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EPICFIGHT1TIMOTHY6:3-19–THELOVEOFMONEYSEDUCESOURSOULS

SouthCentralDistrictPastor’sConference@ImmanuelLutheranChurch,NRH,TX

April11-12,2016PastorNateBourman

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MENTORS1It’salwaysfuntositaroundthetableatacircuitmeetingorataconferencelikethisoneandjustlistentopastorsgivetheirwisdom.ByGod’sSpiritandgraceeachofushasbeenfilledwithwisdomfromGod’sWordandinsightsintotheWordandthetrueandfaithfulteachingofthatWord.Togetherwesharpeneachother,encourageeachother,rebukeeachother,gentlycorrecteachother,eventraineachotherforworksofservicesothatthebodyofChristmightbebuiltup(cf.2Timothy3:14-16;Ephesians4:11-16).Wehavequiteaheritageoffaiththatgoesbackgenerationsandgenerationsamongus.

Andyoucantell.Listeningtoyouandtoothersteachtheirpeopleandinstructeachother,thenamesofprofessorsandpastors,bothsaintedandstillmilitant,trickleout.“AsProf.so-and-sousedtosay.”“Thisiswhatmybishoptaughtme.”“Ilearnedthisfromoneofmyelders.”Eachofus,likely,hasa(ormorethanoneeven!)spiritualfather/mentorwhohasimpartedtoussomedeepandvitalspiritualtruths,truthsthatcomfortusindarkdaysandthathelpusinstructthecongregationswenowserve.

ThatispreciselywhatPaulwasforTimothy2andTitus.Inthesepastoralletters“aconcernedspiritualfatheriswritingtodearlyloved“sonsinthefaith,”tomenwhowereespeciallyclosetohim,whohe

1UnlessotherwisenotedallBiblequoteswillcomefromtheHCSB.2Knight8:“ThreethingsstandoutaboutTimothy:(a)Inregardtohisbackground,Timothyhadastrongreligiousheritageinhisownfamily,biblicaltrainingfromhisyouth,andastrongcommendationalreadyasayoungmanfromthechurch,buthisowncongregationatLystraandtheneighboringcongregationatIconium(2Timothy1:5,6;3:14-17;Acts16:1-3).(b)Inregardtohisservice,TimothywasafaithfulandconsistentcoworkerwithandassistanttoPaul,whoregardedTimothyasoneofhismosttrustworthyanddedicated

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hadchosenascoworkers,whomhehadtrainedtocarryontheLord’smission”(People’sBible,1).TheselettersareacontinuationoftrainingandencouragementforbothTimothyandTitusastheyservedGod’speople.LuthersaysthisaboutthelettertoTimothy:“ThisepistleSt.PaulwritesinordertoprovideamodeltoallbishopsofwhattheyaretoteachandhowtheyaretoruleChristendominthevariousstationsoflife,sothatitmaynotbenecessaryforthemtoruleaccordingtotheirownhumanopinions”(quotedinTheLutheranStudyBibleintroductionto1Timothy).

TodayourtaskistodigdeepintothetruthsthatPastorPaulpassedontoPastorTimothyregardingmoneyandthedangeritposedtothesoulsofGod’speople.WewanttohearwhatPaulhastosaytousforthesakeofourpeople.WewanttohearwhatPaulhastosaytousforthesakeofourownsouls.Salvationisatstake.Thisisnotamattertotakelightly.GodblessourstudyofhisWordtodaythatitmaybenefitoursoulsandthesoulsofourpeople.3

THETHREAT–Task#1OneofthethemesofPaul’sfirstlettertoTimothy,and,perhaps,themaintheme(asgiveninthePeople’sBible)is“FighttheGoodFightofFaith.”Thiscomesfromthesectionwewanttocutaparttoday.Sinceweare“fightingafight,”wewillwanttoknowwhatweareupagainstinthisfight.Hereisyourtaskandyouhavetoacceptit(butyougettochoose).Youhavejustfiveminutes!

1) Therearesixchaptersinthisbook.Wearegoingtostudydeeplychaptersix.2) Pickachapter1-5(NOTSIX)andskimit.3) Identifythethreat(s)inthatchapter.4) Shareitwithonepersonnearyou.5) Asagroupwewillshareuptothreethreatsineachchapter.

associatesandonetowhomhewouldassigndifficulttasks(e.g.atThessalonica,atEphesus,andespeciallyatCorinth…).(c)Inregardtohispersonalityandtemperament,equallystrikingisTimothy’sapparenttimidityandneedforencouragement(cf.possibly1Corinthians16:10,11;andtherepeatednotesin1and2Timothy…)Timothy’stimidity(andthushisneedforencouragement)mayhavestemmedfromarealisticappraisalofadifficultsituation,fromanaturalpropensity,orfromboth.”3WithGod’shelpwearegoingtoundertakethisstudytogether,pausingfordirectedtasksthroughout.Wewilllikelycoverlessgroundthisway,butitismyprayerthatwewillcoverthegroundmorethoroughlyanddrilldowndeeperintoGod’sWordtogether,learningfromthecollectivewisdomGodhasgatheredhereforthisconference.

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Chapter11. 2. 3.

Chapter21. 2. 3.

Chapter3

1. 2. 3.

Chapter4

1. 2. 3.

Chapter54

1. 2. 3.

4I’mcountingonyouNOTtocheat,butI’veincludedmyownnotesonthesethingsinAppendixA.

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INAWORD…ormaybejustafewmorethanone.Thethreatstothechurch,herministry,andheroverseersisthree:

1) Fromtheoutside.Hereweincludethegovernment,peaceandharmonyinthisworldthatallowsforustospreadthegospelfreelyandwithouthindrance.Thismayalsoincludethefalseteachers/teachingsthatourpeopledrinkcomingfromoutsideofourowncongregations.Wemayteachthetruthinthepulpitandclassroom,butthatdoesn’tmeanthattheydon’tdrinkfromotherstreams.

2) Fromtheinside.Falseteachersandfalseteachingswillriseupinsideofeverycongregation.Sometimesmaliciouslyandinsidiously.Atothertimes,quiteinnocently.Inbothcasestheyposeathreat.Inaddition,alackoforderandorderlinessinourcongregationcanalsocauseathreattothemessageofthegospelinmorewaysthanone.Fromourownexperiencesweseethatthisistrue.

3) Fromtheinsidex2.Dangerslurkinsideourcongregations.Dangerslurkinsideourownhearts.Assinner/saintsbothourpeopleandtheirshepherdsstruggleintheirrelationshipswithGodandhisWord.Godlinesswithcontentmentmustbeournorm.Fightingthegoodfightoffaithstartswithmeandyou.FightingthegoodfightoffaithmustalsobethenormforeachpersonwhotakesuptheircrosstofollowJesus.

AndsoPaulbeginsthefinalchapterofthislettertoTimothybysaying…6:2Ταῦταδίδασκεκαὶπαρακάλει.Thesethingsteachandencourage.“WhatPaulwritestoTimothyisintendedtohelphimprofitablyandcorrectlyteachothers.Thisappliestowhathejustwrote,toeverythingintheletter,andalsotowhatfollows”(PB90).IncludingwhatfollowstherearethreetimesinthisletterthatPaulturnstoTimothyregardingthefalseteachers:1:3-11.EachtimePaulmustteachandencouragethetruthforthegoodofsouls.

1. 1:3-11–Henotonlyidentifieswhattheyarelike,butinstructsTimothytoconfrontthem.“Commandcertainmennottoteach…”PaulidentifiesthemforTimothysohecangoandaddresstheteachersandtheteachingwitheyeswideopen.Thisisforthegoodofthefalseteachersthattheywouldstopdrinkingtheirownpoison!

2. 4:1-16–Forthegoodoftheflock,PaulwantsTimothyto“pointthesethingsouttothebrothers.”Thiswarningaboutfalsedoctrineisgoodforthesheep.Thisisforthegoodofthesheepwhomayveryeasilydrinkthepoisonoffalsedoctrine.

3. 6:3-12especially.It’salsogoodfortheshepherd.Forthegoodofhisownsoul,PaulhelpsTimothyidentifythedangersoffalseteachingsandadesireforprofit.Tofallintotheirtrap

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wouldbedrinkpoisonforhisownsoul.Timothyneedstoseethedangersforthesakeofhisownsoul.Thisisgoodforhisownsoul.Thisisgoodforthesoulofhispeople.Thisisgoodevenforthesoulsofthosewhotrytopeddletheirpoison.

SELLOUTS!56:3εἴτιςἑτεροδιδασκαλεῖ(presentind)καὶμὴπροσέρχεται(presentind)ὑγιαίνουσινλόγοιςτοῖςτοῦκυρίουἡμῶνἸησοῦΧριστοῦκαὶτῇκατʼεὐσέβειανδιδασκαλίᾳ,Ifanyoneteachesotherwise6anddoesnotcome7withhealthywordswhichareofourLord,JesusChrist,andwhicharetheteachingaboutgodliness…4τετύφωται(perfpassind),μηδὲνἐπιστάμενος,ἀλλὰνοσῶν(presactpart)περὶζητήσειςκαὶλογομαχίας,ἐξὧνγίνεταιφθόνοςἔριςβλασφημίαι,ὑπόνοιαιπονηραί,[then]he8isconceited9,notknowinganything10,butbeingsick11concerningdisputes12andwordquarrels13,fromwhichcomeenvy,strife,blasphemy,evilsuspicions…14

