 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. Warning Against False Teachers 3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. 5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. 8 Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound[c]doctrine, 11 in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. Christ Jesus Came to Save Sinners 12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 18 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, 20 among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. Meditation Authentic love in relationship will tell the truth. When a relationship is unimportant you will not take time to tell the truth. When someone or something is a high priority for you then you will make time to share the truth in love. Why? Truth in love leads to freedom and fruitfulness, so you may grow up into Christ (Ephesians 4:15). Paul charges Timothy to remain in Ephesus to help the church become mature and fruitful. The “aim of the charge issues from a pure heart,” (5) writes the apostle, who longs to see genuine relationship for generational fruitfulness. Paul planted the church on his second missionary journey (Acts 18-20). Timothy is charged to water the plant with truth and love. God gives growth. Timothy is to develop and deploy elders to oppose false teaching (3:15). The goal is to rekindle love in the hearts of the teachers (5) so they turn from their error (19-20). This “warfare” (18) is to be waged in humility, from mercy, for maturity. Paul himself had received mercy (13, 16) as the chief of sinners. God’s mercy is fertilizer for mature and fruitful faith. Truth without love leads to fracturing, pushing agendas at the expense of personal relationship. Love without truth is fearful (1 John 4:18). God is love. Jesus is the truth and gives the Spirit of truth. God’s mercy invites the worst of sinners to fertilize faith for maturity and fruitfulness by living in love and truth. Richly Dwelling -Are you comfortable with the cohesion of truth in love? -Where do you see maturity and fruitfulness coming through this combination, personally and corporately? -Jesus is love and truth, offering freedom and fruitfulness for all who trust in Him. Where do you need to welcome truth, personally and in personal relationship with others? Where do you need to walk in love, personally and in personal relationship with others? Key Verse 5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Comments are closed.
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