They are so called, because Paul wrote them to two young men who had been fellow workers with him on several of his missionary journeys. Paul had sent them as apostolic legates or representatives, to establish and ensure or put in place the proper procedures for the local churches.

Timothy was not really a pastor in the modern sense of the word but had in fact apostolic authority to do some specific things in the local churches.  Now because these letters deal with instructions for orderly structure and procedures in the local church, they are particularly relevant to young pastors and also to older pastors, for they give extremely pertinent information for the ancient as well as the present-day church.  To this end it provides valuable guidance for those who are teaching.

It is generally felt that Paul had been imprisoned at Rome somewhere between A.D. 64 and A.D. 67, and it was during this time that he wrote this first letter to encourage and assist Timothy, whom he had left in Ephesus.  Some however believe that this letter was written from Macedonia.

Accordingly, the main theme of this book has to do with church governance, that is, government and order in the local church. It is definitive instructions for a local assembly of believers organized for a common purpose.  A sub theme of the book is the instruction given to young pastors as teachers and in general, how to deal with apostasies that might arise during their time. 

We must remember that Timothy's first century world, abounded with mystery religions, which among other blasphemies, taught perverted sexual immorality; “distorted values, misleading commitments, confused thinking, and dangerous misconceptions”, says one writer. The Apostle Paul therefore in one of his instructions to Timothy charged him to:“ Hold fast therefore the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us”.

There were particular circumstances at the church in Ephesus, which are extremely relevant for us today, for we live in a similar kind of age and sad to say, the same set of circumstances exist in many of modern Christianity’s institutions.

Paul and his travelling companions while on their way to Macedonia by way of Ephesus, found that false and immoral teachers had practically taken over the church. He found it necessary to excommunicate two of the false teachers (1Tim.1:19-20) and then left Timothy in charge, to provide some interim leadership until a local structure was put in place.  To that end Paul provided Timothy with some advice on how to deal with the growing apostasy in the church.

Of necessity, the situation at Ephesus demanded that instructions relating to godly leadership be provided and not just godly leadership, but also instructions on teaching, such that in the succeeding centuries, the Church of Christ could benefit from the instructions to Timothy on this subject.

Timothy is said to have been a young man and certainly his task would have been daunting, even for the matured and experienced. Thus it was appropriate and fitting that the Apostle would have much to say in the way of instruction, exhortation and encouragement to his young charge. Once again Paul’s words to Timothy have wide application in the lives of all believers.

It appears Timothy faced stiff opposition in his attempts to re-establish godly leadership and sound doctrine in the Ephesian Church and so personal piety, integrity, courage, perseverance, holiness and a diligent application of the word was to be his daily routine.

Note, like Timothy, all Christians are to consistently display these same qualities, for in the things pertaining to God, our personal behaviour must be a testimony to the things we teach and profess. 

The result of the false teaching had left the Ephesian church in some disarray, as the atmosphere of public worship was damaged (2:1-7), the false teachers had distorted the scriptures, stolen from the coffers of the church (6:3-10) and had especially influenced some of the women in the church for the worse (5:11-15). 

Then as now, false teaching proved to be an effective tool of the enemy and those who would oppose such deceit, must live a life of godliness, which will be a contrast to that lived by the false teachers.

The servant of God is urged to; “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them…” (4:16).   

Further, Timothy was charged with guarding “the truths of the faith”, a must in any strategy dealing with false teaching. False teachers are to be so identified and their teachings confronted and repudiated. The danger to the church posed by false teachers cannot be overstated and clearly Paul was cognizant of this fact, as throughout the epistle, the problem of the false teachers is always in the background, (explicitly in 4:1-5; 5:20-25; 6:3-10, 20-21; and implicitly permeating the rest of the epistle). 

In light of Timothy’s youth, lack of experience and the task at hand, Paul addressed the need for him to learn some pastoral skills in addressing certain groups in the church. Clearly, there are offices in the church for which people need to be trained and qualified.   

Paul had gone into much detail about the qualifications for the only two leadership offices mandated by the Apostles, namely, elders and deacons. The kind of character required of these men is very clearly outlined. 

