Christ's Commandments

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1Tim 4:13 . . Focus upon the public reading of scripture, and to preaching and teaching.

Public reading was necessary because of the scarcity of Bibles in those days. All were hand-written; none were mass-produced like now. But even with the ease of access to Bibles nowadays, the danger lies in Christians becoming self-taught if church officers neglect to preach and teach. (cf. Eph 4:11-16)

Scripture in those days would have been pretty much limited to the Old Testament since the New Testament's canon had not yet been compiled. The Old Testament is very important because it is impossible for believers to obtain a full understanding of The Lord's mission and purpose without a comprehensive knowledge of the Old Testament.

"And he said unto them, These are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures." (Luke 24:44-45)

"The holy scriptures are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (2Tim 3:15-17)

"For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope." (Rom 15:4)
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1Tim 4:15-16 . . Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.

A church officer can progress in only one of two directions. If he goes downwards, as the Laodicean pastor of Rev 4:14-20; that's not progress, that's regress; which Webster's defines as: movement backward to a previous, and especially worse, or more primitive, state or condition.

This doesn't mean that a church's facility needs paint and its weeds sprayed with Roundup. We're talking about an officer's personal spiritual condition. He may be the head honcho of an illustrious, impressive, big-city church campus, and still be in a condition of regression because it's not the outside of a church that testifies to his true spiritual condition, but rather, his own insides; for example:

"You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and all kinds of impurity. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." (Matt 23:27-28)

The koiné Greek word for "hypocrisy" is hupokrisis (hoop-ok'-ree-sis) which means acting under a feigned part. Hypocrisy is a lucrative profession for people employed in movies, sit-coms, and soaps. But that's okay because it's all above board. We know they're just playing roles and they're not trying to get by with anything; but a church officer is not supposed to be an actor; he's supposed to be a man of integrity.
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[BoyStan]

Grace does not deal with commandments. The OT law had commandments but grace gives the life of the Spirit.
When Christians argue from the OT they very often end in error or heresy. Why?
They fail to understand the meaning of grace taught in the NT. The mix up law with grace and go astray.

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1Tim 5:1a . . When speaking to an older man, appeal to him respectfully as though he were your own father.

There's probably nothing more humiliating to a parent than to be treated like dirt by their children-- except maybe to be treated like dirt by a spouse.

Americans have the right to a trial by a jury of their peers. Well, a child is not a parent's peer; he's not even the parent's equal let alone his peer. Parents are not children's peers; no, parents are their betters, not their equals. It's a thoughtless, wicked, insolent dunce who treats their parents with no more respect than one of their college beer buddies.

I was in a Sunday school class one morning where a young fellow substituted for the regular teacher. After practically every sentence during his lecture, the fellow would pause, tighten his lips, turn down the corners of his mouth, squint his eyes into narrow slits, and look around the room with a fierce scowl on his face; and better than half that room was older than he was. I don't know about the rest of the group, but as a man easily twice his age; I deeply resented the looks that youngster was giving us.
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1Tim 5:1b . .Speak to the younger men as you would to your own kin.

In this case, the "kin" would be sort of like a man's younger siblings; viz: his kid brothers. Young boys look up to their big brothers; who by all rights should be setting the example as role models that a growing boy can be proud of. Big brothers ought to be available too, and not treat their younger siblings as excess baggage and/or un-cool nerds and morons who are beneath their dignity to be seen with.
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1Tim 5:2 . . Speak to the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity.

The koiné Greek word for "purity" is hagneia (hag-ni'-ah) which means: cleanliness; viz: chastity

Webster's defines "chastity" as: abstention from unlawful sexual intercourse and/or purity in conduct and intention

Church officers are in an advantageous position for meeting women; thus opportunities for trysts, assaults, and abuse abound.

Speaking to older women as mothers means doing so in compliance with the fourth of the Ten Commandments.

"Honor your mother" (Ex 20:12)

Honoring one's mother means giving her the respect that her age and her maternal position deserve. It means watching your language, and it means keeping a civil tongue in your head. It means speaking to her as a grown-up instead of a child. It means treating her as superior and you as subordinate. It means deferring to her wishes instead of demanding your own.
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1Tim 5:3-4 . . Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, her kin should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.