5InAppendixBIhaveincludedsomenotesforasermonseriesbasedon1Timothy6.Hopeit’suseful.6LN:33.235ἑτεροδιδασκαλέω:teachthatwhichisdifferentfromwhatshouldbetaught—‘toteachadifferentdoctrine,toteachsomethingdifferent.’ἵναπαραγγείλῃςτισὶνμὴἑτεροδιδασκαλεῖν‘thatyoumayorderthemtostopteachingadifferentdoctrine’1Tm1:3.Inrenderingἑτεροδιδασκαλέωin1Tm1:3,itmaybenecessarytobespecificabouttheparticulardoctrinewhichformsthebasisofcontrast,forexample,‘thatyoumayorderthemtostopteachingadoctrinewhichisdifferentfromwhathasalreadybeentaught’or‘…fromwhatIhavealreadytaught’or‘…fromwhattheyoughttoteach.’7LN:31.19προσέρχομαιc:(afigurativeextensionofmeaningofπροσέρχομαιa‘tomovetoward,’15.77)tocometoapositionofholdingthesameopinionassomeoneelse—‘tocometoanopinionwith,toagreewith.’εἴτιςἑτεροδιδασκαλεῖκαὶμὴπροσέρχεταιὑγιαίνουσινλόγοις,τοῖςτοῦκυρίουἡμῶνἸησοῦΧριστοῦ‘whoeverteachesadifferentdoctrineanddoesnotagreewiththetruewordsofourLordJesusChrist’1Tm6:3.8Knight251:“ThemainverbgivesPaul’smaincharacterizationofthefalseteacher,thatsuchapersonτετύφωται….”9LN:88.218τυφόομαι:(afigurativeextensionofmeaningofτυφόομαι‘tobecrazy,tobedemented,’notoccurringintheNT)tobesoarrogantastobepracticallydemented—‘tobeinsanelyarrogant,tobeextremelyproud,tobeveryarrogant.’ἵναμὴτυφωθεὶςεἰςκρίμαἐμπέσῃ‘otherwisehewillbecomeextremelyproudandbecondemned’1Tm3:6.1032.3ἐπίσταμαιb:tohaveorgaininsight,withfocusupontheprocess—‘tounderstand,tobeawareof,toreallyknow.’τετύφωται,μηδὲνἐπιστάμενος‘heisconceitedandunderstandsnothing’1Tm6:4.1125.10νοσέω:tohaveanunhealthyormorbiddesireforsomething—‘todesireinanunhealthymanner,tohaveamorbiddesire.’ἀλλὰνοσῶνπερὶζητήσειςκαὶλογομαχίας‘buthehasanunhealthydesireforcontroversiesandarguments’1Tm6:4.Insomelanguagestheclosestequivalentof‘anunhealthydesire’wouldbe‘todesiresomethingthatoneshouldnotdesire.’1233.440συζητέωa;συζήτησις,εωςf;ζήτημα,τοςn;ζήτησιςb,εωςf:toexpressforcefuldifferencesofopinionwithoutnecessarilyhavingapresumedgoalofseekingasolution—‘todispute,dispute.’1333.454λογομαχέω;λογομαχία,αςf:toargueorquarrelaboutthemeaningoruseofwords—‘toquarrelaboutwords,arguingaboutwords.’14Fiveresultsofbeingpuffedup(Knight251-252).

1) Envyorjealousy,i.e.“holdingagrudgeagainstanotheroutofdesireforsomethingtheotherpossesses.”2) “Strife,discord,contention”(BAGD).3) Blasphemy–“abusivespeech”.4) “Evilsuspicions”5) “Mutualorconstantirritationsorfrictions.”

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5διαπαρατριβαὶ15διεφθαρμένων16(perfpasspart)ἀνθρώπωντὸννοῦνκαὶἀπεστερημένων17(perfpasspart)τῆςἀληθείας,νομιζόντων18(presactpart)πορισμὸνεἶναιτὴνεὐσέβειαν.[fromthesecome]aconstantarguingofmenwhohavedepravedmindsandwhoaredeprivedofthetruth,whoarethinkingthewaytogain19isgodliness.Themainverbssayitall,don’tthey?Everythingelseisjustadescriptor,powerfulandconfronting,butstilljustdescriptor.Ifanyoneteachesotherwiseordoesn’tbringthesoundteachingofJesusandtheteachingregardinggodliness,thenheisconceited.Boom.Knightdescribesthispersonassimplyconceited(seefootnotesabove).LNgoesonestepfurtherandpracticallydefinesthisperson(τυφόομαι)whodoesn’tbringthehealthydoctrineascrazyordemented.Inotherwords,theyaren’tquiterightinthehead.Butthenagain,noneofusreallyare.SinruinsourmindandmakesussickinwayswewouldneverknowhadGodnotrevealedittous.Paulfurtherhighlightstheirsicknessbysayingthattheyhavesickdesires(νοσέω)andbytalkingabouttheirdepraved(διεφθαρμένων)mindswhicharedeprived(ἀπεστερημένων)ofthetruth.Itshouldn’treallysurpriseusthatsickpeoplebringoutsickdoctrines.Itshouldn’tsurprisethattheyaren’treallyinterestedinthetruth,butareonlyinterestedingettingaheadandgettingwhat’sgoodforthegoose.ByGod’sgrace,however,weareinterestedinhealthydoctrinebecauseGodhasmadeushealthy.Andyet,atthesametime,wedohavethisthingcalledasinfulnaturethatstilltendsandleanstowardthesickandtheunhealthy.Whatisitthatmakeshealthyandorthodoxteaching?That’sforustodiscovertogether.

1533.452διαπαρατριβή,ῆςf:toengageincontinuousandrepeatedarguing—‘constantarguing,continuousarguing.’διαπαρατριβαὶδιεφθαρμένωνἀνθρώπωντὸννοῦν‘constantarguingofthosewhosemindsdonotfunction’1Tm6:5.15Theperfecttensesignifiesthatthishasalreadyhappened,andyettheresultsstilllinger.Thisremainstrueforἀπεστερημένων.1688.266φθείρωc;διαφθείρωb;καταφθείρω:tocausesomeonetobecomeperverseordepraved,asatypeofmoraldestruction—‘todeprave,topervert,toruin,tocausethemoralruinof.1757.47ἀποστερέωb:tocausesomeonenottopossesssomething—‘todepriveof.’ἀπεστερημένωντῆςἀληθείας‘beingdeprivedofthetruth’1Tm6:5.Thoughtheresultingstateofἀποστερέωbmaybethemereabsenceofsomething,neverthelesstheimplicationisthatsomeactivityhastakenplacetocauseapersonnolongertopossesssomething.Thismeaningmaythenbeexpressedinsomelanguagesas‘tohavesomethingtakenawayfromsomeone.’1718Νομιζόντων–Thewholewayofthinking.31.29οἶμαι;νομίζω;δοκέωa;ὑπολαμβάνωd:toregardsomethingaspresumablytrue,butwithoutparticularcertainty—‘tosuppose,topresume,toassume,toimagine,tobelieve,tothink.’181957.194πορισμός,οῦm:ameansofgainingaprofitorwealth—‘profit,gain,wealth.’νομιζόντωνπορισμὸνεἶναιτὴνεὐσέβειαν‘theythinkthatreligionisawaytogainwealth’1Tm6:5.πορισμόςoccursin1Tm6:6withanextendedmeaningofadvantageorbenefit,butthecontextshowsclearlythatthisisaratherunusualandperhapssomewhatforcedextensionofmeaning.19

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Task#2-SICKPEOPLEBRINGSICKTEACHINGS.GODGIVESHEALTHYDOCTRINETOSICKPEOPLE.

Youhavetwooptions.Really.It’slikeachooseyourownadventurenovel.Youhave5minutestodoPart1ofthistask.Yes,thisisatwostagetask.

OPTION#1:Dotheresearch.Readthefollowingquotesandsnippetsre:“sounddoctrine.”Examinethetextalittlebitmoreclosely.Inyourownwords,summarizewhatsounddoctrineis.ὑγιαίνουσιν–Knight250:“Therefore,here,where“soundwords”aresaidtocomefromJesus,they‘emanatefromtheLord,eitherdirectly,orthroughhisapostlesandteachers.”ὑγιαίνουσιν-PB90-91:“WhatourSaviortaught,whateverisrecordedforusinHolyScripture,isthesolebasisforjudginganyone’steaching.AnythingthatcontradictsordoesnotagreewithwhatJesustaughtisfalse…Falseteachingalwaysinsomemannerpromotessalvationbyworks,thatmancanandmustdosomethingtogainGod’sfavor.Itaddsaconditionwemustfulfill–“Ifyoukeepthecommandments”-…Suchfalseconditionsarenot“sound,”healthyteachingthatcanhealthetroubledheart.Itisnot“godlyteaching”thatleadstotruegodlinessinliving.”Lenski699:"HerewehavetheGermanreineLehre,atermthatisscoffedatbythosewhowantsomethinguncleaninthewayofdoctrine;werecalltheuseoftheexpression“uncleanspirits”intheGospels.Paulfirstusestheplural“unhealthywords”andspreadthemoutintheirvarietyandnumber;thenthecompactsingularofthemass:“thedoctrinenotinaccordwithgodliness,”andalsochangesfromanadjectivetoaphrase–botharetypicallyPauline.καταindicatesthenormal,itshouldbegodliness;itisnotthisbutsometotallydifferentnormthattheunhealthyteachingsfollows.Whowantsteachingthatdoesnotaccordwithgodliness;thereisnointermediatestep.”

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εἴτιςἑτεροδιδασκαλεῖκαὶμὴπροσέρχεταιὑγιαίνουσινλόγοιςτοῖςτοῦκυρίουἡμῶνἸησοῦΧριστοῦκαὶτῇκατʼεὐσέβειανδιδασκαλίᾳ-Whatwordsfromthetexthelpusnarrowdown“healthyteaching”?OPTION#2:Becreative.WhatBibleverseshelpclarifyforyouwhat“sounddoctrine”isorshouldlooklike?Giveatleast3.Writethereferenceshereandexplain“whythatverse?”

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PART2:Findatleastoneotherpersonwhodidtheoppositetask(e.g.ifyoudid1,thenfinda“2”).Youcanbeingroupsof2-5.Asagroup,comeupwithonestatementthatexplainswhat“sounddoctrineis.Thinkbeyond“theyproperlydividelawandgospel.”Youhave3minutes.Bepreparedtoshareyourstatementwiththegroup.

