IV. (1) NOW THE SPIRIT SPEAKETH EXPRESSLY. — Rather, _But the Spirit._ But (_de_) in very strong contrast to the sublime mystery of Redemption St. Paul has been speaking of as the glorious treasure contained in the Church of which Timothy and his colleagues were ministers: but in spite of that subli... [ Continue Reading ]
SPEAKING LIES IN HYPOCRISY. — The Greek words here should be translated, _through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies._ The lies that these men utter, refer to their teaching that it was pleasing to the eye of the All-seeing Creator for men and women to avoid certain meats, and to abstain from marr... [ Continue Reading ]
FORBIDDING TO MARRY. — This strange and unnatural “counsel of perfection,” St. Paul, thinking and writing in the Spirit, looked forward to as a perilous delusion which would, as time went on, grow into the impious dogma of certain of the great Gnostic schools. This teaching was probably, even in tho... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR EVERY CREATURE OF GOD IS GOOD. — To teach that anything created was unclean would be an insult to the Creator. The very fact of its being _His_ creation is enough. If made by God, then it _must_ be good. AND NOTHING TO BE REFUSED, IF IT BE RECEIVED WITH THANKSGIVING. — Every kind of food and dr... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IT IS SANCTIFIED BY THE WORD OF GOD AND PRAYER. — Not only are all created things to be considered pure, and not lightly to be put aside; but in the sight of God “every creature” is holy when received as His gift with thanksgiving and with prayer — such thanksgiving-prayer containing thoughts in... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THOU PUT THE BRETHREN IN REMEMBRANCE OF THESE THINGS. — The “things” of which he was to put the brethren in mind were those practices connected with that foolish, false asceticism alluded to in 1 Timothy 4:3. Not a few, probably, in that Ephesian flock had been won over by the persuasive words of... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT REFUSE PROFANE AND OLD WIVES’ FABLES. — Here Timothy — who has been previously (see 1 Timothy 4:1) warned against a false asceticism, against putting an unnatural interpretation on the words of Christ, against sympathising with a teaching which would unfit men and women for practical every-day l... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR BODILY EXERCISE PROFITETH LITTLE. — More accurately rendered, _bodily exercise is profitable for little._ St. Paul here, no doubt, was thinking of those bodily austerities alluded to in 1 Timothy 4:3. The stern repression of all human passions and desires, the abstinence from all compliance with... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS A FAITHFUL SAYING AND WORTHY OF ALL ACCEPTATION. — Again we have the striking formula which always calls attention to some great truth which, in the Church of the first days, had already obtained among the congregations a broad, if not a universal currency, as one of the great watchwords of... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THEREFORE WE BOTH LABOUR AND SUFFER REPROACH. — And for this end — to obtain this glorious promise, this highest blessedness _here,_ that endless life with God _hereafter,_ to win this glorious promise — we Christian missionaries and teachers care for no toil, however painful — shrink from no sh... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE THINGS COMMAND AND TEACH. — “These things” — _i.e., the real meaning_ of “godliness,” that practical everyday piety which, in contradistinction to the severe and strained asceticism of a limited and narrow section of society, should enter into all homes and influence all lives without distinct... [ Continue Reading ]
LET NO MAN DESPISE THY YOUTH. — If Timothy desired that his teaching should be listened to with respectful earnest attention, if he hoped to use a holy influence over the flock, let him be very careful that his comparative youth prove no stumbling-block. To Paul the aged, his son in the faith seemed... [ Continue Reading ]
TILL I COME, GIVE ATTENDANCE TO READING. — The words evidently imply a hope, perhaps even an expectation, on the part of St. Paul, that he would one day be enabled once more to visit the Church of Ephesus; but so long as that absence lasted, Timothy was to attend carefully to three special points in... [ Continue Reading ]
NEGLECT NOT THE GIFT THAT IS IN THEE, WHICH WAS GIVEN THEE BY PROPHECY. — Here the Apostle reminds his representative in the Ephesian congregation of his special gift of teaching and exhortation — that divine gift which had been conferred on Timothy at his solemn ordination long ago, when the young... [ Continue Reading ]
MEDITATE UPON THESE THINGS. — Better rendered, _be diligent in these things._ With these words St. Paul closes this division of his solemn directions to his chosen disciple and representative at Ephesus. He must dwell on these things and must be diligent in their practice: he must show himself activ... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE HEED UNTO THYSELF, AND UNTO THE DOCTRINE; CONTINUE IN THEM. — _Thy teaching_ is a more accurate rendering of the original Greek word than “the doctrine.” The Apostle in these words sums up the two chief pastoral requisites, and then points out the mighty consequences which will result from fait... [ Continue Reading ]