A note from our Pastor:

”Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”

1 Timothy 4:13

Good Morning Dearly Beloved,

Our study verse this week is a direct message from one minister to another. The Apostle Paul had left Timothy in Ephesus to serve as the pastor and overseer of other young ministers. In this verse, he expresses a desire to come and see Timothy again. He did not know if such a trip would ever happen, but with hope, he gave Timothy instructions on how he should conduct himself in the meantime.

First, Timothy was to give attendance to reading the scriptures. At the time of Timothy’s ministry, he might have had a copy of the gospel of Mark but the other gospel accounts would not have existed yet. Therefore, his reading would have consisted of the Old Testament and of the letters which the Apostle had written and maybe letters from other apostles such as Peter.

The reading the Apostle is instructing Timothy to do was private reading and not reading of the scriptures to the congregation. The first responsibility of any minister is to spend time in private study increasing their knowledge of the word of God. Any public ministry is to be built on this foundation. Without it, the ministry is void of deeper understanding and teachings to bring to the people.

The second instruction was for Timothy to engage in exhortation with the community of believers. Exhortation is emotional and a stirring up of the people. Preaching in the form of exhortation should cause the hearers to exercise grace and engage in their roles and responsibilities as disciples of Christ. It should also provide for comfort and consolation. When the troubles of life move upon the disciples exhortation should stir remembrances of the providence of God and his mercy on his people.

Finally, the Apostle tells Timothy to preach on the doctrine. The doctrine is the fundamental aspects of the salvation of Jesus Christ for his chosen people. This teaching was founded upon Timothy’s ever-growing knowledge through his reading. It was an important aspect for the young believers to hear and revisit to establish them in the truth of Christ but it was not to overtake the exhortation which was necessary to increase their discipleship.

The instruction the Apostle gave Timothy here is still a guideline for ministers today. First, spend time studying the Word. There is a need for visitation and counseling, but the first duty of the minister is to study in depth the word of God. Second, the minister should move the congregation towards active and engaged discipleship. Finally, all of this should be supported by and surrounded by a firm understanding of the doctrine of Jesus Christ.

Our Prayers are with you daily,

Brother Jeremiah