1 Timóteo 4
Charles Spurgeon · Citado em PreceptAustin
1 Timóteo 4
Spurgeon - READING: 1 Timothy 4:6–16 Do you think it an easy thing to stand before the people and deliver a message which you believe you have received from God? If you so imagine, I wish you would try it. He that finds it easy work to preach, will find it hard work to give an account of his preaching at the last great day. One has carefully to look around, and think while he is preaching, ‘I must mind that I do not put this truth in such a way as to exaggerate it into a falsehood. I must not so encourage the weak that I dwarf the strong, nor so commend the strong as to grieve the weak. I must not so preach the grace of God as to give latitude to sin: I must not so denounce sin as to drive men to despair.’ Our path is often narrow as a razor’s edge, and we keep on crying in our spirit, while we are speaking, ‘Lord, direct me! Lord, help me to deal wisely for thee with all these souls!’ The anxieties which we feel in connection with our pulpit work are enough to make us old before our time. I have heard of one who thought he would give up his ministry because he had so small a chapel, into which he could not get more than two hundred people; but a good old man said to him, ‘You will find it quite hard enough to give a good account of two hundred at the last great day.’ It is an idle ambition to desire a large congregation, unless that desire is altogether for God’s glory, for we only increase our responsibilities when we increase the area of our influence. Still, some are responsible for not having a large congregation. If their dullness keeps people from hearing, they do not thereby escape from responsibility. To speak aright God’s Word beneath the divine influence is, in the speaking as well as in the getting of the message, the burden of the Lord. FOR MEDITATION: (Our Own Hymn Book, no. 900 v.2—John Jo Warren
1 Timóteo 4
Spurgeon - “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.”—1 Tim. 4:15. THIS is, practically, a promise that, by diligent meditation and the giving up of our whole mind to our work for the Lord, we shall make a progress which all can see. Not by hasty reading, but by deep meditation, we profit by the Word of God. Not by doing a great deal of work in a slovenly manner, but by giving our best thought to what we attempt, we shall get real profit. “In all labour there is profit,” but not in fuss and hurry without true heart-energy. If we divide ourselves between God and mammon, or Christ and self, we shall make no progress. We must give ourselves wholly to holy things, or else we shall be poor traders in heavenly business, and at our stock-taking no profit will be shown. Am I a minister? Let me be a minister wholly, and not spend my energies upon secondary concerns. What have I to do with party politics, or vain amusements? Am I a Christian? Let me make my service of Jesus my occupation, my life-work, my one pursuit. We must be in-and-in with Jesus, and then out-and-out for Jesus, or else we shall make neither progress nor profit, and neither the church nor the world will feel that forceful influence which the Lord would have us exercise. 1 Timothy 4:15 A LETTER FROM J. EDGAR HOOVER Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear to all. 1 Timothy 4:15 The chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation has often stressed the importance of family Bible reading. Some years ago in a letter to the American Bible Society he said, "Inspiration has been the keynote of America's phenomenal growth … and the backbone of its greatness… This inspiration has been from faith in God … and in the belief that the Holy Bible is His inspired Word. Reading the Scriptures within the family circle is more important today than ever before. As a small boy I sat at my mother's knee while she read the Word to me and explained its meanings with stories as we went along. It served to make the bond of faith between us much stronger. Then there were those wonderful nights when my father would gather all the children around him and read aloud verses from the Bible. This led to family discussions which were interesting, lively, and informative. Those wonderful sessions left me with an imprint of the power of faith and … prayer which has sustained me in trying moments throughout my life." Regrettably, family altars are fast disappearing from the American scene. People are too busy. The family is seldom together long enough to enjoy such sweet moments of fellowship — and the world is much the poorer for it! The Word of God constantly admonishes us to meditate upon its contents, for only as we absorb its teachings, believe its promises, and hide its precepts in our hearts can we prosper spiritually and live the "more abundant life." How precious is the Book divine, By inspiration given! Bright as a lamp its precepts shine, To guide our souls to Heaven. — J. Fawcett A Bible that is falling apart usually belongs to a person who is not! 1 Timothy 4:16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. KJV 1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. NKJ 1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. NET 1 Timothy 4:16 Be conscientious about how you live and what you teach. Persevere in this, because by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you. BGT 1 Timothy 4:16 ἔπεχε σεαυτῷ καὶ τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ, ἐπίμενε αὐτοῖς· τοῦτο γὰρ ποιῶν καὶ σεαυτὸν σώσεις καὶ τοὺς ἀκούοντάς σου. CSB 1 Timothy 4:16 Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for by doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers. ESV 1 Timothy 4:16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. NIV 1 Timothy 4:16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. NLT 1 Timothy 4:16 Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you. YLT 1 Timothy 4:16 take heed to thyself, and to the