Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 8

Paul Gives Glory to God for His Grace Part 2

1 Timothy 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.  KJV

Now, Paul begins to detail to Timothy (surely this testimony he had told him many times before during their travels together preaching the Gospel) again these words concerning himself and his normal way of life or his normal course of action before he encountered our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ on the Damascus road many years earlier as he writes speaking of himself, "Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief." (1 Timothy 1:13) (KJV). First Pauled called himself a 'blasphemer' and this English word is translated by the Greek word  blasphēmos which means scurrilous, that is, someone who expresses offensive reproach or abusive reproach calumnious, that is, someone who uses denigrating, defamatory, and derogatory statements against man and against God that are harmful and untrue; tending to discredit or malign or specifically being impious and irreverent (against God): - railing. The little English phrase 'a persecutor' is translated by one Greek word diōktēs used this one time only in the entire New Testament meaning a persecutor, that is, someone who pursues or follows after an individual or many people in order to inflict harm to them physically or in other methods, such as emotionally/spiritually or even financially or other ways. The English word 'injurious' is translated by the Greek word hubristēs meaning to exercise violence, that is, abuse: - use despitefully, reproach, entreat shamefully (spitefully); an insulter, that is, maltreater: - injurious.

In other words, Paul in his unregenerate state or condition, that is, before he was born again by God the Holy Spirit, he hated Christ and all Christians and made it his mission to speak against them or rail against them spreading negative information against Christ and His Children that was not true just as he also chased after them in order to do them physical harm thinking this would stop them declaring our Lord Jesus Christ to be Risen from the grave and to be the One and Only True God of Israel and of the Gentile Nations also just as he spoke of himself with these words recorded for us by Dr. Luke in the Book of Acts, "I myself indeed was [once] persuaded that it was my duty to do many things contrary to {and} in defiance of the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And that is what I did in Jerusalem; I [not only] locked up many of the [faithful] saints (holy ones) in prison by virtue of authority received from the chief priests, but when they were being condemned to death, I cast my vote against them. And frequently I punished them in all the synagogues to make them blaspheme; and in my bitter fury against them, I harassed (troubled, molested, persecuted) {and} pursued them even to foreign cities." (Acts 26:9-11) (Amplified Bible), in like manner how he detailed it to the Galatian Church using these words, "You have heard of my earlier career {and} former manner of life in the Jewish religion (Judaism), how I persecuted {and} abused the Church of God furiously {and} extensively, and [with fanatical zeal did my best] to make havoc of it {and} destroy it." (Galatians 1:13) (Amplified Bible).

Yet despite Paul's zeal to destroy Christ Church, our Lord Jesus Christ looked on this violent, vicious, and volatile sinner persecuting and even killing those redeemed children of His with mercy and turned this man from a persecutor into a saint, so Paul writes to Brother Timothy that despite his actions, he says, 'I obtained mercy' and this little English phrase is translated by one Greek word eleeō meaning to compassionate (by word or deed, specifically by divine grace): - have compassion (pity on), obtain, receive, show mercy. The English word 'ignorantly' is translated by the Greek word agnoeō and I think this is where we get our English word agnostic from, it means not to know (through lack of information or intelligence); by implication to ignore (through disinclination): - be ignorant, not know, not understand, unknown. The English word 'unbelief' is translated by the Greek word apistia which means faithlessness, that is, (negatively) disbelief (want of Christian faith), or (positively) unfaithfulness (disobedience): - unbelief. In other words, the Apostle Paul received mercy/compassion from our Lord Jesus Christ because he was a sinner doing what sinners do in ignorance, that is, because he thought his ritual observance of the Law of Moses (as a Jew) made him right with God, but through his spiritual blindness, he could not see that God had come down to earth as a man, that is, the God/Man Jesus Christ in order to die for all sinners (including Jews), but Paul rejected this truth and consequently it kept him bound up in unbelief which blocked him from seeing who Jesus Christ really was due to the blindness in his inner man being spiritually dead while he was yet very religious in the Jewish faith being a high ranking member of the Sanhedrin.

"The meaning is, that he had reviled the name of Christ, and opposed Him and His cause - not believing that He was the Messiah; and in thus opposing he had really been guilty of blasphemy. The true Messiah he had in fact treated with contempt and reproaches, and he now looked back upon that fact with the deepest mortification, and with wonder that One who had been so treated by him should have been willing to put him into the ministry." Albert Barnes

"Not having considered the nature and evidences of Christianity, and not having believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah, I acted wholly under the prejudices that influenced my countrymen in general. God therefore showed me mercy, because I acted under this influence, not knowing better. This extension of mercy, does not, however, excuse the infuriated conduct of Saul of Tarsus, for he says himself that he was exceedingly mad against them. Let us beware, lest we lose the man’s former crimes in his after character." Adam Clarke

"Unbelief is what made Saul of Tarsus such a hateful persecutor of the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ and it alone kept him from seeing who Jesus Christ really and truly was just as it is with every sinner of every generation or era. Unbelief is the most vile sin that there is eclipsing all other sin, for our Lord, Master, and Savior has already died and shed His Powerful Blood to cleanse any sinner from every other sin, but the sin of unbelief blocks sinners like atheist, agnostics, Buddhist, Hindus, and every other false religious or non-religious belief system, from receiving the power that is inherent in the Blood of the Lamb just as was true for many of those who came out of Egypt with Moses, yet they did not truly believe as it is written concerning them with these words, 'For who were they who heard {and} yet were rebellious {and} provoked [Him]? Was it not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was He irritated {and} provoked {and} grieved for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose dismembered bodies were strewn {and} left in the desert? And to whom did He swear that they should not enter His rest, but to those who disobeyed [who had not listened to His word and who refused to be compliant or be persuaded]? So we see that they were not able to enter [into His rest], because of their unwillingness to adhere to {and} trust in {and} rely on God [unbelief had shut them out].' (Hebrews 3:16-19) (Amplified Bible). Remember these words spoken by my Lord Jesus Christ and let them burn into your brain, into your mind, into your conscience, into your spirit, and decline from unbelief or believing that there is some other way to go to Heaven than what He says with these words, 'Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.' (John 14:6) (Amplified Bible)." Did you get that 'except by (through) Me'? I don't care who you are or how you are, because you are not going to Heaven because your 'good' or think you are good or because you have thought yourself to have done a lot of 'good' things via giving money, talent, or time, you can only go to Heaven if and only when you come to the foot of the Cross of Jesus Christ with nothing, but confessing that you are a rotten filthy sinner who needs His Mercy and Grace, get it, good." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

