Taking Special Care to Develop Your Ministry

INTRODUCTION

This book is copyrighted only to prevent its misuse. Preachers and teaches of the Word of God may certainly use any of this material in their ministries, but none of these material may be reproduced. The expository material on 1st Timothy chapter four is to teach ministers the foundation of developing their ministry with special care and in-depth understanding to solidify a spiritual foundation. The teaching of this book originated by Dr. Vincent L. Terrie in 1988 while living in Spangdahlem, Germany. Dr. Terrie purpose then and his purpose now is to use his inspired writings on 1st Timothy to teach and to inspired newly installed Pastors, Elders and Ministers. In 1988 Dr. Terrie new he would write a book, but the ideal of putting this expository writings with Greek definitions and pronunciations into a book never crossed his mind. The urge to write a book grew stronger as he was in the seminary for three years at "Freedom Bible College & Seminary" in 1998. July 19, 2000, Dr. Terrie decided to put this in-depth study on 1st Timothy chapter four into a book. Being inspired by the Holy Spirit he initiated the process for publishing. Anyone can use this teaching material to establish and gain a understanding what Apostle Paul was telling young Pastor Timothy, whom Paul installed as presiding Elder over the church of Ephesus.

The book of Acts closes with Paul a prisoner in Rome (28:30- 31). While the New Testament does not give us a clear picture of Paul's latter years, most students agree upon the following chronology. Paul was acquitted before Caesar and forced to leave Rome after two years of imprisonment. This would be about the spring of 62. With Luke and Timothy, he visited Ephesus where he discovered that his prophecy about the "wolves" (Acts 20:29-30) had been fulfilled; for the church at Ephesus had been invaded by false teachers. His warnings in I Timothy suggest that this false teaching was similar to the Gnosticism he had attacked at Colosse. Paul ministered there himself for a short time, then left to go to Philippi. He left Timothy behind as his special assistant to oversee the church and get rid of the false teachers. Their parting was a sorrowful one according to II Timothy 1:4. It is likely that Paul was at Colosse, enjoying his promised visit to Philemon, when he wrote this first letter to young Timothy (Philemon 22). Paul was planning to return to Ephesus shortly (I Timothy 3:14), but matters in the church were so urgent that he dared not delay advising his associate. This letter is one full of encouragement to a youthful Christian worker who was facing many difficult problems in a "big-city church." We may summarize these problems as follows as chapter four is concern:

1. Timothy was a young man seeking to pastor older people (4:12, 5:1-2).
2. He was prone to neglect his pastoral duties and his own personal devotional life as a Christian leader (4:11-16).
3. He had a tendency toward asceticism and bodily discipline, that was actually hurting him physically (4:7-8, 5:23).
4. He had admitted to Paul that "youthful temptations" plagued him (II Timothy 2:22), a situation not hard to see in godless Ephesus.
5. There were false teachers there who needed to be silenced (1:3ff).
6. Timothy needed counsel on managing the affairs of the church, especially with reference to officers and widow (3:1ff, 5:3ff).

One of the key words in I Timothy is charge, sometimes-translated commandment (1:3, 5, 18; 4:11; 5:7; 6:13, 17). It was a military term, referring to an order to be passed down the line. God had entrusted the Gospel to Paul (1:11), who had passed it along to Timothy (1:18-19; 6:20). Timothy was "charged" to guard this treasure (II Timothy 1:13-14) and pass it along to faithful men who would, in turn, entrust it to others (II Timothy 2:2). Military language is woven throughout both epistles to Timothy (1:18; 5:14 – where "occasion" means "a base of operation;" II Timothy 2:2; 3:6).

The basic theme of I Timothy is summarized in 3:15 – that men (not "thou") might know how to conduct themselves as members of the local church. It is a book of "know-how" for the young pastor, or for the church member. The local church is "the pillar and ground (foundation) of truth," yet men neglect it and abuse it by disobeying the Word of God. As we study I Timothy, lets us pray that it will make us better church members as well as better Christians. It would profit you to read the life of Timothy in your Bible Dictionary, to see how big a role he played in the life and ministry of Paul.

Chapter four deals with the pastor personally, his spiritual life and labors. It indicates that a true minister will have three qualities. He will be (1) a good minister – preaching the word, 4:1-6 (2) a Godly minister – practicing the Word 4:7-12 and (3) the growing minister – progressing in the Word – 4:13-16.