teaching; remain in them, for this thing doing, both thyself thou shalt save, and those hearing thee. MIT 1 Timothy 4:16 Give attention to yourself and to teaching. Keep committed to these, for in so doing you will preserve both yourself and those who listen to you. NJB 1 Timothy 4:16 Be conscientious about what you do and what you teach; persevere in this, and in this way you will save both yourself and those who listen to you. NRS 1 Timothy 4:16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers. RSV 1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed to yourself and to your teaching; hold to that, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. NAB 1 Timothy 4:16 Attend to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in both tasks, for by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you. GWN 1 Timothy 4:16 Focus on your life and your teaching. Continue to do what I've told you. If you do this, you will save yourself and those who hear you. BBE 1 Timothy 4:16 Give attention to yourself and your teaching. Go on in these things; for in doing so you will get salvation for yourself and for those who give hearing to you. Pay close attention 1 Chronicles 28:10; 2 Chronicles 19:6; Mark 13:9; Luke 21:34; Acts 20:28; 1 Cor 3:10,11; Col 4:17; 2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 2:7,15; Hebrews 12:15; 2 John 1:8 to your teaching 1 Ti 4:6; 1:3; Romans 16:17; Eph 4:14; Titus 2:7; Hebrews 13:9; 2 John 1:9 Persevere Acts 6:4; 26:22; Romans 2:7; 2 Timothy 3:14; Titus 1:9 You will ensure Ezekiel 3:19-21; 33:7-9; Acts 20:26,27; 1 Cor 9:27 Both for yourself and for those who hear you Isaiah 55:11; Jer 23:22; Romans 10:10-14; 11:14; 1 Cor 9:22; 1 Th 2:16,19,20; 2 Timothy 2:10; Philemon 1:19; James 5:20 PREACHER SAVE THYSELF! Closely scrutinize your private life that it might authenticate your public ministry. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching - This is good advice not just for Timothy and for all pastors, but for all saints. It reminds me that we need to watch over our own heart because out of our mouths comes that which fills our heart. We need to be prepared for as Paul says in 2 Ti 2:21+ "Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work." As Solomon advised "Watch (Lxx = tereo in present imperative which calls for us to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey the command) over your heart with all diligence, For (a crucial, vital term of explanation!!!) from it flow the springs of life." (Pr 4:23+) “Be on guard (prosecho in the present imperative) for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. (Acts 20:28+) Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on (present tense) those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away (ekklino in present imperative which calls for us to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) from them.(Romans 16:17+) Pay close attention (1907)(epecho from epí = upon + écho = have, hold) means literally have or hold upon. To hold fast. To hold firmly to (hold firmly to a particular belief) To give attention to, then to hold one's mind toward. Note the command is a present imperative which calls for us to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey the command. Teaching (doctrine) (1319)(didaskalia from didasko from dáo = to know or teach) is either the act of teaching or the thing taught and in this use denotes doctrine or what is taught. The term doctrine in Scripture "is broader than a simple reference to information passed on from one person to another or from one generation to the next. Christianity is a religion founded on a message of good news rooted in the significance of the life of Jesus Christ. In Scripture, then, doctrine refers to the entire body of essential theological truths that define and describe that message (1Ti 1:10; 4:16; 6:3; Titus 1:9). The message includes historical facts, such as those regarding the events of the life of Jesus Christ (1Cor 11:23). But it is deeper than biographical facts alone. As J. Gresham Machen pointed out years ago, Jesus’ death is an integral historical fact but it is not doctrine. Jesus’ death for sins (1Cor 15:3) is doctrine. (Sound) Doctrine, then, is scriptural teaching on theological truths." (parenthesis added) (Elwell, W. A., & Elwell, W. A. The Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - online - an excellent resource) Thomas Watson - Meditation is the chewing upon the truths we have heard: the beasts in the old law that did not chew the cud, were unclean; the christian that doth not by meditation chew the cud, is to be accounted unclean. Meditation is like the watering of the seed, it makes the fruits of grace flourish. RELATED RESOURCES: Baker Evangelical Dictionary Doctrine Charles Buck Dictionary Doctrine Holman Bible Dictionary Doctrine Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible Doctrine Hastings' Dictionary of the NT Doctrine International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Doctrine What is false doctrine? What is doctrine? Why is sound doctrine so important? Why is Christian doctrine so divisive? What is orthopraxy/orthopraxis? Persevere (epmeno in present imperative which calls for us to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) in these things - This begs the question "What things?" Paying attention to his own soul and to his teaching. Persevere (remain, stay, tarry) (also in the present imperative) (1961)(epimeno from epí = upon, in or at + meno = abide, endure, continue, stay or remain > epí intensifies the meaning and so this word is a strengthened form of meno and gives the force of adherence to and persistence in what is referred to) means literally to tarry, to stay at or with, to abide in, to continue in. Charles Swindoll writes that "The key to successful ministry, in a word, is perseverance. In fact, perseverance IS ministry success; the only way to fail in ministry is to back off and give up. