Last month THE OUTLOOK began a new series of articles or lessons on I TIMOTHY by Rev. Henry Vander Kam, pastor of Crace Christian Reformed Church of Kalamazoo, Michigan. This series, intended for church societies, study groups, and all others interested promises to be both interesting and profitable. Rev. Vander Kam has the knack of presenting his material clearly and briefly as those who have used his outlines in the past will well remember. Two lessons are to appear each month.
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LESSON 3 PAUL’S THANKS FOR IUS CALLING I Timothy 1:12–17
In the previous verse the Apostle had made mention of the gospel which had been entrusted to him. In this paragraph he gives thanks for the amazing things which have taken place in his life.
Amazing reason for thanks – If ever there was a man called to the ministry who would have reason to complain about the difficult task given to him, it was Paul. However, instead of complaints we hear only heartfelt thanksgiving to God for the place assigned him. He gives thanks that Christ has enabled him to carryon the work assigned to him. What superhuman strength was necessary for him to do his work! He was the one man set over against the whole heathen world of that time. He worked day and night and amid many difficulties. Christ gave him the strength to do it. Bodily strength, despite a thorn in the flesh; mental capacity such as has seldom been seen; and spiritual strength so that he might be perplexed, but never despair. So did Christ enable him to do His work.
Paul gives thanks also because Christ considered him trustworthy. Many of the leaders did not trust him even though he had had such a radical conversion on the way to Damascus. Christ, however, knew what had taken place in the heart and soul of this man. He considers him trustworthy.
He was appointed by Christ to His service. What a blessing! What an honor! Paul never ceases to thank his Lord for this appointment. It is the greatest and most glorious task. Those receiving such an appointment are highly privileged.
Paul’s background – Paul’s gratitude comes into even clearer focus when seen against the background which he now describes. He had been a blasphemer and a persecuter and insulting the name of Christ. Several times in his writings he refers to this past. Never does he boast of it, but always to show the amazing grace of God. He had indeed been a terror to the early church. He had always been a man of strong convictions. Others may also have persecuted the believers, but he went farther than all the others. Believing it to be false doctrine. he would not rest until he had stamped out this doctrine of the Nazarene. No one could ever imagine that this enemy of Jesus Christ would be turned about into His greatest follower. But, the grace of God does wonders.
He tells us that he obtained mercy because he did these things in ignorance. He was not as some of the Pharisees who, when they saw Him cast out demons, ascribed this miracle to the devil. He was convinced that the teaching of Jesus Christ was false and contrary to the Mosaic teaching. He thought he was doing God service by persecuting the Christians. He was wrong—but it was in ignorance. He had not made himself guilty of the unpardonable sin, and therefore obtained mercy. It was still sin. He did it in unbelief, and unbelief is sin. Ignorance is no excuse but it did leave the door open for the mercy of God to be shown him.
Super–abundant grace – Now Paul speaks of the grace of Christ which had been shown to him. He wrestles with the language of which he is such a master. There are no words to describe the grace he has received. He must coin a new word to describe it. It is a super-abundant grace! That grace is so great which turned him completely around on the way to Damascus. No language is rich enough to express what that grace is or what it can accomplish, Because of that grace he now has faith in Jesus Christ unto salvation while he had thought Him to be an impostor. He now loves the Christ whereas he hated Him passionately before his conversion. Only the grace of God could work such a change. That grace proved to be irresistible. God accomplishes what He sets out to do and no one will thwart His purpose!
The first part of verse 15 forms a summary of doctrine as it had become known in the early church. These words had the effect of a proverb at the time this epistle was written. A heritage of truth is beginning to form. This is not only a faithful saying, but it is to be believed, says the Apostle, because it is the basic truth. It is the heart of the gospel. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. No, He did not come into the world to overturn the law of Moses as Paul formerly thought. He came for this one purpose, namely, to bring salvation. This truth Paul has embraced for himself and counts it worthy of acceptation by everyone. This is the truth men must believe. To say that Jesus Christ was a great teacher or a doer of miracles is missing the heart of the matter. He came to save sinners! That is the reason the Pharisees did not accept Him—they did not consider themselves sinners.
An example for others – The Apostle now emphasizes that his life’s history is an example for others. Christ showed great mercy to him. Christ also showed great patience or longsuffering with him. Think of it: Christ is at the Father‘s right hand and is ruling over all things. He allows this man to blaspheme and to persecute and terrorize His church. Perhaps some even prayed that he might be stopped in his evil work by the power of God’s wrath! However, Christ is very patient. He allows him to go so far—and then calls a halt—and then shows His mercy to him! No one who will hereafter believe will ever have to doubt concerning the mercy or longsuffering of his God. If Hc has dealt so patiently with Paul, He will deal in mercy and show His longsuffering to all who believe. Of course, only to those who believe unto eternal life. No one may excuse his sin or lack of faith on the fact that He has dealt patiently with Paul. But, for such as believe, the experience of the Apostle will give encouragement. In this way his “conversion experience” is of benefit for later believers.
