DIGGING DEEP NO. 1124 February 24, 2026
1 TIMOTHY (PART 5)
HOW TO BE A MAN OR A WOMAN OF GOD
1Tim.4: 1- 16.
If you were to write a job description for your pastor, what would it contain? A pastor preaches regularly, and performs weddings and other Christian services, visits the sick, and counsels the distressed. But what is his ministry, and what kind of person must he be to fulfill his God given ministry?
A Good minister – Preaching the Word 1Tim.4: 1- 6. Paul had warned the Ephesian elders that false teachers would invade the church Acts.20: 28- 31, and now they had arrived. The Holy Spirit had spoken in specific terms about these teachers, and the prophecy was starting to be fulfilled in Paul’s time. Certainly, it is fulfilled in our own time. We can recognize false teachers by the description Paul gave in this paragraph.
Just as there is a mystery of godliness concerning Christ 1Tim.3: 16, so there is a mystery of iniquity that surrounds Satan and his work 2Thess.2: 7. Satan is an imitator 2Cor.11: 13- 15; he has his own ministers and doctrines, and seeks to deceive God’s people and lead them astray 2Cor.11: 3. The first test of any religious doctrine is what it says about Jesus Christ 1Jh.4: 1- 6. Paul warned that false teachers would arise from within the church Acts.20: 30. Their goal is to seduce people and get them to depart from the faith. These false teachers do not try to build up the church or relate people to the Lord Jesus Christ in a deeper way; they. Instead, they want to get disciples to follow them and join their groups and promote their programs. This is one difference between a true church and a religious cult. A true church seeks to win converts to Jesus Christ and to build them spiritually. Conversely, a cult proselytizes, steals convert from others, and take advantage of them financially and emotionally.
They are hypocrites Vs.2. “You shall know them by their fruits” Matt.7: 15- 20. These false teachers preach one thing but practice another. They tell their disciples what to do, but they do not do it themselves. One of the marks of a true servant of God is his honesty and integrity. He practices what he preaches. This does not mean he is sinlessly perfect, but that he sincerely seeks to obey the Word of God. He tries to maintain a good conscience 1Tim.1: 5, 9; 3: 9. Jesus made it clear that it is not religious talk or even performing of miracles that qualifies a person for heaven, but doing God’s will in everyday life Matt.7: 21- 23.
They deny God’s Word Vs.3- 5. The false teachers who were infecting the Ephesian church taught that an unmarried life was more spiritual than a married life; which is contrary to Scripture. “It is not good that the man should be alone’ are God’s own words Gen.2: 18. Jesus put His seal of approval on marriage Matt.19: 1- 9, though Jesus pointed out that not everybody is supposed to marry Matt.19: 10- 12. Paul also affirmed the biblical basis for marriage 1Cor.7: 1- 24; teaching that each person should follow the will of God in the matter. Beware of any religious teaching that tampers with God’s institution of marriage.
The false teachers also taught the people that certain foods were taboo; If you ate them, you are not spiritual. The fact that God called His own creation good (Gen.1: 10, 12, 18, 21, 25) did not interest these teachers. Their authority to dictate diets gave them power over their converts. Those who believe and know the truth are not impressed with the do’s and don’ts of the legalists. Jesus stated that all foods are clean Mk.7: 14- 23. He taught this lesson again to Peter Acts.10 and reaffirmed it through Paul 1Cor.10: 23- 33. A person may not be able to eat certain foods for physical reasons (An allergy, for example)
The emphasis in a minister’s life should be on the Word of God and prayer 1Tim.4: 5. Paul reminded young Timothy of his great responsibility to study, teach, and preach the scriptures, and to spend time in prayer. Timothy had certain responsibilities in the light of this growing apostacy.
1. Teach the church the truth Vs.6. God’s people need to be warned about false doctrine and religion apostasy. So, a pastor must teach positive doctrine so that people will know what they believe and where they are going. But he must also expose doctrine so that people will not be seduced and led astray.
2. He must nourish himself in the Word Vs.6. Every Christian ought to feed daily on the Word Jer.15: 16; Matt.4: 4; 1Pet.2: 2; but it is especially important that a pastor grow in the Word. It is by daily studying the good doctrine and meditating on the Word that he grows in the Lord and is able to lead the church. It is not enough to preach the Word; he must also practice it.
3. A Godly minister, practicing the Word – 1Tim.4: 7- 12. Paul shifted to an athletic illustration at this point; Just as a Greek or Roman athlete had to refuse certain things, eat the right food, and do the right exercises, so a Christian should practice spiritual exercise. If a Christian puts as much energy and discipline into his spiritual life as an athlete does into his game, the Christian grows faster and accomplishes much more for God.
The bad – “profane and old wives” fables Vs.7. These are the false teachings and traditions of the apostates. These doctrines have no basis in Scripture; in fact, they contradict the Word of God. Paul also warned Titus about Jewish fables Tit.1: 14. Paul warned Timothy about these same fables in his second letter 2Tim.4: 4. Paul admonished Timothy to remain true to the “good doctrine which you have closely followed up to now 1Tim.4: 6. While a pastor must know what the enemy is teaching, he must not be influenced by it. A chemist may handle and study poisons, but he does not permit them to get into his system.
