Well, this is certainly a doozy of a chapter and I look forward to your comments and blogs!
I think it's interesting that Paul urges, first of all, that prayer be made for everyone and then has to specifically point out the people in authority. This makes me wonder if there was an authority issue in general in Ephesus (or specifically towards political authorities). From the previous chapter it seems that there may have been an authority issue in general (Paul commands Timothy to command the false teachers, etc.). This would certainly have some bearing on his instructions at the end of this chapter.
I remember talking to a friend a couple of elections ago about the different political parties. It seemed like one had a biblical view when it came to morality but others had a more biblical view when it came to social issues (which I also to believe moral issues in light of Scripture). My friend made the comment that he thought it was the job of the church and the Christian to address social issues and he liked one party because their economic policies allowed him to make more money to address those issues more fully.
I think this is what Paul is saying: pray that the government would enact such policies that would make it possible for us to live in quietness and peacefulness and to live out our faith in godliness and holiness.
Whatever the case, I know that I need to be more consistent in praying for others in general and for the governments and authorities of the world specifically. That's what God's Word is saying to me right now. I guess the question is, will I do anything about it?
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Friday, January 26, 2007
Shipwrecks and Harsh Lessons
1 Timothy 1
Paul uses some pretty vivid language at the end of this chapter. I am still stuck on v. 19: "Holding on to the faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith."
Shipwreck... I guess Paul would know what he was talking about since he was shipwrecked at least once himself. He would know the utter chaos, immense danger and extreme panic that would accompany a ship floundering at sea or unexpectedly running aground and breaking up on some rocks. This is how Paul sees people who are giving up the faith and a good conscience. These act like the ballast and rudder to keep the journey of our life under control and on course. (I still like the NLT take on this verse: "Cling..." - goes very nicely with the shipwreck imagery).
I've read this chapter everyday for about a week now and just glided (is that the past tense of "glide" or should it be "glid") over the phrase "whom I have handed over to Satan...". Wow! That's pretty extreme! I think what Paul means is that they have been excluded from the community of disciples. In 1 Corinthians 5 handing over to Satan is synonymous with being excluded from fellowship.
Paul was serious about church discipline - for the protection of the fellowship and for the good of the person being disciplined. In this case, they were handed over to be taught not to blaspheme, indicating that they would be welcomed back when they had learned their lesson. In 1 Corinthians 5, the incestuous man was handed over to deal with his sin, indicating that he would be welcomed back upon repentance and restoration.
I need to value the role of community and the church more highly. If being handed over to Satan means being removed from fellowship then I must never voluntarily remove myself from fellowship and must be very careful that my actions, teaching and life promote the development of community and not destroy it. The fellowship of the disciples of Christ acts as a protection against the work of Satan. It must be valued very highly!
Paul uses some pretty vivid language at the end of this chapter. I am still stuck on v. 19: "Holding on to the faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith."
Shipwreck... I guess Paul would know what he was talking about since he was shipwrecked at least once himself. He would know the utter chaos, immense danger and extreme panic that would accompany a ship floundering at sea or unexpectedly running aground and breaking up on some rocks. This is how Paul sees people who are giving up the faith and a good conscience. These act like the ballast and rudder to keep the journey of our life under control and on course. (I still like the NLT take on this verse: "Cling..." - goes very nicely with the shipwreck imagery).
I've read this chapter everyday for about a week now and just glided (is that the past tense of "glide" or should it be "glid") over the phrase "whom I have handed over to Satan...". Wow! That's pretty extreme! I think what Paul means is that they have been excluded from the community of disciples. In 1 Corinthians 5 handing over to Satan is synonymous with being excluded from fellowship.
Paul was serious about church discipline - for the protection of the fellowship and for the good of the person being disciplined. In this case, they were handed over to be taught not to blaspheme, indicating that they would be welcomed back when they had learned their lesson. In 1 Corinthians 5, the incestuous man was handed over to deal with his sin, indicating that he would be welcomed back upon repentance and restoration.
I need to value the role of community and the church more highly. If being handed over to Satan means being removed from fellowship then I must never voluntarily remove myself from fellowship and must be very careful that my actions, teaching and life promote the development of community and not destroy it. The fellowship of the disciples of Christ acts as a protection against the work of Satan. It must be valued very highly!
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Clinging
Today, I tried reading 1 Timothy 1 in a different translation: the NLT. It's interesting how the use of a few different words and maybe even a different way of dividing the paragraphs puts a whole new perspective on a passage. In reading the NIV it seems like the command that Paul is talking about is the command for the false teachers to quit teaching false doctrine (the goal of this command is love...). In the NLT, it seems more general - the goal of Paul's teaching is love. I guess this makes sense since the pinnacle of the Law is "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength." and "Love your neighbour as yourself."