GOOUTINSTYLE(1Timothy6:6-10)20Oneofthethingsthatcharacterizes“sellouts”istheiropinionthat“godlinessleadstogain.”TheyviewGodalmostasifhewereaslotmachine.“IfIputingodlyliving,thenIwillgetbackfromGod.”Itisn’tjusttheteachersthough,it’sthepeopleinthepews.CynicallywealmostavoidChristiantypebusinesseswhoplasterthefishsymbolontheircars,whoput“Christian”intheirnameinthehopesthatpeoplewillmakeuseoftheirservicesand/orproducts.Theprosperitygospelofsomanypeopleevenpreachesamessagelikethis:“IfyoufollowJesusandkeephiscommands,yourlifewillbefullofallkindsofgoodthings.”MybrothereventsentmeaSnapchatofthisbooktitle:“FinancialBreakthroughSpiritualWarfareBible.”IwanttoknowwhoatMLCgavehimthisbook!Getmeacopy.Paulidentifiesforuswhatisbetterthangainonearth.Tohelpushesetsside-by-sidethebenefitsofgodlinesswithcontentmentalongsideofthedetrimentsofwantingtogetrich.Rightaftersaying,“thesepeoplethinkthatgodlinessisameanstogain,”Pauladdshis‘but.’

20LookatAppendixCfortwopossibilities.

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6Ἔστινδὲπορισμὸςμέγαςἡεὐσέβειαμετὰαὐταρκείας·7οὐδὲνγὰρεἰσηνέγκαμεν21εἰςτὸνκόσμον,ὅτι22οὐδὲἐξενεγκεῖντιδυνάμεθα·8ἔχοντεςδὲδιατροφὰςκαὶσκεπάσματα,τούτοιςἀρκεσθησόμεθα(futpassind).Butitisgreatgain,thatis,godlinesswithcontentment;Forwedidnotcarryanythingintotheworld;anditisclearthatwearenotabletocarryanythingout.23Andhavingnourishmentandcoverings,withthesethingswewillbecontent.9οἱδὲβουλόμενοι24πλουτεῖνἐμπίπτουσιν25εἰςπειρασμὸν26καὶπαγίδα27καὶἐπιθυμίας28πολλὰςἀνοήτους29καὶβλαβεράς30,αἵτινεςβυθίζουσιν31τοὺςἀνθρώπουςεἰςὄλεθρον32καὶἀπώλειαν.Thosewhoarewantingtobericharefallingintoapitandatrapandmanyfoolishandharmfullusts,whichsinkmenintoruinanddestruction.

2115.194εἰσφέρω;εἰσάγωb:tocarryorbringsomethingintoanareaorstructure—‘tobringin,tocarryin.’22ὅτι–Knight254:“Renderingit“because”wouldseemtoimplythatwhathappensatdeathgivesthereasonthatourexistenceatbirthisatisis,andthatisnotwhatPaulissaying.Othersuggestthatὅτιintroducesaquotation,butthis,too,seemsunlikely.Perhapsthestrugglereflectedinthetextualvariantsandversionspointstothecorrectsolutionafterall.Thevariantsarenotcorrect,buttheyhaveunderstoodcorrectlywhatPaulintended.“Themostnaturalsolutionoftheproblemis,thatthereisanellipsis…i.e.“itisclearthat”).”23Knight253:"Birthanddeathprovidethevantagepointsfromwhichtoappraisethematerialthingsoflife(v7)andtodeterminewhatisreallynecessary(v8a).Paulconcludesbycallingforcontentmentwiththesenecessarythings.(v8b).2425.3βούλομαιa:todesiretohaveorexperiencesomething,withtheimplicationofsomereasonedplanningorwilltoaccomplishthegoal—‘todesire,towant,towill.’ἐβουλόμηνκαὶαὐτὸςτοῦἀνθρώπουἀκοῦσαι‘Iwouldliketohearthismanmyself’Ac25:22;γινώσκεινδὲὑμᾶςβούλομαι‘Iwantyoutoknow’Php1:12.2515.121ἐμπίπτωa:tofallintoaparticularpointorlocation—‘tofallin(to).’καὶἐὰνἐμπέσῃτοῦτοτοῖςσάββασινεἰςβόθυνον‘andifitfallsontheSabbathintoapit’Mt12:11.2688.308πειράζωc;ἐκπειράζωc;πειρασμόςb,οῦm:toendeavororattempttocausesomeonetosin—‘totempt,totrap,toleadintotemptation,temptation.’2721.4παγίςb,ίδοςf:(afigurativeextensionofmeaningofπαγίςa‘trap,’6.23)thatwhichbringsorisameansofsuddendanger—‘danger,trap.’2825.20ἐπιθυμέωb;ἐπιθυμίαb,αςf:tostronglydesiretohavewhatbelongstosomeoneelseand/ortoengageinanactivitywhichismorallywrong—‘tocovet,tolust,evildesires,lust,desire.2932.50ἀνόητος,ον:pertainingtounwillingnesstouseone’smentalfacultiesinordertounderstand—‘foolish,stupid,withoutunderstanding.’3020.13βλαβερός,ά,όν:pertainingtothatwhichcausesharm—‘harmful.’ἐπιθυμίαςπολλὰςἀνοήτουςκαὶβλαβεράς‘manysenselessandharmfuldesires’1Tm6:9.Thereisnoindicationin1Tm6:9astothespecificnatureoftheharm,buttheextentofitismadeclearinthefollowingclausewhichspeaksof‘completedestruction.’Thiscouldbephysical,moral,and/orspiritual.3190.95βυθίζωb:(afigurativeextensionofmeaningofβυθίζωa‘tocausetosink,’15.115)tocausesomeonetoexperienceseriousconsequences—‘tocause,tobringupon,topulldownto.’αἵτινεςβυθίζουσιντοὺςἀνθρώπουςεἰςὄλεθρονκαὶἀπώλειαν‘whichcausepeopleruinanddestruction’1Tm6:9.3220.33ὄλεθροςa,ουm:astateofutterruinordestruction—‘ruin,destruction.’5αἵτινεςβυθίζουσιντοὺςἀνθρώπουςεἰςὄλεθρον‘whichcausepeopletosinkintoruin’or‘whichruinpeople’1Tm6:9.

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10ῥίζα33γὰρπάντωντῶνκακῶνἐστινἡφιλαργυρία,ἧςτινεςὀρεγόμενοι34ἀπεπλανήθησαν35ἀπὸτῆςπίστεωςκαὶἑαυτοὺςπεριέπειραν36ὀδύναις37πολλαῖς.Forarootofallevilistheloveofmoney38,forwhichmanystrivinggoastrayfromthefaithandpiercethemselveswithmanygriefs.I’mnotsurehowlongagoitwasnow,butafewconferencesagooneofthebrothersgaveme(andI’mprettysureitwasus)awordpicturethathashelpedmenumeroustimes,awordpicturethatPsalm131:1-2givesus:

Lord,myheartisnotproud;myeyesarenothaughty.

Idonotgetinvolvedwiththingstoogreatortoodifficultforme.

Instead,Ihavecalmedandquietedmyselflikealittleweanedchildwithitsmother;

Iamlikealittlechild.Ijustlovethispicture.Ithinkofthosedayswhenmykidswereyoungandtheywerejustcontenttobeheld.Theyweren’trootingthiswayorthat,tryingtofindsomefood.Theyweren’twrigglingtryingtogetcomfortable.Theyweresafe.Theywerecontended.Theyhadwhattheyneededandlifewasgood.Theseheterodoxandunhealthyteachingteachersseemtobeverydiscontented,discontentedwiththesimple,straightforwardandfullteachingoftheBible,perhapsdiscontentedwiththeseeming

3389.17ῥίζαc,ηςf:(afigurativeextensionofmeaningofῥίζαa‘root,’3.47)thatwhichconstitutesabasicsourceorreasonforaneventorstate—‘source,cause,reason.’ῥίζα.3425.15ὀρέγομαι:toeagerlydesiretoaccomplishsomegoalorpurpose—‘tostrivetoattain,toaspireto,toeagerlylongfor.’εἴτιςἐπισκοπῆςὀρέγεται‘ifanyoneaspirestobeanoverseer’1Tm3:1;νῦνδὲκρείττονοςὀρέγονται‘instead,theyareeagerlylongingforabetter(country)’He11:16.3531.67πλανάομαιb;ἀποπλανάομαι:tonolongerbelievewhatistrue,buttostartbelievingwhatisfalse—‘tostrayfromthetruth,towanderfromthetruth,togoastrayfrom.’3690.73περιπείρω:toexperiencesomethingwhichisadverseandsevere—‘toundergo,toexperience.’ἑαυτοὺςπεριέπειρανὀδύναιςπολλαῖς‘theyhavecausedthemselvestoexperienceseveregrief’1Tm6:10.3725.235ὀδύνη,ηςf:(afigurativeextensionofmeaningofὀδύνη‘physicalpain,’notoccurringintheNT)astateofsevereemotionalanxietyanddistress—‘greatdistress,intenseanxiety.’καὶἀδιάλειπτοςὀδύνητῇκαρδίᾳμου‘greatdistressinmyheartisendless’Ro9:2.38Knight257:“Loveofmoneyiswhatcharacterizesonewhoplaceshisorherheartonpossessingmoney,soviolatingthefirstcommandmentoftheDecalogue,thecommandmenttoloveGod(cf.Mt.6:24par.Lk16;13).Becausethisisanexpressionofsinfulself-loveinoppositiontoloveofGod(cf.“loversofself”and“loversofmoney”in2Tim.3:2-4,alistconcludingwiththecontrast“loversofpleasurethanloversofGod”;cf.alsoJas.4:4;1Jn2:15,italsoviolatestheinherentlyrelatedsecondgreatcommandment(Mt22:39)toloveone’sneighbor.”

