A note from our Pastor:

”And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.”

1 Timothy 5:7

Good Morning Dearly Beloved,

Our study verse for this week is a functional verse rather than an instructive verse. It falls amid the Apostle Paul’s larger lesson on the community of believers taking care of widows. While it is not as instructive, it does serve to remind the bible student how the lessons of the Apostles were carried to the New Testament church and passed from generation to generation.

In the verses before our study verse, the Apostle has been providing Timothy with instruction first on how to handle interactions with the men and women in the congregation and then the beginning of instruction on how widows should be cared for. These instructions are written in such a way that it is clear they were from a father in the ministry to a younger charge.

With this verse, the Apostle clarifies the expectation. He tells Timothy to teach the lessons he is providing him to the entire congregation. The Apostle wants Timothy to understand that these are not merely instructions for him, but they are instructions for the ministers he will train and teach and for the entire congregation.

Why is Timothy instructed to teach the entire congregation these lessons? Because these actions will impact how they are seen in the community. If the community of believers had widows indeed among them and yet they were not taken care of the congregation would appear to lack empathy and compassion. Those outside the congregation would doubt whether they truly loved their neighbor.

This particular verse though is important. Traditions of men in religion are extremely dangerous as they often cause a departure from the truth and simplicity of Christ. However, in this situation, the Apostle was inspired by the Holy Spirit to specifically instruct Timothy to teach these lessons. As modern disciples, the church should pay attention to these specific instructions and endeavor to follow them. These are not traditions of men but rather inspired instructions directly from the Apostles.

Our Prayers are with you daily,

Brother Jeremiah