A note from our Pastor:

“ Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.”

1 Timothy 5:24

Good Morning Dearly Beloved,

In our study verse this week, the Apostle Paul returns to the thoughts started in verse 22. If you are following along with our complete study, you should consider the 23 verse to be a parenthetical statement. The Apostle is fond of these aside comments and offered verse 23 as a warning against misinterpretation of the instruction to remain pure. Now he continues the thoughts regarding not ordaining a man too soon to the ministry.

The Apostle tells Timothy, that when examining candidates for ordination, two categories of men will exist in the community of believers. First, those candidates who violate the requirements for the ministry in such a public and notorious way that all can see their actions. Second, other candidates will have a propensity to behave in a way not fitting for a minister of Christ, but who do so quietly and privately and create doubts about their misdeeds.

The treatment, by Timothy, of the first category of men was straightforward. The entire community knew these men were not fit for the gospel ministry. Whichever of the standards outlined in this book they violated, they did so and did not try to hide. Of these, Timothy and others could tell them they were welcome in the community of believers but their actions prevented them from being ministers.

However, the treatment of the second category was far more difficult. With some, no doubt, Timothy and others would choose to ordain them only to have their behaviors surface while they were serving as a pastor to the congregation. This would be a difficult situation, but not as difficult as another scenario. The second scenario is that the community of believers might be split regarding the man’s fitness for the ministry. In this situation, not only would Timothy have a difficult determination to make, but he also risked alienating and hurting a portion of the congregation.

In particular, the instruction the Apostle gave Timothy to avoid any sense of rushing a decision, to avoid appearing to take sides, and to remain pure in his guidance and decision-making was important with this second group. It was vital that Timothy remain the voice of wisdom and guidance to the congregation for without that leadership the divisions would grow even greater.

Our Prayers are with you daily,

Brother Jeremiah