1-2 Timothy and Titus (eBook)
96 Seiten
Crossway (Verlag)
978-1-4335-5392-9 (ISBN)
Brian J. Tabb (PhD, London School of Theology) is president, academic dean, and professor of biblical studies at Bethlehem College and Seminary. He is general editor of Themelios, co-editor of Five Views of Christ in the Old Testament, and author of After Emmaus and other books. Brian lives with his wife, Kristin, and their four children in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The Knowing the Bible series is a resource designed to help Bible readers better understand and apply God's Word. These 12-week studies lead participants through books of the Bible and are made up of four basic components: (1) reflection questions that help readers engage the text at a deeper level; (2) "e;Gospel Glimpses"e; that highlight the gospel of grace throughout the book; (3) "e;Whole-Bible Connections"e; that show how any given passage connects to the Bible's overarching story of redemption, culminating in Christ; and (4) "e;Theological Soundings"e; that identify how historic orthodox doctrines are taught or reinforced throughout Scripture. With contributions from an array of influential pastors and church leaders, these gospel-centered studies will help Christians see and cherish the message of God's grace on every page of the Bible. The letters to Timothy and Titus are among Paul's most personal and practical epistles. The apostle writes to instruct these younger men in the importance of sound doctrine and to urge them to rebuke false teaching. This accessible study shows how Paul's letters exhort all Christians to protect and pass on the true gospel of Jesus Christ, which has the power to save and transform sinners.
WEEK 3: GOSPEL-SHAPED LIVING AND LEADERSHIP IN GOD’S HOUSEHOLD
The Place of the Passage
First Timothy 2–3 stresses how the gospel message should impact Christian living and leadership. The gospel of grace has indelibly marked Paul’s own life (1:12–17), and Paul now explains how this gospel should shape believers’ prayers, priorities, and relationships (2:1–15). He then presents a vision for a church leadership comprised of godly overseers and deacons (3:1–13).
First Timothy’s key verses are 3:14–16. Paul writes Timothy this letter so that “you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God.” The church proclaims and protects the truth, “the mystery of godliness.” This mystery is God’s hidden plan that has been made known through Jesus’ incarnation, death, resurrection, and exaltation. The church believes and proclaims this glorious gospel truth and shows its transformational power through godly living.
The Big Picture
In 1 Timothy 2:1–3:16, Paul explains how the gospel of Jesus Christ transforms the lives of men, women, overseers, and deacons in God’s household, the church.
Reflection and Discussion
Read through the complete passage for this study, 1 Timothy 2:1–3:16. Then review the questions below concerning this section of 1 Timothy and write your notes on them. (For further background, see the ESV Study Bible, pages 2327–2331; available online at esv.org.)
1. Gospel-Shaped Prayer and Orderly Worship (2:1–15)
First Timothy 2 presents a positive vision for how men and women should “behave in the household of God” (3:15). First, Paul urges believers to pray. The four terms in 2:1—“supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings”—stress a comprehensive life of prayer. What specifically should believers pray for (vv. 1–2)? How should the truths in verses 3–6 shape and motivate prayer?
List the references to “all” and “all people” in verses 1–6. How might the references to “all” and Paul’s self-description as a “teacher of the Gentiles” (2:7) contrast with the beliefs and practices of the false teachers at Ephesus, who emphasized the Jewish law, myths, and genealogies (1:4, 7)? How does Paul’s focus on “all” stir your heart for prayer and gospel witness across cultural or social boundaries?
In 2:8–15, Paul stresses that God’s people should pursue unity, order, and good works when they gather for worship. What practices and attitudes should Christian men pursue or avoid (v. 8)? How does this relate to the qualifications for overseers (3:1–7)?
What actions should Christian women pursue or avoid (2:9–12)? Why does this matter? Compare this list to the description of godly widows in 5:9–10.
What reasons does Paul give for not permitting a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man in the church (2:12–14)? If possible, consult the commentary on these verses in the ESV Study Bible, page 2328, and respond below to what you read.
2. Gospel-Shaped Leadership (3:1–13)
First Timothy 3:1–7 presents a profile of a qualified overseer for the church. In 1 Timothy 5:17, Paul refers to “elders who rule well.” What is the relationship between the terms “overseer” and “elder”? Consider Titus 1:5–9; Acts 20:17, 28; 1 Peter 5:1–2.
Overseers and deacons must be “the husband of one wife” or “a man of one woman” (1 Tim. 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6). This qualification may mean (1) leaders must be married; (2) they must marry only once, prohibiting remarriage after a spouse’s death or divorce; (3) they must not marry multiple women, prohibiting polygamy; or (4) they must remain faithful to their wives. Which of these interpretations best fits the context of 1 Timothy 3?
