Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 37

Paul Instructs Timothy on being a Good Servant of our Lord Jesus Christ Part 1

1 Timothy 4:6-7 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. KJV

Having finished his unfolding to Brother Timothy of the things that will be evident when the Great Apostasy of and in the visible church begins, Paul now instructs his spiritual 'son in the faith' on how to be a 'good servant' of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ despite the threats and insults and hatred and anger and even physical violent persecution he (Timothy) will be subject to as he walks his predestined, predetermined, and preordained  path of faith in Christ Jesus our Lord. First, Paul encourages him to instruct the Brethren under his charge concerning the things mentioned previously about the Great Apostasy with these words, "If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained." (1 Timothy 4:6) (KJV). The English phrase 'If thou put the brethren in remembrance' that begins this verse is translated by one Greek word hupotithēmi (used only one other place in this the New Testament) and it means to place underneath, that is, (figuratively) to hazard, (reflexively) to suggest: - lay down, put in remembrance. In other words, Timothy you must be like the Shepherd of a literal flock of sheep who guards the sheep from the attack of wild animals (such as wolves), so then is Timothy and we true believers in Christ Jesus our Lord today must be the Spiritual Shepherds of other true believers by warning them that everything that professes, proclaims, or pretends to have faith in God does not make it so or true, for he will tell Timothy these words in his next or 2nd letter to him, "But wicked men and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving {and} leading astray others and being deceived {and} led astray themselves." (2 Timothy 3:13) (Amplified Bible). Here is what Adam Clarke had to say concerning this reminding the brethren of the Great Apostasy, "Show the Church that, even now, there is danger of this apostasy; put them on their guard against it; for the forewarned are half armed."

Avoiding the error and out right lies that will make up the apostasy of and in the visible church can only be accomplished fully, that is, to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely by avoiding or removing ones self from the people that promote, preach, and pass around such and said error and lies also just as Paul told Brother Timothy to do with these words to him in his 2nd letter, "For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny {and} reject {and} are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them]." (2 Timothy 3:5) (Amplified Bible). When Paul says this, 'thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ', he means that in so warning the true believers of the things that will make up the apostasy in and of the visible church, Timothy will be a useful and profitable instrument of our Lord Jesus Christ in His protection of His Bride, that is, His True Church. When Paul writes, 'nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine', the little English phrase 'nourished up' is translated by the Greek word entrephō (used this one time only in the entire New Testament) meaning (figuratively) to educate: - nourish up in. Here is what Albert Barnes had to say concerning Timothy's spiritual nourishment, "That is, you will be then 'a good minister of Jesus Christ, as becomes one who has been nourished up in the words of faith, or trained up in the doctrines of religion.' The Apostle evidently designs to remind Timothy of the manner in which he had been trained, and to show him how he might act in accordance with that. From one who had been thus educated, it was reasonable to expect that he would be a faithful and exemplary minister of the Gospel."

When Paul writes here, 'whereunto thou hast attained', he meant that Timothy had come to fully know and understand and conform to the truth of the Gospel as it had been and was being presented to him by the Apostle Paul and by what was presented to him in his childhood by former teachings of his Grandmother and Mother just as Paul reminded him at the beginning of his 2nd letter with these words, "I am calling up memories of your sincere {and} unqualified faith (the leaning of your entire personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness), [a faith] that first lived permanently in [the heart of] your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am [fully] persuaded, [dwells] in you also." (2 Timothy 1:5) (Amplified Bible). Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say concerning Timothy's belief of and faith in the truth of the Gospel, "He had arrived to a considerable degree of knowledge of Gospel truths, and was still pursuing and following on to know more of them, and was exhorted to continue in them, knowing of whom he had learned them. All this is said by way of encouragement to him to do as the Apostle directs." Paul introduces specific things that Brother Timothy is to reject when brought to him by others claiming there to be some spiritual value in these things as he writes here these words, "But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness." (1 Timothy 4:7) (KJV).

The English word 'refuse' is translated by the Greek word paraiteomai meaning to beg off, that is, deprecate, that is, express strong disapproval of or deplore, decline, shun: - avoid,  refuse, reject. The English word 'profane' is translated by the Greek word bebēlos which means (a threshold); accessible (as by crossing the door way), that is, (by implication of Jewish notions) heathenish, wicked: - profane (person). The little English phrase 'old wives' is translated by the Greek word graōdēs (used this one time only in the entire New Testament) meaning (an old woman) spouting views that are crone like, that is, silly: - old wives’. The English word 'fables' is translated by the Greek word muthos meaning a tale, that is, fiction (“myth”): - fable. Here is what Adam Clarke had to say concerning fables, "This seems to refer particularly to the Jews, whose Talmudical writings are stuffed with the most ridiculous and profane fables that ever disgraced the human intellect. It may with equal propriety be applied to the legends of the Romish Church. Let any man read the Aurea Legenda, and he will find of profane and old wives' fables what may stand, with considerable propriety, column for column with the Talmud. See Joseline's Life of St. Patrick for miracles, without rhyme or reason, abundantly more numerous and more stupendous than all the necessary ones wrought by Jesus Christ and His Apostles. This is enough to persuade a man that the Spirit of God had these very corruptions and this corrupt Church particularly in view."

When Paul writes here, 'exercise thyself rather unto godliness', the English word 'exercise' is translated by the Greek word gumnazō which means the exact same thing as our English dictionary declares and that is, to train and in this case not physical bodily training, but spiritual Gospel truth training from prayer and  study in the Word of God again as Paul wrote to Timothy in his 2nd letter with these words, "Study {and} be eager {and} do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing {and} accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth. But avoid all empty (vain, useless, idle) talk, for it will lead people into more {and} more ungodliness." (2 Timothy 2:15-16) (Amplified Bible). The English word 'godliness' is translated by the Greek word eusebeia which means piety; specifically the Gospel scheme: - godliness, holiness. Again here is what Adam Clarke had to say concerning godly exercise, "To understand this expression it is necessary to know that the Apostle alludes here to the gymnastic exercises among the Greeks, which were intended as a preparation for, their contests at the public games. They did this in order to obtain a corruptible or fading crown, i. e., a chaplet of leaves, which was the reward of those who conquered in those games; Timothy was to exercise himself unto godliness, that he might be prepared for the kingdom of heaven, and there receive a crown that fadeth not away."

"The minister of Christ must be daily nourished by the words of Christian truth. If he is not fed on Christ’s body and blood, his teaching will soon deteriorate, John 6:1-71. He must also exercise himself in godliness with as much care as the gymnast, who is continually exercising his joints and muscles so as to keep supple and alert. This is also God's purpose in the spiritual trials and discipline which He sends." F. B. Meyer

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…