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resultsofpreaching/teachingthatmessage,discontentedtojustletGodspeak(we’regoingtoargueanddisputeaboutwords),evendiscontentedwiththethingsthatGodbringsintomylife.Itisn’ttoomuchofastretchforustofindourselvesintheirplacesfromtimetotime.Discontentedwiththegospelwehaveto(orisitgetto?)preach.Discontentedwiththepaythatwe’reowed(orisitagift?).Discontentedwiththeresultsofallourwork.Howoftenwefindourselvesrootingforsomethingmoreandbetter.Howoftenwefindourselveschasingafterthewind,todrawanotherwordpicture.“But,stop!”Paulsays.Godlinesswithcontentmentisgreatgain.Theplacewherewewanttobeisinthearmsofourmother.Contentedwithourstationinlife.Contentedwiththeresultsofourministry.Contentedwiththeresultsofthecleargospelmessage,notaddingandnotsubtracting.Notbendingeitherlaworgospel.Givinggoodhealthy,soundteachingforthesoulsofourpeople,thewholecounselofGod.That’sagoodplacetobe.Safeandsecure.Knowingthatwebroughtnothingintothisworld.Knowingthatwe’lltakenothingoutofthisworldwithus.Butthereissomethingelse,atleastwemightthinkthereis.Andcertainlythereareotherswhodo.“Somepeoplewhoarewantingtogetrich…”Thewantinganddesiringforrichesleadsnowheregood.“Theloveofmoneyisarootofallkindsofevil.”39Fromtheloveofmoneyallkindsofevilthingscome.Knightdoesareallynicejobofdescribingwherethislongingandchasingleads:Thosewhowanttogetrichfallintothreetraps:

1) Knight255:“Thefirstisπειρασμὸν,whichmeanshere“temptation”or“enticementtosin”andisusedhereinthepassivesenseofthatwhich“canbeanoccasiontosintoaperson”(BAGD).”

2) Knight255-256:“Thesecondisπαγίδαandisusedherefiguratively…“snareofthedevil”isintendedhere.”

3) Knight256:“Thethirdnoun…isἐπιθυμίας,“desire,”“longing,”or“craving,”whichisbothinneutral(orpositive)andnegativesensesintheNT.Thenegativesensefarpredominates(over30xof38),andthatsenseismadeplainherebythequalifiers…”

“Theremaybeaprogressioninv.9fromtemptationtoentrapmenttodesires(James1:14-15).”Fromthis“wanting”andthisloveofmoneyallkindsofevilgrows(Knight256).

39“ῥίζαdenotesthatfromwhichsomethinggrows(cf.BAGDs.v.1b)andthusthetermitselfdesignatesloveofmoneyasaradicalsourceofevil.Thisnoteisfurtheremphasizedbyῥίζαbeingplacedfirstinthesentence”(Knight257).

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Ontheonehand,godlinesswithcontentmentisgreatgain,butontheotherhand,wantingtoberichandlovingmoneyleadstoallkindsoftrouble.Lenskisummarizeswelltheirend:40

WemightthinkthatPaulspeaksonlyofwhatresultedforthesemeninthislife;butthisistheendofhisparagraph,andwhilehesometimesattheendweavesinaloosethreadthatwaslefthanginginthepreviousdiscussion,thisisnotthecasehere,these“manypains”includethosesufferedin“perdition.”Thinkofit,theypiercedthemselves!...Onewandersawayfromacoursethathasbeenlaiddownobjectivelyforhimtofollow.Offtherightcoursemeanstobeadrift.Aderailedtrainiswrecked.Sometimesdriftinggoesonandon,buttherecanbenoquestionastohowitwillend(Lenski710-711).

Ithinkitisselbstverstaendlichthatwewanttoavoidthat.So,let’sfightbackandseekgodlinesswithcontentment.

40Knighthassomegoodthingstosaytoo:Knight259:“Paulbeganthislargersubsectioninv3describingthefalseteachersandindicatingnotonlytheiroppositiontoJesus’wordsandthe“teachingaccordingtogodliness”butalsotheirnegativecharacteristics,concludingwiththeobservationthatthey“supposegodlinessisameansofgain”(v5).Thispromptedhimtosetforththerealgainofgodliness,thecontentmentwithlife’sbasicnecessitiesthataccompaniesgodliness(vv.6-8).Instartcontrasttothisare“thosewhowanttogetrich”(v9)andwhohavea“loveofmoney”(v10).Pauldescribestheperilsofsuchaloveandindicatesthatitsendis“destructionandperdition”(v9).Thosewhoarecharacterizedbyithavestrayedfromthefaithandhave“piercedthemselveswithmanypains”(v10).WiththisconclusionPaulhasprobablyreturnedtoaconsiderationofthefalseteachers,thusendingonthetopicwithwhichhebeganthissubsection.”

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Task#3:GodlinesswithContentmentPairupwithsomeonenew.Onereadstheselectionsregarding“godliness.”Onereadstheselectionsregarding“contentment.”Eachonesummarizestheirselectionsfortheother.Then,answerthequestionstogether.Asagroupwewillanswerthefinalquestion,butifyou’reboredgoaheadandstartthinkingaboutthegroupquestion.Youhave8minutes.

GODLINESS53.1θρησκεία,αςf;εὐσέβειαa,αςf;θεοσέβεια,αςf:appropriatebeliefsanddevoutpracticeofobligationsrelatingtosupernaturalpersonsandpowers—‘religion,piety.’ThisisafocusonlivingalifeinlinewithGod’sWord;itisalsoalifethatbelievesinaccordancewiththeclear,good,andsavingwordsofGod.WelaborandstriveforthisbecausewebelieveinourlivingGod.TDNT@godliness:InthePastoralsεὐσέβειαdenotesaparticularmanneroflife.εὐσεβήςoccursonlyastheadverbεὐσεβῶςin2Tm.3:12:πάντεςδὲοἱθέλοντεςζῆνεὐσεβῶςἐνΧριστῷἸησοῦδιωχφήσονται,Tt.2:12:gracedisciplinesus…ἵνα…σωφρόνωςκαὶδικαίωςκαὶεὐσεβῶςζήσωμεν.HeretheadverbsreferintrueGreekfashion(→176,29ff.)totherelationofmantoself,othermen,andGod.1Tm.2:2alsohasconductinview:ἵνα…βίονδιάγωμενἐνπάσῃεὐσεβείᾳκαὶσεμνότητι.Relatedistheadmonitiontoexerciseoneselfinεὐσέβεια(1Tm.4:7),whichiscontrastedwithphysicalexercise,i.e.,anegativeasceticism.Whenv.8saysthatεὐσέβειαholdsapromiseforthislifeandforthelifetocome,thereferenceistothepositiveeffectofthismodeoflife.SimilarlyTimothyisadmonishedtopursueεὐσέβειαin1Tm.6:11.Thiscomesafterδικαιοσύνηandbeforeπίστις,ἀγάπη,ὑπομονήandπραϋπάθεια.Inasimilarlistin2Tm.2:22εὐσέβειαisnotmentioned.ThisshowsthatitisnotacentralandindispensableconceptinthePastorals.Thewayoflifecontrolledbyεὐσέβειαseparatesthedoctrineoffalseteachersfrom“sound”doctrine,→II,162,9ff.Therecanthusbereferencetothedoctrinecorrespondingtopiety(1Tm.6:3)ortoaknowledgeofthetruthinaccordancewithεὐσέβεια(Tt.1:1).Thismanneroflifecanbecalled“sound”incontrastwiththe“sick”teachingofopponents(1Tm.6:3).Thesehavesomethingwhichlookslikeεὐσέβεια,aμόρφωσιςεὐσεβείας,buttheydenyitspower,i.e.,itsinfluenceinshapinglife(2Tm.3:5).Theyregardwhattheycallεὐσέβειαasasourceofgain(1Tm.6:5f.).Inthisconnectionwefindagainthethoughtof1Tm.

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4:8thatpietyisagainwhencombinedwithcontent.Thismanneroflifedescribedasεὐσέβειαisamysterywhichthehymnin1Tm.3:16intimates:itisrootedintheChristevent.εὐσέβειαmeans“piety,”i.e.,conductinrelationtoGod.ThepietyofthePastoralsisdifferentfromthatofJudaismandtheGreekworld.JewishpietyiscontrolledbytheLaw→179,38ff.InthePastorals,however,theLawplaysapartonlyamongopponents,1Tm.1:7ff.;Tt.1:13f.ThereisnotraceofalegalisticbondageofεὐσέβειαinthePastorals.41CONTENTMENT25.83αὐτάρκειαa,αςf:thestateofbeingcontentwithone’scircumstancesorlotinlife—‘self-content,contentment,contentmentwithwhatonehas.’ἔστινδὲπορισμὸςμέγαςἡεὐσέβειαμετὰαὐταρκείας‘andreligionisasourceofgreatwealthifitisaccompaniedbycontentmentwithwhatonehas’1Tm6:6.42

41Kittel,G.,Bromiley,G.W.,&Friedrich,G.(Eds.).(1964–).TheologicaldictionaryoftheNewTestament(electroniced.,Vol.7,pp.182–183).GrandRapids,MI:Eerdmans.42Louw,J.P.,&Nida,E.A.(1996).Greek-EnglishlexiconoftheNewTestament:basedonsemanticdomains(electroniced.ofthe2ndedition.,Vol.1,p.298).NewYork:UnitedBibleSocieties.