What does Paul mean by the qualification “able to teach” (3:2), and why is this essential to the duties of an overseer or elder? Consider 1 Timothy 5:17; 2 Timothy 2:24–25; Titus 1:9.
Paul stresses that overseers and deacons must manage or lead their own households well (3:4, 5, 12). What does this look like? Why is this important for leaders of God’s household (3:15)?
3. The Mystery of Godliness (3:14–16)
First Timothy 3:14–16 summarizes the purpose of the letter and describes the church’s identity and mission. How does this understanding of the church serve Paul’s aim for instructing and motivating believers toward godly conduct?
The word “mystery” refers to God’s secret plan of salvation that he has now gloriously revealed through Jesus Christ (see Rom. 16:25–26; Eph. 3:8–12). What does “the mystery of godliness” mean (1 Tim. 3:16)? How does this relate to the similar phrase “the mystery of faith” in 3:9 and to the remainder of verse 16?
Read through the following three sections on Gospel Glimpses, Whole-Bible Connections, and Theological Soundings. Then take time to consider the Personal Implications these sections may have for you.
Gospel Glimpses
A RANSOM FOR ALL. Earlier, Paul declared that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15), and in 2:6 he explains how Jesus secured our salvation by giving “himself as a ransom for all.” “Ransom” is the price paid for someone’s freedom. Jesus’ ransom was an act of substitution—the innocent God-man died in our place (Mark 10:45). Jesus did not offer himself as a ransom under coercion or threat; he willingly sacrificed his life to save us, the consummate act of service and love (Eph. 5:2). This ransom was “for all.” Some interpreters explain that, while God desires to save all individuals without exception, and Jesus’ death potentially atoned for all, he actually saves only believers. More likely, 1 Timothy 2:6 means that Jesus accomplished the salvation of every one of his people from all social classes and ethnic groups (see 2:1 and 4:10). In contrast to the narrow exclusivism promoted by false teachers in Ephesus, Paul stresses that Jesus saves all sorts of people, not just one tribe. This precious truth fuels our prayers and witness to all people, including rulers and Gentiles (2:2, 7).
SAVED THROUGH CHILDBIRTH. God saves undeserving sinners not because of their works but because of his own mercy and grace in Christ Jesus (see 1 Tim. 1:15–16; Titus 2:11; 3:5). Thus, 1 Timothy 2:15 cannot mean that women merit salvation or secure God’s eternal favor through childbearing. There are three common interpretations of the difficult phrase “saved through childbearing.” First, Paul may mean that God will preserve married women who embrace their God-given role of bearing and raising children (compare 5:10). Second, this verse may recall the messianic promise in Genesis 3:15, fulfilled when Jesus was “born of woman” (Gal. 4:4). Third, childbirth was dangerous in the ancient world, and women often prayed for the gods to “save” them physically during childbirth. Thus, 1 Timothy 2:15 may promise safety for Christian women who may want to avoid childbearing due to fear or other reasons. Each interpretation highlights the dignity and importance of women’s God-given capacity to bear children and God’s saving or preserving work for women as well as men.
THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS. The “mystery of godliness” (1 Tim. 3:16) explains “the truth” that the church must protect (3:15). The mystery is God’s hidden plan now revealed through Christ, which forms the basis for our faith and conduct (“godliness”). Paul explains this mystery with a succinct, poetic summary of Christ’s work from both an earthly and a heavenly perspective (v. 16). The first two lines highlight Christ’s incarnation and resurrection (“He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit”). The next two lines refer to the proclamation of Christ’s work to angels and the nations. The final couplet stresses the acknowledgement of Christ’s work, as the nations believed the gospel on earth and Jesus was “taken up” in heavenly glory at his ascension (Acts 1:11). These precious truths are foundational for the church’s identity, health, and mission.
Whole-Bible Connections
ONE GOD. “There is one God” (1 Tim. 2:5) summarizes the foundational Old Testament confession: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one” (Deut. 6:4). While the nations worshiped numerous gods, the one true God revealed himself to Israel and called for their total allegiance and love (Deut. 6:5–9). Some Jews in Paul’s day, and probably the false teachers in Ephesus, took “our God” in an exclusive sense—he is Israel’s God only. In contrast, Paul insists that he must proclaim the...
| Erscheint lt. Verlag | 20.6.2017 |
|---|---|
| Mitarbeit |
Herausgeber (Serie): Lane T. Dennis, Dane Ortlund General-Herausgeber: J. I. Packer |
| Sprache | englisch |
| Themenwelt | Geisteswissenschaften ► Religion / Theologie ► Christentum |
| ISBN-10 | 1-4335-5392-9 / 1433553929 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1-4335-5392-9 / 9781433553929 |
| Haben Sie eine Frage zum Produkt? |
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