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…

Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 7

Paul Gives Glory to God for His Grace Part 1

1 Timothy 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; KJV


You would think that immediately after Paul makes a list of offenses, that is, of sins that are against the Holiness of God the Father that he would begin to instruct Timothy or to lecture him on what he must do and how he must do it to keep these sins from entering into the Church of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, but instead the Apostle right away  contemplates or reflects upon the grace of God to himself and gives Him  thanks for it as he writes these words to Brother Timothy, "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;" (1 Timothy 1:12) (KJV). The Apostle Paul didn't see himself as someone special that our Lord Jesus Christ was fortunate to have in His Body, nor did he think of himself as better or greater than other sinners. Paul was humbled by the goodness, graciousness, and the grace of God that was granted to him a vile sinner. The little English phrase 'who hath enabled' is translated by one Greek word endunamoō which means to empower: - enable, to increase one in strength, be made strong.

In other words, Paul was not some super human being even though he had the intellect of someone having multiple PhD's. Paul was just a vile, vicious, and vulgar sinner just as everyone born into the human family is and he needed to have God (Jesus Christ our Lord) to reveal Himself to him just as every sinner on the earth does, for this is what Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church concerning just this, "Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking under the power {and} influence of the [Holy] Spirit of God can [ever] say, Jesus be cursed! And no one can [really] say, Jesus is [my] Lord, except by {and} under the power {and} influence of the Holy Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:3) (Amplified Bible). Paul was just as spiritually blind as any other sinner without Christ even though he was among the religious Jewish Rulers serving as a high ranking member of the Sanhedrin which was the supreme judicial and ecclesiastical council of ancient Jerusalem, yet Paul and every other Sanhedrin member was nothing but a lost sinner in the sight of God the Father whom they supposed themselves to be worshipping.

The Apostle Paul writes here to Brother Timothy that our Lord Jesus Christ Himself counted him faithful and the little English phrase 'he counted' that Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word hēgeomai which means to lead, that is, command (with official authority); figuratively to deem, that is, consider: - account, esteem, judge, suppose, think. In other words, Paul had been not only saved by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, but then He considered and esteemed Paul to be someone He (Christ) could trust with the task of expositing His Holy Word faithfully and without skewing it or softening it to be palatable, that is, acceptable to the sinful mind of humanity. Christ Jesus our Lord counted, considered, and commanded Paul to go forth and clarify the meaning of His Holy Word and the Gospel of Grace without compromise or without bending on the truth to gain popularity, position, or profit, just as Paul said to the Corinthian Church when he wrote these words of his own opinion and advice to them on marriage, "Now concerning the virgins (the marriageable maidens) I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion {and} advice as one who by the Lord's mercy is rendered trustworthy {and} faithful." (1 Corinthians 7:25) (Amplified Bible).

When Paul writes to Timothy the words, 'putting me into the ministry', he is simply saying that it was our Lord Jesus Christ Himself that appointed him into the service (for Him, for Christ) that he was then presently fulfilling by what he was doing and where he was going, just as our Lord Jesus said to Brother Ananias with these words, "But the Lord said to him, Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of Mine to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the descendants of Israel;" (Acts 9:15) (Amplified Bible) and likewise the Apostle Paul affirmed and confirmed this with these words he wrote to the Ephesian Elders shortly before his execution in Rome when he said, "And now, you see, I am going to Jerusalem, bound by the [Holy] Spirit {and} obligated {and} compelled by the [convictions of my own] spirit, not knowing what will befall me there--Except that the Holy Spirit clearly {and} emphatically affirms to me in city after city that imprisonment and suffering await me. But {none of these things move me;} neither do I esteem my life dear to myself, if only I may finish my course {with joy} and the ministry which I have obtained from [which was entrusted to me by] the Lord Jesus, faithfully to attest to the good news (Gospel) of God's grace (His unmerited favor, spiritual blessing, and mercy)." (Acts 20:22-24) (Amplified Bible).

"The Apostle breaks off into expressions of heartfelt thanks to God for the abounding grace which had overcome his former obstinacy and blindness. Only his ignorance could palliate his outrage and insult toward Christ, who was now the beloved object of his entire surrender." F. B. Meyer

"I feel myself under infinite obligation to Christ who hath strengthened me, who hath endued me with various miraculous gifts of His Holy Spirit, and put me into the ministry, the deaconship, the service of mankind, by preaching the Gospel, for that He counted me - He knew that I would be, faithful to the charge that was delivered to me." Adam Clarke

"Ministers, properly speaking, cannot make themselves ministers; for it is Christ's work, as King and Head, Prophet and Teacher, of His Church. Those whom He puts into the ministry He fits for it; whom He calls He qualifies. Those ministers who are no way fit for their work, nor have ability for it, are not of Christ's putting into the ministry, though there are different qualifications as to gifts and graces. Christ gives not only ability, but fidelity, to those whom He puts into the ministry: He counted me faithful; and none are counted faithful but those whom He makes so. Christ's ministers are trusty servants, and they ought to be so, having so great a trust committed to them. A call to the ministry is a great favour, for which those who are so called ought to give thanks to Jesus Christ: I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath put me into the ministry." Matthew Henry