However, the verse that stuck out to me was v. 18 (I think - I read the NLT on line and the way this computer is acting right now I don't want to risk going back to it!). It said something like... Oh, screw it! I'm taking the risk.
Ok, it worked!! It was actually v. 19 and it says: "Cling to your faith in Christ and keep your conscience clear." It seems like we can make things pretty complicated when it comes to faith and our spiritual journey. I'm the kind of guy that likes to have a few priorities and to work on those few things until they are done. I get frustrated and flustered when there are always new ideas and new things to work on and then I'm not sure that the priorities are anymore. That's why I like this verse - the list of things to work on is short but profound: cling to the faith (brings to mind a man clinging onto a life preserver in the ocean - he knows if he lets go he is doomed. I think I need that same kind of desperation in the way that I grab hold of my faith - if I don't have it I'm in big trouble) and keep my conscience clear. If I could do just these two things (for the glory of Christ of course - there, Sid, I got a Piper thought in!) I could consider myself successful. If we could get our students to do these two things well, can you imagine what might happen in their lives? Especially the part about having a clear conscience!
However, the verse that stuck out to me was v. 18 (I think - I read the NLT on line and the way this computer is acting right now I don't want to risk going back to it!). It said something like... Oh, screw it! I'm taking the risk.
Ok, it worked!! It was actually v. 19 and it says: "Cling to your faith in Christ and keep your conscience clear." It seems like we can make things pretty complicated when it comes to faith and our spiritual journey. I'm the kind of guy that likes to have a few priorities and to work on those few things until they are done. I get frustrated and flustered when there are always new ideas and new things to work on and then I'm not sure that the priorities are anymore. That's why I like this verse - the list of things to work on is short but profound: cling to the faith (brings to mind a man clinging onto a life preserver in the ocean - he knows if he lets go he is doomed. I think I need that same kind of desperation in the way that I grab hold of my faith - if I don't have it I'm in big trouble) and keep my conscience clear. If I could do just these two things (for the glory of Christ of course - there, Sid, I got a Piper thought in!) I could consider myself successful. If we could get our students to do these two things well, can you imagine what might happen in their lives? Especially the part about having a clear conscience!
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
The Law is Good!
1 Timothy 1:8-11
There is a proper use for the law: it is not for the righteous but for anything that is contrary to the sound doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I often don't really know what my relationship should be to the law. Paul reminds me over and over that we are not under the law but under grace but Jesus made it clear that he didn't come to abolish the law but to fulfill it (what does that mean?). Paul's teaching would make it seem that the law is at least not as good as the gospel and yet here he makes it clear that the law has a role to play and in Romans 7 that the law was meant to bring life (sin used the opportunity of the law to bring death instead).
Paul makes an assertion that the law is not for the righteous. In conjunction with the teaching in Romans 7, I think Paul is saying that the law is useful for those who are living apart from Christ to show them that they have failed to meet the standard of holiness that God has and to open their eyes to the fact that they are dead apart from Christ. The law is good in that it makes us aware of the sin in our lives and, hopefully, drives us to Christ to find life. The evangelism program "The Way of the Master" effectively uses this approach (although it also teaches that the unique shape of a banana proves that evolution is wrong... I'm sure that stands up really well in biology class!).
Does Paul mean that we shouldn't use the law on Christians? That there is something greater that we can appeal to in encouraging each other to continue in the faith and righteousness? If so, what is it that we appeal to? Or does it mean that when a Christian falls into sin and is now living contrary to sound doctrine that the law has a role to play (implying that the sinning Christian is no longer "righteous")?
There is a proper use for the law: it is not for the righteous but for anything that is contrary to the sound doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I often don't really know what my relationship should be to the law. Paul reminds me over and over that we are not under the law but under grace but Jesus made it clear that he didn't come to abolish the law but to fulfill it (what does that mean?). Paul's teaching would make it seem that the law is at least not as good as the gospel and yet here he makes it clear that the law has a role to play and in Romans 7 that the law was meant to bring life (sin used the opportunity of the law to bring death instead).
Paul makes an assertion that the law is not for the righteous. In conjunction with the teaching in Romans 7, I think Paul is saying that the law is useful for those who are living apart from Christ to show them that they have failed to meet the standard of holiness that God has and to open their eyes to the fact that they are dead apart from Christ. The law is good in that it makes us aware of the sin in our lives and, hopefully, drives us to Christ to find life. The evangelism program "The Way of the Master" effectively uses this approach (although it also teaches that the unique shape of a banana proves that evolution is wrong... I'm sure that stands up really well in biology class!).
Does Paul mean that we shouldn't use the law on Christians? That there is something greater that we can appeal to in encouraging each other to continue in the faith and righteousness? If so, what is it that we appeal to? Or does it mean that when a Christian falls into sin and is now living contrary to sound doctrine that the law has a role to play (implying that the sinning Christian is no longer "righteous")?
