The Pastoral Epistles #1
James A. Turner
Please read all the
references. They will help to gain a better understanding.
Now, let us turn to I
Timothy. Please read and think about the
handout on the epistles of Paul. I think
you will do well to try to remember them in the order that I have listed them
We are now ready to begin with
that second group consisting of two books, I Timothy and Titus. I Timothy, Titus, and II Timothy have been
down through the years referred to as the Pastoral Epistles. And I guess one reason for that is the fact
that the qualifications are given in chapter three of I Timothy for elders, and
also in Titus chapter one, qualifications are set forth for elders, because
these books, even though they are written to Timothy and Titus, they actually
have to do with the instruction that has to do with problems in the
churches. Titus and I Timothy show
definitely that Paul was released, as he expected to be released, when he wrote
the Philippian letter, and that he was very busy revisiting the churches and
doing further evangelistic work. The
book of Titus shows that he and Titus had done evangelistic work on the island
of Crete during this period of time, and I Timothy shows that he had visited
again the church at Ephesus, which he had not expected to do when he was on the
way to Jerusalem (Acts 20
I Timothy shows
that that time had already come, at least the beginning stages of a falling
away. Church history shows that the
falling away, which culminated in the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church,
began with the eldership. One eldership elected a
chairman elder, and that became the pattern, and then from that, more than one
church under an eldership and a chairman of that, and that continued to
mushroom, until finally it grew into the hierarchy, including the Papacy of the
Roman Catholic Church. The fact that
Paul left Timothy at
We will now begin the reading and
study of I Timothy. "Paul,
an apostle of Jesus Christ according to the commandment of God our Savior, and
Christ Jesus, our hope; unto Timothy, my true child in faith." Paul had converted Timothy at Lystra on that
first missionary journey with Barnabas, and took him then as companion on his
journeys on that second missionary journey (Acts 16
When you think about how strict
the Old Testament law was, it needed to be strict because the people were so
unrighteous and lawless during that day.
"For the ungodly and
sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of
mothers, for manslayers, for
fornicators, for abusers of themselves with men, (homosexuals)
for men stealers, for liars, for
false swearers, and if there be any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine;
according to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, which was committed to
my trust. I thank him that enabled me, even
Christ Jesus our Lord, for that he counted me faithful appointing me to his service. Though I was before a blasphemer, and a
persecutor, and injurious
Verse fourteen, "And the grace of our Lord abounded
exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all
acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I
am chief. Howbeit for this cause I
obtained mercy, that in me as chief might Jesus Christ show forth all of his
longsuffering, for an example of them that should thereafter believe on him
unto eternal life." So Paul
is saying that I was the chiefest of sinners, because I persecuted the
Verse eighteen, “This charge I commit unto thee, my child
Timothy, according to the prophecies which led the way to thee, that by them
thou mayest war the good warfare.” When Paul laid hands on Timothy and
gave him a miraculous gift (II Timothy 1
"I
exhort therefore, that, first of all, that supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and thanksgiving, be made to all men; for kings and for all that
are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness
and gravity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our savior; who
would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth." It may be that we are not praying for the
leaders of our government enough, and praying that they will do the right
thing. Paul wanted the brethren at
Verse eight, "I desire therefore that the men
in every place, lifting up holy
hands, without wrath and disputing." Notice that the emphasis is that in public
worship it is men and not women, and let them lift up holy hands with the right
spirit and the right attitude. "In like manner, that
women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and
sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array." This parallels I Peter chapter three, and the
emphasis, is that a Christian woman is to adorn herself in a modest way, and
not with a lot of costly things. Back
there some of the women braided silver and gold in their hair,
and Paul is saying that Christian women do not need to be decked out with a lot
of gold and pearls in the way of the things that she wears, or very expensive
clothing like some of the movie stars of
"Let
a woman learn in quietness with all subjection.
But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but
to be in quietness." This is
instruction about the public service of the church that women are not to get up
and preach in the public service to the church.
“I permit not a woman to
teach,” Well, we have already talked about how Priscilla and Aquilla
took Apollos aside and taught him. It looks like Priscilla was the one who must
have led in the teaching; but this is talking about the assembly of the church,
on the first day of the week, that they are not to be in charge of the assembly
of the church, that they are not to have dominion over the men in the church.