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…

Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 6

Paul Declares to Brother Timothy the Purpose of God's Law Part 4

1 Timothy 1:10-11 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; According to the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. KJV

Now as the Apostle Paul continues to list some of the sins that are against the Holiness of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, let us remind all that this list by no means is a complete list of humanities sin, but it is used here by Paul to see to it that no man or woman be in the business of declaring sinful rebellion as some sort of overlooked human right that needs no cleansing or purifying by the Blood of Christ Jesus our Lord. So, Paul declares this next list of human sin as a lawful use of God's Law being against them as he writes these words, "For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;" (1 Timothy 1:10) (KJV). The English word 'whoremongers' is translated by the Greek word pornos meaning a (male) prostitute (as venal), that is, (by analogy) a debauchee (libertine): - fornicator, whoremonger. In other words, this is the describtion of a man who is morally unrestrained and finds no limits in or to the pursuits of his sexual gratification, even in such activity as rape or sexual molestation of children and in the Law of Moses these words were declared against this very sin as it is written, "Do not profane your daughter by causing her to be a harlot, lest the land fall into harlotry and become full of wickedness. You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary. I am the Lord. Turn not to those [mediums] who have familiar spirits or to wizards; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God." (Leviticus 19:29-31) (Amplified Bible). Likewise in the New Testament here is another place that the Apostle Paul wrote against the sin of being a whoremonger when he wrote this to the Hebrews, "Let marriage be held in honor (esteemed worthy, precious, of great price, and especially dear) in all things. And thus let the marriage bed be undefiled (kept undishonored); for God will judge {and} punish the unchaste [all guilty of sexual vice] and adulterous." (Hebrews 13:4) (Amplified Bible).

The somewhat long English phrase 'for them that defile themselves with mankind' is translated by one Greek word arsenokoitēs which means a sodomite: - abuser of (that defile) self with mankind, that is, a male homosexual who engages in anal copulation (especially a male who engages in anal copulation with another male). In other words, this sin goes against not only the written Law of God given to Moses on Mount Sinai, but also against the law of nature (also this is God's Law) which means for male and female to come together in sexual copulation, therefore, we find God the Father using very strong and harsh language to desribe His punishment for those who commit this sin as it is written, "You shall not lie with a man as with a woman; it is an abomination." (Leviticus 18:22) (Amplified Bible) and "If a man lies with a male as if he were a woman, both men have committed an offense (something perverse, unnatural, abhorrent, and detestable); they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them." (Leviticus 20:13) (Amplified Bible) and "And the men also turned from natural relations with women and were set ablaze (burning out, consumed) with lust for one another--men committing shameful acts with men and suffering in their own bodies {and} personalities the inevitable consequences {and} penalty of their wrong-doing {and} going astray, which was [their] fitting retribution." (Romans 1:27) (Amplified Bible) and lastly "[The wicked are sentenced to suffer] just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the adjacent towns--which likewise gave themselves over to impurity and indulged in unnatural vice {and} sensual perversity--are laid out [in plain sight] as an exhibit of perpetual punishment [to warn] of everlasting fire." (Jude 1:7) (Amplified Bible), you think God the Father could make His view any clearer on this sin, I think not, and every false profit or teacher or biologist or psychologist or DNA specialist or Geneticists or anyone who declares to a boy or teenager or young man 'the lie' that he is born this way deserves the very highest level of the eternal fire that will be theirs in eternity.

The little English phrase 'for menstealers' is translated by the Greek word andrapodistēs which is used this one time only in the New Testament meaning an enslaver (as bringing men to his feet): - men-stealer. In other words, this is the sin against buying and selling another human being as if he or she were any other kind of animal just as occured in this 'so-called' Christian nation the United States of America and went on for a few hundred years, this is what the JFB Commentary has to say concerning this sin, "The most heinous offense against the eighth commandment. No stealing of a man’s goods can equal in atrocity the stealing of a man’s liberty. Slavery is not directly assailed in the New Testament; to have done so would have been to revolutionize violently the existing order of things. But Christianity teaches principles sure to undermine, and at last overthrow it, wherever Christianity has had its natural development (Matthew 7:12)." The English phrases 'for liars' and 'for perjured persons' are pretty self explanatory for the sins of lying, that is, the deliberate act of deviating from the truth or the telling of an untruth to pretend with the intent to deceive leads only to make the sinner engaging in such look like the father of lies the devil (John 8:44). When Paul writes to Timothy these words, 'and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine', he is simply declaring this list not to be including all sin that is opposed to God the Father and to His Holy Word and therefore, every other sin that is opposed to Him and His word is referenced by this statement. It is Paul desire to convey to Brother Timothy that everything he has listed here all conforms to what he received personally from our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ when he met Him long ago on the Damascus road, so Paul now concludes this discourse to Timothy with these words, "According to the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust." (1 Timothy 1:11) (KJV). Paul with these words convey to Timothy and to we believers today that he writes not his thoughts or his opinion or his judgements, but he is the vessel, the conduit, the servant of Christ Jesus our Lord and it is his desire, determination, and his duty to speak the Word of God only and not the word of man (even himself). 