Simply put, leaders must be beyond reproach. There should be the absence of personal ambition, feelings of superiority to the flock, no hidden agenda, no pattern of sinful actions and no control by fleshly appetites. They should be individuals that are controlled by the Holy Spirit and at all times and consistently show this in their lifestyle.   

There is clear emphasis on ‘enduring’ or ‘ persevering’ in the faith, not denying the faith or moving away from it. 

Those who had denied the faith and turned away from the truth stressed unsound doctrines which did not edify. These false teachers were spiritually ignorant and their doctrinal departures would prove deadly for the saints.  Timothy was to resist false teachings and hold fast to the true gospel. 

In today’s text, Paul directed instructions and exhortations to Timothy, regarding his personal responsibilities and the things of which he should continually remind the church. Importantly, these will provide a formula, a ‘how to’ in dealing with such and similar situations that are very likely to be part of our Christian experience.  

Paul gave the reason for his instructions:

“These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:

But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” 3:15-16. 

The church belongs to God and it exists to present the truth of God to the world. The congregation of God is therefore a powerful instrument of God. It is a tower and it is grounded in truth.  It exists to present reality to the world, and constantly warn people that what they are seeing is not permanent and is in fact a distortion of the true reality about things and life. 

If there is deviation from the truth,  the church begins to cease being the church of God and eventually we only have the form and will be denying godliness.  Hence the church must exercise immense caution in what it teaches and who it places in positions of leadership. 

The Apostle Paul had stressed the absolute uniqueness and exalted majesty of Jesus, who was God manifest in the flesh. 

Now the Apostle turned to give Timothy some clear information about the reality of what he was facing.  He lifts the veil. This prophetic look is certainly startling and the information is most unpleasant but it is necessary that Christians know the truth.     

As we look at this lesson, it is important to know that this departure from the faith, a proliferation of apostasy, deception and false teaching, are things about which the Holy Spirit has always been warning believers.   

The nation of Israel had always been very susceptible to this problem.  Surprisingly, even after Christ's coming and the institution of the New Covenant, unfortunately the problem seemed to be still ongoing.  

There have been periodic waves of apostasy through Christian history.  In modern times, in the latter part of the 19th-century we see several cults exploding onto the Christian scene with the birth of Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses and Christian Science, all claiming to be Christian, but distorting biblical Christianity.   

After a period of quiet, in the middle of the 20th century there was another flood with groups like the Moonies, the Hare Krishnas, Scientologists, Transcendental Meditation and Eastern mysticism cults invading North America, denying that Jesus is Lord and attacking his Deity, his Messiahship and the Atonement. 

Into the last ten years, several groups have appeared preaching doctrines based on an exaggerated view of the goodness and spiritual nature of man, emphasizing materialism and the blessings of chasing after wealth, claiming to give people divine powers, altering the age old beliefs about the person of Jesus Christ and the centrality of his work.   

The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy on several of these deviations.

THE TEXT.

  Verses 1-2.   Apostasy isn't an unintentional departure or someone struggling with doubt. It characterizes someone who deliberately abandons truth once affirmed for erroneous teaching.  

"The faith" refers specifically to the body of Christian doctrine, not the act of believing 

In Light of the Holy Spirit’s explicit revelation of a coming ‘departure from the faith’, Timothy was to put the church on constant alert and guard them against the doctrines, that would accompany that apostasy.

The period would be characterized by; a giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.  

The purveyors of this deceit would knowingly and hypocritically teach lies, typical of those whose consciences had become as hard as stone.

Note, we should not naively think that a false religion is simply a collection of misguided ideas. All false religion propagates doctrine energized by seducing spirits, (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).

The Word of God clearly teaches that apostasy is a demonic seduction….and that false teachers are the agents of demons. Men are not the ones who originate or invent these errors but they are willing accomplices.

The battle is between God and His truth and the devil and his lies. It is in the very nature of these spirit enemies of God to lie, and so they are called deceitful spirits, lying spirits, who distort reality about our Lord.

