A note from our Pastor:

”Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”

1 Timothy 4:1

Good Morning Dearly Beloved,

Our continuing study of the book of 1st Timothy transitions into chapter four this week. While the subject matter transitions slightly the themes connect to the prior chapter and continue the work of the Apostle Paul in instructing Timothy and other ministers in the duties and roles of a pastor.

Paul begins this chapter by telling Timothy and others who read this letter why he is issuing a warning of this nature. These were not thoughts dreamed up by the Apostle. Nor were they concerns he had seen in other congregations and assumed they would be true of Ephesus as well. Rather, the concerns he is going to express are revealed to him and impressed upon him by the Holy Spirit. Thus, they are very real and very unique concerns that Timothy should be prepared to address.

The term “latter times” as used by the Apostle is often portrayed as speaking of some distant time in the future. It is deemed to be synonymous with the end of time. However, the truth is the Apostle spoke of the “latter times” and ideas like the last days in a more immediate context because he was looking for Jesus to come back in the second coming and resurrection within a few generations. It never crossed the Apostle’s mind that disciples would still be gathering, reading his text, and worshipping on this earth some 2,000 years later.

At the end of the prior chapter, the Apostle tells of the mysteries of godliness and reminds Timothy of the church’s role as the pillar and ground of the truth. The community of believers made up of believers with ministers included, was instructed to hold on to the truth of Jesus Christ — his incarnation, his ministry, his death, burial, and resurrection. However, the Apostle warns, that some in the future will replace the very simplicity of the church with false teachings and burdens upon the disciples.

The Apostle is going to detail those specific false teachings that would come upon Ephesus, but the warning remains true for all disciples and all communities of believers until Jesus returns. Those who would depart from the faith, but do so while appearing to be zealous will depart by making discipleship and belief more complex, more difficult, and more oppressive.

Let us look to the truth of Jesus Christ contained in the simplicity of his story.

Our Prayers are with you daily,

Brother Jeremiah