Bible Study with Fred, #892; Proverbs, chapter 11:27; diligently seek go...

2Samuel 11 comments

 

2Samuel 11:1 ¶  And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. 2  And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. 3  And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? 4  And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house. 5  And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.

 

Campaigning at war according to some commentators would typically begin in the spring of the year with the rains stopped, fruit in the trees, and grasses plenty for forage for horses and men. The Romans gave us Martius or March today from the god of war, Mars. Israel’s army goes at to punish the children of Ammon, besieging their city, Rabbah. But King David did not do his duty as he should have, leading his troops. He left that to his general, Joab, and stayed behind in Jerusalem.

 

People used the rooftops of their houses for many things and David saw a beautiful woman washing herself and must have gotten quite an eyeful. I doubt that this was uncommon, to wash oneself on the housetop. The roofs were flat and in the cool of the evening they were a comfortable place to take care of personal things. David should not have gazed at the woman and aroused the lust inside of him, justified by his kingly privilege.

 

Bathsheba’s name had a variant spelling found in 1Chronicles 3:5 as did her father go by another name as well.

 

1Chronicles 3:5  And these were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel:

 

Her husband was a Hittite. The Hittites were the children of Heth.

 

Genesis 23:10  And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying,

 

Just as David had Philistine mercenaries fighting for him as mentioned previously, Uriah was a faithful warrior of Canaanite descent.

 

Genesis 10:15  And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth,

 

 The oppression of kings was that they could pretty much do what they wanted to do, especially with attractive women. Bathsheba was past her monthly period.

 

Leviticus 15:19 ¶  And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even.

 

This power rape which is what it is when a woman has no choice but to accept a powerful man’s advances results in Bathsheba being pregnant with David’s child. There was a time in our country when the law failed to protect a woman in circumstances like this which older people are quick to forget. The blame almost always went back on the woman even though she would have been in a very difficult position for which male dominated society had little compassion.

 

2Samuel 11:6 ¶  And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David. 7  And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered. 8  And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king’s house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king. 9  But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house. 10  And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house? 11  And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord

Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing. 12  And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow. 13  And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.

 

David tries to hide his sin by encouraging Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, to have sex with her so he would think the child she was pregnant with was his. Uriah, though, was a faithful, loyal, and patriotic Canaanite citizen of Israel. Many today in the West are surprised that Arabs are a vital component of Israel today, serving in the military, in higher education, and in the government, as are those of the Druze faith. Arab Muslims and Christians have died for Israel.

 

Uriah is a man of character who shames David and apparently drives him to desperation. This is not a good image of David for us to see.

 

2Samuel 11:14 ¶  And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15  And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die. 16  And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were. 17  And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also. 18  Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war; 19  And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king, 20  And if so be that the king’s wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall? 21  Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also. 22  So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for. 23  And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entering of the gate. 24  And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the king’s servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also. 25  Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him. 26  And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband. 27  And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.

 

David has committed an egregious sin against God for which there is no sacrifice under the Law that can get him past it. David is worthy of death himself. David will face a great deal of trouble and grief in his life due to his sin. This only goes to show that God can still use someone who has sinned in an awful way even though a great deal of pain and sorrow will come to that person’s life. God can even make something great and wonderful come out of a person’s sin if He so chooses.

 

David has murdered the husband of a woman he lusted after and made pregnant and has now not only excused his actions but made his general, Joab, a party to his murder, giving Joab the ability to hurt David if he so chose which he sort of threatens to do in the next chapter.

 .

 

Leviticus 20:10 ¶  And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

 

Finally, David takes the wife of the murdered Uriah as his own. God is not happy with David, of course.

 

 

 

 

 

Bible Study with Fred, #891; Proverbs, chapter 11:23-26; the desire of t...

Psalm 76 comments

 

Psalm 76:1 ¶  «To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song of Asaph.» In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel. 2  In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion. 3  There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah. 4  Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey. 5  The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands. 6  At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.

This wonderful Psalm of praise was apparently sung at a time of great success over Israel’s enemies. Commentators have moved this forward as a prophecy of the Church with Salem, Jerusalem, representing not only Christ but Christianity. Literally the Psalmist is referring to the capital city of Israel. This will mean the tabernacle of David and the later temple that Solomon would build.

 

God is able to end war by symbolically breaking the weapons of war. I think of the fiery darts of Satan in our spiritual warfare.

 

Ephesians 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

 

And the future reign of Christ the Lord.