We should never forget that even before the world was created, these fallen angels led by Lucifer, the highest of the angels of God, had rebelled against the will and purposes of God.  One writer summarizes the result of this and warns us:

“ Yet that being, that strange, malevolent being who is by nature a liar and by intent a murderer, is called everywhere in Scripture, “ the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4).  That is a frightening thought.  The god which the world ignorantly, and innocently, in many ways, for those blindly, like an animal being led to the slaughter, is a murderer and a liar.  These hosts of spiritual beings, which Paul recognizes in Ephesians 6 as the ones with whom we Christians wrestle, are the very ones who originate these false and twisted ideas about Jesus.

We learn from Scripture that these spirits have access to the inner thoughts and feelings of men, including Christians.  We are all affected by strange urges, feelings, and desires that arise within us.  But these desires do not always originate with us…..

These strange, sinister, unseen beings who have access to the minds and hearts of men, mislead and misdirect by what seems to us and to many to be logical and essential things that human nature should accept and even require.  All that becomes expanded and supported by intricate arguments and rationalizations until it takes the form of what Paul called, doctrines, that is, formerly reasoned presentations.  But Paul clearly called these, “doctrines of demons”….

We are in a deep and abiding war that is being fought with spiritual weapons.  We are up against these spiritual “principalities and powers”, these “rulers of the darkness of this world”. 

The doctrines of the faith are to be instilled in the minds of the people, as a bulwark against apostasy and this is a charge those in authority must execute.

The demonic forces bring these various waves of apostasy, appealing to men in different ways.  Sometimes they appeal to the intellect, to the pride of men, sometimes the emotions, and sometimes to the will. 

They really are a departure from the central truths of Christianity and in so doing present a different Jesus. These deviations which lead to corrupt teachings and in many cases to the formation of cults do not come from or originate with men. The origin of these distortions come from deceitful, lying spirits whose very nature is to lie.  These are fallen angels.  They want to take men into the Lake of Fire, a place that God did not make for men.

Verse 2.  It is frightening to think that men, sometimes ignorantly and sometimes innocently, blindly follow the demonic liars and murderers, just like a lamb going to the slaughter. 

Scripture tells us over and over again that these spirits have access to the inner thoughts and feelings of men including believers.  We ourselves, if we're honest, can testify to this, for all of us are affected by strange and bizarre feelings, urges, desires that arise inside us, memories that we would like to forget, that insist on popping up in our heads. These do not originate but are actually the “fiery darts of the wicked one”. 

These demons bring arguments, reasons and rationalizations about both religious and secular things, which become when taken together, what Paul called “doctrines of demons”. These doctrines mislead, confuse and attack the truth. Ideas like evolution, the guaranteed prosperity for believers and the like, fall in this category. 

These doctrines of demons, Paul says, appear through human beings. These deceived people, who are victims themselves of these demonic spirits are characterized by certain marks. 

First, they claim to have information about God and a privileged relationship with Him, which are nothing but lies. They are hypocrites for they know that what they are doing and saying about themselves are lies. They are pretending. 

Next, they have a “seared conscience”. These false teachers with ‘defiled’ and ‘seared’ consciences are not here accused of general immorality, but seek to continue ascetic teachings, which Verse 3 describes. 

Their state of consciousness is defiled, for they are disobedient, unfit, with hypocritical, detestable behaviour. Their conscience is defiled and they are in shame. This results because they have given themselves over to religious error. 

The use of the word “seared” suggests that there was a time when their conscience worked and their moral scruples was active. They might have started out being simply full of themselves, or what we call egotists, convinced that they had gifts, abilities and powers which they really did not have. But then they slid to the stage where they had no moral restraint and moral scruples. A hot iron had done a great work of damage. There is no good reaction when they are faced with situations requiring the exercise of moral scruples.

Verse 3-5.  These false teachers advocate practices which deny certain things that God has provided and approved for human use. Their departure from the truth led to a confusion between self-denial, giving up something to gain special favour from God, bargaining with God, exchanging an activity for some benefit from God and denying self, which is really refusal to listen to the ego or flesh and behaving as though you are not your own.

