Paul begins this final chapter by talking about another relationship, that of slaves and masters. He says that slaves who are believers should honor their masters so that God and the Gospel are not discredited. If slaves were to rebel Christianity would have been despised as a source for uprisings, Paul works to stop this problem before it begins. Paul wants nothing to be taken away from the Gospel.
He then moves into the centrality of the message of Jesus. If anyone proclaims a different gospel in the church, they are said to be conceited and know nothing. The Gospel of Jesus is the foundation of the church. If that is not what is held on to, we have nothing. Those who proclaim a different gospel are trying to create disunity in the church, they are trying to crack the foundation by bringing falsehood against it. If there is no foundation there can be no unity, with no unity the church can't survive. Paul says, Jesus and His Gospel are the truth, and they are central to the church.
The message of the Gospel brings us to Godliness. As we live out the teachings of Jesus, as we follow the example His life set for us, we become more Christlike. In this there is great gain. It isn't necessarily in financial abundance, but in contentment. Christlikeness comes with the satisfaction of being content in who we are to Christ, knowing that we will be taken care of. Paul said it in his letter to the Philippians, "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." (4.11-13) That is the gain of Godliness, contentment, peace, freedom from worry, it is great gain.
Paul then moves into his closing words for Timothy. His focus here is on encouragement. He calls Timothy a man of God, and he tells Him to flee from unrighteousness and to pursue the things of God. He is calling his focus back to the foundational relationship with God. He is telling him to focus fully on this relationship, to fight for it, to live it out for the glory of God. Paul tells him to guard what has been entrusted to him. Timothy is to guard the Gospel and his ministry. He is to guard the relationships he has been given.
The first letter from Paul to Timothy.
Peace be with you
No comments:
Post a Comment