"The sound teaching which is thus commended is Paul's, who teaches in Christ's name and by His authority. In all the three letters it is called the truth, the knowledge of which is bound up with salvation. As truth it is sound or healthful. It is the object of faith. To be sound in the faith is, practically, to follow sound teaching or the truth. The subjective characteristic of Christians is godliness or piety and the teaching and knowledge of the truth are represented as according to godliness. The contents of this sound teaching which is according to godliness are not theoretical or dogmatic truth, but Christian ethics, with faith and love. See truth is used of moral things, rather than in the high religious sense of Paul. Whoever grasps the truth has faith. That the ethical character of faith is emphasized, appears from the numerous expressions regarding the false teachers. There is a tendency to objectify faith, regarding it as something believed rather than as the act of believing. In comparing the ideal of righteousness with that of Paul, note that it is not denied that Christ is the source of true righteousness; but according to Paul, the man who is not under the law is the man who lives by faith in Christ. Paul emphasizes this. It is faith in Christ which sets one free from the law. Here, the man for whom the law is not made is the man who is ethically conformed to the norm of sound teaching. The two conceptions do not exclude each other: the sound teaching is according to the Gospel, but the point of emphasis is shifted." Vincent's Word Studies

"The Gospel is a system of divine revelation. It makes known the will of God. It states what is duty, and accords in its great principles with the law, or is in harmony with it. The law, in principle, forbids all which the Gospel forbids, and in publishing the requirements of the Gospel, therefore, Paul says that the law really forbade all which was prohibited in the Gospel, and was designed to restrain all who would act contrary to that Gospel. There is no contradiction between the law and the Gospel. They forbid the same things, and in regard to morals and true piety, the clearer revelations of the Gospel are but carrying out the principles stated in the law. They who preach the Gospel, then, should not be regarded as arrayed against the law, and Paul says that they who preached the Gospel aright really stated the true principles of the law. This he evidently intends should bear against the false teachers who professed to explain the law of Moses. He means here that if a man wished to explain the law, the best explanation would be found in the Gospel which it was his office to publish; compare (Romans 3:31)." Albert Barnes

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…

Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 5

Paul Declares to Brother Timothy the Purpose of God's Law Part 3

1 Timothy 1:8-9 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, KJV

Paul now gets to the substance of his proclamation of what the purpose of God's Law truly is and that is to show sinful humanity what sin or transgression against a Holy and Perfect God really looks like. The Law of God was not given by Him to Moses to fix man or to change man, but it was to prove to man his wickedness against God the Father and to make man run to the Cross of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ for, redemption, resolution, and regeneration, so Paul first writes these words to Brother Timothy, "But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;" (1 Timothy 1:8) (KJV). First Paul declares that it is understood or perceived that God's Moral Law 'is good' on its on or by nature and this little English phrase is translated by the Greek word kalos meaning properly beautiful, but chiefly (figuratively) good (literally or morally), that is, valuable or virtuous (for appearance or use, honest and worthy. The Moral Law of God is Holy and every man or woman sees that to be true and cannot dispute it at all.

The English word 'lawfully' Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word nomimōs meaning legitimately (specifically agreeably to the rules of the lists): - lawfully. What is the legitimate, legal, and lawful way the Law of God should be used today under the dispensation of grace and the Gospel of Christ? The answer is simple, yet made complicated by so many, it should not be used (as it is by some) as a way of attaining to a higher standard and thus making a man or woman into a righteous man or woman (for this is an impossible attainment), but it should be used as the only means to awaken the sensation of sin that is in every person born under the sun (there are no good people born into humanity, deal with this truth/reality Romans 3:10-12) and its vileness, vulgarity, and vicious nature in order to lead the sinful soul to the only cure being our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the Power in His Cleansing Shed Blood for every sinner, if they will see themselves as such and turn to Him only. This is what the Prophet Nehemiah said concerning the Law of God given to Moses, "You came down also upon Mount Sinai and spoke with them from Heaven and gave them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments. And You made known to them Your holy Sabbath and gave them commandments, statutes, and a law through Moses Your servant." (Nehemiah 9:13-14) (Amplified Bible).

This is what this same Apostle Paul said of himself when he was first awakened to his born sinfulness concerning the Law of God, "We know that the Law is spiritual; but I am a creature of the flesh [carnal, unspiritual], having been sold into slavery under [the control of] sin. For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled, bewildered]. I do not practice {or} accomplish what I wish, but I do the very thing that I loathe [which my moral instinct condemns]. Now if I do [habitually] what is contrary to my desire, [that means that] I acknowledge {and} agree that the Law is good (morally excellent) {and} that I take sides with it. However, it is no longer I who do the deed, but the sin [principle] which is at home in me {and} has possession of me. For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot perform it. [I have the intention and urge to do what is right, but no power to carry it out.]" (Romans 7:14-18) (Amplified Bible). Therefore, it is only when a man or woman sees his or her old nature as the monster it actually is, can they then be open to allowing God the Holy Spirit to do His internal restoration work.

Paul now reminds Brother Timothy of this very fact by writing to him this first list of sins that are contrary to the Holiness of God the Father, "Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers," (1 Timothy 1:9) (KJV). When Paul says here a 'righteous man' this little English phrase is translated by the Greek word dikaios meaning  equitable (in character or act); by implication innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively): - just. In other words, God's Law does not have to be explained to a man or woman that has been born again by the Spirit of God and it does not condemn him, for they/we now know and understand all the things that are opposed to our Heavenly Father and are no longer in the business of rationalizing or apologizing or even justifying our sinful behavior before His Throne of Grace.

Instead we will constantly and continually do what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Hebrews with these words, "Inasmuch then as we have a great High Priest Who has [already] ascended {and} passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith in Him]. For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand {and} sympathize {and} have a shared feeling with our weaknesses {and} infirmities {and} liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning. Let us then fearlessly {and} confidently {and} boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]." (Hebrews 4:14-16) (Amplified Bible).

However, Paul now refers to some as the 'lawless' and the 'disobedient' and the first English word 'lawless' is translated by the Greek word anomos meaning transgressor, unlawful, wicked, and the second English word 'disobedient' is translated by the Greek word anupotaktos meaning unsubdued, that is, insubordinate (in fact or temper): - disobedient, that is not put under, unruly. In other words, the lawless and disobedient are those who do as John Wesley declares with these words, "They who despise the authority of the lawgiver violate the first commandment, which is the foundation of the law, and the ground of all obedience." They do not want our Lord Jesus Christ to rule over them by way of His Holy Spirit and His Holy Word just as our Lord Jesus Himself spoke of at the end of a parable He spoke during His earthly ministry, "[The indignant king ended by saying] But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to reign over them--bring them here and slaughter them in my presence!" (Luke 19:27) (Amplified Bible), Read Luke 19:11-26 for entire parable meaning.

