Plain Bible Teaching Bible Study Series | 1 Timothy 6:11-21

Summary

In this analysis of 1 Timothy 6, the focus is on verses 11-19, where Paul instructs Timothy to flee from temptations like the love of money and pursue virtues such as righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Paul emphasizes the importance of spiritual warfare, urging Timothy to hold fast to his faith and the confession of Jesus as Lord. Additionally, Paul advises the wealthy to be humble, trust in God, and use their resources for good works. The chapter concludes with a reminder to guard the gospel and avoid meaningless disputes, staying true to God's revealed truth.

Takeaways

• 📖 Paul instructs Timothy to flee from negative influences and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
• 💰 The 'things' to flee from include false doctrines and the love of money, emphasizing the need for contentment.
• 🙏 Righteousness involves being right before God, godliness is reverence towards God, and faith is trusting in God's plan.
• ❤️ Love means selflessly putting others and God ahead of oneself.
• 💪 Perseverance is about steadfastness and not giving up, while gentleness is having a mild disposition that submits to God.
• ⚔️ Paul urges Timothy to fight the good fight of faith, maintaining a strong confession of Jesus as King.
• 👑 Jesus is described as the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light.
• 🧠 Rich Christians are instructed not to be arrogant or place their hope in uncertain riches, but in God who provides all things.
• 🤲 They should be generous, rich in good works, and ready to share, thereby storing up treasure in heaven.
• 🛡️ Paul concludes by urging Timothy to guard the word of God, avoid worldly and empty chatter, and beware of false knowledge that leads people away from faith.

Q & A

What does Paul urge Timothy to flee from in 1 Timothy 6:11?

Paul urges Timothy to flee from advocating different doctrines, the love of money, and temptations related to these things.

What virtues does Paul tell Timothy to pursue in 1 Timothy 6:11?

Paul tells Timothy to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

How does Paul define righteousness in this passage?

Paul defines righteousness as being right before God, wanting to stand justified before Him, and involves doing what is right.

What is the meaning of godliness according to Paul?

Godliness is described as having a reverence toward God, honoring Him, and respecting Him.

What does Paul mean by 'fight the good fight of faith' in 1 Timothy 6:12?

'Fight the good fight of faith' refers to engaging in spiritual warfare, holding onto eternal life, and maintaining the confession that Jesus is King and His word is true.

What are Timothy's instructions regarding the wealthy in 1 Timothy 6:17-19?

Timothy is instructed to tell the wealthy not to be conceited or place their hope in uncertain riches, but to trust in God, do good, be rich in good works, be generous, and ready to share.

Why should the wealthy place their trust in God rather than their riches?

The wealthy should trust in God rather than their riches because riches are uncertain, and trusting in God ensures a good foundation for the future and eternal life.

What does Paul mean by storing up 'The Treasure of a good foundation for the future'?

Paul means using one's wealth to do good and be generous, which leads to a secure spiritual foundation and eternal life.

What is Timothy urged to guard in the closing statement of 1 Timothy?

Timothy is urged to guard the word of God entrusted to him, his ministry, and avoid worldly and empty chatter that leads to ungodliness.

What is Paul's warning about what is 'falsely called knowledge'?

Paul warns against accepting what is falsely called knowledge, which rejects God's revealed will and leads people astray from the faith, favoring human reasoning over divine truth.

Outlines

00:00

📖 Pursue Righteousness and Godliness

Paul advises Timothy to flee from false teachings and the love of money, urging him to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. He emphasizes the importance of contentment and trusting in God's provision. Paul explains that these virtues are essential for a godly life and highlights the significance of meekness as strength under control, not weakness.

05:02

⚔️ Fight the Good Fight of Faith

Paul charges Timothy to fight the good fight of faith and take hold of eternal life. He reminds Timothy of his confession of faith before many witnesses, similar to Jesus' confession before Pilate. Paul underscores the importance of maintaining a pure and honorable conduct while fighting this spiritual battle. He praises Jesus as the blessed and only Sovereign, King of kings, and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light.