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Knight253:“FeesaysoftheanalogouscontextofPhil.4:11,wheretheadjectiveαὐταρκηςisused:‘There[Paul]‘turnedthetables’ontheStoicsbydeclaringthatgenuineautarkeiaisnotself-sufficiencybutChrist-sufficiency.’ChristdevelopsintheChristianthecontentment“whichfreelysubmitstoanddelightsinGod’swiseandfatherlydisposalineverycondition”(Burroughs,RareJewel,19).αὐτάρκειαisjoinedtoεὐσέβειαbytheprepositionμετὰ,whichisusedhere“toshowacloseconnectionbetweentwonouns,uponthefirstofwhichthemainemphasislies(BAGD).Henceεὐσέβεια,trueChristianity,providesthecontentmentthateachindividualmustappropriate,asPaulsaysinPhil.4:11,“Ihavelearnedtobecontent.”Kittel:2.Asdistinctfromtherichphilosophicalusage,theNTtermseemsfirsttohaveonlythesenseofacapacityforexternalcontentmentandprivation.Yetthisalmostbanalvirtueofαὐτάρκειαissetinanewlightbybecomingaconstituentpartofεὐσέβεια(1Tm.6:6).WhatthismeansismadeplaininPhil.4:11–13.Πάνταἰσχύω(v.13)seemstobefullyidenticalwiththephilosophicalαὐτάρκηςἐνπαντί,M.Ant.,I,16,11.Yettherootisἐντῷἐνδυναμοῦντίμε.FromaconceptofGodandredemptionwhichwhollyaffirmscreationtherearisesaperspectiveonwhichevenwhatisphilosophicallysuperfluousisthegiftandpurposeofChrist.Notmerelytheπεινᾶνbutalsotheχορτάζεσθαι,notmerelytheταπεινοῦσθαιbutalsotheπερισσεύειν(v.12),istheobjectofthisnewreligiousαὐτάρκεια.Howitworksoutisdescribedin2C.9:8.Enoughmeansnotonlyasufficiencyforoneselfbutwhatcanalsobegiventoone’sbrothers.TheChristianαὐτόςcannotbeconsideredinisolation.Hisαὐτ-άρκειαarisesonlywhentheἄλλοςhasashareinit.43

43Kittel,G.,Bromiley,G.W.,&Friedrich,G.(Eds.).(1964–).TheologicaldictionaryoftheNewTestament(electroniced.,Vol.1,p.467).GrandRapids,MI:Eerdmans.

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QUESTIONS

1) HowdoesPauldefine“godliness”asopposedtothewaythattheGreeksandmostpeopletodaywoulddefinewhatitmeanstobegodly?

2) Whatdoesitmeantobegodly“withcontentment?”

3) GiveoneBiblecharacterwhohadthisfiguredout.Whatdidhe/shehavefiguredout?GiveanotherBiblecharacterwhostruggledtograspthis.Whatdidhe/shestrugglemostwith?

GROUP:Giveonewordthatdescribesthedifferencebetween“godlinesswithcontentment”and“loveofmoney?”

Onething’sneedful;Lord,thistreasureTeachmehighlytoregard;

Allelse,thoughitfirstgivepleasure,Isayokethatpressedhard.

Beneathittheheartisstillfrettingandstriving,Notrue,lastinghappinesseverderiving.

Thegainofthisonethingalllosscanrequite,Canteachmeinallthingstofindtruedelight.(CW290:1)

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CHASING(1Timothy6:11-12)Onewordthatcomestomindindescribingthedifferencebetweenthe“godlinesswithcontentment”folksandthe“loversofmoney”peopleis‘chasing.’Theformerhavefoundwhattheyarelookingforandarenolongerchasing.TheyhavefoundtheirrighteousnessinChristalone.Theyhavefoundtheircompletesalvationinhiscross.TheirlifeisnotachasingforGod’spleasureorfavor.TheirlifeisnotachasingafterafterfoodordrinkorclothesbecausetheyknowthatifGodcaresforthebirdsandtheflowers,hewillcareforthem.The‘loversofmoney,’however,don’tknowallthis.They’rechasingalifeandalifestylethatwillfillthevoidintheirhearts.They’repursuingpleasuresnow.They’rechasingalifethatisallaboutthem.Andthey’llnevercatchit;theywillneverfindwhatthey’relookingfor.Instead,they’llpiercethemselveswithmanygriefs.PaulwantedTimothytoavoidthispit.Hewantsustoavoiditaswellandsohesays:11Σὺδέ,ὦἄνθρωπεθεοῦ,ταῦταφεῦγε·δίωκεδὲδικαιοσύνηνεὐσέβειανπίστιν,ἀγάπηνὑπομονὴνπραϋπαθίαν.12ἀγωνίζου44τὸνκαλὸνἀγῶνατῆςπίστεως,ἐπιλαβοῦ45τῆςαἰωνίουζωῆς,εἰςἣνἐκλήθης(aopassind)καὶὡμολόγησας(aoactind)τὴνκαλὴνὁμολογίανἐνώπιονπολλῶνμαρτύρων.Butyou,omanofGod,fleefromthesethings;Andpursuerighteousness,godliness,faith,love,enduranceandgentleness.Fightthegoodfightoffaith;takeholdoftheeternallife,towhichyouwerecalledandyoumadethegoodconfessionbeforemanywitnesses.Asintenselyastheloversofmoneypursuetheirfirstlove,soPaultellsustopursueourfirstlove.Hedoesthiswithaseriesof4imperativestodrivehispointhome:FLEE,PURSUE,FIGHT,TAKEHOLDOF!Gooddatingadviceforhusbandsandwives,wouldn’tyousay?Rememberthosedayswhenyouwerechasingyourwife?Rememberthosedayswhenyouwantedhertobeyours?Younevergrewtiredof

4468.74ἀγωνίζομαιc:tostrivetodosomethingwithgreatintensityandeffort—‘tomakeeveryeffortto,todoeverythingpossibleto,tostrainoneselfto.’ἀγωνίζεσθεεἰσελθεῖνδιὰτῆςστενῆςθύρας‘makeeveryefforttoenterthroughthenarrowdoor’Lk13:24.45ἐπιλαμβάνω,†ἀνεπίλημπτος.ἐπιλαμβάνωmeanslit.a.“tograsp”(thebasicmeaningofthesimpleformemergesclearlyinthecompound→5),act.“toseize,”also“tostandby,”“toblame”;mid.strictly“tograspforoneself,”“tolayfirmholdof,”“tobringintoone’ssphere”etc.;

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makingsuresheknewthatyoulovedherandcaredabouther.It’sgoodforustokeepthatsameintensityinourmarriagesstilltoday.FLEEfromanythingthatwouldpullusawayfromher.PURSUEthatrelationship;keepondating!FIGHTforherheartinthearenaoflife.AndkeeponHOLDINGherclose.Here’sthebeautyofourrelationshipwithGod.ThoughwewouldhaveneverpursuedGodnaturally,Godlovedusandpursuedus.Hechasedafterafterusashisbeloved.Thoughweweresick,dirty,bloody,unlovable;helovedusandcleanedus(Ezekiel16givesusabeautifulpictureofjustthis.).Andthoughwestillcheatonhimwithothergods(mammonincluded),hestillhasalreadypaidtheransompricetogetusback(Hosea3anyone?).Godpursuedus.Ransomedus.Calledus.Claimedus.Washedus.Remadeus.Marriedus.Hepursuedusandmadeushisown.Wearehis!AndnowPaulurges:FLEEfromanythingoranyonethatwouldpullyoufromhim.Watchyourheart!Guarditcarefullythatthelovemoneyoranythingelseforthatmatterwouldnotcreepinanddarkenyouheart,slowlyconsumingyouwithitslusts.46Don’tevenlook.Don’tyoudarelinger.Runaway.Now.Don'twait.Bedrastic!Cutoffyourhandifyouhaveto.Gougeoutyoureye.AndPURSUE/CHASEyourGod,thehusbandyoudidn’tevenwant,butdesperatelyneeded.PURSUEtheOnewhohasmeetsallyourneedsinChristJesus.Chiefly,PaulseemstokeepourattentionourrelationshipwithourGodandalifelivedinthatrelationship.Thepursuithereisforfaithandalifethatislivedinlinewiththatfaith.Itisholdingtosounddoctrine.Itisholdingtotherighteousnessthatisbyfaith.Itislivingalifeoffaith.So,watchyourlifeandyourdoctrineclosely,livinginrelationshipwithGod.PaulpairsupvirtuesofthislifeofpursuingGod.Heoffersupthreepairsofvirtues:1)Representingone’srelationshiptoGod(righteousnessandgodliness);2)AnimatingprinciplesoftheChristianlife(faithfulnessandlove);3)Therightwaysofactinginrelationtoahostileworld(enduranceandgentleness)(cf.Knight262).ButthiswillmeanaFIGHT.AndsoPaulurges,yes,evencommandsTimothytofightthegoodfightoffaith.47It’safightforhisownrelationshipwithGod.FrominfancyTimothyhadknowntheScriptures

46Thewayourheartscanslowlyandincreasinglybeovertakenbyevilandlustsremindsmeofthewayheartswereslowlydarkenedbyevildeedsin“OnceUponATime.”47TDNT:ἀγώνoriginallymeansa“placeofassembly,”thena“placeofcontest”or“stadium,”thenthe“contest”itself47…d.ThesharpestformofἀγώνwhichthemanwhoisfaithfultoGodmustundergoonearthisthebattleofsufferingfulfilledinmartyrdom.ThesearefamiliarJewishconceptionswhichmakeapowerfulimpactonearlyChristianityintheageofthePastoralsandHebrews.Ἐγὼγὰρἤδησπένδομαι,isthesayingofPaulinthePastorals,speakingofthewarfareandvictoryofhisownlife(2Tm.4:6;cf.Phil.2:17);andhesummonsTimothy:κακοπάθησον,δίωκεὑπομονήν,πραϋπαθίαν.ἀγωνίζου…(1Tm.6:11).Hb.10ff.isshotthroughwiththethoughtofmartyrdom.In10:32f.wehaveabackwardglanceattheἡμέραι,ἐναἷςφωτισθέντεςπολλὴνἄθλησινὑπεμείνατεπαθημάτων…ὀνειδισμοῖςτεκαὶθλίψεσινθεατριζόμενοι,in11aconsiderationofthegreatvictorsofthepast,andin12:1ff.anexhortationto

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whichhadmadehimwiseforsalvation.Fromdayandevenfromthatmomenthehadbecomeaswornenemyofthedevil.AndthedevilhadsworntodowhateverhecouldtotearTimothyfromthegripofGod.Itwasanoholdsbarredcagefightandthedeviltaggedinasmanyofhisfriendshecould.Andthatoldroaringlionwasn’tabouttotapoutnow.TimothyneedtostepupandkeepfightingtoHOLDontothesalvationthatJesushadsecuredforhimandtheSpirithadgivenhimthroughtheWord.48But,asapastor,thiswasn’tjustafightforhisownsalvation.Thesoulsofthepeopleheservedandthepeoplewhohemightserveonedaywereatstaketoo.Hismentorwasagreatexampleinthisregard.