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that perseverance is also the minister's greatest challenge. Discouragement seemingly comes from nowhere to knock us flat. Criticism makes us wonder why we should stay at it. Laziness promises the work will be easier tomorrow. Greed looks for greener grass in another occupation. Idealism wearily wrestles with futility. Hope barely staves off fatigue. Determination eventually overcomes doubt. But if the minister isn't seeing results or receiving encouragement from the congregation, then resignation will likely follow. Faithful expositors need few things to keep them going . . . but encouragement is one of them....(and) there's no better proof of an authentic ministry than perseverance. Ministers don't succeed in ministry because of brains, talent, charisma, or interpersonal skills. Ministers succeed by hanging tough through difficult seasons—so expect difficult seasons. Ministers persevere through disappointment—so hang tough. Successful ministers don't let dirty politics get the best of them. They refuse to quit when people criticize or run after false teaching. Success for the minister is faithfully carrying out the duties of ministry, day in and day out, in season and out of season, year after year, regardless of the results." (See Insights on 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus) For (gar) - Term of explanation. This forces you to ask what is Paul explaining? And this time the answer is fairly clear cut. Paul gives what in essence is a promise (conditioned on his obedience to the preceding commands). You will ensure salvation - NET translates it "you will save both yourself and those who listen to you." Third Millennium - While God alone grants salvation (1 Tim. 1:1; 2:3; 4:10), he is pleased to use his people as instruments (secondary causes or agents) in bringing salvation to others. Unlike the thief on the cross, in a sense, salvation is not completed when one initially comes to faith. To be sure, faith brings regeneration, justification, adoption, and the assurance of salvation. One is sealed by the Holy Spirit. One is eternally God's. However, initial repentance and saving faith also begin the lifelong process of sanctification, which is not completed until the Christian's earthly life has ended. Progressive sanctification (which differs from definitive sanctification, see below) is a work of God (Phil 2:13) that demands the cooperative activity of the Christian (Phil. 2:12). Ron Teed - Paul concludes his remarks to Timothy regarding the qualities of a noble servant by commanding him to pay close attention to himself and his teaching. Each of the characteristics of an excellent minister found in 1 Timothy four, verses 6-16, fit into one of these two categories: A true man/woman of God will concentrate totally on personal holiness and public instruction. Such behavior on the part of a minister will not only confirm his/her salvation but will also bring a reward when the minister stands before the judgment seat of Christ at the Rapture. This will be an indication of true salvation both for the minister and for those whom he teaches. It will bring about salvation for him in the sense that final salvation, deliverance from sin and entrance into eternal glory, demands perseverance. Persevering in the faith is a mark of genuine salvation. If you are truly saved, if you have confessed to God that you are a sinner in need of a Savior, and have accepted the death of Jesus as payment for your sins, then the Holy Spirit lives within you and will stand by you when the going gets tough. He will not let you slip away no matter what the persecution might involve. It is those who simply say they are Christians, when they do not have a clue what it truly means to be a Christian, who will break ranks and be led away by false teaching and fear. - John 8:31, Matthew 10:22 Such perseverance is the result of daily Scripture reading, devotion, prayer, meditation, sharing the Gospel, and of course obedience. Such perseverance is only possible by the power of God and the submission of the believer to the Holy Spirit When a minister lives his/her life in this way, he/she will be the channel through which God brings to salvation those who are willing to acknowledge that Christ is the One-and Only true Savior. This should be the goal of each and every minister,1 7F 18 and it should be your goal as well. (Ibid) As you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you - Paul is not implying Timothy would or could earn his salvation by paying close attention and persevering but that he would assure an abundant entrance into paradise. Peter writes "Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent (aorist imperative - Do it now! Don't delay! It is urgent!) to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for (Term of explanation) in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. (2 Peter 1:10-11+) Believers all participate in the Three Tenses of Salvation - (1) past - justification, (2) present - sanctification and (3) future - glorification. Timothy has been saved and there is nothing he can add to his past tense salvation (justification). But he is now being sanctified, daily, progressively set apart from the world and unto God, progressively being transformed into the image of God's Son (2 Cor 3:18+) and it is this phase of his "salvation" that he is exhorted to "ensure." And so for example Paul wrote "work out your salvation in fear and trembling" (Php 2:12+), which describes Timothy's and every believer's charge to obey - work out! But praise God, Paul adds a small preposition following this command -- "for." The "for" serves as a term of explanation, and explains how Timothy and all of us will even be enabled to work out our salvation. And so what is the explanation? Paul explains you can work it out, because of what God works in (so to speak). He says "for it is God in you (the indwelling Spirit Who is continually energizing or) "working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. (Php 2:13NLT+). John writes "Watch (blepo in the present imperative) yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward (cf 2 Cor 5:10+, Rev 22:12+)." (2 John 1:8) Vance Havner - January 16. Have You Paid Attention To Yourself Lately? 