 

Zechariah 9:9 ¶  Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. 10  And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth. 11  As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.

 

Kingdoms of this world can be symbolized as mountains. See an example of this;

 

Jeremiah 51:24  And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, saith the LORD. 25  Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain.

 

Here, in this Psalm, the countries are symbolized as beasts of prey. But God can put them to sleep. See Jeremiah 51 again;

 

Jeremiah 51:56  Because the spoiler is come upon her, even upon Babylon, and her mighty men are taken, every one of their bows is broken: for the LORD God of recompences shall surely requite. 57  And I will make drunk her princes, and her wise men, her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men: and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.

 

Picture the sleep of death the Assyrian horde experienced;

 

2Kings 19:35  And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.

 

 

Psalm 76:7 ¶  Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry? 8  Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still, 9  When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah. 10  Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain. 11  Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared. 12  He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.

 

We are keenly aware of God’s mercy and love but we are also aware of His wrath and His judgment. We see it all through the Bible and in our reality we see the mighty brought low, the evil plans of nations brought to nought, and the sinful ways of wicked men and women turned back on them.

 

It is also good to see this prophetically as speaking of the end of human history when Christ comes to judge the nations.

 

Nahum 1:6  Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.

 

Psalm 2:7 ¶  I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 8  Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9  Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

 

    10 ¶  Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11  Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

 

Revelation 19:15  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

 

I have written previously how the meek of earth are those who are meek towards God’s will, who follow Him humbly, and how meek is also used of the poor.

 

It is clear that Israel received a victory but the Psalmist gives God all of the glory.

 

 

 

 

Bible Study with Fred, #890; Proverbs, chapter 11:16-22; a gracious woman

1Timothy, chapter 2, comments

 

1Timothy 2:1 ¶  I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6  Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 7  Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. 8  I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

It is made very clear here in verse 4 that it is God’s perfect will that all mankind should be saved. Therefore, it is not possible that He created any human being for the express purpose of casting them into Hell and into the Lake of Fire, Calvin’s fantasy notwithstanding.

Paul orders that we pray for all mankind as well including those godless reprobates in political power over us. It is in this way that we might have hope of a quiet and peaceable life. Christ gave Himself a ransom for all and this was not paid to the Devil as some preachers insist but to God Himself.

Exodus 30:12  When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them.

Psalm 49:6 ¶  They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; 7  None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: 8  (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)

Matthew 20:28  Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Paul again confirms his apostleship and declares his specific mission to the Gentiles.

Romans 15:16  That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

 

Very importantly in this passage Paul says that it was Christ, fully man and fully God, in His humanity, as the Son of Man, the Messiah, that was the bridge between man and God.

 

Hebrews 7:25  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 9:15 ¶  And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Then, Paul insists that we be prayerful and without wrath or doubting.

 

1Timothy 2:9 ¶  In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10  But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 11  Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12  But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13  For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14  And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15  Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

Paul now turns to address issues concerning Christian women under Timothy’s spiritual care. He wants women to be adorned with good works and faith more than simply expensive jewelry, hairstyles, and makeup. They should be sober and steady. Notice Peter’s words.

1Peter 3:1 ¶  Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2  While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3  Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4  But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

Paul calls women to good works.

 

 

In verse 11 and 12 Paul wants the women in this congregation admonished to not usurp authority over their husbands in teaching as it is the husband’s responsibility to be the spiritual head of the family. In the context of speaking in tongues in the early apostolic church Paul wrote;

1Corinthians 14:34 ¶  Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35  And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

What follows is what I think a tough passage for us to understand. Paul’s argument for them seems to be that Adam was formed first, then Eve. Adam was not deceived, I would say in that he understood his error, but Eve was deceived and, in fact, was unwittingly part of the deception of Adam. Adam went along with his wife knowingly, in my mind.  

Genesis 3:6  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

But he makes an important point here that we see borne out in our reality. Once a woman bears children, as long as her and her husband continue in a Godly life, she will be delivered from spiritual adversity. Motherhood matures many, not all, but many women and most particularly Christian women with a likeminded husband. I say this because the context is a woman’s outward appearance and her choice not to usurp the spiritual responsibilities of her husband. Motherhood can humble a woman and deliver her from the demeanor that Paul is preaching here against and lead her in the Godly life that Paul wants for the women in Timothy’s charge. Christian women have died in childbirth by the many thousands in history and a woman is saved from Hell the same way a man is. I think the context of this passage warrants my interpretation.

