Walking With Christ

Webers.Home · Jan 20, 2022

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• 1Tim 5:3-4 . . Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in
need. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, her kin should learn first
of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so
repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.

A widow in real need would be one who is unable to work and has no one of
her own to look out after her. Here in modern America that situation isn't
nearly as serious as it is in third world countries where there are no
government assistance programs for senior citizens. So you can see that in
those circumstances a widow's church may be the only thing between her
and grinding poverty.

A widow's Christian progeny have a sacred obligation to provide for their
aging ancestor.

"Those who won't care for their own kin, especially those living in the same
household, have disregarded what we believe. Such people are worse than
infidels." (1Tim 5:8)
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Webers.Home · Jan 21, 2022

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• 1Tim 5:5-7 . .The widow who is really in need, and left all alone, puts her
hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.
But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. Give the
people these instructions, too, so that no one may be open to blame.

The New Testament Greek word for "pleasure" means voluptuous; which
Webster's defines as luxury and/or sensual gratification.

People who live only for the best that life has to offer generally regard
religion as a ball and chain holding them back from living their lives to the
fullest. Well; not everyone has access to either the means or the
wherewithal to live life to the fullest. For some, life offers no options other
than a tin shack, a dirt floor, and a bowl of white rice; if that.

Basic necessities aren't the issue here, rather, the goal to satisfy one's
appetite for the best that life has to offer. It's said that one cannot serve
God and money, well neither can one serve God and one's inherent cravings.
True, it's difficult to stop one's self from craving the best that life has to
offer; but one can choose whether to let the satisfaction of those cravings be
the dominant force in their life.

"Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the concerns
of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things come
in and choke the word, making it unfruitful." (Mark 4:18-19)
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Webers.Home · Jan 22, 2022

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• 1Tim 5:9-10 . . No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is
over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, and is well known for her good
deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of
the saints, helping those in trouble, and devoting herself to all kinds of good
deeds.

There are unprincipled individuals out there who love nothing better than
taking advantage of a church's good nature and its desire to be helpful.
Following Paul's instructions is a good way to avoid being victimized by one
of them. (cf. Ruth 2:11)
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Webers.Home · Jan 23, 2022

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• 1Tim 5:11 . . Refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to
grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, having condemnation
because they have cast off their first faith.

The Greek words for "first faith" don't necessarily have to do with
chronology. The word for "first" is protos (pro'-tos) which is somewhat
ambiguous. It can refer to— besides chronology —priority, i.e. order of
importance.

The passage seems to me a caution that there's always the possibility that
young widows will want to get married bad enough to do so contrary to
Christ's wishes that they marry only someone from among his followers
(2Cor 6:14, 1Cor 7:39) thus failing to maintain their loyalty to a higher
power. (cf. Luke 14:26-27)
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Webers.Home · Jan 24, 2022

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• 1Tim 5:14 . . I will that younger women marry, have children, manage
their homes, and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.

The Greek word for "younger" actually means new and unused; so I'd say
that Paul's orders are for girls not yet married and settled down, and maybe
thinking of putting all that off awhile for careers, adventure, and/or
whatever.

A very real danger for young single women is immorality. Desire, loneliness,
and longings for appreciation, have a way of building up to unbearable levels
in people who live alone; and just about that time, along comes a really
great somebody who maybe breaks down their defenses and gets a little too
chummy. That can be a difficult moment.

"To avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman
have her own husband." (1Cor 7:2)

NOTE: Immorality isn't the only danger related to long-term celibacy. Those
who've decided on that path need to think rationally and objectively about
their future; and ask themselves: Do I really want to live out my youth
without someone; alone and unloved in the world? Can I bear up without a
nervous break-down and/or turning to alcohol, Prozac, and overeating? Will I
become irritable and difficult, and/or a chronic man-hater like aunt Lucy?

Have to be brutally honest with these questions because one's mental health
is on the line here. It's very possible for a woman to wake up one day and
realize, with terrible regret, that the aging process has set in and she's
allowed the very best years of life for love and family to slip through her
fingers.
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Webers.Home · Jan 25, 2022

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• 1Tim 5:16 . . If any believing man or woman have widows, let them relieve
them, and let not the church be responsible; that it may relieve them that
are widows indeed.

A "widow indeed" is defined by 1Tim 5:9-10 and usually a woman who has no
one else and/or nowhere else to turn.
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Webers.Home · Jan 26, 2022

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• 1Tim 5:17-18 . .The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are
worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and
teaching. For the scripture says: "Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading
out the grain" and "The laborer is worthy of his hire."

