Joshua and Judges: Push to the Promised Land: Return to Kadesh, part 4; Moses' failure. Num 20:12, 22-26; 21:1-5; 1Ti 6:3-16.Title: Joshua and Judges: Push to the Promised Land: Return to Kadesh, part 4; Moses' failure. Num 20:12, 22-26; 21:1-5; 1Ti 6:3-16.
What about all the evil that is around us and the failings of so many to walk in faith before their Creator? Paul addressed this issue for Timothy.
1Ti 6:3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine, and does not agree with sound [wholesome] words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,
1Ti 6:4 he is conceited [proud; perfect tense] and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,
1Ti 6:5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth [no unity or harmony], who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.
1Ti 6:6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment.
Contentment, the Greek word autarkeia, means an inward self-sufficiency.
Paul's teaching here is that the possession of a godly piety makes a person independent of outward circumstances, and self-sufficient, enabling him to maintain a spiritual equilibrium in the midst of both favorable circumstances and those which are adverse.
1Ti 6:7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so [Gr: hoti = because] we cannot take anything out of it either.
1Ti 6:8 And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.
1Ti 6:9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.
1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang.
1Ti 6:11 But flee [present tense] from these things, you man of God; and pursue righteousness [practical righteousness], godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.
Gentleness is towards God in accepting all His dealings with us as good and so without disputing or resisting. It is towards men in not harboring mental attitude sins towards them.
Get your eyes off of them and…
1Ti 6:12 Fight the good fight of [the] faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Fight the good fight is a reference to the Greek athletic games – agonizomai.
The word "good" is not agathos, referring to intrinsic goodness, but kalos, speaking of goodness as seen from the outside by a spectator.
"good" - kalos = goodness as seen from the outside by a spectator. In the games it would refer to beauty of technique. It is a life that is pleasing to God.
2Ti 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
1Ti 6:13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to [preserves alive] all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate,
Timothy is charged to be enlivened with moral and spiritual courage since He is in the hands of the One who enlivens all and as a man He put that very life to the test with flawless success.
As we saw in Heb 12, we are to fix our eyes on Jesus, the Prince Ruler and fulfiller of our faith and to consider Him so that we don't grow weary or lose heart, and this, one day at a time.
Heb 5:7 In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from [ek = out from] death, and He was heard because of His piety [eulabeia = fear, reverence, acting cautiously].
The Lord's prayer here was to be delivered out from death. He did not pray to be saved from physical death, but for resurrection, i.e. success in accomplishing all on the cross. This is in Psa 22, which some believe He uttered in total from the cross and not only the first verse, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?"
Psa 22:20 Deliver my soul from the sword, My only life from the power of the dog.
This Priest after the order of Melchizedek offered up Himself as a blood sacrifice, but before doing this, brought another offering to God, a heart torn with anguish and suffering, a soul in which the conflict of the ages was raging, a contest in which God the Son was facing the powers of darkness, waging a battle for the lost race, a battle in which He was victor over death, and thus over him who had the power of death, the devil.
piety - The picture in the word is that of a cautious taking hold of and a careful and respectful handling. Hence, it speaks of a pious, devout, and circumspect character, who in His prayer, takes into account all things, not only His own desire, but the will of the Father.
He was the holder of this life and He gives this life to all believers. He revealed what that life is, and it is a careful and cautious handling in which we respectfully care for the gifts that God has given us. We are in His hands and we have been given a precious life. We cannot do anything about the evil people around us.
1Ti 6:14 that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
|