The Word Made Fresh
1The Spirit clearly tells us that in the last days some will renounce the faith and follow deceitful practices and demonic claims, 2and listen to liars who have no conscience. 3They are against marriage, and they demand abstinence from certain food that God created for us, who believe and know the truth, to eat with thanksgiving. 4Everything God created is good. Nothing should be rejected as long as it is received with gratitude, 5because God’s word and prayer make it sacred.
6If you give these instructions to the friends, you will be doing the work of a good servant of Christ Jesus, for they will be fed the words from the faith and sound teaching you have followed. 7Don’t have anything to do with silly myths and old wives’ tales. Practice godliness. 8Yes, physical training is good, but godliness is better in every way because it holds promise for this life and the life to come.
9The saying is true and should be fully accepted, 10that our hope is in the living God who is the Savior of us all, especially of those who believe, and we struggle and work for this purpose.
11Teach these things. Insist on them. 12Don’t let anyone judge you by your youth, but be an example in the way you speak, and in the way you present yourself, and in love, and faith, and purity. 13Until I come, attend to the public reading of scripture. Teach and encourage. 14Don’t ignore the gift of prophecy that was given to you through the laying on of hands by the council of elders. 15Practice these things. Devote yourself to them so that everyone might see your progress. 16Pay attention to yourself and to your teaching. Live by these things, and you will save yourself and your hearers.
Commentary
1-5: It seems Paul was constantly warning against false teachings of one kind or another. The false teachings he’s writing about in verse 3 are typical of the kinds of religious fads that were sweeping through the Mediterranean world of the time. I know of no cult that forbade marriage, though many religious groups, including Judaism, promoted fasting. The main thing Paul is saying is in verse 1: “some will renounce the faith.” He is telling Timothy to beware of every fad and every quack that finds its way to Ephesus. He is to protect his congregation from everything that threatens the pure faith in Christ crucified and risen.
6-10: He is to hold strong to the faith that has been passed on to him and instruct others in the Way, rejecting other ways. The goal is godliness, for that is the way to God, and the way to salvation. The last phrase, “especially of those who believe,” deserves some thought. The implication is that those who don’t believe will also enjoy a measure of God’s salvation because the whole world will benefit from the faith and godliness of believers.
11-16: Timothy will have to be especially diligent in his work to overcome the tendency some will have to take him lightly because of his youth. Reading scripture, preaching, and teaching are the three tasks in which he is particularly gifted. Paul encourages him by reminding him that he was especially commissioned by leaders in the church through the ceremony of the laying on of hands. Early Christians and other people of the time believed in the power of touch (see, for example, Exodus 30:29 and Leviticus 5:2).
Takeaway
Because Jesus Christ is our Savior, we must be careful not to engage in anything that casts aspersion on our faith. The world is watching. Let them see in us only the grace of our Lord.