The Greek word for "elder" is presbuteros (pres-boo'-ter-os). It corresponds
to aldermen; which Webster's defines as: members of a legislative body. In
other words; elders enact and enforce the proprietary rules and bylaws that
govern everybody in a local church; including its pastor.

In some churches those rules and bylaws are called a covenant; which new
members are required to accept. The aldermen are also responsible for
settling disputes between church members (1Cor 6:1-5) so that they
correspond to "the church" that Christ spoke of at Matt 18:15-18.

Aldermen aren't peculiar to Christianity. Councils pre-existed amongst
Moses' people prior to Moses' commission (Ex 3:16). Anon, seventy of
Israel's elders were established by God as a supreme council (Num 11:16
17). One's failure to cooperate with their church's aldermen is grounds for
removing their name from the role. (Matt 18:15-18)

Since Christian aldermen sometimes wear more than one hat as preachers
and teachers; then it's very possible in a large church for them to have time
for nothing else, like for instance holding down a job. For that reason, their
constituents should try and compensate them with a decent standard of
living. I mean, after all, if their service to a local church is invaluable, then
by all means the congregation should do whatever it takes to keep them on
staff where they can devote all of their time and energy towards governing
(that is; if you feel your church is a worthwhile endeavor).

Let's say for example, that one of your church's aldermen is a retiree trying
to survive on Social Security and a diminished 401K. He'll be a lot more
effective towards your church's good if the congregation, whatever its size,
pitches in to help him make ends meet; and the outside world surely won't
blame your church for doing so unless of course they're as callous towards
the needs of a senior citizen as the heels of a hobnailed jackboot.

But beware that the congregation doesn't overcompensate its aldermen to
the point where they can afford to drive a Cadillac Escalade, wear a Rolex,
and own an expensive home in an up-scale district. That will really make
Christianity look bad, and actually work against Christ's best interests.
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Webers.Home · Jan 27, 2022

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• 1Tim 5:19 . . Do not accept an accusation against an elder except before
two or three witnesses.

The Old Testament requires a minimum of two witnesses in capital cases
(Deut 17:6-7). But the Greek word for "accusation" doesn't specify capital
crimes. It can apply to every variety of conduct unbecoming.

The way I see this: it isn't required that two or three witnesses accuse the
elder, but that an accuser do so in the hearing of two or three witnesses.
The witnesses are not there to testify against the elder; rather, to testify
against the accuser in the event it's discovered that he's the perpetrator of
a slander.

The Old Testament requires that false accusers be punished the same as
they expected for their victims. (Deut 19:16-21).
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Webers.Home · Jan 28, 2022

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• 1Tim 5:20 . .Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

Once it's discovered that an accuser's allegations are libelous, then it's time
to get up in front of the entire congregation and expose him for the cheap
goods he really is because nobody's reputation is safe in the hands of
someone like that. This is where the testimony of the aforementioned two or
three witnesses comes into play.

"I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself
a brother but is a slanderer. With such a man do not even eat. Expel the
wicked man from among you." (1Cor 5:11-13)

A roast of this nature can be a very humiliating experience for a church
member, and when the others see how it goes, they'll think twice before
making spurious allegations against aldermen.
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Webers.Home · Jan 29, 2022

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• 1Tim 5:21 . . I charge thee before God, and The Lord Jesus Christ, and the
elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before
another, doing nothing by partiality.

I seriously doubt that very many modern Christian churches are following
Paul's instructions in regards to spurious accusations against elders. They
probably find it much easier to just gloss over issues rather than comply
with the mandatory procedure for roasting and expelling. (as if any of this is
ever optional, and/or negotiable)

Another thing that modern churches are very good at these days is covering
up an elder's indiscretions when what they really deserve is a public
hanging, so to speak. Happens all the time.
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Webers.Home · Jan 30, 2022

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• 1Tim 5:22a . . Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily.

The laying on of hands was a commissioning ritual back in the day. (Acts
6:1-6, Acts 13:1-3)

The ruling seems primarily concerned with the avoidance of fast-tracking
candidates for aldermen, senior pastors, associate pastors, deacons, and
deaconesses; in other words: church officials; whether high ranking or low
ranking.
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Webers.Home · Jan 31, 2022

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• 1Tim 5:23 . . No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake
of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

In the days prior to the proliferation of antiseptics, antibiotics, inoculations,
and a host of other mass-produced treatments; wine was an important
remedy for just about everything from indigestion to open wounds. (e.g.
Mark 15:23, and Luke 10:34)

Medicine has come a long ways in the last 2,000 years so that even if a little
wine would still help whatever ailed Timothy's tummy, there's probably
much better over-the-counter, non-alcoholic remedies available for his
condition in our day.