These false teachers who forbid marriage and the eating of meats were in fact going against apostolic doctrine, as enunciated at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) 

Paul appeals to Psalm 24:1 (also referred to in 1 Corinthians 10:26-31). Relationship between spouses are honourable and necessary. (Genesis 2:18; 1 Corinthians 7:1-7; Ephesians 5:22-23; Col. 3:18-19) There is to be no unnatural abstinence within the marriage bond. 

Logically therefore Paul could demand that elders and deacons be ‘one-woman men’. 

For Paul celibacy instead of marriage is a legitimate option for believers and has advantages for those who want to dedicate themselves totally to the service of God. In 1 Corinthians 7:7 it is recognized that this is not for everyone.   

Remember that at the Jerusalem Council James outlined principles to govern behaviour for all Gentiles, quoting from:

Exodus 34:13-16; see the parallel in 1 Cor. 10:7-14; Leviticus 17: through 8-9; see the parallel in Acts 15:29, 21:25; 1 Cor. 8:1-13; Revelation 2:14, 20

Leviticus 18:1-13, with parallel teaching in 1 Cor. 6:18, and 10:8

Genesis 9:4, Leviticus 17:13; 19:26; Deuteronomy 12:16, 23-28; 15:23.

Thus, these prohibitions would be in keeping with Mosaic Scriptures, but it bound on Gentiles only what God in Scripture had bounded. Circumcision and some other laws particular relating only to Israel had been excluded. The Pharisees however, had overemphasized, over elaborated and misapplied some of the Scriptures. 

The Apostles had sent a clear message. Gentiles, as well as Jews, were to abstain from three things:

First, food polluted by idols.

Second, sexual immorality.

Third, meat of strangled animals and blood. 

Note that these are moral issues. 

The third prohibition goes back to the Covenant with Noah in

Genesis 9. Note that this was made when there was no Jew or Gentile distinction among men. In this Covenant, God allowed flesh to be eaten, but with the blood drained from it. Moses explained in detail what this meant. 

These prohibitions are therefore ethical and moral. Gentiles Christians were required to maintain high moral standards and lax behaviour could not be allowed. 

The Holy Spirit had been in control at the Council and was well pleased. The entire Church had dealt with the issue properly. 

Note that cultivating the habit of thanksgiving will help one resist the ungodly, demonic doctrines. 

Recognize that we must give thanks for the things that God had mandated. God has given men certain things for our enjoyment and enrichment. 

God did not give us theses things for us to deny using them, but he wants us to have them.  

He has given us what he has offered to be received with thanksgiving. It is consecrated, that is, set up so they can be put to proper use, and so it is safe to use.

Verses 6.  Believers are made to worship God in every area of life. Believers need ‘up-building’ or ‘edification’ , for God is preparing his people for himself (Jer. 24:6; 31:4; 33:7. Ephesians 2:20-22 tells us that ministries of the word and gifts are provided to equip the saints to work to build up the body of Christ. 

Timothy’s primary interest should be to instruct and build up, and just as Jesus instructed his disciples, he should instruct the saints. 

To do that he should be nourished himself in the word of faith and good doctrine. That meant he should pay attention to the things that nourished him spiritually, relegating the attractive entertainments of the world to the back burner. Believers must feed on the things of the truth and follow them daily. 

The Scriptures are available, and give the total truth about life, explaining to us who we are, who God is, what God intends us to be and how we can be what he wants us to be.   

The Commandments are given to help us. The cross of Christ was there to save us.  One must follow what the Holy Spirit has inspired, and not just pay lip service to them, following the distracting things of the world.

Verse 7.   Paul instructed Timothy to keep his priorities straight. He should avoid the many popular oft-told myths, the superstition that circulate through the world.  So many believers spread myths, delight in hearing ghost stories, spread rumors about the true nature of men and women, swear that they can be reincarnated, that they hear from dead relatives and other foolish things. 

Some will tell that they know the mysterious knowledge hidden in the pyramids, that they are secret groups with all kinds of fabulous knowledge who run the world, and so on. These are all godless and foolishly myths that Christians should avoid. 

