emphasizes Paul's authority
2. Timothy's Mission 1:3-20
1. The task Timothy faced 1:3-11
2. Exhortations 1:12-20
3. Instructions concerning the life of the local church -- "order" (2:1-4:5)
1. The priority of prayer 2:1-7 -- It is good to pray -- we need prayer
2. The primary responsibilities (roles) of the men and women in church meetings (2:8-15)
1. The men have failed to take a spiritual leadership role
2. There is no argument on the capability of women, only where she should teach and lead
3. The qualifications for Church leaders -- Elders and Deacons 3:1-13
4. The nature of the local Church 3:14-16
5. The problem of apostasy in the Church 4:1-5
4. Instructions concerning leadership of the local Church 4:6-5:25
5. Instructions for groups within the church 6:1-19
6. Concluding charge and benediction 6:20-21




1 Timothy 4:6–8 (ESV) — 6 If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.


• I don't believe the instructions here are only for leadership, but certainly as a minimum need to be followed by the leadership to have good order in the chruch
• In context we have been discussing church order. Specifically:
1. Men have failed to lead spiritually in the church and at home
2. Men (elders and deacons) and women (deaconesses) who minister must be held to high standards (elders higher than deacons)
3. Teachers must follow the word of God above other sources to maintain the purity of the teaching (specifically avoiding asceticism, Judaistic law, and gnostic celibacy (could also be asceticism))
• So the first question is, what does Paul mean by "these things"?
• The location of the verse to 4:1-5 would suggest the latter. Also the reference to the words of faith and good doctrine
• But there is an argument that he is also referring to "church order" since this has been a theme. But church order includes and is heavily impacted by good teaching
• What is Paul saying in the first part of verse 7?
• Not to even address myths in terms of an answer. Myths are stories told without any substantiation. The scripture substantiates. Avoid non-scriptural sources!
• The Grk word for "Irreverent" is bebelos and means profane; of the ground (dirt)
• The Grk word for "silly" here is graodes and means old womanish, old wives
• The teaching, referenced by 7a, does not help you in the least. Replace it with training in godliness
• The word for train is gymnaze and means to exercise or discipline yourself
• What are the disciplines for a Christian? Or what exercises will help you to be godly?
• A daily quiet time (a few verses, a journal, and prayer)
• Nightly bible reading (a few chapters)
• Scripture memory (from the earliest times, God has encouraged his people to memorize his word through many means)
• Deuteronomy 6:4–9 (ESV) —
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
• 1 John 2:15–16 (ESV) —
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
• Luke 8:11–15 (ESV) —
11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. 14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.
• Prayer -- regular and extended
• Fellowship -- sharing spiritual truths with another believer
• Witnessing -- sharing the good news with someone who does not know Christ
• Application -- being a doer of the word with specific and measurable tasks related to the word of God
• James 1:22–25 (ESV) —
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
• In contrast, Paul does mention one ascetic pursuit -- physical exercise. What does he say?
• Exercise does have value but ONLY for this physical life
• But godliness goes far beyond extending in this life and beyond
• "Physical training is limited to just that—the physical dimensions of life. Godliness, on the other hand, penetrates every aspect of life. Godliness affects everything: our view of self, marriage, parenting, business, civic responsibilities, environmental outlook, relationship with our next-door neighbors. Nothing escapes godliness; it covers everything." Larson, K. (2000). I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon (Vol. 9, p. 206). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.


1 Timothy 4:9–10 (ESV) — 9 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.


• Even the Greeks, whose young men devoted themselves to physical exercise, agreed that the inner man was of more importance than the outer man
• For the believer, Paul says that to this end we toil and strive. What is he saying?
• Toil, Grk kopiao, means to be weary -- this is hard work
• Strive, Grk oneidizo, means to censure harshly or reproach without reason -- it seems to suggest that the world will laugh at you for your undying commitment
• The world (Devil) laughs at those who read the bible
• The world laughs at those who memorize scripture
• The world laughs at those who share the gospel
• Paul gives the reason for the hard work and the reproach of following the disciplines of the Christian life. What are they?
• Our reason is -- we have a real hope, the living God, and the savior of all the world
• He is the savior of all the world does not mean he will save the whole world but that he is the only savior for the whole world
• Jonah 2:8–9 (ESV) —
8 Those who pay regard to vain idols
forsake their hope of steadfast love.
9 But I with the voice of thanksgiving
will sacrifice to you;
what I have vowed I will pay.
Salvation belongs to the Lord!”
• John 14:6 (ESV) — 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
• Acts 4:12 (ESV) — 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
• John 17:3 (ESV) — 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
• Revelation 3:7 (ESV) — 7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
• Revelation 5:9 (ESV) —
9 And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
• The reason we discipline ourselves is because we have the only message that can save the world


• APPLICATION: A healthy church has healthy members
• Are you engaged (toiling and striving) in godliness? Are you disciplining yourself? Or do you accept the world's argument -- "that it is not important?"
• Quiet Time
• Reading
• Praying
• Fellowshipping
• Witnessing
• Applying God's word to your life