Paul mentioned that his friend had other problems too. I have no clue what
those might have been; but I have to ask: Why didn't Paul utilize his
apostolic gift of healing to cure his friend? My answer is: probably because
Timothy's problems didn’t require a miracle. For example Mark 16:13 where
Christ' men utilized oil to treat certain people rather than miracles. In other
words: when First Aid will do, surgery is unnecessary.

I suspect Timothy simply wasn't taking proper care of himself and/or getting
enough rest. His diet may have been inadequate too. The old adage-- God
helps those who help themselves --is very true in some cases. My view is: if
you can fix your own flat tire, then don't expect God to fix it for you. Like
when a farmer prays for a good crop, he really needs to say amen with a
hoe.

What else might be taken from 1Tim 5:23? Well; I would say do NOT rely
upon so-called faith healing. Too many children are being lost these days to
treatable conditions because their parents are putting so much trust in their
church's interpretation of passages like Jas 5:14-15. If Paul recommended a
remedy for Timothy's tummy; don't you think he would recommend a
remedy for your child's treatable condition? Yes; of course he would. In
many, many cases; people don't need a miracle; they just need a doctor.
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Webers.Home · Feb 1, 2022

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• 1Tim 6:1-2 . . Let all who are under the yoke as slaves regard their own
masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and our doctrine
may not be spoken against. And let those who have believers as their
masters not be disrespectful to them because they are brethren, but let
them serve them all the more, because those who partake of the benefit are
believers and beloved.

I've heard that Masons practice favoritism; but Christians should never
impose upon a fellow believer in that manner. Give your Christian employer
the respect and subordination due his position; and give him a full day's
work for a full days' pay. People are watching, and they pick up on things
like disparity.
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Webers.Home · Feb 2, 2022

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• 1Tim 6:2 . .Teach and preach these principles.

Pastors should ensure their congregations are taught these things even
when they don't care to hear them; and should never let the indifference of
their flocks smother the voice of God.

"I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus-- who is
to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom -
preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke,
exhort, with great patience and instruction.

. . . For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but
desiring to have their ears pleased, they will accumulate for themselves
teachers in accordance with their own longings; and will turn away their ears
from the truth, and will turn aside to fiction." (2Tim 4:1-2)

To be "ready in season" likely speaks of windows of opportunity. In other
words; pastors may have their people's attention for now, but shouldn't take
them for granted. The old saying, "strike while the iron is hot" is just as
apropos in church as it is in parenting.
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Webers.Home · Feb 3, 2022

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• 1Tim 6:3-6 . . If anyone advocates a different doctrine, and does not agree
with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine
conforming to godliness; he is conceited and understands nothing; but he
has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words,
out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and
constant friction between men of depraved minds and deprived of the truth.

I'm pretty sure that the "conceit" Paul wrote about is relative to know-it-alls.
Such people are often self-taught; and with them there is no such thing as a
second opinion: only their own. And like the man said; they tend to be
quarrelsome, i.e. perpetual debaters, constantly arguing and never getting
to the bottom of anything. For them, opposition to, and/or disagreement
with, their core values is an expression of hatred and disrespect for their
value as a person.
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Webers.Home · Feb 4, 2022

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• 1Tim 6:8 . . Having food and raiment let us be content therewith.

According to 1Tim 1:1-3, this epistle wasn't written to a church, rather, it
was written to one of Paul's contemporaries-- a fellow church officer --so
when he uses a pronoun like "us" I think it's safe to assume, unless
indicated otherwise, that he's not speaking to a congregation.

Paul's instructions are handy for steering church officers away from wanting
too much out of life.

"Piety with contentment is great gain." (1Tim 6:6)

The Greek word for contentment is sometimes translated "sufficient". In
other words, when good is adequate, better isn't necessary. Good is easier
on budgets than better too. So then: if a church officer can get by with
things that are less than best, then he shouldn't waste time and energy
concerning himself with improving his situation; because, after all, their lives
here are transient.

"For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our city in
heaven, which is yet to come." (Heb 13:14)
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Webers.Home · Feb 5, 2022

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• 1Tim 6:11 . . But you-- O man of God --flee these things and pursue
righteousness, piety, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.