1 Timothy 4:16 Are you constantly serving others without giving yourself needed times of rest and refreshing? Or do you remember that you have spiritual needs too? When Paul wrote First Timothy 4:16, Timothy was a young pastor working ferociously to see his ministry succeed. Timothy was serving as the pastor of the giant church of Ephesus—the world's largest church at that time. In the process, he was learning to deal with all the problems that go along with serving as the senior pastor of such a large church. Timothy was discovering that taking care of a large church was an all-consuming task. He was giving every ounce of himself to serve the needs of that church and to make sure it was well taken care of. In fact, he was so busy taking care of everything and everyone else that he was forgetting to take care of himself! Have you ever been guilty of running around and taking care of everyone else except yourself? Have you ever gotten so busy helping others that you forfeited your own vital time with God? Be honest! Have you ever done this so regularly that you began to feel drained, and you knew it was because you weren't taking care of your own spiritual needs? That's why Paul admonished Timothy, "Take heed unto thyself...." This phrase "take heed" comes from the Greek word epecho, which is a compound of the words ep and echo. The word ep means on, and the word echo means to have or to hold. When these two words are compounded into one word, it means to grab hold of something very tightly. In other words, the word epecho describes an extremely firm grip. It's so easy to get distracted by other things that scream for your attention. However, if your relationship with God suffers because you are trying to help everyone else, it will just be a matter of time until you run dry, lose your energy and passion, and have nothing more to offer. This is exactly what was happening to Timothy! If he was to continue serving as an effective minister to other people, he had to set aside some private time to develop his own relationship with God. Greg Laurie - THE IMPORTANCE OF DOCTRINE Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. (1 Timothy 4:16) Theology and doctrine are not trivial matters. Yet there are people today who set aside biblical teaching and say, “I just want to experience God. I don’t want to argue over doctrine. I just want to love Jesus.” That is a nice sentiment, but it is also a very dangerous one. It means they might end up loving the wrong Jesus. They might end up believing the wrong doctrine. That is why the Bible exhorts us again and again to have our lives and doctrine in order. One of the reasons so many people are falling prey to false teachings today is that they do not have a grip on good Bible teaching. I once heard a statistic that 80 percent of people who are pulled into various cult groups were once part of a church. That isn’t necessarily saying they were believers, but it is saying that these people had some church involvement at some point in their lives. If that statistic is correct, then it is alarming. It shows there are people who could have spent time in church, maybe a lot of time, but because they didn’t have their doctrine in order, they were led down the wrong road. If you have your doctrine in order, if you know what the Bible teaches, then you will be able to refute false teaching and defend your faith. It’s what Jude means by exhorting Christians to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). Robert Neighbour - “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine.” (I Tim. 4:16.) Unto thyself give heed, weigh well each word and deed. Make them a faithful witness to thy creed; Then, when shall set thy sun, thine earthly race be run, The Lord will grant to thee a large “well done.” But should’st thou press thy creed, to doctrine give thine heed, And yet defame Thy Lord in word and deed; Then let me thee remind, that thou shalt surely find God will not grant a “well done” to thy kind. HOW strongly does the admonition ring out: “Take heed to thyself.” Someone asserts, “I am for pure doctrine.” We will do well to note, however, God’s order. God places “thyself” before the “doctrine,” thus putting the emphasis on the life. Both are necessary; both, indeed, are vital, but the Christ in your life is more to be desired than the Christ in your creed. We are deeply sorrowed by the sweep of the present day apostasy. Denials of the faith, and negations of the Christ, are heard on every hand. The destructive force of modernism can hardly be overstated. However, there is one menace that is even greater. That is the menace of worldliness. Bad doctrine is bad, very bad; however, bad living is worse, much worse. Christians, who boast their orthodoxy, should first be able to proclaim their separation and holiness. The world will lose its faith in Christianity far more quickly on the rocks of Christless Christians, than upon the rocks of Christless theology. Lord, may I live what I profess; The faith I hold, may I possess In life, and words, and holiness; Lord, keep me true. To doctrine, I would give due heed, Yet, may my life adorn my creed, Thus meeting all my brother’s need In what I say, and do. There is one other desire that lies deep down in our hearts. It is this: We want not only to have a good life and true faith, but we want also to have the power of God manifested in both. There is too much “form of godliness” around these days, and too little of the power thereof.