1 Tim 4:1-5, Apostasy -- Danger and Protection

• The theme
• Titus and Timothy are Pastoral letters
• These letters expound on church order not church doctrine
1. The greeting 1:1-2
• Not personal but rather formal -- emphasizes Paul's authority
2. Timothy's Mission 1:3-20
1. The task Timothy faced 1:3-11
2. Exhortations 1:12-20
3. Instructions concerning the life of the local church -- "order" (2:1-4:5)
1. The priority of prayer 2:1-7 -- It is good to pray -- we need prayer
2. The primary responsibilities (roles) of the men and women in church meetings (2:8-15)
1. The men have failed to take a spiritual leadership role
2. There is no argument on the capability of women, only where she should teach and lead
3. The qualifications for Church leaders -- Elders and Deacons 3:1-13
4. The nature of the local Church 3:14-16
5. The problem of apostasy in the Church 4:1-5
4. Instructions concerning leadership of the local Church 4:6-5:25
5. Instructions for groups within the church 6:1-19
6. Concluding charge and benediction 6:20-21


1 Timothy 4:1–5 (ESV) —
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.


• So is this a danger to believers or unbelievers?
• The context certainly seems to indicate believers
• If we do a little cross-reference work:
Luke 8:13 (ESV) — 13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.
Mark 13:22 (ESV) — 22 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect.
Acts 20:29 (ESV) — 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
1 Timothy 1:18–20 (ESV) — 18 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, 20 among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
Hebrews 3:12 (ESV) — 12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.
• I want to make one distinction -- Falling away does not lose your salvation. But the scripture is clear that there are consequences
• Some die
• Most, lose their opportunity to glorify God on earth
• During the great throne judgment, there are rewards based on how you lived your life
• Just to be clear, you cannot lose your salvation because that is God's work, not yours
John 10:28–29 (ESV) — 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
2 Timothy 2:13 (ESV) — 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.
1 John 5:11–13 (ESV) — 11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
John 6:40 (ESV) — 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
• How can that happen?
• The Luke 8:13 passage suggests they give up during hard times
• That same parable suggests that some fall in love with the world and let God get pushed out (regular to no quiet times where God speaks through his word)
• In 1 Timothy 4, depart from the faith, Grk afphistemi,  can also mean to abandon or distance oneself
• Believing that not everything about Christian doctrine fits with the world
• So people start to mix their beliefs with Christian doctrine -- in essence they create their own god or religion (but the fact is they have abandoned the one true faith)
• What are the signs of falling away?
• Deceitful spirits -- that is when you call lies the truth (and we are not referring to politics)
• Teachings of demons -- sin is called not sin; carnality is not a sin (sexual, buying, eating, drinking, anything to excess)
• Insincerity of liars -- they know it is wrong, but don't care. Insincerity is the Grk word for hypocrisy (what they say to someone else does not apply to them)
• Consciences are seared -- they show no guilt -- they have convinced themselves in what is true
• New rules: forbid marriage
• Require abstinence form certain foods -- this is most likely a form of Judaism where it is required for holiness or closeness to God that you abstain from non-kosher food
Acts 10:15 (ESV) — 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”
1 Corinthians 10:23–25 (ESV) — 23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience.
1 Corinthians 10:28–29 (ESV) — 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience?
1 Corinthians 10:31–33 (ESV) — 31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
• If we fall away, then we can also return. How do we return?
• The Hebrews were falling away because of persecution. The writer challenges to three things:
Hebrews 4:11–13 (ESV) — 11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
1. Strive to obey -- Return to obedience
2. Seek God in his Word and Prayer -- it will transform our mind
Romans 12:2 (ESV) — 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
3. Repent -- Confess to God the things he has revealed to you. We cannot hide from God
• In relationship to the theme of this book, I believe that order in the church is one of the areas where we have abandoned God's word in favor of the world view. Why?
• One, we don't understand that God's roles don't constrain us but free us
• Two, we don't see spiritual things as any different than worldly things
• Women are certainly leaders / business owners throughout scripture
• But, husbands cannot shirk their responsibility -- they need to lead spiritually
• Three, we don't see the importance of God's word
• We pay lip service to God's word -- but we act as if it is out-dated
• We accept the latest things or views or discoveries
• APPLICATION:
• First step on the way back: Repentance
1 John 1:9 (ESV) — 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
• Second step is to accept the authority of the bible for my life
Proverbs 6:23 (ESV) — 23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,
Psalm 119:105 (ESV) — 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
• Third step is to strive for obedience
• Start with a quiet time in God's word each morning
Mark 1:35 (ESV) — 35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.