10:03

💰 Instructions for the Rich

Paul instructs Timothy to teach the rich not to be conceited or to put their hope in uncertain riches but in God, who richly provides everything for enjoyment. He encourages them to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thereby storing up treasures in heaven. Paul highlights the importance of using wealth to do good and to secure eternal life, reflecting Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6:19-21 about storing treasures in heaven rather than on earth.

🛡️ Guard the Entrusted Word

In his closing remarks, Paul urges Timothy to guard what has been entrusted to him, specifically the word of God and his ministry. He warns against engaging in worldly and empty chatter, which leads to ungodliness, and avoiding false knowledge that opposes God's revealed will. Paul stresses the danger of relying on human reasoning over God's truth, as it leads people astray from the faith. He concludes with a blessing, assuring Timothy of God's grace and favor as he continues his ministry.

Keywords

💡Righteousness

Righteousness refers to being morally right or justifiable before God. In the video, it is mentioned as something Timothy should pursue, emphasizing the importance of living in a way that is pleasing to God and doing what is right according to His standards.

💡Godliness

Godliness is described as a reverence toward God, honoring and respecting Him. It is one of the qualities Timothy is urged to pursue, indicating the necessity of a devout and pious life that acknowledges God's sovereignty and holiness.

💡Faith

Faith in this context is an obedient trust in God, believing in His promises and relying on His guidance. Timothy is encouraged to pursue faith as part of his spiritual growth, highlighting the need to trust in God's plans and His ability to care for His followers.

💡Love

Love here is described as selflessly putting others and God ahead of oneself. Timothy is advised to pursue this love, demonstrating the Christian principle of sacrificial love and compassion towards others, reflecting God's love for humanity.

💡Perseverance

Perseverance refers to steadfastness and the determination to continue despite difficulties. Timothy is encouraged to pursue perseverance, underscoring the importance of enduring hardships and remaining faithful in the spiritual journey.

💡Gentleness

Gentleness, also translated as meekness, is about having a mild disposition that submits to God's will regardless of consequences. Timothy is instructed to pursue gentleness, showing that true strength lies in humility and submission to God's commands.

💡Fight the good fight

This phrase signifies engaging in spiritual warfare with dedication and integrity. Paul urges Timothy to 'fight the good fight of faith,' indicating that living a faithful Christian life involves continuous effort and struggle against spiritual challenges.

💡Eternal life

Eternal life is the ultimate goal of the Christian faith, representing the everlasting life promised by God to His followers. Paul reminds Timothy to take hold of eternal life, emphasizing its significance as the reward for faithfulness and obedience.

💡Riches

Riches refer to material wealth and possessions. Paul advises Timothy to instruct the wealthy not to be conceited or put their hope in uncertain riches, but rather to trust in God and use their wealth for good works and generosity.

💡Guard what has been entrusted

This phrase refers to the responsibility of preserving and faithfully teaching the word of God. Paul charges Timothy to guard what has been entrusted to him, meaning he should protect the integrity of the gospel message and avoid false teachings.

Highlights

Paul instructs Timothy to flee from certain things and pursue others, emphasizing the need for righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

Paul explains what to flee from: advocating different doctrines and the love of money, urging contentment instead.

Righteousness involves being right before God and doing what is right.

Godliness is described as reverence toward God, honoring and respecting Him.

Faith is defined as obedient trust in God, learning contentment, and recognizing God's care.

Love involves selflessly putting others and God ahead of oneself.

Perseverance is about steadfastness, not giving up, and pressing toward the goal.

Gentleness or meekness is described as mild disposition that submits to God regardless of consequences, indicating strength rather than weakness.

Paul charges Timothy to fight the good fight of faith, emphasizing the spiritual battle and aiming for eternal life.

The foundation of this fight is the confession of Jesus as King and the truth of His word.

Paul instructs Timothy to keep the commandment without stain or reproach, fighting consistently and honorably.

Praise is given to Christ as the blessed and only Sovereign, King of kings, and Lord of lords, who possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light.

Instructions are given for the rich to not be conceited or fix their hope on riches, but on God who supplies all things.

The rich are instructed to do good, be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, storing up treasure for the future.