The English word 'ungodly' is translated by the Greek word asebēs which means irreverent, that is, (by extension) impious or wicked. The English word 'sinners' is translated by the Greek word hamartōlos which means sinful, that is, a sinner: - sinful, sinner, which is every human being born into the human family. In other words, Paul declares to Timothy that the Law of God is for those who resist, refuse, or reject the One True God and worship idols like 'Mother Nature' or the 'Stars' or the 'Moon' or anything or anybody that is not the One True and Only God Jesus Christ our Lord. The ungodly and sinners are simply all people void of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, that means, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhist, Wickens, Witches, Wizards, Sorcerers, Spiritualist, or any type religious or spiritual practices apart from or opposed to Jesus Christ.

The English word 'unholy' is translated by the Greek word anosios meaning wicked: - unholy. The English word 'profane' is translated by the Greek word bebēlos meaning heathenish, wicked: - profane (person). In other words, the unholy and profane persons would be those who mock the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and treat His Bloody Sacrifice for man's sin as a trivial thing or of no significance such as do all Atheist and some Agnostics. The two expressions Paul uses here 'murderers of fathers', 'murderers of mothers', and 'for manslayers' are pretty clear in their meanings, even without the Greek translations, that is, the people who willfully plan, plot, and perpetrate the killing of their own Father, Mother, or any other person is abominable and detestable and during the rule of Moses was subject to immediate execution themselves as written for us by Moses with these words, "Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death." (Exodus 21:15) (Amplified Bible).

"The Jews used it unlawfully, as an engine to divide the Church, a cover to the malicious opposition they made to the Gospel of Christ; they set it up for justification, and so used it unlawfully. We must not therefore think to set it aside, but use it lawfully, for the restraint of sin. The abuse which some have made of the law does not take away the use of it; but, when a divine appointment has been abused, call it back to its right use and take away the abuses, for the law is still very useful as a rule of life; though we are not under it as under a covenant of works, yet it is good to teach us what is sin and what is duty. It is not made for a righteous man, that is, it is not made for those who observe it; for, if we could keep the law, righteousness would be by the law (Galatians 3:21): but it is made for wicked persons, to restrain them, to check them, and to put a stop to vice and profaneness. It is the grace of God that changes men's hearts; but the terrors of the law may be of use to tie their hands and restrain their tongues. A righteous man does not want those restraints which are necessary for the wicked; or at least the law is not made primarily and principally for the righteous, but for sinners of all sorts, whether in a greater or less measure." Matthew Henry

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…

Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 4

Paul Declares to Brother Timothy the Purpose of God's Law Part 2

1 Timothy 1:6-7 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. KJV

We learned from the previous verse written by the Apostle Paul that God's agape love produces (in every believer who surrenders and is obedient to the Holy Spirit) a clear, cautious, and clean conscience that is not possible for man/humanity to ever obtained apart from acceptance of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, so we find as Paul continues on in his declaration to Brother Timothy the purpose of God's Law he now shows him what some men have done to the Law while trying to instill to others their great knowledge of the Law, however, they only show their ignorance and the reality of their pride being puffed up (1 Corinthians 8:1) as Paul now writes these words, "From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;" (1 Timothy 1:6) (KJV). When Paul begins this verse with the words, 'From which' he is referring to love and a good conscience. The little English phrase 'having swerved' is translated by the Greek word astocheo meaning to miss the mark, that is, (figuratively) deviate from truth: - err, swerve.

In other words, as we declared in the last study/commentary of Paul's somewhat lengthy description he gave to the Galatian Church on the purpose of God's Law (Galatians 3:19-25) being the truth from God, he is now declaring that some men (specifically Judaizers during his day) had turned aside from 'the truth' because they were void of God's love and a good conscience. Instead of growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, these men began to believe error and then to teach their error to others fashioning it as if it were the truth just as the Apostle Paul warns Timothy is his second letter to him with these words, "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). The little English phrase 'vain jangling' is used this one time only in the entire New Testament and is translated by the Greek word mataiologia meaning random talk, that is, babble: - vain jangling; an idle (that is, senseless or mischievous) talker, that is, a wrangler: - vain talker.

In other words, they were not being contentious  or combative or even controversial because they truly believed that what they said concerning God's Law and the Law of Moses was applicable to the Gospel and to salvation such as what Albert Barnes said with these words, "They were discourses on their pretended distinctions in the law; on their traditions and ceremonies; on their useless genealogies, and on the fabulous statements which they had appended to the Law of Moses" and just as the Apostle Paul declared with these words to Brother Titus in his only letter written to him, "For there are many disorderly {and} unruly men who are idle (vain, empty) {and} misleading talkers and self-deceivers {and} deceivers of others. [This is true] especially of those of the circumcision party [who have come over from Judaism]. Their mouths must be stopped, for they are mentally distressing {and} subverting whole families by teaching what they ought not to teach, for the purpose of getting base advantage {and} disreputable gain." (Titus 1:10-11) (Amplified Bible).

According to this same theme we just read in Paul's words written to Brother Titus, he affirms the exact same theme to Brother Timothy with these words, "Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm." (1 Timothy 1:7) (KJV). The English word 'desiring' Paul use here to describe their intentions is translated by the Greek word thelo which means to determine, that is, choose or prefer (literally or figuratively); by implication to wish, that is, be inclined to; by Hebraism to delight in: - desire, be disposed, intend to, love to, mean to. In other words, they were determined to teach their wrong beliefs because they supposed themselves to be right or correct. When he uses the phrase 'teachers of the law', Paul is making reference to them wanting and intending to be like the Jewish Rabbi's that taught the Law of Moses and so they meant to do the same with the Gospel or faith in Jesus Christ.