PaulcannotattainthegoalofhisownlifewithoutthrowingineverythingandsacrificinghimselfforthesalvationofthepeopleofGod(Col.1:29).Hencehedoesnotlinkwiththetermἀγωνίζεσθαιonlyaἵνα,butalsoquitefrequentlya→ὑπέρ.Hisstruggleisforhiscommunities:ἡλίκονἀγῶναἔχωὑπὲρὑμῶν,ἵνα(Col.2:1f.).Theonestandsforthemany,πάντοτεἀγωνιζόμενοςinbothworkandprayer(Col.4:12f.).49

Hispeopleneededhimtostepupandengageinthefight.Theirfaithandtheirsalvationwasatstaketoo.Thedevilwantedtoseducethemthroughtheloveofmoneyandthroughtheteacherswholedthemdownthatandoneofthemanyotherpathsawayfromheaven.Itwastimetostepupandfightforhisownfaithandfortheirfaithtoo,asafaithfulshepherdwillcertainlydo.

supremeresistancewiththegazefixedonChrist.Here,asin4Macc.17,themotifsofconflictarefoundinprofusion:ἔχοντες…νέφοςμαρτύρων…τρέχωμεντὸνπροκείμενονἡμῖνἀγῶναἀφορῶντες…Andherethethoughtoftheἀντιλογίαoftheἁμαρτωλοίisaliveandpowerful:οὔπωμέχριςαἵματοςἀντικατέστητεπρὸςτὴνἁμαρτίανἀνταγωνιζόμενοι.48Knight263:“PaulwantsTimothytobewillingtosufferforthegospel(cf.Phil1:30),tostruggleinitsservice(cf.Col1:29;2:1;4:12;1Cor.9:25;1Tim.4:10;2Tim4:7),andtodosowhenheisopposed(cf.1Thes.2:2)…Thepresentimperativeformoftheverbsuggeststhatthisisaneverendingstruggle.Thestruggleisregardedas“good”,bothbecauseitisengagedinforGodandthegospelandalsobecauseitisinherenttothegospel’smakingitswaitinanevilworld.That“thefaith”isgenitive…makesitunlikelythatPaulreferstothestruggleforthefaith,i.e.,forthecontentofthefaith.Hespeaks,rather,ofthestruggleinwhichtheChristianengagesbecauseofhisorherfaithandthroughhisorherfaith.”49Kittel,G.,Bromiley,G.W.,&Friedrich,G.(Eds.).(1964–).TheologicaldictionaryoftheNewTestament(electroniced.,Vol.1,pp.138–139).GrandRapids,MI:Eerdmans.

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FINALTASKSomeofyouknowalaymanwhoservedinourdistrictfaithfullyandwellinmanydifferentcapacities.SparkyAdams.HeusedtocometotheseconferencesandsayweneededtofollowtheKISSprinciple.KeepItSimpleS_________.Inasentence,howwouldyousummarizethislengthyspewingofwords?

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EPICFIGHT50Thisisamatteroffaith-lifeorfaith-death.Itisafightforthesoulsofthefalseteacherswhohavesothoroughlydrunkfromthestreamoftheirownprideandthedeceitfulnessoftheirownthinking,whoaresothoroughlyengrossinthepursuitofriches,whoareconsumedbyaloveofmoneythattheyhaveandwillcertainlypiercethemselveswithmanygrievesifGoddoesnotintervenethroughhisWordandthroughusaspreachesofthisword.Itisafightforthesoulsofourpeoplewhoareeasilycaughtupintheseteachingsandinthesamepursuitofwealth.Fortheirsakewecannotbequietwhenitcomestoteachingandencouragingthesethings.Butthisisnotjustabout“them”itisalsoabout“us.”Puttingthebestconstructiononthings,allofthoseteachersusedtobeconsumedwithaloveforGodandforthepurityofthatword.Buttheyweredeceived.ThepeopleofIsraelwereonceapeoplefaithfultotheLord,butmanyofthemfellinthedesert.Andweknowtheirstoryasanexampleforus,lestthesamefatefallonus(cf.1Corinthians10:1-13).Thisisafightforourownsouls.Brothers,byvocation,wehavegivenourlivestodowhateverittakestosavesouls(andwegetpaidtodoit!).Let’shearPaul’swarningandencouragementtoTimothyto“Fightthegoodfightoffaith.Let’sfollowPaul’sexampleandbeatourbodies,makingthemourslaves,sothatafterwehavepreachedtootherswewillnotbedisqualifiedfromtheprize(cf.1Corinthians9:19-27).Andlet’skeeponbeingbrotherstoeachother,sittingaroundthetablestogether,continuallyencouragingeachotherinthefaith,teaching,instructing,rebuking,correcting,eventrainingeachothersothattogetherwecansitaroundanotherTable,attheWeddingFeastinheaven,finallyandfully,bysight,satisfiedandcontentattheTableoftheLamb.

50Ialsodidastudyof1Timothy6:13-21.Thereisn’ttimeorspacetocoverithere,butIprayitmaybeusefultoyou.ItisAppendixD.

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COMMENTARIES

Knight,GeorgeW.III.TheNewInternationalGreekTestamentCommentary:ThePastoralEpistles.©1992.Wm.B.EerdmansPublishingCo.

Lenski,R.C.H.TheInterpreatationofSt.Paul’sEpistlestotheColossians,totheThessalonians,toTimothy,toTitusandtoPhilemon.©1961.TheWartburgPress.

Schuetze,ArminW.ThePeople’sBible:1,2Timothy,Titus.©2000.NorthwesternPublishingHouse.

Wendland,E.H.FirstTimothy.ExegeticalstudyguideforLutheranSeminary;LutheranChurchofCentralAfrica,1975.http://essays.wls.wels.net/bitstream/handle/123456789/647/Wendland1Timothy.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Ididn’tusethisone,butwishIhadinitially.Thisisanentiretextbooktobeusedinthemissionfieldtoteach1Timothy.

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APPENDIXA:THETHREAT–Task#1OneofthethemesofPaul’sfirstlettertoTimothy,and,perhaps,themaintheme(asgiveninthePeople’sBible)is“FighttheGoodFightofFaith.”Thiscomesfromthesectionwewanttocutaparttoday.Sinceweare“fightingafight,”wewillwanttoknowwhatweareupagainstinthisfight.Hereisyourtaskandyouhavetoacceptit(butyougettochoose).

1) Therearesixchaptersinthisbook.Wearegoingtostudydeeplychaptersix.2) Pickachapter1-5(NOTSIX)andskimit.3) Identifythethreat(s)inthatchapter.4) Shareitwithonepersonnearyou.5) Asagroupwewillshareuptothreethreatsineachchapter.

Belowaresomeofmyownhighlights,freefornothingandwortheverypenny.

Chapter1Thechiefthreatinthischapterseemstobe“certainpeople”(1:3)whoarepayingattentiontoandareconcernedaboutthewrongthings,likemythsandendlessgenealogies.“ThesepromoteemptyspeculationsratherthanGod’splan”(1:4).TimothyneedsPaul’sinstructionsothat“youmaystronglyengageinbattle,havingfaithandagoodconscience”(1:18-19).ThisencouragementaddsadimensiontothethreattoTimothyandhispeople.Whenweareupagainstathreat,weoftenquestionourselvesandaretemptedtofleetoacage.Thevoicesofourownheartandperhapsofthosearoundussay,“Fleetothemountain.”PaulwantstobeforTimothythatvoicehelpsTimothysay,“IhavetakenrefugeintheLORD.Howcanyousaytome,“Escapetothemountainlikeabird”(Psalm11:1).Chapter2TheinstructionsinthischaptercenteraroundtheprayersofGod’speopleandinstructionsforthewayGod’speopleliveandworshiptogether.Atfirstglancethethreatseemsdistant,butlookcloser.Whenthereisnopeaceinourcountry,itismoredifficulttospreadthegospel.Tobesure,thebloodofthemartyrsistheseedofthechurch.Andyet,thePaxRomanawasahugeblessingtotheChristianchurchandthespreadofhergospel.Likewiseinourcongregations,whentheleaderscan’tanddon’tpraytogether,liftinguphandstogethertowardheaven,whentherolesofGod’speoplearealloutofwhack,thegospelwillspread,butwithmuchmoreangstandwithmuchkickingandscreaming.

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Thethreatsagainstthechurchandhermissioncomefromoutside(lawandorder,orlackofit)andfrominside(peaceandharmony,orlackofit).Chapter3Nowwegetpersonal.Paulistalkingtopastorshereabouttheircharacteristics.He’salsotalkingtoourleadersabouttheircharacteristics.Godcancertainlyuseadonkeytogethismessagetohisprophet,butit’sbetterifhedoesn’thaveto.Godcanovercomeeventhebiggestscoundrelswhofillpulpits,butit’sbetterifhedoesn’thaveto.PaulinstructsTimothy(andus)aboutthequalificationsforleaderssothatthesemencanadorntheirofficeswithanhonorableandgodlylife.