In the assembly they are to be in quietness. Why? "For
Adam was first formed, then Eve. Adam was not beguiled, but the woman being
beguiled hath fallen into
transgression. So he gives two
reasons, God made Adam first, and Eve was made as his helpmate. Well, it looks
like in one sense that the fact that Adam followed with his eyes open would be
even worse, but the point is that the woman was deceived when Adam was
not. Don’t you think that the over all
rule is that women are easier deceived than men, but there are exceptions to
the overriding rule.
Verse fifteen "But she shall be saved through her
childbearing, if they continue in faith and love and sanctification and
sobriety." I have wondered
now for years why somebody, say a polygamist, has not
really capitalized on verse fifteen and say, “I have all of these wives because
I want to make sure that they will be saved.
They will be saved by childbearing.”
Many people have come with, saved by the faith only, or saved by grace
only, or by grace and faith only. That
has been the process down through the years that somebody was saved by this and
by this only. So why not take hold of
this one, and say saved by childbearing only.
I hope you see how ridiculous it is when anyone says saved by one thing
only. Again let me encourage you to read the handout Things By Which We Are Saved.
“She shall be saved through
her childbearing”. But notice
there is a condition stated, “If
they continue in faith and love and sanctification and sobriety.”
In the first thirteen verses of
this chapter Paul gives the qualification for elders. I can remember in days gone by when there
were those that would reason, that we do not need any elders in this church,
because we do not have any person who is blameless. Well, as we have already stated, every child
of God should be in a blameless condition in that he is walking in the light. And when he sees that he
has done wrong and he repents and asks God to forgive him; then he is blameless
(I John 1
Now let us read. "Faithful
is the saying if a man seeketh the office of a bishop." A bishop is an overseer, and the two words
are used interchangeably, the footnote says overseer. "He
desires a good work. The bishop
therefore must be without reproach, (blameless,
KJV, self controlled CEV) the
husband of one wife, tempera, sober minded, orderly, given to hospitality.”
(Ephesians 4
Verse three, “no brawler, no striker, but gentle, not
contentious, no lover of money;” These are all characteristics that
should be true of all members of the church. “One that ruleth well his own house, having
his children in subjection with all gravity.” Titus 1
“Apt to teach;”
I have heard it said, “that some elders are apt to teach most anything,”
but “apt to teach” means
qualified to teach and qualified to the point that they can “convict the gainsayers” (Titus 1
Verse six, "Not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall
into the condemnation of the devil." This indicates that Satan was once a faithful
angel, but he became puffed up with pride and was cast down; he exalted himself
against God and was cast down (II Peter 2
Verse eight, “Deacons in like manner must be grave, not
double tongued; not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre
Verse
fourteen, “These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly,
but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves
in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and the
ground of truth. Verse sixteen, “And
without controversy great is the mystery of godliness, He who was manifested in
the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached among the nations,
believed on in the world, received up in glory."
Chapter Four,
"But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some
shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines
of devils; through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies branded in their own
conscience as with a hot iron."
What does that mean? “Branded in their own
conscience as with a hot iron” Well, when you brand the flesh there is
no feeling. Brand an animal, and there
is not much feeling in that particular spot.
In the days of the village blacksmith, the blacksmith could pick up hot
irons that would just throw the rest of us into great pain, but it would not be
very hot to them because they had handled them to the point that layers of skin
were seared. And so branded in their own conscience means that they no longer have a conscience. They had gone contrary to their conscience
until they no longer have a conscience, it does not speak to them any
longer. And then what resulted. "For bidding to marry." And you think of the Catholic Church, that
church did what said would be done. And even today that church teaches that the
Pope has the right to determine whether or not the clergy, as they speak of it,
can marry or not. Actually the Pope is
putting himself up as God, and giving and supporting laws contrary to God’s
law. The very idea of such a thing, "For bidding to marry." The Lord has not forbidden any man to marry,
if he has a scriptural right to marry, and anybody who comes with such a
doctrine, is coming with false doctrine.
"Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God
created to be received with thanks giving by them that believe and know the
truth." And you know that
the Catholic Church teaches contrary here also in respect to meats. "For every creature of God is good." And this parallels with what we read in
Romans fourteen. "For every creature of God is good, and
nothing is to be rejected, if it be received with thanks giving
Verse
ten, “For to this end we labor and strive, because we have our hope set on the
living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of them that
believe." How is God the
savior of all men? God is the savior of all men in that he supplies our
needs? When Paul spoke to the people at
Lystra he said, “he left himself not without witness, in that
he did good and gave from heaven rain and fruitful seasons filling our hearts
with joy and gladness.” (Acts
Verse fourteen "Neglect not the gift that is in thee,
which was given thee by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the
presbytery." Now, if you
remove verse fourteen from what he has to say in II Timothy1
In the first part of this chapter
he tells about how that Timothy is to treat the different age groups. In verse one he is not necessarily talking
about an elder in the church, but an older person, and it is important that
these rules set forth here be followed.