They did not understand that Christ Himself is the Teacher by virtue of God the Holy Spirit living in each and everyone of us true believers in Christ just as the Apostle John declared was the case with these words he wrote in one of his epistles, "As for you, keep in your hearts what you have heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the first dwells {and} remains in you, then you will dwell in the Son and in the Father [always]. And this is what He Himself has promised us--the life, the eternal [life]. I write this to you with reference to those who would deceive you [seduce and lead you astray]. But as for you, the anointing (the sacred appointment, the unction) which you received from Him abides [permanently] in you; [so] then you have no need that anyone should instruct you. But just as His anointing teaches you concerning everything and is true and is no falsehood, so you must abide in (live in, never depart from) Him [being rooted in Him, knit to Him], just as [His anointing] has taught you [to do]." (1 John 2:24-27) (Amplified Bible).

"From which - Love and a good conscience. Some are turned aside - An affectation of high and extensive knowledge sets a man at the greatest distance from faith, and all sense of divine things. To vain jangling - And of all vanities, none are more vain than dry, empty disputes on the things of God." John Wesley

"When someone anyone rejects the Word of God as the only truth and the final authority on all matters, then those people are darkened and left devoid of the truth and left disposed to receive error and lies just as the Prophet Jeremiah said in his day to the people of Israel with these words, 'How can you say, We are wise, and we have the written law of the Lord [and are learned in its language and teachings]? Behold, the truth is, the lying pen of the scribes has made of the law a falsehood (a mere code of ceremonial observances). The wise men shall be put to shame; they shall be dismayed and taken [captive]. Behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord, and what wisdom {and} broad, full intelligence is in them?'" Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

"Now some who set up for teachers of the law swerved from the very end of the commandment: they set up for disputers, but their disputes proved vain jangling; they set up for teachers, but they pretended to teach others what they themselves did not understand. If the Church be corrupted by such teachers, we must not think it strange, for we see from the beginning it was so. Observe, [1.] When persons, especially ministers, swerve from the great law of charity - the end of the commandment, they will turn aside to vain jangling; when a man misses his end and scope, it is no wonder that every step he takes is out of the way. [2.] Jangling, especially in religion, is vain; it is unprofitable and useless as to all that is good, and it is very pernicious and hurtful: and yet many people's religion consists of little else but vain jangling. [3.] Those who deal much in vain jangling are fond and ambitious to be teachers of others; they desire (that is, they affect) the office of teaching. [4.] It is too common for men to intrude into the office of the ministry when they are very ignorant of those things about which they are to speak: they understand neither what they say nor whereof they affirm; and by such learned ignorance, no doubt, they edify their hearers very much!" Matthew Henry

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…

Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 3

Paul Declares to Brother Timothy the Purpose of God's Law Part 1

1 Timothy 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: KJV

Paul now turns his focus and attention to reminding Brother Timothy what our Heavenly Father's desires were when He gave His Law to Moses on Mount Sinai. It was not that He wanted to condemn man (man is already condemned because of Adam's sin), but instead He wanted to show man how ugly, unbeautiful, and unworthy he really and truly is by holding up His Divine Holy Mirror, just as the Apostle Paul so instructed, informed, and included in his only letter to the Church @ Galatia with these words, "What then was the purpose of the Law? It was added [later on, after the promise, to disclose and expose to men their guilt] because of transgressions {and} [to make men more conscious of the sinfulness] of sin; and it was intended to be in effect until the Seed (the Descendant, the Heir) should come, to {and} concerning Whom the promise had been made. And it [the Law] was arranged {and} ordained {and} appointed through the instrumentality of angels [and was given] by the hand (in the person) of a go-between [Moses, an intermediary person between God and man]. Now a go-between (intermediary) has to do with {and} implies more than one party [there can be no mediator with just one person].

Yet God is [only] one Person [and He was the sole party in giving that promise to Abraham. But the Law was a contract between two, God and Israel; its validity was dependent on both]. Is the Law then contrary {and} opposed to the promises of God? Of course not! For if a Law had been given which could confer [spiritual] life, then righteousness {and} right standing with God would certainly have come by Law. But the Scriptures [picture all mankind as sinners] shut up {and} imprisoned by sin, so that [the inheritance, blessing] which was promised through faith in Jesus Christ (the Messiah) might be given (released, delivered, and committed) to [all] those who believe [who adhere to and trust in and rely on Him]. Now before the faith came, we were perpetually guarded under the Law, kept in custody in preparation for the faith that was destined to be revealed (unveiled, disclosed), So that the Law served [to us Jews] as our trainer [our guardian, our guide to Christ, to lead us] until Christ [came], that we might be justified (declared righteous, put in right standing with God) by {and} through faith. But now that the faith has come, we are no longer under a trainer (the guardian of our childhood)." (Galatians 3:19-25) (Amplified Bible).

It was Paul's desire to see to it that Timothy always had the proper perspective concerning God's Moral Law and the Mosaic Laws in sharp contrast to the false teachers who had a rigid warped view of them and only served to lead people into bondage and not into the liberty that is found only in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, so Paul writes these words to Timothy, "Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:" (1 Timothy 1:5) (KJV). As we declared in the last study/commentary the English word 'commandment' means God's mandate, His charge to humanity. Paul here declares to Timothy that the 'end' which is translated by the Greek word telos and means (by implication) the conclusion of an act or state (termination [literally, figuratively or indefinitely], result [immediate, ultimate or prophetic], purpose). The English word 'charity' is translated by the Greek word agape which simply means God's love, that is, love is who and what He is and not just what He does, it is the highest love that exist.