Chapter4Paulcomesbackaroundtothefalseteacherswhobringtheteachingsofdemons.NeedIsaymoreaboutthethreatthisposestothechurchandhershepherds?Forthisreason,PaulurgesPaultotrainhimselftobegodly(cf.4:7).Heurgeshimtowatchhislifeanddoctrineclosely(4:16).Doctrinematters.Thewaywelivematterstoo,notforsalvation,buttheexamplethatitsetsforourpeople.Chapter5Thewaywelivetogetherinourcongregationsisalsoanimportantmatter.SoPaulofferssomehelpfulinstructionsandgivesgoodwisdomtousaboutlivingtogether,supportingthewidows,honoringtheeldersetc.Thethreatthenisdisharmonyandalackofsupportandloveforoneanother.Assomepeoplesayaboutfamilylife,“Whenmamaain’thappy,ain’tnobodyhappy.”Inotherwords,whenthereisdisorder,chaos,anddisharmony,theministryofthechurchishampered.Ourownexperiencesteachusthesamething.CONCLUSIONofthismatter:Thisreviewofthreatscouldcauseanypastortothrowuphishands,especiallyafterdoinganhonestassessmentofhimselfusingchapter3.Yikes!Yet,it’sgoodforustorememberaswefacethethreatstousandourpeoplethatourcompetencycomesfromGod(Cf.2Cor3:4-6),thatthegospelisthepower(cf.Romans1:16),thatwecan’tfailbecauseGodcan’tfailandthereforethegatesofhellwillnotprevailagainstus(cf.Mt16:18).Wecan’tfailbecauseGodwon’tfail–notusandnothischurch!

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APPENDIXB–SermonSeries:EPICFIGHT

#1–SELLOUTS(1Timothy6:2-6)1. Sickpeoplebringsickdoctrine.

a. Itmaybetruebutnotthetruth.b. ItmaybefromtheBible,butnotbeBiblical.

2. Sickpeopleneedhealthydoctrine.a. Thetruthsetsusfree.b. TheBiblegiveusJesus.

Bottomline:Doctrinematters.#2–GOOUTINSTYLE(1Timothy6:6-10)

1. Thelie:Moneywillmakemehappier.2. Thelie:Moneywillmakemylifeeasier.3. Thetruth:Theloveofmoneycausesallkindsoftrouble.4. Thetruth:Godlinesswithcontentmentisgreatgain.

Bottomline:WhenJesusisallIhave,thenIrealizethatJesusisallIneed.#3–CHASING(1Timothy6:11-12)

1. Youwillnevercatchsatisfactionorhappinessonearth.2. RunforarelationshipwithyourGod.3. FillyourlifewithGod’sworks.4. Changethewayyouliveinthisworld.

Bottomline:Wewillnevercatchthewind,butGodhasgivenustheworld.#4–BERICH(1Timothy6:17-19).

1. Moneyisn’ttheproblem.Moneyisagiftandacursewhetheryouhaveitornot.

a. Thehaves.b. Thehavenots.

2. Godisalwaystheanswer.3. Berichinthewayyoulivetowardotherpeople.4. Storeupforyourselvestreasuresinheaven.

Bottomline:Moneygivesusnothing,butGodgivesuseverything.

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APPENDIXC:Task#2–SickDoctrineStatementsMoreandmoreIfindpeople,bothinsideandoutsideofmyowncongregation,strugglingtoidentifyorthodoxyandthusalso,sounddoctrine.AllChristiansare,moreorless,teachingrightoutofthesameBible.Evensomenon-Christians(e.g.JWorMormon)eventeachoutofandusetheBible.Howconfusingcanitbe?Thesearetwostatementsthathelpmeidentifysounddoctrineandit’sopposite,sickdoctrine.

1. Itmaybetrue,butitisnotthetruth.Here’swhatImean.Anumberofyearsagooneofourmemberswasvisitingoneofthesebuddingnon-denomchurchesthatseemedtohaveitgoingon.(She’sbacknow–praiseGod!Shewenttoencouragehersonandgethimintochurch.Heisn’tback;infact,heisde-churchedandevenchurch-damagednow.Probablybecauseofsickdoctrinefromsickpeople.)Shepraisedtheirpreachingandsaid,“They’repreachingthetruth.”So,Iwatched.Thesermonwasprettygood.Ittaughtverywellaboutwashingfeetandhowweoughttoloveoneanother.Itwasreallyaprettygoodexpositionoflovingeachotherandanencouragementtodoit.Itwastrueinmanyways.ButwheretheylefthealthydoctrinebehindwasinpreachingChrist.TheyshowedmeChristasexample.TheyshowedmeChristasteacher.TheyshowedmemyownlifeasonewhereIneededtostepupandstartlovingpeople.Ifthatwerethesteadystreamoffoodfromthatpulpitoneoftwothingsmighthappen,trueasthesermonsmaybe.ImightbecomeaPharisee–“LookhowgoodIamatwashingfeet.”Imightbecomeawannabe,butdespairingPharisee–“LookhowbadIamatwashingfeet.”Itwastrue,butitwasnotthetruth.Jesuswantstosetusfreefromtheburdenoflaw.Hewantstosetusfreefromthecurseofcondemnation.HewantstosetusfreeandonlythetruthaboutmycompletefailureandthetruthaboutJesuscompletesuccesswillsetmefree.John8:31comestomind:“Ifyoucontinueinmyword,youreallyaremydisciples.Youwillknowthetruthandthetruthwillsetyoufree.”

2. ItmaybefromtheBible,butitmaynotbebiblical.ManyoftheJewswereexpertsatteachingtheBible.Theycouldquoteit.Theycouldciteitchapterandverse.ButtheymissedthewholepointoftheBible.TheymissedthewholepointofwhatGodwassayinginthosechaptersandverses.AndJesuscalledthemonit:“YouporeovertheScriptures

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becauseyouthinkyouhaveeternallifeinthem,yettheytestifyaboutme.Andyouarenotwillingtocometomethatyoumayhavelife”(John5:39-40).

Thisisespeciallytrueofnon-ChristiangroupswhousetheBible,butoftenbecomestrueevenofChristiansaswell.InhisbookJesus+Nothing=EverythingTullianTchividjiansharesthisquote:

“InChristlessChristianity,MichaelHortonidentifies“theregulardietinmanychurchesacrossAmericatoday:‘Domore,tryharder.’…IusedtothinkthatgrowingasaChristianmeantthatIhadtosomehowgooutandobtainthequalitiesandattitudesIwaslacking.ToreallymatureI,Ineededtofindawaytogetmorejoy,morepatience,morefaithfulness….WhattheBibleteachesisthatwematureascometoagreaterrealizationofwhatwealreadyhaveinChrist.Thegospel,infact,transformsuspreciselybecauseit’snotamessageaboutourinternaltransformation,butaboutChrist’sexternalsubstitution.Wedesperatelyneedanadvocate,mediator,andfriend.Butwhatweneedmostisasubstitute–someonewhohasalreadydoneforusandsecuredforuswhatwecouldneverdoandsecureforourselves.…Christiangrowth,inotherwords,doesn’thappenbyfirstbehavingbetter,butbybelievingbetter–believinginbigger,deeper,brighterwayswhatChristhasalreadysecuredforsinners”(90,94,95).

ThewholemessageoftheBibledrivesustoChrist.Thismessageishealthyandmakesthesickhealthy.Ithasdoneitforus.Itwilldoitforourpeople.

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APPENDIXD:Studyof1Timothy6:13-2113παραγγέλλω[σοι]ἐνώπιοντοῦθεοῦτοῦζῳογονοῦντοςτὰπάντακαὶΧριστοῦἸησοῦτοῦμαρτυρήσαντοςἐπὶΠοντίουΠιλάτουτὴνκαλὴνὁμολογίαν,14τηρῆσαίσετὴνἐντολὴνἄσπιλονἀνεπίλημπτονμέχριτῆςἐπιφανείαςτοῦκυρίουἡμῶνἸησοῦΧριστοῦ,IamurgingyoubeforeGodwhogiveslifetoallandbeforeChristJesus,whotestifiedtoPontiusPilatethegoodconfession,thatyoukeepthecommandwithoutspotandwithoutreproachuntiltheappearingofourLordJesusChrist.23.92ζῳογονέωb;ζῳοποιέω:tocausetolive—‘togivelifeto,tomakelive.’ζῳογονέωb:τοῦθεοῦτοῦζῳογονοῦντοςτὰπάντα‘Godwhogiveslifetoallthings’1Tm6:13.5115ἣνκαιροῖςἰδίοιςδείξειὁμακάριοςκαὶμόνοςδυνάστης,ὁβασιλεὺςτῶνβασιλευόντωνκαὶκύριοςτῶνκυριευόντων,16ὁμόνοςἔχωνἀθανασίαν,φῶςοἰκῶνἀπρόσιτον,ὃνεἶδενοὐδεὶςἀνθρώπωνοὐδὲἰδεῖνδύναται·ᾧτιμὴκαὶκράτοςαἰώνιον,ἀμήν.…which(namelythecomingofJesus)init’sowntimehewillmakeknown,theblessedandonlydespot,theKingofkings,andLordoflords,theonlyonehavingimmortality,wholivesinlightunapproachable,whomnomanseesnorisheabletosee,tohimishonorandpowerforever,Amen.17Τοῖςπλουσίοιςἐντῷνῦναἰῶνιπαράγγελλεμὴὑψηλοφρονεῖνμηδὲἠλπικέναιἐπὶπλούτουἀδηλότητιἀλλʼἐπὶθεῷτῷπαρέχοντιἡμῖνπάνταπλουσίωςεἰςἀπόλαυσιν,Thosewhoarerichinthisnowagecommand[them]nottobearrogant(presinf)nortoputtheirhope(perfinf)intheuncertaintyofrichesbutinGodwhogivestousallthingsabundantlyforenjoyment…88.209ὑψηλοφρονέω;ὑψηλὰφρονέω:tohaveanarrogant,haughtyattitude—‘tobehaughty,tobearrogant.’ὑψηλοφρονέω:τοῖςπλουσίοιςἐντῷνῦναἰῶνιπαράγγελλεμὴὑψηλοφρονεῖν‘commandthosewhoarerichinthislifenottobehaughty’1Tm6:17.Themeaningof‘tobehaughty’maybe

51Louw,J.P.,&Nida,E.A.(1996).Greek-EnglishlexiconoftheNewTestament:basedonsemanticdomains(electroniced.ofthe2ndedition.,Vol.1,p.261).NewYork:UnitedBibleSocieties.

