Paul & Timothy in 1 Corintians 4

Paul informs the Corinthian church that he is sending Timothy to remind them of Paul's "way of life."

Timothy's ministry is still a partnership, based upon teamwork and modeling, but he is now being sent out alone.

Paul is gradually giving Timothy more and more independence and authority.

Paul's Benediction

"Grace be with you" (6:21b, NIV).

Powerful, short words to conclude this 8-week study.

Do I say more than necessary at the conclusion of matters?

Yes, definitely. I go on and on.

Like I'm doing right now.

Frail

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Within minutes of picking up Jim Collins' leadership classic, From Good to Great, I was struck by the list of model companies:

1. Abbot: Never heard of them
   
2. Circuit City: Bankrupt and liquidated
   
3. Fannie Mae: Sadly in turmoil
   
4. Gillette: Merged with Proctor and Gamble
   
5. Kimberly-Clark: Do they make groceries?
   
6. Kroger: Like the Wegmans of the South?
   
7. Nucor: Who?
   
8. Philip Morris: Yes, I know who they are
   
9. Pitney Bowes: Have they handled the digital revolution?
   
10. Walgreens: Still successful
    
11. Wells Fargo: Here's one of many negative stories
    

I immediately recognized some of the eleven for very negative coverage. Paul wisely warned of the passing value of financial success and the mistake many people make relying upon money in 1 Timothy 6:10. It's a lot harder finding positive examples that last than negative ones!

Hymenaeus and Alexander

Christians must be evervigilant.

Hymenaeus and Alexander were sincere believers whose faith ws "shipwrecked."

Paul "handed them over to Satan" to teach them a lesson.

It is vital that believers not engage in sinful actions which require this level of intervention.

But many of us do, in fact, require a strong level of correction.

Avoid the Wrong Thing

An important theme in 1 Timothy is to avoid the wrong thing, not only to do the right thing.

Do I spend more time doing the right things or avoiding the wrong things?

Is this a 50/50 proposition, or is one task more important than the other?

What Controversy

I thought Paul's teaching on gender roles would be much more difficult to process, but he says that these are his opinions.

First Timothy is not where we find unnegotiable descriptions of the differences between men and women.

Review of 1 Timothy

Paul emphasized in this letter that church leadership is all about relationships.

There really isn't anything new under the sun!

Avoid Pointless Arguments

Part of keeping our faith strong is avoiding pointless arguments.

This is not the same thing as avoiding thoughtful conversation. But debate is futile in the arena of science vs. religion.

So don't bother.

Warn the Rich!

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Paul tells Timothy to remind rich people to trust in God, not their wealth.

God is a sure thing. Wealth is temporary and fleeting. The current economic crisis is an obvious application of this teaching.

Doing good deeds with our wealth will result in lasting rewards.

I sometimes forget that I'm wealthy. It's easy to compare myself to people with more money. But relatively speaking, my family is incredibly wealthy!

Characteristics of Jesus

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1. God gives life
   
2. Testified before Pontius Pilate
   
3. Will reappear on earth
   
4. Blessed
   
5. Sovereign
   
6. Top King
   
7. Top Lord
   
8. Immortal
   
9. Surrounded in unapproachable light
   
10. Never seen by humans
    
11. Honored
    
12. Eternal ruler
    

Love of Money

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In verses 6-12, Paul teaches the following:

1. Goal: godliness with contentment
   
2. Implied: a person can experience godliness without contentment!
   
3. Existence: we enter and leave the world with nothing of value
   
4. Needs: food and clothing
   
5. Wants: everything else
   
6. Danger: love of everything else
   
7. Consequence: ruin and destruction
   
8. Alternative: pursuit of righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness
   
9. Word picture: fight the good fight of faith
   
10. Result: eternal life
    

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• What does the Bible say about the prosperity gospel? (searching4god.blogspot.com)

Booze and Accountability

Have trouble with your stomach? Drink some wine.

Have some trouble with your character? Remember that both good and bad deeds will become public.

We've seen this in the news over and over and over again the last couple of weeks.

High Standards with Proof

Paul advises Timothy that church leaders should not be disciplined with the accusation of just one witness.

However, he also reminds Timothy to hold members of the church to a high standard.

Living Wage

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According to Paul, serving God should not be equivalent to working for free.

Do workers in other industries have a right to quote verses 17-18 as evidence that they're entitled to higher pay? I'm not sure.

Paul's Advice on Serving Widows

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A) If they're under 60, then they're likely to remarry and receive support from a husband, so focus the church's efforts on older widows.

B) Focus on service, not gossip.

Point B I buy completely.

We Are Family

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In verses 1-2, Paul directs Timothy (and the members of his church) not to distinguish among the various gender and age groups represented, but to treat one another respectfully, as brothers and sisters and parents.

Outline of 1 Timothy 5

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1. Honor older men and women
   
2. Advice about widows
   
3. Honor elders
   
4. Aside: drink wine
   
5. Good and bad deeds follow us
   

Excellence in Vocation

I wonder if Paul's advice to Timothy in this chapter applies equally to secular work?

Is it possible to find complete meaning in a vocation which does not allow freedom of religious expression?

Keep Up the Good Work

In verses 13-16, Paul encourages Timothy to use his gift to continue teaching and sharing Scripture.

He also tells Timothy not to neglect his gift. This implies that it's possible to neglect spiritual gifts.

What gift do I neglect? What gift do you neglect, dear Reader?

Youth

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Christians are measured by their "fruit," the results of their actions, not the number of their years.