TEXT: 1 Timothy 6:2b-10
DATE: June 28, 2015
Context: This book is the Bible is a letter Paul wrote to his young protégé in the faith,
Timothy. Köstenberger and the gang provide the most succinct and complete coverage of
the biblical witness to Timothy’s identity:
Timothy occupied a special place in Paul’s heart and mission (1 Cor. 4:17; Phil. 2:20, 22;
1 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 1:2). Paul first met him in Lystra, which at that time was part of the Roman
province of Galatia (modern Turkey). Timothy was the product of a mixed marriage of a Gentile
father and a Jewish mother. He was a “believer” (Acts 16:1-2), having been taught the Scriptures
from his youth (2 Tim. 1:5; 3:15). Recommended by his local church, Timothy joined Paul on his
second missionary journey and shared in the evangelization of Macedonia and Achaia (Acts 16:2;
17:14-15; 18:5)…Paul frequently called him “co-worker” (Rom. 16:21; 1 Cor. 16:10; Phil. 2:22; 1
Thess. 3:2) and referred to him as coauthor of six of his apostolic letters (1 and 2 Thessalonians, 2
Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon; see esp. Phil. 2:19-22; cf. 1 Cor. 16:10)…Even at
the time 1 Timothy was written, Timothy was still fairly young (1 Tim. 4:12), though he had met
Paul more than 10 years earlier (Acts 16:1; c.AD 49), if not earlier. Timothy was therefore
probably in his late thirties when he received 1 and 2 Timothy. 1
All throughout this letter Paul is instructing Timothy how he and his church should
confront this heresy that’s been coming up in their church. While it’s hard to determine
exactly what these false teachers were teaching, we can deduce some things from
how/what Paul refutes. The main thing is that they were adding requirements to the
gospel (Possibly some Jewish rules). We can deduce some more specific things:
Paul explicitly calls the teaching “Jewish” (Titus 1:14) and speaks of “those of the circumcision”
(Titus 1:10). The opponents want to be known as teachers of the law (1 Tim. 1:7)…They quarrel
about the law (Titus 3:9) and may even charge Pau with being antinomian (1 Tim. 1:8)…”Myths
and genealogies” (1 Tim. 1:4; Titus 3:9) are probably allegorical reinterpretations of the OT,
perhaps as fanciful interpretations of the OT genealogies, especially of the patriarchs and their
families…The heresy appears to be sectarian and exclusive, or anti-Gentile (1 Tim. 2:1-7),
warranting Paul’s emphasis on the universal offer of salvation to all people (1 Tim 2:6; 4:10; cf.
1:15).2
Though a personal letter to Timothy, Paul also wrote it with the understanding that it 1)
would be read aloud (note the second person plural pronouns—such as the benedictions
of “Grace be with you” 1 Tim. 6:21; 2 Tim. 4:22) and 2) would serve as relevant and
authoritative instruction for the church at any time and place. You see, Paul was
advancing in age and knew that he didn’t have long left. So, he wanted to make sure
1
Köstenberger, Andreas J., L. Scott Kellum and Charles L. Quarles, The Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown
(Nashville: B& H Publishing Group, 2009), 642, 43.
2
lxix-lxxi.
Mounce, Willaim D. Pastoral Epistles, World Biblical Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2000),
these instructions would ensure an orderly transition to the time when all of the apostles
had died.
Explanation: The passage we’re studying addresses a core fundamental divide between
Christianity and false teachers and false gospels: False teaching reveals and comes from
pride and an “unhealthy craving” (6:4), while Christianity is marked by contentment—
first in the Gospel of Christ and then in how we live our lives.
We also see that truth matters because what we believe affects the way we live! When
the false teachers put their faith in something other than Christ, they began to live out
“envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction” (v.4-5). Not only that,
but there are some who began to love money and believe it would save them, bring
them fulfillment, purpose, etc. And these people “have wandered away from the faith”
(v.10). We can try to believe that the condition of our heart—what we think about,
want, long for, believe—doesn’t have any connection with how we live, but the Bible
says differently. How we live reveals what we believe.
Finally, we need to realize that Paul’s discussion on money goes deeper than the
surface. Loving money, while a big issue in and of itself, shows a much deeper problem.
It reveals that they have forsaken the sufficiency of Jesus, and this false love becomes
the root of many of the sins associated with the “unhealthy craving” Paul talks about
earlier. But he isn’t condemning people who have money. As it’s been often pointed out,
Paul condemns the love of money, not money itself. However, it can’t be overlooked that
being rich does bring with it a lot of temptations to put your trust in yourself (or your
money) more than Jesus. Just look at 1 Timothy 6:17! Before we start pointing the finger
at the people who we think have lots of money, according to recent stats3, if your family
income is $10,000 a year, you are wealthier than 84 percent of the world. If it's $50,000
or more a year, you make more than 99 percent of the world.
“What does how you think about money reveal about your heart?”
READ: 1 Timothy 6:2b-10
Pray: Pray that God would show each of us where and how we put our hope and love in
money.
3 The World Bank, Poke's Global Rich List and various economists as cited by Hovde, Elizabeth.
“Income in perspective: America's poor are among the world's wealthy” The Oregonian, 4 August 2012.
How can Paul say in v.3 that if “anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree
with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ” that they are wrong, and more than that
“puffed up with conceit and understand nothing”? Isn’t Paul being close-minded? Even
bigoted? How can he know that he’s right and they’re wrong? (After jotting down some
thoughts, read Galatians 1:11-12)
Is it surprising to you that vv.4-5 are talking about people in the church? Have you ever
experienced someone or a group of people like this?
When reading this chapter, we almost automatically think it’s talking to/about someone
else: “Yea! Rich people should be more content!” How does Paul’s picture of what godly
contentment practically looks like strike you? (read v.7)
The love of money can take many different forms: Jealousy at the trips your friends take
and show on instagram/facebook? Envy at someone’s new house, renovations, car,
clothes. Thinking “we’ll be secure when we have $_________ in our bank account.”
Obsessing over potential promotions because of the pay raise. Etc. What are some ways
you have seen this in your own heart?
Read Matthew 6:25-34. What are some ways you have been worrying and anxious
this past week? Why does Jesus tell us not to worry? Because “your heavenly Father knows that
you need them all.”Not only that, but God takes care of all the birds and even the grass, so how much more will he
take care of you, one of his children?!