The temporary bodily exercise Vs.7- 8. Again, this is an athletic image. Certainly, we ought to care for our bodies, and exercise is a part of that care for our bodies. Our bodies are God’s temples, to be used for His glory 1Cor.6: 19- 20, and His tools for His service Rom.12: 1- 2. But bodily exercise benefits us only during this life; godly exercise is profitable now and for eternity. Paul did not ask Timothy to choose between the two; I think God expects us to practice both. A healthy body can be used of God, but we must major on holiness.
The eternal godliness Vs.7- 12. The shaping of character by truth; godly character and conduct are far more important than worldly accolades and trophies. Paul challenged Timothy to be as devoted to godliness as an athlete is to his sport. We are living and laboring for eternity. As an athlete must control his body and obey the rules, so a Christian must make his body his servant and not his master. There are spiritual exercises that we ought to be doing daily; prayer, meditation, self-examination, fellowship, service, sacrifice, submission, to one another, witnessing; all of these can assist us through the Holy Spirit to become more godly people. Exercising ourselves in godly living is not only profitable for us, it is also profitable for others 1Tim.4: 11- 12. It enables us to be good examples, so that we encourage others. Paul named several areas of life in which you and I should be examples.
“In word” 1Tim.4: 12 implies that our speech should always be honest and loving. Speaking the truth in love Ephe.4: 15.
“In Conduct” this suggests that our lives are to be controlled by the Word of God. We must not be like the hypocrites Paul described to Titus Tit.1: 16 “They professed that they know God; but in works they deny Him.”
“In Love” this points to the motivation of our lives. We do not obey God to be applauded by men Matt.6: 1; but because we love God and love God’s people.
“In faith” implies that we trust God and are faithful to Him. Faith and love often go together 1Tim.1: 14; 2: 15; 6: 11. Faith always leads to faithfulness.
“In Purity” is important as we live in this present evil world. Ephesus was a center for sexual impurity, and the young man Timothy was faced with temptations. He must keep himself pure in mind, heart, and body. Godly living not only helps us and other believers; It also has its influence on the lost. Paul reminded Pastor Timothy that Jesus Christ is the Savior 1Tim.4: 10, and it is the believer’s task to share that good news with the lost. We Christians have fixed our hope in the living God, but the lost have no hope and do not know the living God. All what many of them know are the dead idols that can never save them.
Timothy should not fear to practice the Word of God and apply it to the life of the church. The local church is a unit in God’s spiritual army, and the leaders are to pass God’s orders along to the people with authority and conviction.
A growing minister, progressing in the Word – 1Tim.4: 13- 16. The key thought in this section is “Give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.” 1Tim.4: 15. As a godly pastor, Timothy was to grow spiritually so that the whole church could see his spiritual progress and imitate it. No pastor can lead his people where He has not been himself. “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you” is a basic principle of life and ministry Acts.3: 6. The pastor or church member who is not growing is actually going backward, for it is impossible to stand still in the Christian life.
What are factors that made spiritual progress possible?
1. Emphasize God’s Word Vs.13. Give attention to reading.
2. Exhortation – literally means encouragement. Applying of the Word of God to the lives of the people.
3. Doctrine – means teaching and is a major emphasis in the pastoral letters. There are at least twenty-two references to teaching or doctrine in these thirteen chapters.
4. Apt to teach – is one of the qualifications of a minister 1Tim.3: 2; and it has been correctly said “Apt to teach implies apt to learn.” A Christian that desires to grow must be a student of the Word. Before he teaches others, he must first teach himself Rom.2: 21. His spiritual progress is an example to his flock and an encouragement to others.
5. Use your spiritual gifts Vs.14. Every Christian has at least one gift from the Spirit Rom.8: 9.
However, when God calls a believer into a special place of ministry, He impacts a spiritual gift for that task. When Timothy was ordained by the elders, he received an enabling gift from God. But for some reason, Timothy had neglected to cultivate this gift that was so necessary to his spiritual progress and ministry. In fact, Paul had to admonish him in his second letter 2Tim.1: 6. It is encouraging to know that the God who called us also equips us to do His work. We have nothing in ourselves that enables us to serve Him; the ministry must all come from God 1Cor.15: 9- 10; Phil.4: 13; 1Tim.1: 12. We must cultivate God’s gifts, use them, and develop them in the ministry of the local church and wherever God puts us.
6. Devote yourself fully to Christ Vs.15. Timothy’s spiritual life and ministry were to be the absorbing, controlling things in his life, not merely sidelines that he occasionally practiced. There can be no real advance in one’s ministry without total dedication to the task; “No man can serve two masters” Matt.6: 24.
7. Take spiritual inventory Vs.16. Examine your own heart in the light of the Word of God. A servant of God can be so busy helping others that he neglects himself and his own spiritual walk. The building up of the saved and the winning of the lost are the purposes for our ministry. But God must work in us before He can effectively work through us Phil.2: 12- 13.
In Conclusion – As good ministers, we preach the Word; as godly ministers, we practice the Word; as growing ministers, we progress in the Word.