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expressedinanumberoflanguagesas‘toregardoneselfasbetterthananyoneelse.’ὑψηλὰφρονέω:μὴὑψηλὰφρόνει,ἀλλὰφοβοῦ‘donotbeproudofit,butbeafraid’Ro11:20.5271.20ἀδηλότης,ητοςf:theuncertaintyofsomeeventorstate—‘uncertainty.’μηδὲἠλπικέναιἐπὶπλούτουἀδηλότητι‘nottoputone’shopeintheuncertaintyofriches’1Tm6:17.5390.91παρέχωc:tocausesomeonetoexperiencesomething,withthepossibleimplicationofaduration—‘tocauseto,tocausetoexperience,togive.’κόπουςμοιμηδεὶςπαρεχέτω‘letnoonegivemetrouble’or‘…causemetrouble’Ga6:17.Seealso13.127.54Knight273:“ThisismeanttoencouragetherichtoputtheirhopeintheGiverandnotthegifts.”25.115ἀπόλαυσις,εωςf:enjoymentbaseduponthesatisfactionofone’sdesires—‘enjoyment.’θεῷτῷπαρέχοντιἡμῖνπάνταπλουσίωςεἰςἀπόλαυσιν‘God,whogenerouslygivesuseverythingtoenjoy’1Tm6:17;ἢπρόσκαιρονἔχεινἁμαρτίαςἀπόλαυσιν‘ratherthanenjoysinforalittlewhile’He11:25.55Therearetwowarnings/commandsthatPaulwantsTimothytogivepeopleaboutmoney:

1) Don’tbearrogantasthoughyourrichesarewhatmakesyouwhatyouare.Thesamewarningwouldalsoapplytothosewhodon’thaveit.Thesamedangerexiststhattheywouldfindtheiridentity/joy/contentment/peaceinhavingmoney.Despairistheoppositeofarrogance.Theywoulddespairbecausetheydon’thaveitbecausetheywanttohaveandwouldbe“somebody”iftheyhadit.

2) Don’tputyourhopeinit.Again,thesamewarningapplieswhetheritishadornothad,whetheritisinthehandornotinthehand.Wealthissouncertainandthereareplentyofexamplesoftheuncertaintyofwealth.Theuncertaintyofinvestments,retirement.Howmuchdoyoureallyneedforretirement?Howmuchwill$1getyoulateroninlifeisallaguess?PaulratherurgesthatTimothywouldputhishopeinGodwhorichly/abundantlyallthingsforourenjoyment.

52Louw,J.P.,&Nida,E.A.(1996).Greek-EnglishlexiconoftheNewTestament:basedonsemanticdomains(electroniced.ofthe2ndedition.,Vol.1,pp.763–764).NewYork:UnitedBibleSocieties.53Louw,J.P.,&Nida,E.A.(1996).Greek-EnglishlexiconoftheNewTestament:basedonsemanticdomains(electroniced.ofthe2ndedition.,Vol.1,p.669).NewYork:UnitedBibleSocieties.54Louw,J.P.,&Nida,E.A.(1996).Greek-EnglishlexiconoftheNewTestament:basedonsemanticdomains(electroniced.ofthe2ndedition.,Vol.1,p.809).NewYork:UnitedBibleSocieties.55Louw,J.P.,&Nida,E.A.(1996).Greek-EnglishlexiconoftheNewTestament:basedonsemanticdomains(electroniced.ofthe2ndedition.,Vol.1,p.301).NewYork:UnitedBibleSocieties.

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Ecclesiastes2:24-26(HCSB)–Thereisnothingbetterformanthantoeat,drink,andtoenjoyhiswork.IhaveseenthateventhisisfromGod’shand.ForwhocaneatandwhocanenjoylifeapartfromHim?FortothemanwhoispleasinginHissight,hegiveswisdom,knowledge,andjoy…”Ecclesiastes3:12-13(HCSB)–“Iknowthatthereisnothingbetterforthemthantorejoiceandenjoythegoodlife.ItisalsothegiftofGodwheneveranyoneeats,drinksandenjoysallhisefforts.”Ecclesiastes3:22(HCSB)–“Ihaveseenthatthereisnothingbetterthanforapersontoenjoyhisactivities,becausethatishisreward.”Ecclesiastes5:18-20–“HereiswhatIhaveseentobegood:itisappropriatetoeat,drink,andexperiencegoodinallthelaboronedoesunderthesunduringthefewdaysofhislifeGodhasgivenhim,becausethatishisreward.Godhasalsogivenrichesandwealthtoeveryman,andhehasallowedhimtoenjoythem,takehisreward,andrejoiceinhislabor.ThisisagiftofGod,forhedoesnotoftenconsiderthedaysofhislifebecauseGodkeepshimoccupiedwiththejoyofhisheart.”18ἀγαθοεργεῖν,πλουτεῖνἐνἔργοιςκαλοῖς,εὐμεταδότουςεἶναι,κοινωνικούς,19ἀποθησαυρίζονταςἑαυτοῖςθεμέλιονκαλὸνεἰςτὸμέλλον,ἵναἐπιλάβωνταιτῆςὄντωςζωῆς.…todogood,toberichingooddeeds,tobegenerous,readinginsharing,layingupforthemselvesagoodfoundationforwhatistocome,sothattheymaketakeholdofwhatisreallylife.57.100κοινωνικός,ή,όν:(derivativeofκοινωνέωa‘toshare,’57.98)pertainingtowillingandreadysharing—‘readytoshare.’εὐμεταδότουςεἶναι,κοινωνικούς‘tobeliberalandreadyinsharing’1Tm6:18.5665.11θησαυρίζωa(derivativeofθησαυρόςc‘treasure,’65.10);ἀποθησαυρίζω:tokeepsafethatwhichisofgreatvalue—‘totreasureup,tokeepsafe.’θησαυρίζωa:θησαυρίζετεδὲὑμῖνθησαυροὺςἐνοὐρανῷ‘treasureupforyourselvesrichesinheaven’Mt6:20.ἀποθησαυρίζω:ἀποθησαυρίζονταςἑαυτοῖςθεμέλιονκαλὸνεἰςτὸμέλλον‘treasuringupforyourselvesagoodfoundationforthefuture’1Tm6:19.Therearecertainproblemsinvolvedinthecombinationofἀποθησαυρίζονταςandθεμέλιον,forthiswouldconstituteatypeofmixedmetaphor.Insomelanguages,therefore,itmaybeusefultospeakofθεμέλιονin1Tm6:19as‘ahelp’orevenas‘somethingvaluable.’57

56Louw,J.P.,&Nida,E.A.(1996).Greek-EnglishlexiconoftheNewTestament:basedonsemanticdomains(electroniced.ofthe2ndedition.,Vol.1,p.568).NewYork:UnitedBibleSocieties.57Louw,J.P.,&Nida,E.A.(1996).Greek-EnglishlexiconoftheNewTestament:basedonsemanticdomains(electroniced.ofthe2ndedition.,Vol.1,p.620).NewYork:UnitedBibleSocieties.

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70.2ὄντως:pertainingtoactualexistence—‘really,certainly,truly.’χήραςτίματὰςὄντωςχήρας‘showrespectforthosewhoarereallywidows’1Tm5:3.58Knight272:“Paulprovidesinstructionforthosewhoarealreadyrich,aprovisionhedidnotmakewhenhewarnedagainstthedesiretoberich(vv9-10).Hewarnsaboutthedangerofconceitandoffixingone’shopeonriches(v17a)andurgestherichtoplacetheirhopeonGodalone,whohasgivenallthingsforourenjoyment(v17b).HavingestablishedtheproperrelationshiptoGodandtoriches,Paulinstructstherichonhowtousetheirwealthandthelivetheirlives(v18).Finally,heencouragestheminthatuseoftheirrichesbyshowingthebenefittobederived.”Fourthingshewantsthemtodo:

1) Dogood.2) Toberichingoodworks.3) Tobegenerous.4) Sharingwhatisone’sownand/orgladlygivingothersashare.Knight274:“Theideaisforthe

richtoactuallysharewhattheyhave,whichentailstheirpersonalinvolvementandsharingofthemselves.Thistherebyexpandsandappliesthepreviousconcept.”

Knight274:“SomehavesuggestedthatallfourideasinthisverseindicatehowtherichshouldusetheirmoneyinChristianservice.Thisispossible,certainlythelasttwodo,andthefollowingverseencouragesthedeedsofthisverse(v18)bycontinuingtheplayonwealth,nowinaneschatologicalperspective.ButwhatismorelikelyisthatPaulisinstructingtherichthroughTimothyhowtheyaretoutilizeboththeirrichesandtheirlivesinatrulyrichway,i.e.bysharingandbeingrichingooddeeds,andthusinvestingtheirlives(andtheirwealth)inthatwhichwillleadtopermanenttreasure.”20῏ΩΤιμόθεε,τὴνπαραθήκηνφύλαξονἐκτρεπόμενοςτὰςβεβήλουςκενοφωνίαςκαὶἀντιθέσειςτῆςψευδωνύμουγνώσεως,21ἥντινεςἐπαγγελλόμενοιπερὶτὴνπίστινἠστόχησαν.Ἡχάριςμεθʼὑμῶν.Timothy,guardthedeposit,turningawayfromemptychatterandthecontradictionsthatarefalselycalled“knowledge,”whichsome,professingit,areturningawayfromthefaith.Gracebewithyou.

58Louw,J.P.,&Nida,E.A.(1996).Greek-EnglishlexiconoftheNewTestament:basedonsemanticdomains(electroniced.ofthe2ndedition.,Vol.1,p.666).NewYork:UnitedBibleSocieties.