Paul's final statement to Timothy includes guarding what has been entrusted to him, avoiding worldly and empty chatter, and opposing arguments falsely called knowledge.

Transcripts

so let me get into the last half of

First Timothy chapter six notice what he

says in verse 11. but flee from these

things you man of God and pursue

righteousness godliness Faith love

perseverance and gentleness

so here in this verse he tells him you

need to flee something and you need to

pursue something

he says you flee from these things well

what are these things that he's talking

about

there are those things that he

previously mentioned those who Advocate

a different Doctrine you are to hold

fast to sound words there are those who

have the love of money or there's the

Temptation there to love money you need

to learn contentment flee from those

things that he talked about

instead you need to pursue other things

what does he say he says you pursue

righteousness this is being right before

God

wanting to stand Justified before him

this involves doing what is right he

says you pursue godliness this idea is a

reverence toward God that we honor him

that we respect him you pursue faith

this obedient trust in God

again this is all wrapped up in this

idea of learning contentment you have

faith in God you trust him

you recognize that he is going to take

care of us his way is best you pursue

love

selflessly putting others and also God

ahead of ourselves

pursue

perseverance

this is the idea of steadfastness of not

giving up not turning back but

continuing to press on toward the goal

as Paul talked about in Philippians

chapter 3. you pursue gentleness

the King James uses the word meekness

we think about meekness

what he's talking about here is the mild

disposition that submits to God

regardless of what the consequences are

meekness is not weakness

it is being strong enough to say that

I'm going to do the will of God

no matter what it costs me no matter

what the consequences are that's what

this word means

so he says you flee from those things

that I've talked about but now you

pursue these other things

then Paul continues with a charge that

he gives to Timothy verse 12 he says

fight the good fight of Faith take hold

of the eternal life to which you were

called and you made the good confession

the presence of many witnesses I charge

you in the presence of God who gives

life to all things and of Christ Jesus

who testified the good confession before

Pontius Pilate that you keep the

Commandment without staying or reproach

until the appearing of our Lord Jesus

Christ which he will bring about at the

proper time he who is the blessed and

only Sovereign the king of kings and

Lord of lords who alone possesses

immortality and dwells in unapproachable

light whom no man has seen or can see to

him be honor and eternal Dominion amen

so here we have this charge that Paul

gives to Timothy as he is drawing the

this letter to a close he says you fight

the good fight of faith

this idea that we are involved in a

spiritual battle or spiritual warfare

there is an aim that we have in this

take hold of eternal life to which you

are called

and he says that there is a foundation

that you are fighting the good fight of

Faith you made the good confession it

says here in verse 12. in the presence

of many witnesses

the same thing that Jesus also confessed

when he was standing before Pilate well

what was that confession

it said Jesus is King

that his word is truth

this is the foundation for what you're

doing your aim is eternal life but the

foundation behind all of this

is this fact that Jesus is Lord that he

is King

and that his word is true that's what

enables us

to engage in this spiritual warfare that

is going on all around us so he says you

fight the good fight of Faith he says

you keep the Commandment without stain

or reproach this Commandment that he

says to fight the good fight of faith

you do this without staying your

reproach you fight consistently you

fight honorably

you don't stoop to the tactics of the

devil but you do this without stain or

reproach then he talks about

the praise that is due to Christ

praise him because he is the blessed and

only Sovereign he is the ruler

and he is the one that we are following

but not only is he a ruler but he is the

king of kings and Lord of lords that he

is over everyone every Power that exists

he is over all of them he alone

possesses immortality and dwells in

unapproachable light

that he is eternal that there is no

darkness in him and darkness is used in

scripture to describe sin there's

nothing of that in him

he is unique he is different he is over

all we are following him

he is the one who is leading Us in this

fight so Paul tells Timothy you fight

the good fight you keep this commandment

and remember Christ he is overall

then as he continues in verse 17 he's

going to give instructions for those who

are rich verses 17-19 he says instruct

those who are rich in this present world

not to be conceited or to fix their Hope

on the uncertainty of riches but on God

who richly supplies us with all things

to enjoy instruct them to do good to be

rich in Good Works to be generous and

ready to share storing it for themselves