Closing doxology – This section is closed with a doxology. This is by no means unusual in the Pauline writings. He does not only write with the understanding, but also with the heart. At the close of his treatment of election in the chapters 9, 10, and 11 of Romans he ends with a doxology. The truth which the Spirit is revealing through him so grips him that he worships in the praise of his God. So here too. He praises the God who has called him to be His servant. To Him he ascribes honor and glory forever. No honor belongs to himself. The only thing he can count his own is his sin. To the true God belongs all honor and glory. This is the God who is King Eternal. King over all that exists. He is the fulness of life. He is invisible because He is Spirit. He is the only God who shares His honor with no other.
This doxology does not find its reason first of all in the mercy which he has obtained, but rather in the being of God Himself. Cod is not only to be praised for the grace and lovingkindness He reveals, but He is to be praised for what He is! The contemplation of the believer‘s salvation must lead him into the very presence of God Himself. As he sees God revealed in His works he can only exclaim: How great Thou art! That is the nature of the doxology which he sings at the close of this paragraph.
Questions for discussion:
1. May a minister ever leave the ministry? 2. May we ever glory in a radical conversion whereby we have been taken out of the depths of sin to the service of God? Isn’t it far more interesting to have had a radical conversion than to have “served Jehovah from our youth”? 3. Is ignorance a ground for forgiveness? 4. Why do we find these “faithful sayings” only in the Pastoral Epistles? 5. Do you think Paul was the chief of sinners? 6. Does it seem as though Christ is too longsuffering at times? 7. What is a doxology?
LESSON 4 ADMONITIONS TO TIMOTHY I Timothy 1:18–20
After the Apostle has made reference to his own experience to instruct Timothy, he now returns to the subject he spoke about in the first eleven verses. He has an urgent message for Timothy, and even his own spiritual experiences will serve to enlighten him.
Paul addresses Timothy in an endearing way my child Timothy. Timothy is indeed to be one of the leaders in the church, and that fact will be recognized throughout this letter; but, at the same time, he is the child of Paul. He must receive these admonitions as not only coming from his superior, but coming as well from his father. Paul has the welfare of the church in mind and Timothy’s welfare. These are admonitions coming to him as a plea.
Remember the divine appointment – Timothy is to be entrusted with the affairs of the church as Paul had been entrusted with these affairs before. This was a trust. The Apostle now reminds him of the beginning of his service. Timothy had been chosen to accompany Paul and Silas on their missionary journey. The church had been involved in this choice. However, God had already appointed him before the church voted. At the time the church had commissioned him there were those who had uttered prophecies concerning Timothy and the work which he was to do. He must not forget those prophecies.
Timothy must not forget his ordination to office! Some say that the ordination or the symbolism accompanying this ceremony make no difference. However, Paul reminds Timothy that important and far-reaching things had been said on that occasion and those prophecies will be fulfilled. Timothy had, of course, also made vows at that time. These should also be remembered.
Fight the good warfare – The prophecies spoken at the time of “Timothy’s commissioning are necessary for him to remember so that by them he may be able to do the work which has been given him to do. The trust given him is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is a glorious task! But, the Apostle here speaks of it as a warring of a good warfare. This is quite different. How can this be harmonized with the proclamation of the glorious grace of God revealed in Jesus Christ whereby sinners are saved? Both elements are found in the work of the ministry and Paul emphasizes both in his writings. But, for Timothy the struggle, the warfare, is here placed in the foreground. The difficulties have already come. Heresies have entered the churches. In the days of Timothy‘s ministry they will increase. He must, therefore, be ready for the warfare which is to come. It is a good warfare. It is fighting the battles of God. It is a defence of the truth, of the church, and of the kingdom of Jesus Christ. It is a good warfare because God will be on his side. It is well worth the fight!
Timothy is admonished to fight this warfare. Isn’t this natural that he must fight this battle and isn‘t he fully aware of it himself? The impression we get of Timothy is that by nature he is no fighter. His whole personality is so different from Paul’s. Paul was always ready to stand in the breach when heresy threatened his people. But, what will it be like when Timothy has to give the leadership? Sometimes God chooses such sensitive people for the battles of the Lord. Jeremiah was chosen for such a task and, humanly speaking, was totally unfit for it. Now Timothy is called to “war the good warfare” and he has no warlike spirit. Therefore Paul reminds him of his calling.
