AM Bible Study Group; September 24, 2014
1 Timothy 6:20-21
Theme: Paul offers a final admonition to Timothy regarding the integrity of his ministry.
(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).
In a broad sense, this letter has been about the sort of conduct that is in keeping with the nature of God’s household of the redeemed. As it was put to us in 1 Timothy 3:14-15, “These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” But in a much more specific sense, it has been about how Timothy—the appointed pastor of the church in Ephesus—was to see to it that this was done. “As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith” (1:3-4).
We have seen how this word of instruction was broken down for Timothy in each chapter; the first chapter focusing on evangelistic integrity, the second on worshipful order, the third on qualified leadership, the fourth on doctrinal purity, the fifth on honorable care of the church’s various members, and the sixth on godly conduct both within and without the assembly. And now; Paul gives a final admonition to Timothy in this letter—one that, in a sense, takes us back to that initial command at the very beginning. It’s a call for Timothy to devote himself to the integrity of his ministry—both by keeping careful hold of that which is entrusted to him, and by strictly avoiding that which will distract him from it.
Note how this final admonition is expressed . . .
I. WITH RESPECT TO TIMOTHY’S WORTHY ROLE.
A. Paul begins by using Timothy’s name in what is called the vocative case. The vocative is the case of direct address—such as when Jesus said, “Simon, Simon”, or “Martha, Martha”. It’s a way of calling special attention to the person being spoken to. Sometimes—as in the examples above—it’s used in an effort to get the attention of the one being spoken to. But when Paul says, “O Timothy!” (v. 20), it’s not to get Timothy’s attention (because Paul already has Timothy’s attention). Rather, it’s to highlight to Timothy the deep significance of what Paul is saying to him. It’s probably important, in that respect, to think of Timothy’s name—and it may be that that’s why, in this context, Paul uses his name in the vocative case. Timothy’s name is made of two words put together, timaō—which means “to honor”, and theos—which is the name of God. Thus, Timotheos—Timothy’s name in Greek—means “honored of God”.
B. Paul may be highlighting Timothy’s name in this way as if to say to him, “Please listen carefully to me, O honored one of God!” Timothy has a high and worthy role. He is the overseer and protector of God’s redeemed people. It’s is, as Paul said at the beginning of Chapter 3, “a good work”; and Timothy—with a great sense of honor in his role—should view himself as called to keep himself from lesser things. As Paul would remind him later, “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:20-21). How important that we see ourselves as called by God from lesser things to higher purposes! That would mean that we would avoid the worthless things of this world, and give ourselves to worthier things in His kingdom’s work!
II. THAT THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL BE PROTECTED.
A. In impressing upon Timothy the significance of his name, Paul urges this man who is honored of God, “Guard what was committed to your trust . . .” (v. 20). In the original language, Paul says “the committed [thing] guard . . .” In saying this, he is using a banking word that speaks of a deposit that is entrusted for safe-keeping. He used this word in 2 Timothy 1:12, when he wrote, “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” Paul is there speaking of the entrustment of his own soul that he has committed to Jesus. But just a few verses later, Paul writes in 2 Timothy 1:14 of a completely different entrustement, telling Timothy, “that good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.”
B. What was it that had been entrusted to Timothy that he was to guard so carefully? In one sense, it is the message of the gospel itself. Paul speaks of that in 3:16—when he describes “the mystery of godliness”. It is the message of who Jesus is and what He has done for us. But in another sense, it is Timothy’s responsibility to proclaim that gospel message with integrity and devotion. “This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare” (1 Timothy 1:18). Paul told him to “keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing . . .” (1 Timothy 6:14). He was to be sure that He obeyed the command given to him later—“Preach the word!” (2 Timothy 4:2). He was to give his all to this task (1 Timothy 4:12-16), and to protect the message from those who would wish to distort it (6:3-4).
III. WHILE AVOIDING UNWORTHY DIVERSIONS.
A. Timothy not only needed to devote himself to the task; but he also needed to avoid that which would take him from it. Paul wrote that he was to guard what had been committed to him, “avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge . . .” (v. 20).
1. He should avoid “the profane and idle babblings”. The word translated “profane”, bebālos, means “what is open to all”; and it has a figurative reference to that which is not connected to the sacred—that which is totally worldly. And the single word translated “idle babblings”, kenophōnia, is formed by the combination of two words—kenos, for “empty”; and phōnā, for “voice”. The same phrase is used in 2 Timothy 2:16—where Paul urges Timothy to “shun profane and idle bablings, for they will increase to more ungodliness”.
2. And note that he should also avoid “contradictions” (or “oppositions”–using the Greek word from which we get the word “antithesis”) of what is “falsely called knowledge”. (The KJV uses the word “science”; but the word “knowledge” would be a more accurate translation.)
B. Some have professed such “knowledge”—something that they claim is greater and more reliable than the revealed truth of God. But Paul warns that “by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith” (v. 21)—becoming like one who is “proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth . . .” (1 Timothy 6:4-5). Timothy is to “avoid” getting into (or “turn aside from”; in the present tense, which suggests and ongoing practice) the debates that the people of this world waste time trying to impress one another with, and stick to the truth from God! Proclaiming God’s reliable word is all that is needed to reveal “phoney knowledge” for what it is.
IV. TO THE GRACE OF THE WHOLE BODY.
A. The closing greeting, “Grace be with you. Amen” (v. 21), is curiously put in the original language. The word “you” is singular in some texts—as if Paul was speaking to Timothy. But in the older and more reliable texts, it is plural–“Grace be with you all.” It’s as if Paul was assuming that the letter he wrote to Timothy would be heard in a public reading to the whole church.
B. If the “plural” reading is correct, then it may be that Paul was bringing his instructions about Timothy’s conduct to bear with respect to it’s impact on the whole church. If Timothy honors his role, guards the gospel, and keeps himself from lesser things, the grace of God prevails toward the whole church family!