I Timothy

The first Epistle of Paul to Timothy was written aprroximately around 65 AD.  Paul greets Timothy and then moves in to warnings about false teachers.  He speaks of these teachers as those who promote controversies rather than the work of God performed by faith.  Paul talks about how the Lord extended grace to him when he was the worst of all sinners.  Paul gives Timothy instructions of worship encouraging him to lead his congregation in the lifting of hands and in prayer.  The lifting of hands is a good sign of worship because it shows once ability to surrender to the authority of God.  Paul tells Timothy to make the women dress modestly.  In this, he clarifies that he is not speaking of expensive clothes but of a willing heart to do good deeds for the Lord.  In this book he talks on the line that women are the ones whon brought sin into the world and speaks of how he does not allow them to have authority over a man.  Some liberal scholars and feminists would call this a sexist statement by Paul.  However, God prescribed men to be the leaders and teachers of his work to other men and to be the spiritual leaders in the home because even nontheistic scientists would acknowledge that the woman is the weaker vessel than the man.  Paul gives instructions on Overseers and deacons and makes clear that they must be the husband of one wife.  This means that divorce and remarriage is not acceptable for leaders in the church.  He also says that new believers should not be entrusted with leadership positions because it will go to their head.  Paul speaks particularly of how the Spirit says that in later times- many will abandon the faith and follow doctrines taught by demons.  In making this statement he is probably trying to guard against the Ebionites who were a Christian cult who required theire followers to practice all the restrictions in the Old Testament.  These restrictions are outlined by Paul to be in the category of ritualistic purity and Paul makes clear that God works not through ritualistic purity but through a pure heart.  Paul tells Timothy to train himself ton be godly.  Timothy was a very younf pastor and Paul encouraged him to present himself as a good leader despite his youth.  Timothy is encouraged very strongly to watch his life and doctrine closely and to persevere in them.  Paul warns Timothy to watch out for widows because those who don't remarry get into the mode of gossiping and much damage is done by their sin.  Paul also instructs Timothy not ton entertain an accusation unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.  In chapter five, Paul tells Timothy to drink a little wine for his stomach. Apparently Timothy was having a problem with diarrhea.  Some use this passage to say it is okay under all circumstances to drink wine.  While it is acceptable as long as you don't get drunk, it is not a good practice because it affects one's witness.  Thus, wine serves in this passage for medicinal purposes.  Paul then goes on to talk about how the love of money has corrupted many.  He then gives a specific warning against teachers who say that godliness is a means for financial gain.  Apparently, there was some predecessor group to the Word-Faith Movement that was infiltrating Timothy's church or perhaps Paul was just warning Timothy.  Whatever the case, there was a lot of deception in those times.  In Matthew 24, Jesus speaks of deception as false christs and false prophets arise and deceive even the elect.  Remember that when the term "christ" is not capitalized- it translates "anointed ones."  Thus, in this case Paul is speaking of people with a false anointing.  In many ways the ever-so-changing Pentecostal Movement seems to be movings in that direction.  Paul concludes by repeating his warnings to Timothy against deception and specifically warns him to be on his guard against gossip.