Diligent pastoral care was enjoined in verse 6, where Timothy was told to instruct the brethren, so that they like him, would remain anchored in God's Word.  He and everyone else was to watch what they were feeding on, for they were always to be nourished on the Word of faith and good doctrine that he had given and which he followed.   

When the Apostle discussed this matter of nourishment, he stressed there was a priority to be followed and efforts made to maintain orthodoxy.   

Every believer should ask themselves ‘what it is they feed on daily’, or in another words, what they put into their minds. Is our daily food the sports pages, soap operas, TV movies, best selling novels, the stock market averages etc.?  

If that is what we put into our minds daily, without very significant regulation, we will always be spiritually undernourished, for what we feed on determines how effective we are as servants of God.    

Timothy was instructed to pay attention to those things that would greatly nourish his spiritual life. These were the priorities.  Let us review them again.

He was told to be dismissive of unfounded stories, superstition, traditions and other trifling tales that might have been making the rounds at any time. The Christian faith is rooted in history. 

These godless and silly tales are really distractions riddled with superstitions and adversely damage every generation. 

Some of these myths are obviously silly and will only waste our time, and keep us away from the truth to be found in Jesus Christ. 

Rather than wasting time delving into the trite, Timothy was advised to consciously and habitually establish a regimen of godly behaviour, piety and holiness. He is to grow through exertion and proper ‘feeding’.  

The mere care of the body was contrasted with the care of the soul and while abstinence, self-denial and rigor might provide temporal benefits (for a little time), these austerities contribute little to holiness; it is the far more important spiritual exercise of the heart that is being stressed.    

…Is profitable unto all things…manifestly true. One writer comments in part: “In every respect. There is not an interest of man, in reference to this life, or to the life to come, which it would not promote. It is favourable to health of body, by promoting temperance, industry, and frugality; to clearness and rigour of intellect, by giving just views of truth, and of the relative value of objects; to peace of conscience, by leading to the faithful performance of duty; to prosperity in business, by making a man sober, honest, prudent, and industrious; to a good name, by leading a man to pursue such a course of life as shall deserve it; and to comfort in trial, calmness in death, and immortal peace beyond the grave”.    

Having promise of the life that is now…Even a cursory look at the Scriptures will provide a plethora of promises that meet every healthy need of man in this life. There is a great deal of good to be had by godliness; it will be of use to us through the whole of our lives.    

The benefit of godliness lies in it’s promise, for the promises made to godly people do relate to the present life, but especially they relate to the life that is to come. Under the Old Testament the promises were mostly of temporal blessings stressed to the nation, but under the New Testament, or when the nation and all men are under the New Covenant, they are of spiritual and eternal blessings. 

That which is to come…The only resource that furnishes that future life. Only in the life of holiness, one spawned by the new birth, is there promise and hope for the life to come.

Verse 9.   The immediate foregoing is a maxim, a truism and is to be believed, that godliness holds such promises. The statement has a natural and worthy appeal and is to be accepted by all godly persons, to encourage them in the exercise of godliness.

(See 1 Peter 3:10-11; Matthew 6:33)

It underscored Paul's advice, for what he was saying was very important. Timothy must keep on training in godliness, for godliness profits in this life and in the life to come. One writer comments about the new Covenant and it’s promises:

“ It makes you bold, courageous, confident that God is at work.  It will give you direction: you will know which way to go, what to avoid, what to say no to and what to say yes to.  It will give you comfort in hours of defeat, discouragement and failure: it will pick you up and revive your spirit.  It will teach you to love when it is difficult to do so, and show you that by responding to the love of God love of Christ can flow out from you to others.  It with a few self-acceptance: you will have confidence without conceit.

The world does not know how to do that.  It says the way to build confidence is to build up your conceit.  But the Scriptures will teach you how to be confident without conceit.  It is of help in this life, and in the life to come.  All these things are needed beyond this world as well; so, as you build and learn how to live now, you will learn how to live then, and be able to function effectively as a believer in the new body and the new world to come”.