Therefore, Paul is declaring to Timothy that God's destination for His Commandments is love that can only be realized or found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and this is how Paul explained 'love' to the believers in Rome (which in my opinion is the best definition of real love in the Word of God), "Keep out of debt {and} owe no man anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor [who practices loving others] has fulfilled the Law [relating to one's fellowmen, meeting all its requirements]. The commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet (have an evil desire), and any other commandment, are summed up in the single command, You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself. Love does no wrong to one's neighbor [it never hurts anybody]. Therefore love meets all the requirements {and} is the fulfilling of the Law." (Romans 13:8-10) (Amplified Bible). Someone can declare a man or woman to be loving all they want, but if they willfully, willingly, and wantingly hurt others (in any way) they have never known God the Father's agape love, I don't care how many hospitals, schools, or water wells they build or how much money they give away for other purposes.

God's love is 'pure' and this English word is translated by the Greek word katharos meaning crystal clear and clean. Therefore, the man or woman who loves as God loves never does it for attention or notoriety, but it comes from a 'heart' that has been made 'good' by the cleansing Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord and wants to now please Him. The English word 'heart' Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word kardia meaning (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind). The English word 'good' Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word agathos meaning simply well or good literally or morally; valuable or virtuous. The English word 'conscience' is translated by the Greek word suneidesis meaning co-perception, that is, moral consciousness: to understand or become aware.

In other words, Paul is teaching Timothy and we believers today that our aim, our effort, our goal is Jesus Christ for He is Perfect Love, so our goal is to grow in love only when we are meeting the conditions of growth and that being when our thoughts and feelings, that is, our mind is consumed with virtuous thoughts being aware of our sinfulness and bringing said sins to the foot of our Lord Jesus Christ' Cross for constant, continuous, cleansing that our conscience will always affirm us and not condemn us, just as the Apostle John declares would be the case with these words, "If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude {and} lead ourselves astray, and the Truth [which the Gospel presents] is not in us [does not dwell in our hearts]. If we [freely] admit that we have sinned {and} confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]." (1 John 1:8-9) (Amplified Bible). This is faith 'unfeigned' and this English word is translated by the Greek word anupokritos which means undissembled, that is, sincere: - without dissimulation (hypocrisy), unfeigned.

"These genealogical questions lead to strife and debate; and the dispensation of God leads to love both to God and man, through faith in Christ. These genealogical questions leave the heart under the influence of all its vile tempers and evil propensities; Faith in Jesus purifies the heart. No inquiry of this kind can add to any thing by which the guilt of sin can be taken away; but the Gospel proclaims pardon, through the Blood of the Lamb, to every believing penitent. The end, aim, and design of God in giving this dispensation to the world is, that men may have an unfeigned faith, such as lays hold on Christ crucified, and produces a good conscience from a sense of the pardon received, and leads on to purity of heart; Love to God and man being the grand issue of the grace of Christ here below, and this fully preparing the soul for eternal glory. He whose soul is filled with love to God and man has a pure heart, a good conscience, and unfeigned faith. But these blessings no soul can ever acquire, but according to God’s dispensation of faith." Adam Clarke

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…

Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 2

Paul Instructs Brother Timothy to Command the Brethren to Teach No Other Doctrine

1 Timothy 1:3-4 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. KJV

After completing his greeting to Brother Timothy, the Apostle Paul immediately wants to fortify Timothy in his duty to our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and in so doing the first object of Paul's concern is that Timothy not sit idlely by and watch people add to or take away from the Gospel of Christ or the Gospel of Grace so he writes these words to him, "As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine," (1 Timothy 1:3) (KJV). Apparently Paul had already instructed Timothy to do this very thing in the city of Ephesus where the Church @ Ephesus was founded and now he wants Timothy to be mindful to do the same in every place where the true Gospel of Grace has been preached. The little English phrase 'thou mightest charge' is translated by one Greek word paraggello meaning to transmit a message, that is, (by implication) to enjoin: - to give charge, give commandment, declare. The little English phrase 'that they teach no other doctrine' is translated by one Greek word heterodidaskaleō meaning simply to instruct differently: In other words, Paul knew that there were men going about espousing, exploring, and even embracing other ideology that had nothing at all to do with sin, salvation, and security eternally. However, the Gospel of Grace addresses each of these and is the answer for them all.

Therefore, here he instructs Brother Timothy to command everyone to not teach any ideas, theories, philosophies, etc. that are not according to the Gospel of Christ, for none have any power to save sinners eternally and they are useless, just as the Apostle declared to the wayward brethren in the Church @ Galatia with these very strong words, "I am surprised {and} astonished that you are so quickly turning renegade {and} deserting Him Who invited {and} called you by the grace (unmerited favor) of Christ (the Messiah) [and that you are transferring your allegiance] to a different [even an opposition] gospel. Not that there is [or could be] any other [genuine Gospel], but there are [obviously] some who are troubling {and} disturbing {and} bewildering you [with a different kind of teaching which they offer as a gospel] and want to pervert {and} distort the Gospel of Christ (the Messiah) [into something which it absolutely is not]. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to {and} different from that which we preached to you, let him be accursed (anathema, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment)! As we said before, so I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel different from {or} contrary to that which you received [from us], let him be accursed (anathema, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment)!" (Galatians 1:6-9) (Amplified Bible).

We see how strongly Paul felt about anyone who would pervert the true Gospel of Grace and so he wants Timothy to be as strong in his condemnation of the teachers of false, frivolous, and even foul language passed off as it were from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His Teaching. At the time of this letter, the Apostle Paul's primary contentions were with those Jews (known as the Judaizers), that is, Jews who went about the Churches of Jesus Christ declaring to the believers that they still needed to practice and obey the Jewish Mosaic Laws, even that Gentiles needed to be circumcised after they had accepted Christ (Galatians 5:7-12), so now Paul instructs Timothy with these words reminding him of the urgency of the hour, "Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do." (1 Timothy 1:4) (KJV). The first English word 'neither' used to begin this sentence is much more authoritative in its meaning, for it is translated by the Greek word  mēde meaning but not, not even; in a continued negation, nor: - neither, nor (yet), (no) not (once, so much as).

