Sermon Notes

6 11 But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and for which you made[d] the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 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, I charge you 14 to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. 16 It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. 17 As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches but rather on God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, 19 thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life. 20 Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the profane chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge; 21 by professing it some have missed the mark as regards the faith. Grace be with you.
(New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, NRSVue)
6 11-12 But you, Timothy, man of God: Run for your life from all this. Pursue a righteous life—a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced in the presence of so many witnesses. 13-16 I’m charging you before the life-giving God and before Christ, who took his stand before Pontius Pilate and didn’t give an inch: Keep this command to the letter, and don’t slack off. Our Master, Jesus Christ, is on his way. He’ll show up right on time, his arrival guaranteed by the Blessed and Undisputed Ruler, High King, High God. He’s the only one death can’t touch, his light so bright no one can get close. He’s never been seen by human eyes—human eyes can’t take him in! Honor to him, and eternal rule! Oh, yes. 17-19 Tell those rich in this world’s wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they’ll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life. 20-21 And oh, my dear Timothy, guard the treasure you were given! Guard it with your life. Avoid the talk-show religion and the practiced confusion of the so-called experts. People caught up in a lot of talk can miss the whole point of faith. Overwhelming grace keep you! (The Message, MSG)

Of all the persons of the apostolic age that we read about within the pages of the New Testament, few have garnered the acclaim, admiration, and attention as Timothy. He is considered to be a beloved son of Paul; he worked alongside Paul and Silas as founders of the church in Thessalonica; he pastored the church in Ephesus; he co-wrote and hand delivered several epistles with Paul; he is a third-generation Christian (his grandmother Lois and mother Eunice were Christian friends of Paul); and he is the named addressee of two New Testament letters, 1 and 2 Timothy. What prominent place Timothy holds in developing and maturing the early Church!
However, when it comes to the authorship and receivership of 1 and 2 Timothy, it is important to note that these are disputed Pauline writings (the undisputed Pauline letters are Romans, 1-2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, and Philemon). Since the 1890’s there has been a scholarly consensus that these letters were written in Paul’s name after Paul’s death by one of Paul’s students. The words and colloquial expressions that the writer uses to do not appear in other Pauline writings. Further, scholars believe this letter was during the 2nd Century CE because the Bishop of Smyrna in Asia Minor (Modern-day Turkey), Polycarp refers to 1 Timothy in his writing, Letters to the Phillippians around 120CE.
Regardless of authorship, the sentiment that is communicated to Timothy in 1 Timothy warrants study and theological consideration because it helps us to understand the social, spiritual, and ecclesial dynamics of early Christianity. The author of 1 Timothy writes to ensure that “young Timothy” will not only be encouraged as he labors as a new pastor in Ephesus, but to ensure that “Timothy” recalls the “true” faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ that his grandmother and mother shared with him. Then, he can share that same “true” faith with current and future generations.
Because this letter is not an occasional letter—a pastoral letter written to a specific church, addressing a specific church concern—we do not have a specific historical context from which to discern the specific reason for its writing. However, because of the emphasis on unorthodox teaching in 1:3-7, we can assume the author writes to correct false teaching and denounce false teachers. The writer seeks to contend, for the right teaching, authentic doctrine, or true faith that he received so that future generations of Christians will understand the parameters of orthodox theology (right thinking).
Generally speaking, the Pastoral Epistles (as 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus are collectively called), center on sound theological doctrine and appropriate Christian behavior within a contentious context of “false teachers.” They encourage Christian communities to protect their doctrinal roots in the face of preacher/pastors who disseminate a fraudulent malformed gospel and chase material gain at the expense of theological truth. While the author does not name these “false teachers,” it is clear that their teaching departs from what has become orthodox theology. They forbid marriage and teach the necessity of abstaining from certain foods (1 Timothy 4:3). They claim the resurrection in Christ has already occurred (2 Timothy 2:18). And, they claim access to a distinct “knowledge” or gnosis (1 Timothy 6:20) implying an infiltration of early Gnosticism into 1st century Christian communities.
As “Paul” seeks to curtail the diffusion of divergent theology, he urges “Timothy” to “love—love uncontaminated by self-interest and counterfeit faith, a life open to God” (1 Timothy 1:5, MSG). Unadulterated, uncompromised love for God will empower this young pastor, and the Christian community that he leads, to live with godly integrity, defend the theological veracity of their religion, and fight the good fight of faith.