A widow in real need would be one who is unable to work and has no one of her own to look out after her. Here in modern America that situation isn't nearly as serious as it is in third world countries where there are no government assistance programs for senior citizens. So you can see that in those circumstances a widow's church may be the only thing between her and grinding poverty.

A widow's Christian offspring have a sacred obligation to provide for their aging ancestors.

"Those who won't care for their own kin, especially those living in the same household, have disregarded what we believe. Such people are worse than infidels." (1Tim 5:8)
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1Tim 5:5-7 . .The widow who is really in need, and left all alone, puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. Give the people these instructions, too, so that no one may be open to blame.

The New Testament Greek word for "pleasure" means voluptuous; which Webster's defines as luxury and/or sensual gratification.

People who live only for the best that life has to offer generally regard religion as a ball and chain holding them back from living their lives to the fullest. Well; not everyone has access to either the means or the wherewithal to live life to the fullest. For some, life offers no options other than a tin shack, a dirt floor, and a bowl of white rice; if that.

Paul says to decline widows for whom basic necessities aren't an issue, rather, whose goal is to satisfy their appetite for the best that life has to offer. As it's said that one cannot serve God and money, well neither can one serve God and one's inherent cravings. True, you can't stop yourself from having cravings for the best that life has to offer; but you can choose whether to let them be the dominant force in your life.

"Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the concerns of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful." (Mark 4:18-19)
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1Tim 5:9-10 . . No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.

There are unprincipled individuals out there who love nothing better than taking advantage of a church's good nature, and its desire to be helpful. Following Paul's directive is a good way to avoid being victimized by one of them. (cf. Ruth 2:11)
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1Tim 5:11-12 . . As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge.

The koiné Greek word for "widow" in this section is chera (khay'-rah) which doesn't necessarily indicate a woman whose husband died. It simply indicates a woman that's lost her man (or maybe never had one to begin with, e.g. grass widows).

The words "sensual desires" are translated from a Greek word that means voluptuous against. In other words; their craving for the good things in life will outweigh any importance that they might put upon serving Christ faithfully, loyally, and effectively.

The "first pledge" is a woman's wedding vows. If a married Christian woman doesn't want to live with her husband anymore; fine: don't. But if she divorces her husband in order to take up with a man she likes better; that's not fine; no, that's totally wrong.
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1Tim 5:14 . . So I will that younger widows marry, have children, manage their homes, and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.

That almost seems to contradict a previous verse condemning young widows for remarrying; but in this case, it's assumed she hasn't broken her first pledge; viz: she has a legitimate right to remarry.

According to Paul's criteria, a widow qualifies as "younger" if she's not yet undergone menopause. A young ex-wife still has a good supply of active hormones, and a very lively libido that needs an outlet. This is just a fact of life and all the religion in the world is not going to make it go away. A few women are okay with celibacy, but not all that many are. Even women that some men might evaluate as "frigid" will feel comfortable in the right man's arms, so don't be too quick to write them off.

Dr. Laura Schlesinger often advised single moms to forget about even so much as dating till their children are at least 18. Well, that's easy for Laura to say because she's a tomboy, but real women are going to find that restriction unbearable; and besides, Paul's instructions are Christ's rules for Christian women, not Laura's.

"If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of The Lord." (1Cor 14:37)

Single women need to think rationally and objectively about their future; and ask themselves: Can I really live out the rest of my life without a man to share it? Can I bear up without a nervous break-down and/or turning to alcohol, Prozac, and overeating? Will I become irritable and difficult, and/or a chronic man-hater like aunt Lucy? Have to be brutally honest here because this is pretty serious stuff.

Another danger of single women going too long without a man is immorality. Desire, loneliness, and longings for appreciation, have a way of building up to unbearable levels in people who live by themselves and just about that time, along comes a really great somebody who maybe breaks down their defenses and gets a little too chummy. That can be a difficult moment.

