DIGGING DEEP NO. 1131 April 14, 2026
1 TIMOTHY (PART 9)
THE PASTOR HIMSELF
1Tim.6: 11-16, 20- 21.
While caring for the needs of his people, Timothy needed to care for himself as well. “Take heed to yourself” 1Tim.4: 16 was one of Paul’s admonitions. The phrase “But you” 1Tim.6: 11; indicates a contrast between Timothy and the false teachers. They were men of the world, but he was a “man of God.” This special designation was also given to Moses Deut.33: 1; Samuel 1Sam.9: 6; Elijah 1Kgs.17: 18; and David Neh.12: 24, so Timothy was in good company. Paul gave four admonitions to Timothy that, if obeyed, would assure him success in his ministry and a continued testimony as a man of God; and it applies to every one of us today.
1. Flee – 1Tim.6: 11. There are times when running away is a mark of cowardice. “Should such a man as I flee?” asked Nehemiah Neh.6: 11. But there are other times when fleeing is a mark of wisdom and a means of victory. Joseph fled when he was tempted by his master’s wife Gen.39: 12, and David fled when king Saul tried to kill him 1Sam.19: 10. The word flee that Paul used here did not refer to literal running, but to Timothy’s separating himself from the sins of the false teachers. This echoes the admonition in 1Tim.6: 5. Not all unity is good, and not all division is bad. There are times when a servant of God should take a stand against false doctrine and godless practices, and separate himself from them.
2. Follow – 1Tim.6: 11. Separation without positive growth becomes isolation. We must cultivate these graces of the Spirit in our lives, or else we will be known for what we oppose rather than for what we propose.
Righteousness means personal integrity; Godliness means practical piety (Devotion, religiousness, virtue). Righteousness has to do with character; Godliness has to do with conduct. Faith might better be translated faithfulness. It has well been said that the greatest ability is dependability. Love is the agape love that sacrifices for the sake of others. It seeks to give, not to gain. Patience carries the idea of endurance; sticking to it when the going is tough; courage that continues in hard places. Meekness is not weakness, but instead is power under control (Gentleness).
3. Fight – 1Tim.6: 12- 16. The verb means “keep on fighting.” It applies both to soldiers and athletes. It describes a person straining and giving his best to win the prize or win the battle. Near the end of his own life, Paul wrote, “I have fought a good fight” 2Tim.4: 7. This fight, however is not between believers; it is between a person of God and the enemy around him. He is fighting to defend the faith; that body of truth deposited with the church. Like Nehemiah of old, Christians today need to have a trowel in one hand for building and a sword in the other hand for battling Neh.4: 17. It is sad when some Christians spend so much time fighting the enemy that they have no time to do their work and build the church. On the other hand, if we do not stand guard and oppose the enemy, what we have built could be taken from us. What is it that encourages us in the battle? We have been called by God, and this assures us of victory. Another encouragement in our battle is the witness of Jesus Christ our Savior. He witnessed a good confession 1Tim.6: 13 before Pontius Pilate and did not relent before the enemy. He knew that God the Father was with Him and watching over Him, and that He would be raised from the dead. Timothy’s natural timidity might want to make him shrink from the battle; But all he had to do was remember Jesus Christ and His bold confession, and this would encourage him. Timothy was to guard the commandment and obey it. Why? Because one day the commander would appear and he would have to report on his assignment. The only way he could be ready would be to obey orders without spot or blame 1Tim.6: 14. We do not know when Christ will come again, but it will be in His own time 1Tim.6: 15. Our task is to be faithful every day and abide in Him 1Jh.2: 28.
1Tim.6: 16. The subject of 1Tim.6: 16 is God. He is the only Ruler. The kings and ruler of the earth may think that they have power and authority, but God is sovereign over all (Ps. 2).
Immortality means not subject to death. Man is subject to death, but God is not. Only God has immortality as an essential and inherent part of His being. He is immortal, invisible, the only wise God. Because God is not subject to death, He is Life and the Giver of life. He is incorruptible and not subject to decay or change. In this life, believers are in mortal bodies, but when Jesus Christ returns, we shall share His immortality 1Cor.15: 50- 58. Keep in mind that Paul explained all these truths about God in order to encourage Timothy to fight the good fight of faith and not give up.
4. Be faithful – 1Tim.6: 20- 21. God had committed the truth to Paul 1Tim.1: 11, and Paul had committed it to Timothy. It was Timothy’s responsibility to guard it and then pass it along to others who would, in turn, continue to pass it on 2Tim.2: 2. This is God’s way of protecting the truth and spreading it around the world. We are stewards of the doctrines of the faith, and God expects us to be faithful in sharing His good news. Paul summarized all that the false teachers taught in one devastating phrase; “profane and vain babblings.” Why should Timothy avoid these teachings? Because some who got involved in them “wandered from the faith” 1Tim.6: 21. Not only will wrong motives (a desire for money) cause a person to wander from the faith 1Tim.6: 10, but so will wrong teachings. These lies work their way into a person’s mind and heart gradually, and before he realizes it, he is wandering off the path of truth.
In Conclusion – If Timothy was going to fight the good fight of faith, he had to decide that Jesus Christ alone is worthy of worship and complete devotion.