Sermon Tone Analysis

“Command and teach these things.

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.

Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.

Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.

Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching.

Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

[1]

“Command and teach these things.”

This imperative is reminiscent of the opening words of verse six, “If you put these things before the brothers.”

“These things,” as we discovered in a previous message, [2] included all the matters presented to this point in the missive.

Thus, the Apostle has provided the young minister with encouragement to minister in a particular fashion, and now he provides the impetus through an imperative.

In particular, “these things” focus on the admonitions in verses seven through ten.

First, the elder is enjoined to avoid falling into the trap of embracing “irreverent, silly myths.”

“Irreverent, silly myths” is translated in other instances as “ridiculous and seedy religious fads,” [3] “foolish stories that disagree with God’s truth” [4] and as “silly stories that get dressed up as religion.”

[5] Succinctly, the elder is not to follow every fad that comes along.

People sometimes complain that the pastor is not current—he’s not supposed to be tuned in to every new fad!

He is not to seize upon every movement that attempts to present itself as novel.

Let me say quite clearly, if it is true, it is Scriptural; if it is novel, it is not Scriptural.

Again, the elder is to strive to be godly both in his life and in what is taught.

Do not expect that those opposed to the Word of God will be thrilled by the elder who stands like a rock against the torrents of modern thought.

He will be castigated as unwilling to change, as obstinate, as uncooperative, as petty; and when these opprobria, tossed about fail to sway him, know that the next fusillade will endeavour to sully his character.

He steals houses, he caused silly women to take their own lives, he attempted to sue the church, all he is concerned about is money—all alike are slanders spread about in an effort to destroy him through assailing his character.

The only defence against such craven efforts is a godly life that cannot be gainsaid.

Then, we are taught that the elder’s message is to present Christ as Saviour.

His purpose is not to teach a Gospel designed only to allow us to avoid trials or pressures; he is to present Christ as the Only Saviour, necessary precisely because man is sinful and utterly incapable of making himself acceptable before the True and Living God.

The Gospel is not about maximising human potential and living “your best life now”; the Gospel is about rescuing sinners.

I understand that we live in a day in which religious celebrities present a gospel that promises health, great relationships, great kids and especially great finances.

However, the situation is more perverted that that—this new gospel seeks to popularise the idea that faith is merely a therapeutic means meant to make us feel better about ourselves.

Tragically, this distorted message has infiltrated many, if not most, of the churches of our Lord!

Let me say quite clearly—the Faith is not a means of pain avoidance!

Neither should any individual imagine that personal faith is a means to avoid trials and challenges.

The chief symbol of the Faith is an instrument of suffering and death—the cross!

When the Apostle asks whether “tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger or sword” is capable of separating us from the love of Christ [see ROMANS 8:34, 35], it is evident that he is assuming that we who believe in Christ the Lord will experience some, or even all of these!

After emphasising the necessity of teaching “these things,” the aged Apostle provides his expectations for the younger man of God.

Timothy faced a hostile environment; and every servant of Christ will conduct his service in an environment of opposition and hostility.

The milieu in which he ministers will include unbelievers who reject the idea that they are sinful and in need of a Saviour.

Counted among congregants will be individuals who seek a comfortable environment in which to preen their own egos.

These hapless souls will resist any effort that makes them uncomfortable.

Therefore, the man of God will find it necessary to remain focused on essentials; Paul now emphasises these essentials.

*EXCELING IN GODLINESS* — “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”

The Ephesian congregation was in disarray.

It had individuals functioning as elders who were unsuited for the call.

They were teaching error as truth and introducing heresies that could only lead to ruin.

Paul had gone to Ephesus to address the problems; but for some reason he found it necessary to leave suddenly.

Paul had not left the congregation without direction, however.

He had left Timothy with specific instructions of what he was to do.

“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, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith” [1 TIMOTHY 1:3, 4].

Timothy had a decided weakness, one that every minister of Christ has faced at one time—he was young.

Whether young in years or bereft of experience, every servant of Christ begins with a deficit that can only be rectified by staying the course.

However, it is more than just enduring that is required; the man of God must always endeavour to grow in the Faith.

Paul specifically addressed several aspects of spiritual maturation that the youthful servant of Christ (and consequently, each minister of Christ) must address if he would serve acceptably.

Should Timothy fail to confront his youthfulness, he would fail in his service before the Lord.

By the same criteria, should Timothy manfully confront his deficit, he would be prepared for success in his service to the people of God and before the Lord.

May I say that I love young ministers; I trained young men for ministry at one period of my service to Christ.

It was an exhilarating time, and I still enjoy encouraging young ministers in their service.

Paul’s advice to Timothy urged him excel in godliness.

Godliness is a term that is often misunderstood, or at the least it is misconstrued.

Godliness is not piety that can be strapped on at the start of each day; neither is godliness a condition that is donned on Sunday only to be ignored throughout the remainder of the week.

Godliness is practical, reflecting one’s walk with the Master.

Godliness is our pale reflection of Christ, garnered through time in His presence.

I note that after admonishing Timothy to avoid being despised because of youthfulness and/or inexperience, Paul counsels him to provide a godly example.

It may interest you to know that at the time Paul wrote these words, Timothy may have been around thirty years of age.

[6] Youthfulness was relative and not absolute.

In admonishing him to be an example, the Apostle focused on five areas in particular.

Timothy was urged to excel in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

In short, the young man was to excel in godliness as reflected in these five areas.

Let’s think through the implications of the apostolic admonition.

In the first place, Timothy was to be an example to the flock through his speech.

The command was likely necessitated because of caustic comments coming from fellow believers.

The natural reaction when challenged by saints is to become defensive, dismissive or detached.

During the years of my service among the churches of our Master, I’ve observed ministers of Christ respond with sarcasm to questions concerning their conduct or concerning their decisions.

Others have at times been dismissive, attempting to pull rank.

Others react with cold dismissal, asking how anyone could question them.

In the busyness of ministerial demands, it is woefully easy for ministers to succumb to temptation to respond in such fashion.

I have observed that when ministers get into trouble, it is often with the tongue.

This is not surprising—we are wordsmiths, we employ our speech to instruct, to counsel, to fulfil our service before the Lord.

Consequently, one of the serious problems afflicting ministers is a tendency to speak more than to listen.

God has cautioned in the Proverbs:

“When words are many, transgression is not lacking,

but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.”

[PROVERBS 10:19]

Solomon also provided a number of other sayings that apply to the man of God.

“If one gives an answer before he hears,

it is his folly and shame.”

[PROVERBS 18:13]

“The mouths of fools feed on folly.”

[PROVERBS 15:14]

“The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,

but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.”

[PROVERBS 15:28]

“The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,

but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.”

[PROVERBS 10:32]

“Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;

he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.”

[PROVERBS 13:3]

Just as speech is observable, so conduct is observable; therefore, Timothy must set an example in his conduct.

Peter, in particular, appears to favour this word, using it at least eight times in his Letters.

[7] The conduct of one’s life reveals the biblical convictions of the individual.

A biblical message paired with an ungodly lifestyle is blatant hypocrisy.