1 Timothy: Live for Others
February 9, 2014 | Anita Retzlaff

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. This is Paul's greeting to Timothy and mine to you on this Sunday, the Lord's Day. I am defending the Apostle Paul today.  The letters he writes and those written in his name have had a pretty bad rep especially among women of our current time. And rightfully so in situations where Paul’s words are used in a literal way to keep women marginalized and excluded.  That is not the intention of the gospel and Paul maintains that all are recipients of God’s grace. He urges a life of prayer and generosity. Armin, Edye and Evelyn are going to read one paragraph selections from 1 Timothy – 6 of them throughout this meditation.  Each passage has within it parts that we find offensive or if not offensive, at least irritating or troubling. I have given Edye a most “infamous” text to read.  Let us hear.

Edye - I desire, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument; also that the women should dress themselves modestly and decently in suitable clothing, not with their hair braided, or with gold, pearls, or expensive clothes, but with good works, as is proper for women who profess reverence for God. Let a woman learn in silence with full submission. I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to keep silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she will be saved through childbearing, provided they continue in faith and love and holiness, with modesty.  (1 Timothy 2:8-15)

Instructions for men and women were clear and most probably directed in these particular verses to husbands and wives.  Don’t do anything that draws negative attention.  Live a modest and prayerful life – men and women both – because you are examples to the world of what this new life in Christ means. Others are watching how you act.

Earlier Armin read that God desires everyone to be saved. That is a radical announcement and the core of Paul’s teaching. So, why then, the silencing and submission of women or wives? I speculate, of course.  Whatever Paul was suggesting here is already a step in a new and liberating direction – hard for us to imagine today, but very possible.  More than likely women were not even considered in other religions of the day and very possibly in the privacy of home life women were inclined to be bossy and quick with their tongues.  I don’t know but I cannot let these millennia-old middle-eastern cultural norms take away from the profound, inclusive message of God’s grace. It seems to me that if men took to heart the liberating message of Jesus’ way of prayer and peace there would have been mutuality and no need to keep women under surveillance. The point: Jesus’ way is about living for others and acting like we mean it.

Instruction continues.  Let’s hear how leaders in the church are to behave – bishops and deacons:

Armin - The saying is sure: whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. Now a bishop must be above reproach, married only once, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an apt teacher, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way— for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:1-7)

Evelyn - Deacons likewise must be serious, not double-tongued, not indulging in much wine, not greedy for money; they must hold fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them first be tested; then, if they prove themselves blameless, let them serve as deacons. Women likewise must be serious, not slanderers, but temperate, faithful in all things. Let deacons be married only once, and let them manage their children and their households well; for those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 3:8-13)

You can be assured that there are no double-tongued, greedy, over-indulgers on our Board of Deacons! We don’t know exactly the tasks of bishops and deacons of the early church however it is abundantly clear that it was desirable that their personal lives reflected well upon their public responsibilities. Timothy, the young protégé of Paul, is already a third generation Christian in a time when personal memories of actually being with Jesus have faded.  Now the church is beginning to organize itself for the long haul and it has created leadership roles in order to keep the gospel alive. But some Christians are no longer walking Jesus’ path and are behaving badly in the public sphere.  Christianity’s reputation is being tarnished by some who are setting a bad example. Paul, or whoever it is that is writing in his name, is very concerned that this new Jesus Way is being robbed of serious consideration in the public eye because some who call themselves Christians are behaving badly.

Rob Ford comes to mind here as far as reputation is concerned.  The mayor of Canada’s largest city has a host of serious personal problems and I am not citing this in order to make fun of him.  But we all feel the results of his very public episodes of poor behaviour.  People are ridiculing him around the world.  He might be able to carry out some of his civic duties and he may even get re-elected because of his unusual behaviour but the truth is he and his office have suffered a serious loss of respect in the eyes of the public. This notoriety can’t be good for his soul or his self-respect.  Whether it is life in the public sphere or in the church, responsible behaviour is encouraged: behaviour that is conducive to harmony and wholesome living. True faith is what we do and not just what we believe. The world is watching.

And so instruction is given for early 2nd century bishops and deacons (both male and female deacons) on how to live, and how to speak and how to run their households. Keeping children respectful and submissive doesn’t sit well with us. The fact that children are mentioned at all is the point I think. They are noticed and counted in Jesus’ saving grace. Let’s leave it at that.

Next, the widow! 

Edye - Let a widow be put on the list if she is not less than sixty years old and has been married only once; she must be well attested for her good works, as one who has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the saints’ feet, helped the afflicted, and devoted herself to doing good in every way. But refuse to put younger widows on the list; for when their sensual desires alienate them from Christ, they want to marry, and so they incur condemnation for having violated their first pledge. Besides that, they learn to be idle, gadding about from house to house; and they are not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not say. So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, and manage their households, so as to give the adversary no occasion to revile us. For some have already turned away to follow Satan. If any believing woman has relatives who are really widows, let her assist them; let the church not be burdened, so that it can assist those who are real widows. (1 Timothy 5: 9-16)

I understand Paul to mean that a woman who is really a widow is a single, older woman without family support and thus destitute.  That makes the “real” widow among the most vulnerable in the community.  These women are to be cared for by the church and its leaders.  Younger widows on the other hand should not be marginalized and kept to themselves but be encouraged to marry again so that they have another chance at meaningful family life. All of this is done in service to the gospel.  Everyone, wives, husbands, bishops, deacons, widows, elders and slaves, are meant to live with integrity whatever their station in life so that they are free to live for others in the way of Jesus which is the way of love.  Remember, Paul writes early on in 1 Timothy: “God our Saviour… desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2:4) This is the goal of all Paul’s instruction.

Armin -Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in preaching and teaching; for the scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain’, and, ‘The labourer deserves to be paid.’ Never accept any accusation against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest also may stand in fear. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels, I warn you to keep these instructions without prejudice, doing nothing on the basis of partiality. Do not ordain anyone hastily, and do not participate in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. (1 Timothy 5: 17-22)

Elders committed to teaching and preaching in the church should be compensated, even paid, cared for in some way so that they can do their work. However, the fallibility of these teachers and preachers is addressed without hesitation.  Elders, church leaders, will sometimes do wrong and so as not to give evil a foothold in the community wrong-doing needs to be taken care of in a straight-forward and democratic manner. Hold each other accountable and do not sin.  Good advice for any time and any place. This is how Christians live well together so that they may live for others and spread the news that God wants everyone to be saved….

…including slaves.  Instruction is given even to slaves.  Paul knows Jesus’ love to be so expansive as to include those whom society would never consider worthy of mention.

Evelyn - Let all who are under the yoke of slavery regard their masters as worthy of all honour, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be blasphemed. Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful to them on the ground that they are members of the church; rather they must serve them all the more, since those who benefit by their service are believers and beloved.  (1 Timothy 6:1-2)

As with the other texts that we have heard from 1 Timothy this instruction to slaves goes against the grain.  We do not believe in slavery or practise it in North America in the 21st century. These instructions seem archaic.  However, as with all that is written so far Paul ascribes status and honour to those who otherwise are afforded none.  A slave who lives in Christ has work to do that is worthy of honour and respect. A slave, along with everyone else, is granted the privilege and calling of living for others in the name of Christ.  All are included.

I Timothy is a reminder to us that we are to live for others by praying for everyone and living wholesome lives. We let the world know by the way we live what it means to be saved by Jesus. So, let your lives speak!

Prayer – Jesus our Lord, instruct us so that we know how to do good,  that we are rich in good works and ready to share thus storing up for ourselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future so that we might take hold of the life that really is life. ( 6:18-19) AMEN