Verse 10.   This truth is what motivated Paul and would motivate Timothy.  It would stop any drifting into godlessness. Encouragement for Timothy, as a result of their acceptance of the ‘faithful’ saying; they labour, that is they toiled in spreading the gospel and in the daily exercise of godliness. Though they suffered reproach, their belief, hope and trust in the Living God sustained them, for He is the Saviour of all believers.

When we face the pounding pressures of life, we remember that our hope is set on the living God and so this makes us take time to daily feed on and nourish ourselves on the words of faith, exerting ourselves.

The hope of the Apostle was set on the living God.  This was a decision, a commitment and led to energy in effort and action. This was a deliberate action of the will to pursue godliness and the daily encounter with God, ensured continued motivation and growth in Christ, in the middle of the pressures and problems.

Remember that when we exert ourselves daily to pursue God, committing ourselves to study the word, pray, meditate, we will not drift into godlessness.

God has provided and made known a way of salvation that is sufficient to more than compensate them and us for all our services and sufferings. One writer comments in part:

“…that all our labours and losses in the service of God and the work of religion will be abundantly recompensed, so that though we lose for Christ we shall not lose by him. Therefore we labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God…”

 It is not to be understood that God will save every individual without exception, but rather salvation has not been limited to any one class of men. Of course God is able and willing to save all men and all who are ever saved are and will be saved by him; and it is in this sense that- "he is the Saviour of all men.". Those that believe qualifies the ‘saviour of all men’ phrase.

This negates exclusivism, whether from Jews, Gentiles, cults, churches, or any other group. Those who try to confine salvation to those who are specially enlightened and belong to a particular religious group are told they are wrong.

It is not that God has set his will that the whole human race be saved and is disappointed. Here the emphasis is on believers showing that the salvation Paul focused on comes only to people of faith.

Potentially, everyone in the world could be saved if they would come to Jesus. He has made that possible. But salvation will only come to those who believe.

The hope of the Apostle in the Living God, is a contrast to the lifeless idols and deities of the pagans, some of whom likely championed an austere lifestyle as an end in itself.

Verse 11.    Paul regarded his letter to Timothy as sound Christian doctrine and as such, Timothy is commanded to teach them and insist on their observance.

Note that Timothy was instructed not just to teach these things as theory, but to authoritatively command, because he had authority based on the revelation of God.

Similarly all believers are to adhere to these teachings.

Clearly, the contents of this book should not be regarded as applying only to the church at Ephesus in the times of Paul and Timothy nor should it be regarded as only reflecting the culture of that day. Paul's instructions were not merely personal advice to Timothy, but solid doctrinal guidelines for the church in all ages.

We should always remember the words of the song

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness.

I dare not trust the sweetest frame

But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Verse 12.   In this section Paul got personal with his charge. Given Timothy’s youth and the recent leadership failure, some particular instructions and encouragement were necessary.

Note, Timothy’s situation not withstanding, this is essential teachings for all Christians.

Timothy should assert the dignity of his office though some might consider him too young to hold it. He should act in such a fashion as to be respected, despite his youth.

Note that by this time, Timothy was probably in his mid-thirties, having spent fifteen years traveling with the Apostle on his missionary journeys.  In those days, if you were not over forty or close to fifty, you were considered a youth, and hardly capable of instructing the elders (older men) of the church.  Timothy's task was therefore a tough assignment. 

Of course, there was the danger that resentment and opposition from the older men could be stirred up by the normal, youthful arrogance and sometimes unwarranted dogmatism of many of the young, which gives them an appearance of being an authority, though they lack the basis of experience

Timothy’s youth could become an issue, so he was to give no occasion for that to happen. He should avoid the levity and indiscretion so typical of the young and rather, his deportment should be serious and with gravity.

By being a good example in speech and conduct, his love, faithfulness and purity would be evident and this would ensure that no one would believe that he was arrogant, rude, puffed-up, or unnecessarily dogmatic and assertive, when he gave the apostolic instructions.

Regardless of age, ministers of the gospel must be examples of what they preach. In word….particularly in normal and familiar conversation, his usual manner of speech should be edifying.