"To avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband." (1Cor 7:2)

NOTE: They say a man has his needs. Well; a woman has her needs too. Let's not forget that.
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1Tim 5:16 . . If any believing man or woman have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.

It's awful to think that a religion based upon love, has to command its adherents to extend kindness to their own kin.

But in all fairness, I should point out that Paul's directive only impacts believing widows, not unbelieving, because a Christian church is under zero obligation to support ex-wives who fail to meet all the requirements of a "widow indeed" as per 1Tim 5:9-10.

What we're talking about here are specifically Christian widows; so if the ex wives among your relatives are say, Atheist, Agnostic, Muslim, Buddhist, Bahái, Hindu, Jehovah's Witness, Scientology, or Mormon, et al; then don't even think about asking your church to help support them. If you want to help them, okay, but leave your church out of it.
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1Tim 5:17-18 . .The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For the scripture says: "Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain" and "The laborer is worthy of his hire."

The koiné Greek word for "elder" is presbuteros (pres-boo'-ter-os). It corresponds to aldermen; which Webster's defines as: members of a legislative body. In other words; elders enact and enforce the proprietary rules and bylaws that govern everybody in a local church; including its pastor. In some churches those rules and bylaws are called a covenant; which new members have to accept. The aldermen are also responsible for settling disputes between church members (1Cor 6:1-5) so that they correspond to "the church" that Christ spoke of at Matt 18:15-18.

Aldermen aren't peculiar to Christianity. Councils pre-existed amongst Moses' people prior to Moses' commission (Ex 3:16). Anon, seventy of Israel's elders were established by God as a supreme council (Num 11:16-17). One's failure to submit to their church's aldermen is grounds for removing their name from the role. (Matt 18:15-18)

Since Christian aldermen sometimes wear more than one hat as preachers and teachers; then it's very possible in a large church for them to have time for nothing else, like for instance holding down a job. For that reason, their constituents should try and compensate them with a decent standard of living. I mean, after all, if their service to a local church is invaluable, then by all means the congregation should do whatever it takes to keep them on staff where they can devote all of their time and energy towards governing (that is; if you feel your church is a worthwhile endeavor).

Let's say for example, that one of your church's aldermen is a retiree trying to survive on Social Security and a diminished 401K. He'll be a lot more effective towards your church's good if the congregation, whatever its size, pitches in to help him make ends meet; and the outside world surely won't blame your church for doing so unless of course they're as callous towards the needs of a senior citizen as the bottom of a soldier's boot.

But beware that the congregation doesn't overcompensate its aldermen to the point where they can afford to drive a Cadillac Escalade, wear a Rolex, and own an expensive home in an up-scale district. That will really make Christianity look bad, and actually work against Christ's best interests.
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1Tim 5:19 . . Do not accept an accusation against an elder except before two or three witnesses.

It isn't required that two or three witnesses accuse the elder, but that an accuser do so in the hearing of two or three witnesses. The witnesses are not there to testify against the elder; no, they are there to testify against the accuser in the event it's discovered that he's the perpetrator of a slander.

1Tim 5:20 . .Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

Once it's discovered that an accuser's allegations are libelous, then it's time to get up in front of the entire congregation and expose him for the cheap goods he really is because nobody's reputation is safe in the hands of someone like that. This is where the testimony of the aforementioned two or three witnesses comes into play.

"I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is a slanderer. With such a man do not even eat. Expel the wicked man from among you." (1Cor 5:11-13)

A roast of this nature can be a very humiliating experience for a church member, and when the others see how it goes, they'll think twice before making spurious allegations against elders.

However, if the accusations prove to be true, then the shoe is on the other foot. Then it's time to expose the elder.
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1Tim 5:21 . . I charge thee before God, and The Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

I seriously doubt that very many modern Christian churches are following Paul's instructions in regards to spurious accusations against elders. They probably find it much easier to just gloss over issues rather than comply with the mandated procedure for roasting and expelling. (as if any of this is ever optional)

Another thing that modern churches are very good at these days is covering up an elder's indiscretions when what they really deserve is a public hanging, so to speak. Happens all the time.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." (Matt 23:27-28)

How very true that is of the staff of some of the churches in this day and age.
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