1 Tim 3:8-16 (Qualifications of Deacons / Deaconess')

• The theme
• Titus and Timothy are Pastoral letters
• These letters expound on church order not church doctrine
1. The greeting 1:1-2
• Not personal but rather formal -- emphasizes Paul's authority
2. Timothy's Mission 1:3-20
1. The task Timothy faced 1:3-11
2. Exhortations 1:12-20
3. Instructions concerning the life of the local church -- "order" (2:1-4:5)
1. The priority of prayer 2:1-7 -- It is good to pray -- we need prayer
2. The primary responsibilities (roles) of the men and women in church meetings (2:8-15)
1. The men have failed to take a spiritual leadership role
2. There is no argument on the capability of women, only where she should teach and lead
3. The qualifications for Church leaders -- Elders and Deacons 3:1-13
4. The nature of the local Church 3:8-13
5. The problem of apostasy in the Church 4:1-5
4. Instructions concerning leadership of the local Church 4:6-5:25
5. Instructions for groups within the church 6:1-19
6. Concluding charge and benediction 6:20-21


1 Timothy 3:8–10 (ESV) —
8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless.


• Dignified. Greek word semnos, worthy of respect, grave, serious
• Not saying that they cannot have a sense of humor. They are not foolish
• Why? It is an important ministry of service. While not elders, they represent the body to visitors and to strangers
• Not double-tongued, Grk word me dilogous, meaning two-faced or saying one thing and doing another
• Why is it important? If you are going to serve, you need to follow through on your promise or you end up putting the person you were going to serve in a worse position than before you volunteered
• This applies to all of us because we are all called to serve
• Not addicted to much wine. Grk phrase me oino pollo prosechontas, this is a character fault. I think they are root problems in any kind of addiction
• Why is it important in the church? Well, as a family member to an alcoholic growing up, it certainly is a poor witness for a leader in the church
• Not greedy for dishonest gain, Grk word, me aischrokerdeis, meaning shamefully greedy
• Why?
• Church is a place where the weak can be abused
• It is very important that a servant is not seen as benefitting for their service
• Hold the mystery of faith with a clear conscience
• The deacon doesn't have to teach
• But the deacon must act in accordance with his beliefs
• The deacon must hold to certain central facts of the faith
• Example:
• Authority of the word
• Death and resurrection of Jesus
• Jesus sinless life
• Jesus as God and man
• Testing period after which they can serve if blameless
• Similar to the Elder, except the Elder has shown it already in his life
• Suggests the Deacon can be younger


1 Timothy 3:11 (ESV) — 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things.


• So does this refer to wives or to deaconess'?
• Grk word is gune, and is evenly translated into women or wife in the NT. The ending "aika" basically changes it from the nominative case to the accusative case. So it is not the subject but the direct object
• The qualifications for Elder are much more strict than deacon and yet there is no requirement for Elder wives to act in a certain manner.
• Therefore, I assume this is deaconess, a female deacon
• In context, it makes sense. There is a role for women in the church. It is not their role to spiritually lead but they can serve as deacons do, who are not the spiritual leaders of the church but servants in the church
• The qualifications for deaconess are similar and different
• Similar: dignified and faithful
• Different: not slanders and sober-minded (an elder qualification not applied to the man-deacon)
• Slanderers make sense because of the better communication skills of the woman
• Sober-minded also makes sense. Women have great capacity to lead from the sidelines. They can be very emotional in their support of their ideas. They have to be careful not to get carried away with the latest ideas (For an elder this is especially important since he is a spiritual leader of the church)


1 Timothy 3:12–13 (ESV) —
12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.


• Now he goes back to the male deacon, why?
• One, I think this is because of the failure of the men to lead their homes spiritually as seen in the previous chapter
• Two, now that we have included women in "important" ministry positions in the church, the men are reminded that they still need to lead the household spiritually
• There is also a promise -- it seems to be specific for men
• Good reputation
• An increased confidence (this is interesting because you wonder if it has something to do with confidence that men fail to lead in the church and their family)


1 Timothy 3:14–16 (ESV) —
14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. 16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:
He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.


• Verses 14 and 15 reiterates for us the purpose of the letter. Which is?
• How to behave in the household of God
• We get some key insights from this paragraph, so let's look
• Behave seems to have two ideas in the Greek (anastrepho)
• One is the idea of return or move back to an area (maybe they had started out well but now had to return to the original idea)
• Two is the idea of behave or conduct yourself
• Putting the ideas together is that their conduct needs to go back to the original structure
• Secondly, what do we see?
• The church is a family, not a business or an organization
• Especially not today's business where you cannot discuss certain topics
• The key attribute of a family
• Paul closes this portion with a hymn. What are some observations?
• There are three couplets
• The earthly realm and the heavenly ream
• The hymn is about the mystery of godliness -- I think the mystery (something hidden in the past but made know in the new covenant) -- God became a man and came down to earth



Flesh	Spirit
Angels	Nations
World	Glory




Manifested	Vindicated
Seen	Proclaimed
Believed on	Taken up



• APPLICATION:
• God has given each of the sexes specific roles in the church (we are not talking about all areas of life, only two, the church and to a certain degree, the spiritual home)
• Not all men are qualified to lead
• Not all men and women are qualified for service ministries in the church
• Churches that have strayed from Paul's structure need to return