6 11-12 But you, Timothy, man of God: Run for your life from all this. Pursue a righteous life—a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced in the presence of so many witnesses. 13-16 I’m charging you before the life-giving God and before Christ, who took his stand before Pontius Pilate and didn’t give an inch: Keep this command to the letter, and don’t slack off. Our Master, Jesus Christ, is on his way. He’ll show up right on time, his arrival guaranteed by the Blessed and Undisputed Ruler, High King, High God. He’s the only one death can’t touch, his light so bright no one can get close. He’s never been seen by human eyes—human eyes can’t take him in! Honor to him, and eternal rule! Oh, yes.
In the opening verses of the lesson text, “Paul” contrasts the counterfeit leadership of false teachers with Timothy’s spiritual identity as an authentic man of God. Admonishing Timothy to run like his life depends on it from the worldly temptations that have trapped false teachers, he encourages Timothy to pursue godliness (righteous living). Righteous living is a life filled with wonder, faith, love and consistency. Godly living places an emphasis on things that are eternal, as opposed to physical, giving primacy to those things that will stand the test of time. “Run hard and fast in the faith,” is Eugene Peterson’s translation of the more familiar “fighting the good fight of faith,” expressed in the NRSVue, KJV, and NIV translations. However, the original Greek reads closer to, “contest the good contest,” meaning the practice of living a life of faith requires the discipline and determination of a premier athlete.
Further, for Timothy this is not just a vocation. It is a calling that was initiated by God, confirmed by the Holy Spirit, and embraced in the presence of generations of faithful witnesses like his Grandmother Lois, Mother Eunice, and those present for his ordination. For at least three generations Timothy’s family has been “on the battlefield for the Lord,” and Timothy’s call was nurtured by a community of faithful Christians who confirmed the legitimacy of his calling. Therefore, Timothy is not alone in his pursuit of faithful living. Other spiritual leaders, and even the ancestors, call to him from a great cloud of witnesses to encourage him to keep the faith, stay the course, and fight the good fight.
Then, “Paul” appears to draw on a liturgical confession of faith, to underscore orthodox doctrine of the early church and the actual passion of Christ. Timothy is charged before the God who gives life, and Christ, who boldly confronted Pilate without backing down—a stand that cost him his life. Like Jesus who wouldn’t back down, Timothy is charged to also stand firm in teaching an uncompromised gospel grounded in the saving work of Jesus Christ as sent by the One and True God (Deuteronomy 6:4).
17-19 Tell those rich in this world’s wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they’ll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.
In these verse, the author returns to the issue of lusting after material gain as discussed in 1 Timothy 6:2b-10. In verse 5, the author says these false teachers think of ministry “as a way to make a fast buck.” Therefore, “Paul” must call them out for who they really are; ignorant windbags who infect the air, and the Christian faith, with their malformed theology and prosperity heresy. If they are only in ministry for fame, mercenary material gain, or the opportunity for social escalation, they will self-destruct. After all, “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (NRSV).
The author instructs Timothy to tell the wealthy that their money is transient. Only a relationship with God through Jesus Christ ensures eternal treasure. For the love of money is the root of evil. Please note: Paul is not saying that having money is a sin. But, the lust for money is sinful and brings trouble. The wealthy are not told to dispose of their riches. Rather, they must pursue God, who will in turn bless believers with spiritual wealth that overshadows material gain (Matthew 6:20 and 1 Corinthians 3:14).
20-21 And oh, my dear Timothy, guard the treasure you were given! Guard it with your life. Avoid the talk-show religion and the practiced confusion of the so-called experts. People caught up in a lot of talk can miss the whole point of faith. Overwhelming grace keep you!
In the final verses of the lesson text, “Paul” once again admonishes “Timothy” to uphold the “treasure” of true faith that he received and fastidiously hand it on to others. While false teachers attest to have access to special knowledge or gnosis, they are misguided “talk-show” preachers who traffic in confusion, entertainment and spiritual lies. They may sound like they are knowledgeable, but they are spewing mistruth and falsehoods. They are missing the whole point of faith in God through Jesus Christ, while leading others to miss it as well.
Contemporary Christians should heed the words of this lesson. We must be ever mindful that while popular teaching on television, social media, or even livestreams may sound good, it may not be theologically correct or doctrinally sound. And sometimes, it is just plain foolishness. We must study the word, so that we are equipped to contend for the faith, fearlessly fight the good fight of faith, and fight on behalf of true faith.