Saturday 05Mar2022
Today, in my New Testament readings, I finished reading the last three chapters of the First Timothy and went on to read all four chapters of Second Timothy. Tomorrow I will proceed with the next pastoral Epistle to Titus.
- 1 Timothy 6:3 - 5 ASV American Standard Version
- 3 If any man teacheth a different doctrine, and consenteth not to sound words, [even] the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
- 4 he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but doting about questionings and disputes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
- 5 wranglings of men corrupted in mind and bereft of the truth, supposing that godliness is a way of gain.
In the short passage from 1 Timothy chapter 6 above, the Apostle describes the behaviour of some people who, thinking that "godliness" is a way of making gains, have become puffed up with questions and disputes, bringing about envy, strife, railings and "evil surmisings" in the assembly.
A little further in verses 9 and 10, the Apostle points out that such profit-minded people, who are "minded to be rich", fall into temptation which leads to their destruction because the love of money in the root of all evil.
- 1 Timothy 6:9 - 10 ASV American Standard Version
- 9 But they that are minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition.
- 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
In verse 11, the Apostle calls Timothy a man of God and tells him to flee "these" things, things such as temptations and snares, and foolish and hurtful lusts, things that drown men in destruction perdition, all arising from the love of money.
He tells Timothy to follow after a list of six other things instead:
- 1 Timothy 6:11 ASV American Standard Version
- But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness
Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Iesus the Anointed One, let us flee from the love of money. Let us instead follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness in our lives.