The Treasure of a good foundation for

the future so they may take hold of that

which is life indeed

so earlier in this chapter

he began by giving instructions to those

who were slaves but now he's giving

instructions to those who are rich and

again these are Christians

and we think about those who are rich

for us today in this country we often

think about those who are the ultra rich

but really when we think about those of

us who live in the United States of

America with the blessings and the

prosperity that we enjoy

most of us would be considered rich by

the standards of the rest of the world

so for most of us

these instructions are for us they're

not for someone else who has more money

and more property and all of this than

we do this is for us so what are these

instructions that Paul told Timothy you

instruct those who are rich in this

present world

he says do not be conceited

don't become arrogant

don't think that because of what you

have you are better than others

don't be conceited don't fix your Hope

on the uncertainty of Rich has been said

fix your Hope on God

put your trust in The Giver rather than

in the thing that he gives you in the

gift the blessing the riches don't put

your trust there because those are

uncertain

he says put your trust in God

and then you have to use your blessings

in a certain way

instruct them to do good be rich in Good

Works be generous and ready to share

any wealth that we have is a blessing

so we are to use it in a way that

pleases God

that we have the opportunity

the more of this world's Goods that we

have the better position we are in to be

able to help others well we need to

take advantage of those opportunities

to do good with what we have to be

generous and ready to share

and as we do that we are storing up for

ourselves The Treasure of a good

foundation for the future

we do this so that we can take hold of

that which is life indeed

eternal life it says Jesus talked about

in Matthew chapter 6 verses 19 through

21 that we store up treasure in heaven

rather than on Earth

there may be Christians who are well off

who have

wealth more than what many other people

have

but we need to recognize what is truly

important those riches we can use to the

honor of God

we're not putting our trust in those

riches we're putting our trust in God

and we're using the blessings he's given

us

to do what is good

and we're doing all of that so that we

can take hold of that which is life

indeed

so this problem brings this letter to a

close he makes his final statement

o Timothy guard what has been entrusted

to you avoiding worldly and empty

chatter and the opposing arguments of

what is falsely called knowledge which

some have professed and gone astray from

the faith Grace be with you

so in this closing statement

Paul tells Timothy to guard what has

been entrusted to you

but what was entrusted to him

oh is the word of God that he was given

to preach the ministry that he had the

responsibility and the role that he had

to preach the gospel guard what has been

entrusted to you

and then he reminds him of something

that he's already talked about

to avoid worldly and empty chatter and

he's going to mention this again in

second Timothy Chapter 2 and verse 16

avoid worldly and empty chatter he says

in that verse because it leads to

ungodliness

you avoid those things you avoid talking

about things that only produce strife

and only produce disputes that don't

ever lead to the truth

you avoid those things

avoid the opposing arguments of what is

falsely called knowledge the King James

uses the word science there

what he's talking about is a rejection

of God and his revealed will

he's not talking about true knowledge

or what is true real science

he's talking about what

is presented as knowledge what is

presented as science and learning but

really what it is

a rejection of what God has revealed

whether in his word or in the natural

world it is a rejection of what God has

shown us

and the man has come up with his own

standard

there were some in Timothy's time in the

first century

who were accepting these things and

rejecting god well there are people

today

who accept whatever

science tells them whatever the elites

tell them

and by doing that

by blindly following them thinking that

well man has all of the answers

they have gone astray from the faith

they trust in human thinking and human

reasoning

over God

it drew away people from the faith in

the first century it draws people away

from the faith today

those who

present what they claim to be knowledge

and science

presented as the absolute truth

but it's contrary to what God has

revealed so then we have a choice to

make do we believe man or do believe God

sadly there are a lot of people who say

well I'm going to believe what

the science tells us I'm going to

believe what the scientists tell us

what these professors tell us I'm going

to believe them

rather than what the Bible teaches

they go astray from the faith we need to

guard against that and he closes by

saying grace be with you God's favor and

God's blessing he says Timothy as you

carry out the Lord's work

God will be with you he will bless you

he will take care of you but you

continue

in the Lord's work