In conversation…..in general behaviour, regarding all manner and aspects of daily living.

In charity. Love to the brethren, and to all. One writer elaborates in part:

“(1.) in a general sense, love, benevolence, good-will;

(2.) in theology, it includes supreme love to God, and universal good-will to men;

(3.) in a more particular sense, it denotes the love and kindness which springs from the natural relations, as the charities of father, son, brother;

(4.) liberality to the poor, to the needy, and to objects of beneficence, as we speak commonly of charity, meaning almsgiving, and of charitable societies;

(5.) candour, liberality in judging of men's actions; indulgence to their opinions; attributing to them good motives and intentions; a disposition to judge of them favourably, and to put on their words and actions the best construction.

(a.) to love in general;

(b.) to the love of God and of Christ;

(c.) the love which God or Christ exercises towards Christians”.

In spirit. In the control of passions, having a mild, meek, forgiving disposition.

In faith. At all times, and in all trials, be an example to believers how they ought to maintain unshaken confidence in God.

In purity. ..chastity, there should be nothing in the relations with the other sex that would give rise to scandal.

So if young leaders want to be found acceptable to God, they should be loving, faithful, of pure speech and pure behaviour.

Verse 13.   Paul fully intended to visit Ephesus but in the meantime he was to give attention to reading…. This may refer to private study, which would be the Old Testament Scriptures and other beneficial volumes that might have been available and helpful in his public ministry. Note that the Scriptures came first and were central.

It could also refer to the public reading of the scriptures. He must read and exhort, that is, read and expound, by way of exhortation and by way of doctrine; he must teach them both what to do and what to believe.

Note, Christians are to teach people to observe all things whatsoever Christ has commanded, Matthew 28:20. The work of ministers involve ongoing and continuous study to better equip themselves for their work.

Exhortation…. He is to urge and enjoin the practical duties of believers on his congregation, as distinct from the teaching of doctrine. Proper teachings of Scripture will make the believer show his faith in practical actions. It will forever remain true that faith without works is dead.

To doctrine…to teaching or to the communication of  knowledge. Ministers should be assiduous, constant and diligent in their teaching.

Verse 14.   The gift is not identified but as early as his youth there was a prophecy concerning his attainment of this ‘gift’. Clearly his congregation, (Paul himself being a participant 2 Tim. 1:6) concurred with the prophecy, evidenced by their consecration of him to the receiving of the gift, laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

One writer comments on this gift:

An important question arises here, to what the word gift refers :--whether to natural endowment; to office; or to some supposed virtue which had been conferred by ordination--some transmitted influence which made him holy as a minister of religion, and which was to continue to be transmitted by the imposition of apostolic hands.--The word which is here used, is rendered gift in every place in which it occurs in the New Testament. It is found in the following places, and with the following significations:-- deliverance from peril, 2 Corinthians 1:11; a gift or quality of the mind, 1Co 7:7; gifts of Christian knowledge or consolation, Romans 1:11; 1 Corinthians 1:7; redemption or salvation through Christ, Romans 5:15,16; Romans 6:23; 11:29; the miraculous endowments conferred by the Holy Spirit, Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:4,9,28,30,31; and the special gift or endowment for the work of the ministry, 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6; 1 Peter 4:10. The gift then referred to here was that by which Timothy was qualified for the work of the ministry. It relates to his office and qualifications -to every thing that entered into his fitness for the work. It does not refer exclusively to any influence that came upon him in virtue of his ordination, or to any new grace that was infused into him by that act, making him either officially or personally more holy than other men, or than he was before--or to any efficacy in the mere act of ordination--but it comprised the whole train of circumstances by which he had been qualified for the sacred office, and recognised as a minister of religion

Timothy was not to neglect his gift, given it was from God; he was to use it. The brethren had observed his qualifications for such an office and given their sanction and expectations, that he would one day be permitted to serve the Lord in it.

Adding weight to his sense of responsibility and serving to impress the mind of Timothy, was the prophetic element in his endowment and the hopes of the brethren, including Paul’s, that he would rightly fulfill his ministry.