Monday, January 22, 2007
Unlimited Patience
1 Timothy 1:16
Jesus showed Paul mercy so that He could display his "unlimited patience" as an example for those who would believe after Paul. Paul recognizes that there was no merit in himself that motivated God to choose him. He recognizes himself as the worst of sinners. This is not false modesty. Paul is not waiting for someone to assure him that he is not the worst of sinners. Paul realizes that his rebellion against God, his blasphemy, persecution and violence were of the worst sort of offences agaist God. It is only as Paul sees the severity of his sin that he can see the greatness of God's grace and the immensity of Christ's patience.
God, please show me the severity of my sin so that I can better understand, and display, the greatness of your grace and the immensity of your patience.
No wonder that Paul bursts into praise: "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen."
Jesus showed Paul mercy so that He could display his "unlimited patience" as an example for those who would believe after Paul. Paul recognizes that there was no merit in himself that motivated God to choose him. He recognizes himself as the worst of sinners. This is not false modesty. Paul is not waiting for someone to assure him that he is not the worst of sinners. Paul realizes that his rebellion against God, his blasphemy, persecution and violence were of the worst sort of offences agaist God. It is only as Paul sees the severity of his sin that he can see the greatness of God's grace and the immensity of Christ's patience.
God, please show me the severity of my sin so that I can better understand, and display, the greatness of your grace and the immensity of your patience.
No wonder that Paul bursts into praise: "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen."
Friday, January 19, 2007
Paul and the Law
1 Timothy 1
I remember when I was in college one of my dorm mates (whom everyone was afraid to debate with because he was very good at verbal sparring) made the statement that Paul wrote to Timothy because Timothy was a legalist and Paul was trying to loosen him up a bit. The conversation started because of the verse "drink a little wine for your stomach's sake." This guy's contention was that Paul knew that wine wasn't going to solve any stomach ailments but was trying to get Timothy to loosen up when it came to drinking and other issues.
The problem with my friend's argument is that when I read Timothy, over and over again I see Paul appealing to the law, the commands and the instruction of Jesus: made an apostle by the COMMAND of Christ; Timothy is to COMMAND certain men to stop teaching false doctrine; we know that the LAW is good; I give you this INSTRUCTION... so that by following them you may fight the good fight, etc. It seems that Paul, rather than trying to loosen Timothy up, is appealing to the law to restore order in what seems to be a very chaotic situation: false teachers confidently asserting things that they don't really know anything about.
The verse that stands out to me is verse 5: the goal of this command is love. I tend towards the more legalistic side of things (I come by it honestly). I fight this when it is imposed on me from outside but, hypocritically, find myself imposing my legalism on others. The problem is that the goal of my legalism is not love but obedience, toeing the line, conformity (and not to Christ but to my idea of Christianism). It would be very helpful to me if God would overwhelm me with the awareness of the grace that he has poured abundantly over my life (v. 14) so that I in turn could be a conduit of his grace to others.
My goal is to find Jesus in every passage and today I find Jesus to have high and exacting standards. He is holy and demands holiness from me. He is also full of grace and mercy. Paul received mercy because he didn't know what he was doing (v. 13). How much greater the mercy Christ has shown me because I know exactly what I am doing!
I remember when I was in college one of my dorm mates (whom everyone was afraid to debate with because he was very good at verbal sparring) made the statement that Paul wrote to Timothy because Timothy was a legalist and Paul was trying to loosen him up a bit. The conversation started because of the verse "drink a little wine for your stomach's sake." This guy's contention was that Paul knew that wine wasn't going to solve any stomach ailments but was trying to get Timothy to loosen up when it came to drinking and other issues.
The problem with my friend's argument is that when I read Timothy, over and over again I see Paul appealing to the law, the commands and the instruction of Jesus: made an apostle by the COMMAND of Christ; Timothy is to COMMAND certain men to stop teaching false doctrine; we know that the LAW is good; I give you this INSTRUCTION... so that by following them you may fight the good fight, etc. It seems that Paul, rather than trying to loosen Timothy up, is appealing to the law to restore order in what seems to be a very chaotic situation: false teachers confidently asserting things that they don't really know anything about.
The verse that stands out to me is verse 5: the goal of this command is love. I tend towards the more legalistic side of things (I come by it honestly). I fight this when it is imposed on me from outside but, hypocritically, find myself imposing my legalism on others. The problem is that the goal of my legalism is not love but obedience, toeing the line, conformity (and not to Christ but to my idea of Christianism). It would be very helpful to me if God would overwhelm me with the awareness of the grace that he has poured abundantly over my life (v. 14) so that I in turn could be a conduit of his grace to others.
My goal is to find Jesus in every passage and today I find Jesus to have high and exacting standards. He is holy and demands holiness from me. He is also full of grace and mercy. Paul received mercy because he didn't know what he was doing (v. 13). How much greater the mercy Christ has shown me because I know exactly what I am doing!
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