 

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Psalm 75 comments;

 

Psalm 75:1 ¶  «To the chief Musician, Altaschith, A Psalm or Song of Asaph.» Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare. 2  When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly. 3  The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah. 4  I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn: 5  Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck.

 

This is a peculiarly interesting Psalm. Altaschith, also noted in Psalm 57, 58, and 59 means do not destroy but some say it is the title of a melody to which these Psalms would be sung.

 

There are many occasions in Israel’s history when these Psalm could be sung. For instance, David being delivered from Saul or the return of the Jews from captivity in Babylon. We should pray this often for it is always applicable.

 

We can see this also as having a meaning beyond the time in which it was written and sung originally. Picture the millennial reign of Christ, from the beginning to the end when eternity begins.

 

2Peter 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 ¶  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

12  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

 

See also a warning to those who would oppose God. Read Psalm 2.

 

Psalm 2:1 ¶  Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 3  Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 4  He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. 5  Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. 6  Yet have I set my king

upon my holy hill of Zion.

 

    7 ¶  I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 8  Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9  Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

 

    10 ¶  Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11  Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

 

Psalm 75:6 ¶  For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. 7  But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. 8  For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them. 9  But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. 10  All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.

 

Being lifted up comes from God Himself and does not come from any other direction under heaven. It is God who raises up and puts down. We must remember;

 

James 4:10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

 

1Peter 5:6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

 

There is no one other than God who can do this.

 

Matthew 24:23  Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

 

There is no other Saviour, no other God.

 

Isaiah 44:6  Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

 

Isaiah 45:21  Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.

 

Deuteronomy 4:35  Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.

 

God has raised men up and put men down.

 

Luke 1:52  He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

 

Daniel 2:21  And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

 

Luke 14:11  For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

 

The wrath of God is symbolized by a cup.

 

Isaiah 51:17 ¶  Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out.

 

Jeremiah 25:15 ¶  For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.

 

Revelation 14:10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

 

Psalm 11:6  Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.

 

Horns symbolize power and authority in the Bible and this reference is in keeping with the theme of this Psalm.

 

Habakkuk 3:4  And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.

 

Revelation 17:12  And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

 

We can see the end of history clearly in this Psalm and we should give praise to God not only for His mercy but for His power and sovereignty.

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1Timothy, chapter one, comments

 

Who was Timothy? He was a protégé of Paul’s first mentioned in Acts 16:1 as Timotheus, the proper long version of his name, which is shortened to Timothy or for someone in our modern culture, Tim.

Acts 16:1  Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: 2  Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. 3  Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

 

He is referred to as Timothy in 2Corinthians 1:1.

2Corinthians 1:1  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

We will learn a great deal about his work in Ephesus here as Paul gives his advice although we will see that Timothy travels for Paul as well. Paul’s words should be absorbed by us all because they are as relevant today as they were in Timothy and Paul’s time.

1Timothy, chapter 1

1Timothy 1:1 ¶  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; 2  Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. 3  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, 4  Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

Paul reinforces in the first verse his claim that Christ appointed him to be an apostle in addition to those who were present during Christ’s physical walk on earth.

Romans 1:1  Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

Romans 11:13  For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

He declares that Christ is the hope of Christians. He has declared it elsewhere.

Titus 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Colossians 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

2Thessalonians 2:16 ¶  Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,

The hope that can be found only in Christ is one of Paul’s themes throughout his letters.

He calls Timothy his son in the faith.

1Corinthians 4:17 ¶  For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

Paul will use the same term of affection for Titus, which we will eventually see.

Paul wants Timothy to straighten out people on doctrine and to avoid fables and endless genealogies which run people into the weeds and are not beneficial to Godliness. The Gentiles, Greeks, Romans, and others had Theogony, the genealogies of the gods while the Jews had mystical genealogies from their occultic practices. There were genealogies of the Gnostics, etc. etc. Students of the Bible and the Scriptures might place all too much emphasis on genealogies and lists of families to justify authority. We see this all through history in lists of kings and aristocrats.

Fables could include Jewish fables as suggested in Titus 1:14 in regard to the tradition of the Pharisees. If you read John Gill’s commentary he references many Jewish so-called authorities who have all sorts of fanciful interpretations and there are traditions regarding everything from Adam’s other wife, Lilith, and the later (after Christ) Talmud is said to have a giant deer and a giant lion living in a mystical forest.

See the reference to the supposed old wives fables referenced in chapter 4. This is interesting because popular American Christianity in the last two hundred years is filled with such things.

