1 Timothy 4 is one of those chapters that, if you read through it too quickly, you might miss the minor plot twist tucked into its verses.
In this chapter, Paul continues his counsel to Timothy by warning against false teaching, and exhorting him to preserve the integrity of his ministry. In doing so, Paul prepares Timothy for the reality that some “will depart from the faith,” having been taken in by “the teachings of demons” (1Timothy 4:1), and deceived by the “hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared” (v.2). It’s serious language! Which immediately leads us to wonder what sort of false teachers was Paul referring to in this chapter. Power-hungry preachers? Money-swindling hucksters? Immoral Christians who excused their sin under the banner of cheap grace?
As it turns out, none of the above. In this chapter, Paul is not warning against ethical corruption or sexual lawlessness, but quite the opposite. In verse 3 we discover he is warning against asceticism, an extreme form of self-denial that forbids certain foods and sex.
Historians have all sorts of guesses about where this false teaching originated. It might have been an extreme overreaction to their previously pagan lifestyles, or it might have been an early form of gnosticism, a common philosophy that elevated the spiritual over the material. The truth is, we cannot know for sure, but Paul makes it clear that this false teaching has infiltrated the church and distorted their theology.
What makes this form of false teaching so surprising, is that it is rather different from the other forms of false teaching Paul has warned about elsewhere. In 1 Corinthians, for example, Paul rebukes the Christians’ rampant debauchery, and in Galatians he confronts Peter’s religious duplicity, which means “false teaching” and “hypocrisy” can take many, many forms. It can look like sexual immorality or the abuse of power, or it can look like the religious piety of these extreme ascetics, which is why he urges Timothy to be discerning.
We face the same varied forms of false teaching today, and so Paul’s advice to Timothy remains as relevant as ever. Rather than get bogged down in the controversies or “silly myths” of our day, and rather than give all our time and energy to reacting to the latest hot button issue, our task as faithful Christians is a rather simple one: “train yourself in godliness” (v.7). Be a good example “in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity” (v.12). And “persevere in these things” (v.16).
That is not to say we should be silent in the face of false teaching—Paul himself was not—but it means our primary work of resistance is modest, and often hidden. In a loud world of competing opinions and warring convictions, this quiet, humble work might seem pointless and ineffective, but in reality, it will save our witness.
Such a powerful message, especially the importance of letting your life ‘speak’ and being a silent witness.
Could I please ask for prayers for a special Christian friend I met with the other day? She shared about some significant struggles she is having in her marriage. Her husband suffers from severe anxiety and this often manifests itself in anger which is often directed at her. She is particularly concerned as their daughters are often witness to this, and the oldest daughter (10) is starting to have similar outbursts, and also not treating her (my friend, her mother) with respect. She has spent many years praying and hoping things will get better, but is at a point where she knows she needs to seek help. Her husband has grown up in the Christian faith and they regularly attend church, but I am not sure where his relationship with God is personally at at the moment. I love that this is a powerful community where prayers are uplifted, and ask that you could also uphold my beautiful friend in prayer at this time. Thank you!
So true!
Such a good devo today.
I’m asking for prayer today for my sister, Emily. I found out yesterday that a teacher in the school she works with, & has known & trusted for years, thought was a godly man, has, in fact, had inappropriate relations with a girl student in his classroom. He has done other lewd things in the classroom as well. She is crushed, angry. When she, & others 1st heard they didn’t believe this Christian man could do this, but then he confessed to the acts in the classroom…heartbreaking….This is also the anniversary of losing our Daddy (he died at 41 of heart attack when Em was a little girl). She always struggles through Mother’s Day weekend because he passed on the Friday before & the dates this year are close too. I can’t be there this weekend to hug her, but I can surround her in prayer with your help She’s. Thank you.
It seems as though confrontation is far more popular than discussion these days. It seems we have become a people with very big mouths and very small ears. It seems our fingers move rapidly across a keyboard more often than they fold in prayer. Forgive us, Lord!
Not just, Sharon Hodde Miller in her devotional, but also our sister She, Kasper, that blew my mind by opening my heart this morning.
“Lord help me to know and follow you. God frequently I am wise in my own eyes and I find I am not on a straight path. Help me to follow you carrying only what you have required for the journey. Amen”
My brain has been working overtime this week on my effort to initiate a Bible study for a small group of women at my church. But the good Lord is saying… unclench your fist, stop over thinking it, let Him work it out, in and through me…accept my own fragility…know He is in it…and release both fear & ego. So help me God.
I listened as well to sister SHE, JenniferLovesJesus, who said: “Emotions are not the best indicators of truth, only God’s word”. Persevere. If it’s not about Love, it’s not about God.
With gratitude to all the SHES gathered here!
Love this teaching.
It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the extremes of this world. It easier for me to hear His whisper when I shut off the noise.
Love this teaching.
Great devotion today, made me think. In the study book there is a quote right before todays lesson from Augustine of Hippo that caught my eye and I will be writing and posting in my apartment — “For to believe what you please, and not to what you please. is to believe yourselves, and not the Gospel.” This is so, so true. Christ is the Son of God and He died for mine and everyone’s sins is what I believe. The Holy Spirit is within me to help with my faith.
Be blessed and listen closely God maybe talking to you.