German philosopher Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844-1900) believed that
Christian virtues, especially compassion, are an impediment to achieving
greatness; which is just another way of saying that nice guys finish last.

The Greek word for "flee" is pheugo (fyoo'-go) which means: not to walk
away; but rather, to run away; as if for your life. (cf. 1Cor 6:18)

FAQ: What is a man of God?

A: Well; first off we should point out that the Greek word for "man" in that
passage is anthropos (anth'-ro-pos) which refers to h.sapiens; viz: human
beings, of either gender, not just males; so it would be far more useful to
translate that phrase "person of God".

NOTE: Man of God is okay too because when the creator made humans, he
called both genders "man". (Gen 1:27 & Gen 5:2)

Men of God are typically inspired individuals; for example: Moses was a man
of God (Deut 33:1) and David was a man of God. (Neh 12:24)

Numerous passages in the Old Testament identify men of God as prophets.
In that respect; Abel was a man of God (Luke 11:49-51) Abraham was a
man of God (Gen 20:7) and a whole bunch of other people too, including
women; e.g. Miriam (Ex 15:20) Deborah (Judg 4:4) Asahiah (2Kgs 22:14)
and Huldah (2Chron 24:32).

Obviously then, if your church's officers aren't inspired; then they aren't
men of God; they're just church managers on a career path.
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Webers.Home · Feb 6, 2022

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• 1Tim 6:12a . . Fight the good fight of the faith.

The first Greek word for "fight" in that verse is agonizomai (ag-o-nid'-zom
ahee) which means: to struggle; literally to compete for a prize. This is the
kind of conflict played out in competitive sports.

The second word for "fight" is agon (ag-one') which means: a place of
assembly; viz: the field of completion; e.g. arenas, coliseums, and/or
stadiums.

The object of a Christian's struggle is not so much conquest, but rather, a
prize. In Paul's day athletes won wreaths. In our day, they win medals and
lucrative contracts for product endorsements.

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives
the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. And everyone who competes
in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a
perishable wreath, but we an imperishable." (1Cor 9:24-26)

In Paul's day, there were no second-place winners; only first. When the
competition is that fierce, athletes really go all out. So Paul is saying that
Christians should battle for their reward as if there were only one gold to go
around; in other words; really put their hearts into it.

However, in order to be adjudged a good fight, the contestants, win or lose,
have to go by the book.

"When someone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's
crown unless he competes according to the rules." (2Tim 2:5)
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Webers.Home · Feb 7, 2022

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• 1Tim 6:12b . .Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when
you made your good profession in the presence of many witnesses.

All of Christ's believing followers were called to eternal life. Note the
grammatical tense of the "have" verb in the passages below. It's in the
present tense; not future; indicating that Christ's believing followers have
eternal life right now-- no delay, and no waiting period.

"He who believes in the Son has eternal life" (John 3:36)

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life." (John 6:47)

"I assure you, those who heed my message and trust in God who sent me,
have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have
already passed from Death into Life." (John 5:24)

"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so
that you may know that you have eternal life." (1John 5:13)

FAQ: Why would Paul encourage Timothy to take hold of eternal life if he
already had it?

A: Having it, and making use of it, are two very different things. It's like
having a lawn mower in your garage and a can of gas sitting beside it. Well;
the mower won't be much use for cutting grass unless gas is transferred
from the can to the mower's tank. The mower is a perfectly good machine,
and the gas is a perfectly good fuel; but the two need to be combined in
order to be effective.
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Webers.Home · Feb 8, 2022

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• 1Tim 6:13-14 . . I charge you in the sight of God-- who gives life to
everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate
made the good confession --to keep this command without spot or blame
until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Greek word for "commandment" in that passage is entole (en-tol-ay')
which means: an injunction, i.e. an authoritative prescription. It's difficult to
tell if Paul had a specific instruction in mind or if he intended Timothy to
accept his entire epistle as the law of Christ. If the latter is the case, then
the NLT' seems to me the better version; which reads like this:

"And I command you before God, who gives life to all, and before Christ
Jesus, who gave a good testimony before Pontius Pilate, that you obey his
commands with all purity. Then no one can find fault with you from now until
our Lord Jesus Christ returns."

The NLT's version encompasses all of Christ's expectations; from Acts to.
Revelation.

The Geek translated "without spot/purity" is aspilos (as'-pee-los) which
means: unblemished. It takes a pretty concentrated, uncompromising effort
for a man to finish up a life of Christian service with a flawless record.
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