I know very definitely they are important, because I have violated them,
and I know something about the bad results that it can bring. "Rebuke
not an elder, but exhort him as a father." There is a different relationship between you
talking to an older person, and talking to a younger person, or one in your own
age group, and that is what this instruction is about. Now, you can run contrary and lambaste that
aged fellow twenty or thirty years older than you are, but he is not likely to
have proper respect for you if you do.
You are to exhort him as you would your father. Any son who has proper respect for his father
treats him with respect, and recognizes that he is older, and very probably a
little wiser than he is. "The younger men as
brethren, the elder women as mothers." So
treat all of the elder women in the church as you would treat your own
mother. And again that ought to be the
right kind of treatment. "The younger as
sisters in all purity."
Would you want some man to violate your own sister? Surely not, and so the
younger sisters are to be treated “in
all purity.”
Verse three, "Honor widows that are widows
indeed." And it goes ahead
and tells about those who are “widows
indeed.” Those who are above
sixty years of age and have lived a good Christian life and do not have
children to support them, and such widows the church was to enroll them, and
take care of them. But notice verse
eight, "But if any provided not
for his own, and especially his own
household, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever." The King James Version says, “worse than an infidel.” So the man who will not
work to make a living, not only for his own immediate household, but even
including the widows in the household, or in his family,
is far from being the person that he ought to be. Paul
says, “He hath
denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” "Let
none be enrolled as a widow under threescore years, having been the wife
of one man, well reported of for good works; if she hath brought up children, if she hath used hospitality
to strangers, if she hath washed the saint's feet, if she relieved the
afflicted, if she hath diligently followed every good work." Please remember there were no pensions back
there, and no welfare programs, and so when women got old and not able to work,
they were dependant on somebody. And
evidently there were a lot of widows who did not have anybody to depend on ‑‑
no children, or no help in any way. And,
if so, they were to be enrolled by the church, and the church would take care
of them, but they were to be above sixty years of age.
The younger widows were not to be
enrolled even if they had been faithful Christians. "But
younger widow refuse."
Refuse to enroll them. Why?
"For when they have wax
wanton against Christ, they decide to marry." In other words they would think that they
were going to remain as widows, and then be stirred by sexual passion and want
to marry, and then go contrary to their pledge.
"Having
condemnation because they have rejected their first pledge.
And withal they learn to be idle, going about from house to house; not
only Idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought
not." When a person is not
busy with proper things, they usually get their nose into the business of
others; and that is what this is talking about "I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household. Give no occasion to the adversary for
reviling. For already some have turned aside after Satan.” In other words if she has a husband
and she is faithful to her husband there is no way that the devil's crowd can
talk about her and get by with it. So a
wife and mother has a right to rule the household, that is one area where she
is to rule; and a woman that lets her husband get by with just any kind of
conduct in the household is not doing the proper thing. He has no right to put his dirty shoes down
in the living room floor, and throw one sock here and one sock there; and the
woman who is doing well in ruling the household, if
necessary she should do a little ruling there with him, and much more with the
children. Surely she needs to have proper rule and respect of the children, but
this includes teaching them to do their proper share in keeping the house in
good order. My mother told me that my wife would not want to have to pick up
after me, and that I was going to learn to hang up my clothes and do other
things at an early age; and surprise, surprise, it worked! I want you to know
that I still profit from that early experience that my mother was very
determined to give me. I can wear suits from about nineteen to thirty nine
years, and they still look pretty good!
I heard about one woman whose
husband would leave his dirty under wear where he pulled them off, and he
expected her to pick up and wash them, and put them very neatly in the proper
drawer. She finally started taking her hammer and nailed them to the floor
where he left them, and I think he finally learned that he could at least pick
them up, and put them in the dirty clothesbasket!