The little English phrase 'give heed' is translated by the Greek word prosechō meaning to pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to: - be given to, have regard for. The English word 'fables' is translated by the Greek word muthos which means simply a tale, that is, fiction (“myth”): The Apostle Paul's use of the words 'endless' 'geneoligies' is not a refute of those who would trace their family line or family tree back so many generations, but it was a swipe at the Judaizers who supposed that they only had some super special insight into mysteries deeper than any others could and according to the JFB Commentary "This formed the transition stage between Judaism and Gnosticism." In other words, Paul wanted Brother Timothy to never not even once pay attention to those men teaching this sort of nonsense or garbage because it had its basis not in truth, but in fiction, fantasy, fairy tales. These people Paul declares only present, promote, and propogate questions, that is, the cause for disputes which are not necessary because the Word of God is the Word of Truth and the Final Authority on all matters and it is the only message that can build up humanity.

"The Word of God was so sacred to the Apostle Paul and he burned with fury, fierceness, and fiery indignation when he saw others perverting it for profit or for status among people, so he commands Timothy to command those under his authority to never give heed to anyone who adds to or takes away from the Word of God, this is what Paul said to the Corinthian Church concerning those people and concerning himself, 'For we are not, like so many, [like hucksters making a trade of] peddling God's Word [shortchanging and adulterating the divine message]; but like [men] of sincerity {and} the purest motive, as [commissioned and sent] by God, we speak [His message] in Christ (the Messiah), in the [very] sight {and} presence of God.' (2 Corinthians 2:17) (Amplified Bible)." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

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…

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

Paul Greets Brother Timothy

1 Timothy 1:1-2 Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. KJV

There are a total of 27 Books in the New Testament and the Apostle Paul is the author of 14 of those letters. Four (4) of those letters were written to a person and the remaining ten (10) were written to entire Churches. All four (4) personal letters are recorded in the Bible one after the other. We have come to the first of Paul's letters written to a single person and this person is Brother Timothy or Timotheus as he is referred to in the Scripture. His name is mentioned in the Scripture some 28 times total. Paul begins his first letter to Timothy in the same manner as he did with most of the Churches he wrote to by acknowledging who he was 'in Christ' with these words, "Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;" (1 Timothy 1:1) (KJV). Let's remind ourselves what a true 'Apostle' meant then and means now. The little phrase 'an Apostle' Paul uses to describe, declare, and define himself as is translated by the Greek word apostolos meaning  a delegate; specifically an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ (Apostle), (with miraculous powers): - Apostle, messenger, he that is sent.

Paul was unique from the other disciples of Christ, in that, he (like Peter, James, John, etc.) had seen the Risen Christ and was given miraculous or miracle working power by the Holy Spirit that worked through him. This was not because Paul was special or more loved by our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, but because it was in the Sovereign purpose, priority, and plan of our Lord Jesus Christ as the Apostle Paul acknowledges when he writes 'by the commandment of God our Saviour'. The little phrase 'the commandment' is translated by the Greek word epitage which means an injunction or decree; by implication authoritativeness: - authority, commandment. In other words, Paul was selected by our Lord Jesus Christ to carry out the plan of God as a priority to Him to get His Will done for that time and place specifically, so He did then with other people in other places, just as He does today and in every generation and era to accomplish His purposes. Our hope, that is, our confident expectation now and for all eternity rest in and can only be found in our Lord Jesus Christ as John Wesley puts it, "The author, object, and ground, of all our hope."

Now Paul begins to declare to Brother Timothy how he sees him and feels about him as a fellow follower of Jesus Christ beginning with these words, "Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord." (1 Timothy 1:2) (KJV). The Apsotle Paul referred to those who were born again by God the Holy Spirit under his preaching of the Gospel of Grace as his 'sons', just as he did of the brethren in Corinth at the same time sending Timothy to them and declaring to the Corinthian believers Timothy to be his son in the faith with these words, "I do not write this to shame you, but to warn {and} counsel you as my beloved children. After all, though you should have ten thousand teachers (guides to direct you) in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the glad tidings (the Gospel). So I urge {and} implore you, be imitators of me. For this very cause I sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and trustworthy child in the Lord, who will recall to your minds my methods of proceeding {and} course of conduct {and} way of life in Christ, such as I teach everywhere in each of the Churches." (1 Corinthians 4:14-17) (Amplified Bible). The little English phrase 'my own' Paul uses in verse 2 (speaking of Timothy) is translated by the Greek word gnesios meaning legitimate (of birth), that is, genuine: - own, sincerity, true. Paul greets Timothy in this first letter much the same as he does the letters he writes to the Churches, except here (for his son in the faith Timothy) Paul adds that God the Father would grant to him not only grace and peace, but mercy which is the most tender of our Heavenly Father's graces to us, for it includes in it God's compassion to us weak, wayward, and wanting human creatures.

"The relation of Paul to Timothy is an example of one of those beautiful friendships between an older and a younger man, in which each is the complement of the other. Timothy was a lad of fifteen when converted at Lystra, and was probably about thirty-five years of age when this Epistle was addressed to him. He was enthusiastic and devoted but at times showed signs of timidity, and the Apostle watched over him with tender interest." F. B. Meyer

"Some have observed that whereas in all the epistles to the Churches the apostolical benediction is grace and peace, in these two epistles to Timothy and that to Titus it is grace, mercy, and peace: as if ministers had more need of God's mercy than other men. Ministers need more grace than others, to discharge their duty faithfully; and they need more mercy than others, to pardon what is amiss in them: and if Timothy, so eminent a minister, must be indebted to the mercy of God, and needed the increase and continuance of it, how much more do we ministers, in these times, who have so little of his excellent spirit!" Matthew Henry

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…