With the laying on of the hands…. It was standard practice to ‘lay on the hands” in imparting a blessing, or in setting one apart to any office. See Matthew 19:15; Mark 6:5; Luke 4:40; 13:13; Leviticus 8:14; Numbers 27:23 Acts 28:8; 6:6.The reference here is undoubtedly to the act by which Timothy was set apart to the office of the ministry. The word rendered presbytery, occurs only in two other places in the New Testament--Luke 22:66, where it is rendered elders and Acts 22:5, where it is rendered "estate of the elders." It properly means an assembly of aged men; council of elders. In Luke 22:66; Acts 22:5, it refers to the Jewish sanhedrim. In this passage it cannot refer to that body--for they did not ordain men to the Christian ministry--but to some association, or council, or body of elders of the Christian church.

Everyone has a spiritual gift and this gift or gifts must be used. 

When it comes to elders, the different gifts, give different flavours to individual ministries.  Some pastors have an evangelistic gift and he will teach Scripture from that point of view.  Another might be able to analyze Scripture and give unusual, penetrating insights into what the Scriptures say.  Another gift might be the ability to put various Scriptures together, bring the different passages into focus, and thereby exhort in a powerful way.  Another gift might be putting Scripture in a very logical step-by-step order.

Whatever the gift, God uses them all, and no one should think that their gift is necessarily better than that of anyone’s else.

Verse 15.  Timothy was told to prepare himself thoroughly. He was to consider the peculiar and God ordained circumstances of his endowment and ordination, his reaction must be as one directly called by God (give himself wholly); to the end that the natural expectations and promise of his ministry come to fruition and to be witnessed by all.

He was to seriously and deeply consider the responsibilities and duties of his office. Implied in all this, is that he faced a difficult and arduous task.

Thy profiting…. his progress, his going forward, his advancement and maturing in his office would be manifest to all.

Meditating on Scripture is regarded as a lost practice among Christians.  It is good to immerse one's mind in the word of God, for it will profit the believer immensely. See Psalm 1.

In the matter of people who minister by preaching, it must be clearly understood that given that the Word of God tells us what life is really like, it requires, as one writer puts it:

“ Careful and prolonged handling, and a discipline that refuses certain diversions in order to give itself to this kind of labour”.

Giving out the Word of God requires hard work, study, research, meditation, posing questions and answering them, ensuring that one knows the meaning of words, looking for illustrations, making sure that introduction and the conclusion to the message makes sense.  The heart as well as the mind must be prepared.

To give insightful and analyse Scripture rightly cannot be treated casually, expecting the Holy Spirit to give the lazy all the ability that is needed is not according to Scripture. We are in a serious battle; this is not a picnic, and those who want to minister in any of the many ways laid out by God, must prepare themselves.

Verse 16.   Though Timothy was young, this injunction would have been equally pertinent even if he were an old man. The Christian walk is one of fidelity and perseverance to the end of life. There is no occasion in the Christian life, no time when the believer may feel free to rest upon his laurels, assume that he "has it made," or cease the faithfulness, that should mark the entirety of his life. "Continuing" is one of the basic words employed, to describe the steadfast walk of a Christian (Galatians 3:10; Hebrews 8:9; James 1:25; Acts 14:22; 14:22 and Colossians 1:23). It carries the same basic meaning as abide in John 15 and 1 John.

So Timothy was to have a personal awareness of his Christian walk, duties and responsibilities. He was to be vigilant, search himself daily;

(2 Cor.13:5) be attentive to doctrine, to the end his walk, labour and doctrine would be in harmony.

Paul is not here suggesting that what he had prescribed was meritorious of salvation but rather Timothy’s daily continuance was a constant reminder of that secured salvation. 

The faithful minister will be the means whereby many are saved. Faithfulness and a diligent Christian walk by the minister, will add much weight to his message of salvation. This also is a source of encouragement to the devoted preacher, he shall see the fruits of his labour. 

Study and declaration of the word of life will not only bring life into the dark pagan world, but will build up the saints and also build up the individual leader.

Effective ministry at all levels will only come when there is love, faithfulness and purity in both speech and behaviour.