Verse sixteen, “If any woman that believeth hath widows
let her relieve them." So even a woman has responsibility. If she is still able to work and provide,
then she is to relieve them that are widows in family. "Let
not the church be burdened that it may relieve them that are widows
indeed. It must have been a big
job for the church in that day to take care of the widows who were “widows indeed”
Verse seventeen, “Let the elders that rule well be
counted worthy of double honor." And what is
that double honor? Financial support "Especially those who labor in the word and
in the teaching." Do you
remember how that Paul quoted Deuteronomy 25
Verse nineteen,
"Against an elder receive not
an accusation, except at the mouths of two or three witnesses." Well, I think that pretty well should be the
case in regard to receiving an accusation against any Christian, but especially
to an elder, why? Because when people
want to go the wrong way, they are going to try to find fault with the preacher
and with the elders. Paul tells him do
not receive an accusation, except at the mouth of two or three witnesses. "Them
that sin reprove in the sight of all." Elders can sin in such a way that they need
to be reproved before the church if they do not repent, “reprove in the sight of all. "I charge thee in the sight of God and
Christ Jesus, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without
prejudice doing nothing, by partiality."
And we are prone to be somewhat prejudice and do things by
partiality. Sometimes some families are judged when other families would not be
judged for the same thing, but this violates the instruction of this passage.
"Lay hands hastily on no man,
neither be partakers of other men's sins
Verse twenty-three, "Be no longer a drinker of water, but use a
little wine for thy stomach's sake and for thine often infirmities." Some use this to support the drinking of
alcoholic beverages, but Timothy was refraining when he needed a little for his
health. Paul recognized that he needed a little for his stomach's sake and for
his often infirmities. And, of course, a
little wine for the stomach's sake would be proper use of wine, and was proper
use back there. I would not say that it
is necessarily improper today, but we have other things that a man can take for
his stomach's sake today that would probably be wiser, but if it is for his
stomach's sake, rather than for his wanting to be sociable, it was all right. Please remember that we are also to consider
our influence on others even in things that are right (I Corinthians 8
"Let
as many as are servants under the yoke (of slavery) count their own masters worthy of all
honor, that the name of God and the doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let
them not despise them, because they are brethren; but let them serve them the
rather, because they are partakers of the benefit are believing and
beloved." Now, we said that
the principles set forth from the relationship between the slaves and the
masters are principles that should make for proper relationship between
employees and employers, and that is true.
Here is a relationship that is violated sometimes by brethren. They get employment from a brother, and
sometimes they will take all kinds of advantages because he is a brother that
they would not take if their employer were an unbeliever, or even an
infidel. They reason that he is supposed
to understand, and they just take one advantage after another. This passage forbids that. If anything, you are to be more faithful in
his service, because he is a brother, and because they that partake of the
benefit are believing and beloved. "If any man teacheth a different
doctrine, and consent not to sound words, even the words of the Lord Jesus
Christ, to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is puffed up,
knowing nothing." The more
he thinks he knows, Paul says he does not know anything, because he does not
hold onto the sound words of the Lord. "But doting." The footnote in my Bible says sick. "Sick
about questionings and
disputes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmising,
wranglings of men corrupted in mind, and bereft of the truth, supposing that
godliness is a way of gain." And
there are those today that think that godliness is supposed to be a way of
gain, but that does not necessarily follow, sometimes it may be the way of loss
for now, but Romans 8
Verse
eight, “And having food and covering, we shall be there with
content." In other words
having those necessities, as long as we have the necessities, we are to be
content. "But they that are minded to be
rich." Those whose primary goal is to be rich for the here and now,
fall into a temptation and a snare,
and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as down men in destruction and
perdition." Perdition would
be eternal destruction from the present of the Lord from the glory of his
power. And why do they fall into the
temptations and snares, because of their strong desire, that covetous spirit to
be rich. "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil." Now, there is a different reading of the King
James and the American Standard Version.
The King James Version reads, “Money
is the root of all evil.” Well,
money is not the root of all evil. There
are those who have sex not for money, but because they want to have sex. There are not many sins that somebody is
ready to do it not for the money, but because they want to participate in
it. But there is not a wrong thing that
somebody will not do for money and that includes sex. "For the love of money is the root of all
kinds of evil, which some reaching after, have been led astray from the faith,
and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; follow
after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.”
Verse twelve, “Fight the good fight of faith." We are engaged in a warfare. "Lay
hold on the life, eternal, whereunto thou was also called, and did confess a
good confession in the sight of many witnesses." Don't you think that is referring to that
good confession, that Timothy made when he obeyed the gospel, that he made a
confession like the Ethiopian eunuch did?
"I charge thee in the
sight of God, who giveth life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who before
Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession." And again the fact that Jesus acknowledged
that he was the one that had come to show the way of truth and righteousness,
and that his kingdom is not of this world (John 18
Verse seventeen "Charge them that are rich in this present
world, that they may not be high-minded." Don’t be puffed up because they are rich, and
evidently there were a number of rich brethren in the church at