Hold the faith – Not only does the Apostle admonish him to engage in that warfare, but he also shows him the manner in which he is to fight it. This warfare is to be waged and to be won only by holding the faith, that is, the objective truth. That truth had been revealed for a long time and is still being revealed through the Apostolic writings.
Paul has been a leading interpreter of the truth. He may not allow any of it to escape out of his grasp. He must never compromise that truth. The battles of the Lord are to be fought only with the truth which he has received. He has all the equipment necessary to fight this warfare to the end and to win.
Have a good conscience – Besides holding to the faith it is also necessary to have a good conscience. By this the Apostle means that Timothy must live according to the truth. He must live his faith. To hold only to the objective truth, though very important, is not enough. It is difficult to live the confession which we make. The world tempts. There will be temptations right in the life of the church Timothy is called to lead. He must maintain a good conscience; he must remain unspotted from the world.
The two, holding the faith and a good conscience are so closely related. By holding to the truth Timothy will be enabled to have a good conscience, and having a good conscience he will be able to cling to the faith. He must be a living example of the beauty of the truth which God has revealed.
Note evil examples – Some have not been faithful in these matters. When they thrust away either the faith or a good conscience, they suffered shipwreck concerning the faith, Paul refers to two individuals who were known to Timothy. The one, Hymenaeus is mentioned again in II Timothy 2:17. There it is stated that he taught the resurrection to be past and overthrew the faith of some. The other, Alexander, is unknown to us. When faith is no longer pure the good conscience is not found. Faith determines life. When men believe in errors they have nothing to steer by. As a result they suffer shipwreck.
Shipwreck is terrible in the natural realm but so much more if it is a shipwreck concerning the faith. Purity of doctrine must be maintained to give proper direction to life, If purity of doctrine is sacrificed a person becomes like a rudderless ship and suffers shipwreck. What a warning! Timothy is admonished to war a good warfare to insure his own and his hearers’ safety. Wrong views concerning such things as the resurrection (Hymenaeus) can do great damage and destroy the faith of men. See to it, Timothy, that no one detracts from the truth given to us!
Exercise discipline – The two men mentioned by Paul had already suffered shipwreck concerning the faith and he has mentioned them only as examples. He now reveals how such individuals should be dealt with. To war the good warfare will mean that individuals will have to be dealt with according to the true profession of the truth. In other words, the warfare will not only consist of proclaiming the truth and condemning evil in that same proclamation, hut it will mean applying this truth in individual cases. This may become very difficult and is not “pleasant work”!
However, Paul has not hesitated to apply the faith as he held it and has disciplined these two men. The Apostle must do so according to the truth as it has been made known to him and to maintain a good conscience before God. He tells Timothy that he has delivered them to Satan! By this terminology he means-first of all that they have been excommunicated from the church of Christ. They have no place under the rule of Christ when they make themselves guilty of believing and teaching false doctrine. Through excommunication they have been cast into the arena where Satan rules. Now they find themselves slaves of Satan. It seems as though the Apostle means even more by the terms he here employs. The Apostles had been given the power to heal sicknesses and to cast out evil spirits. It seems as though the Apostle now tells us that he has given these two men into Satan‘s clutches—really the reverse of his healing ministry.
The purpose of the discipline which the Apostle has used regarding these two individuals is not to rid the church of difficult people, but “that they might be taught not to blaspheme.” The purpose of discipline is remedial. When they have been in the clutches of Satan for a time they may realize what a hard taskmaster he is and, coming to themselves, may, humanly speaking, determine to arise and go to their father. The church must diSCipline both heretics and godless individuals. These men, no doubt, were influential in the church. Discipline will be difficult work. But, that is the test of warring a good warfare! This is part of it! It won’t be easy to keep a good conscience. Therefore, hold fast to the faith.
Questions for discussi
1. What is the effect of ordination -of the laying on of hands? 2. Why does God often choose very meek men to war the good warfare? Would it have been better for the church to have had another leader with the personality of Paul rather than one like Timothy? Would an Amos have fit better into Jeremiah‘s position explain. 3. How does the Reformed faith lead to a Reformed life-style? What do you think of those who emphasize living rather than believing? 4. Can a minister work effectively if his own life doesn‘t reveal piety? Do you think anyone could have been converted through the preaching of Judas Iscariot when he was sent out? 5. How important is discipline in the church? Do you think it is faithfully exercised?