Imagine the non-scripture “scripture” verses like, “cleanliness is next to godliness,” and “the lord helps those who help themselves.”  Think of the Christian myths like that Noah’s son, Ham, was black and all of his descendants were cursed to be slaves ignoring the text of the Bible. Or consider the popular notion that if you are a good Christian that God won’t let anything bad happen to you or your family, totally disregarding the book of Job or the lives of Christ and the Apostles.

Paul is going to lay out what godly edifying is.

1Timothy 1:5 ¶  Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: 6  From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; 7  Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. 8  But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; 9  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, 10  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; 11  According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

The end result and most important facet of the commandment, the commands given to Christians, is charity, or love of the brethren, out of a pure heart. A good conscience is required which would require us to be truthful and honest and filled with the Holy Spirit, with our faith being real and genuine and not fake or pretended.

We know that Paul has already defined the importance of charity, the love of the brethren, in 1Corinthians, chapter 13.

1Corinthians 13:1 ¶  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor (shows that this charity is not how we moderns define charity), and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

    4 ¶  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

    8 ¶  Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11  When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

The Judaizers, which were a constant worry for Paul, kept trying to put Christians back under the Law, a Law he declares that they don’t even understand. The Law condemns mankind in all of his and her criminal debauchery. But Paul has shown elsewhere that we do not stand condemned. First, we are not under the Law given to Moses for our salvation.

Galatians 3:24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Secondly, we are legally justified by Christ, not by our slavish obedience to the Law. Read Romans, chapter 3, but pay close attention to these verses;

Romans 3:20  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin…24  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:..28  Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

The Law condemns the guilty. But Christ has pardoned we guilty sinners by His righteousness, His death, His burial, and His resurrection.

I don’t need to go into an explanation of all of the wicked things that Paul has listed in this passage with everything from homosexuals to people who engage in kidnapping persons for slavery (menstealers). I think we understand most, if not all, and this is not meant to be an exhaustive list of sins so don’t think that since you haven’t committed any of these that you are without sin. It is virtually impossible to live a life without sinning against a Holy God. We need Christ’s sacrifice and triumph over death or we have no chance.

The teachers of the Law should use the Law to show us how badly we need Christ, not to force us into a constant fear that we might be thinking a bad thought or doing something wrong. That’s where all their rules came from, their tradition as Christ calls it. Yes, the Law is God’s standard of righteousness but Christ was perfect and did no sin and He is that righteousness, a sufficient propitiation to God’s righteous wrath if we trust Him. This is the essence of the gospel that was committed to God’s trust.

1Timothy 1:12 ¶  And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 13  Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14  And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 15  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 17  Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Paul mentions his past in persecuting Christians in verse 13.

Acts 8:3  As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

Acts 9:1 ¶  And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

Acts 22:4  And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

Then, he had his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus.

Acts 9:1 ¶  And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2  And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3  And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6  And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7  And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8  And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9  And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

But he did it out of ignorance. As Jesus said from the Cross.

Luke 23:34  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

Paul was saved by the grace of God and received mercy from Christ. He believed that one reason for His salvation was that Christ would use him as an example to those who would come after him and that Paul would be a minister of Christ to the Gentiles. If the worst of sinners, a persecutor of the redeemed, could be saved then it was open to anyone.

Since God is as high above any sinner as He is any saint, being a God of infinite power, it is easily within His power to forgive the most egregious sinner. No one can say they are too far gone to be saved. Paul was grateful as am I. Eternal, immortal, and invisible are powerful descriptions of the God who created us.

1Timothy 1:18 ¶  This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; 19  Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck; 20  Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

2Corinthians 10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Biblical Christianity is not a political threat to any government or political party no matter how authoritarian or perverse in their ideologies. It is a spiritual threat to those great evils that men and women will have a change of heart and turn from their evil designs and turn to Christ. It only becomes a political threat as Christians have the right to vote and run for office.

Paul makes mention of two men who he has delivered unto Satan. The early Christian community was close-knit. It was not a consumer church where you just went down the street to another church. It was surrounded by pagan religion that was linked to the political life of the people of the Roman Empire and your life was always in danger. To have Paul or a church body turn their back on someone who was being difficult was a greater tragedy than we know today in America. Paul’s intention is that these guys are on their own as far as he is concerned and he is hopeful they’ll see the error of their ways and repent of what they have done out of bad faith and a bad conscience. We don’t know what it was they did but Paul considered it blasphemy. Possibly they were introducing Gnosticism or Greek philosophy into the church body, perhaps questioning or disputing correct doctrine. I don’t know.