Dec. 06, 2023

Dear Friends,

Tonight we conclude our study on "1 Timothy: The Church, Her Servant-Leadership, and the Lives of Her People" (one week ahead of schedule—see below). I hope you can join us. This conclusion of Paul's letter contains some of its most important teachings.

Tonight's passage is 1 Timothy 6:2b-20. Notes are attached. We meet, as usual, at 6 PM in the Choir Room at the Chapel.

Schedule for the remainder of the study:

    6-Dec     6:2b-20

Following tonight's Bible study, we will take a short break and resume our Bible studies on January 17, 2024, topic TBA. Stay tuned!

LIVING THE CHRISTLIFE

WAYNE BARRETT

HILLTOP LAKES CHAPEL

DECEMBER 6, 2023

1 TIMOTHY:

THE CHURCH, HER SERVANT-LEADERSHIP, AND THE LIVES OF HER PEOPLE

1 Timothy 6:2b-20

Teach and urge these things. 3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound

words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with 

conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about 

words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people 

who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But 

godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take 

anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those 

who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that 

plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is 

through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many 

pangs.

11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, 

steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you 

were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I 

charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony 

before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from 

reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time—he 

who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has 

immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be 

honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the 

uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do 

good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for 

themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what 

is falsely called “knowledge,” 21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.

Grace be with you.

_______________________

v 2b – “Teach and urge…”

Following the teaching of the Lord is no trifling matter, not then, not now

v 3 – “If anyone teaches a different doctrine…”

Paul’s words here are strong

Keep in mind what he means by “doctrine”: they types of teachings that have been presented in 

this letter

2

“does not agree”—more lit. “does not draw near,” does not embrace, value

“the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ”—referring to the Apostle’s teaching, which had 

authority from Christ

“and the teaching that accords with godliness”—it is one and the same. Doctrines here being 

highlighted are those that impact how we live. It was (and is) lifestyle that was at the heart of 

doctrinal controversies.

vv 4-5 – “he is puffed up…”

Of note here, Paul does not seem to be highlighting “antichrist”-type teachings

He has frequently warned against those with a “craving for controversy and for quarrels about 

words”

Contrary to some consistent streams throughout the ages, disputation among Christians is not the 

heart of Christian living

The results: “envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who 

are depraved in mind…”

These are false teachers with an agenda—and it is not God’s agenda

“and deprived of the truth” – what they are saying is not true, and how they are living is not 

according to truth

“imagining that godliness is a means of gain”

We begin to see more specifically the types of teaching (and people) Paul has in mind

He means material gain, acquisition

The underlying point is that godliness is not to be seen as a means of (this kind of) gain

This both for teachers and for those who would follow those teachings

v 6 – “But godliness with contentment…’

Paul makes the point that the value of “godliness with contentment” actually is, however, great 

gain—of far more true value than what the false teachers are peddling

It is important for us to share this understanding

v 7 – “For we brought nothing into the world…”

This is not just a proverbial musing; it is Christian teaching on a Christian perspective

Everyone knows this. Everyone. But so may live as if they did not.

v 8 – “But if we have food and covering…”

This is an “underline” verse

vv 9-10 – “But those who desire to be rich…”

One of the most important passages in the NT regarding materialism

“I want to be rich” is certainly an approved goal in our culture, but it is not approved by God

We cannot serve God and mammon

“fall into temptation, into a snare…”

Believing they are pursing (perhaps successfully) their own goals, they are actually being 

manipulated by the devil to compromise, to sell their souls

Being caught in a snare is something different and worse than just making a bad decision, taking 

a wrong turn, etc.

It is, by definition, hard to get out of a snare

“ruin and destruction”

3

Not always material ruin; what Paul means is spiritual ruin and personal destruction, rich or not

“For the love of money…”

Love of money – philargyria (not agape)

More lit. “A root for evil of all kinds is the love of money”

More lit. “which some, stretching after, have been led away from the faith, and pierced 

themselves with many sorrows.”

These teaching are not exclusively, or even primarily, for the benefit of the “super-rich,” as those 

persons would have been nearly non-existent in the original audience

Wandered from the faith does not primarily refer to a person’s unwillingness to affirm orthodox 

doctrines, but more to a compromised, materialistic lifestyle due to the distorted values of the 

Christian involved

vv 11-12 – “But you, o man of God…”

Words of encouragement to Timothy

vv 13-16 – “I charge you in the presence of God…” 

“God” remains the subject in this long sentence

God—who gives life to all things

“and of Jesus Christ…”

“Which he [God the Father] will display in his own time” (v 15)

“He [Jesus] who is the blessed and only Sovereign …” 

“who alone [God the Father] has immortality…” (v 16)

vv 17-19 – “As for the rich in this world…”

The rich are not condemned—they are given sound instruction on how to live

v 20 – “O Timothy…”

A final word summative of much of the letter.