Hello DHC.
Here is a better approach that considers the context of the passage:
Starting around verse 6, Paul is saying how Timothy can be a good minister of Christ Jesus. So right there, we can see that Paul is not giving Timothy a "how to be saved" sermon. The context of these passages is ministry.
Verse 7, he is telling Timothy to avoid myths and exercise unto godliness. This is also about ministry, to be effective in ministry we need spiritual exercise.
In Verse 10 he says to labor and strive (in the ministry), because Christ is the Savior of all men. Paul wants to see everyone saved. - again, the context is ministry.
Verse 11 and 12 he tells Timothy to teach these things, and be an example to the believers - it is still about ministry.
Verse 13 - he tells Timothy to do public reading, exhortation and teaching - it is about ministry still.
Verse 14 - he tells Timothy to not neglect the gifts - which he needs for ministry.
Verse 15 he writes "practice these things, be in them, that your progress may be manifest to all". - again this is still about ministry.
Verse 16 he writes , "take heed to yourself and teaching, continue, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. " - this verse is also about ministry.
Looking closer at the verses, the phrase "these things" appears in verse 11, 15, and 16. In verse 11 he says teach these things. In verse 15 he says practice these things, and in verse 16 he says continue in these things. The "these things" are all related to Timothy's ministry and not his personal salvation.
In this context, Paul is telling Timothy, as a minister, to take heed to how he lives his life and what he preaches and how he conducts his ministry, so that he may save himself and others from erroneous principles, doctrines and immoral practices. The word save here means to preserve and keep safe.
You have incorrectly assumed that salvation here is referring to salvation from eternal perdition.
Salvation can refer to many things, saved from physical death, saved from disease, saved from wrong teaching, saved from sins, saved from persecution, saved from mental anguish and despair.
A doctrine which says Timothy must persevere in ministry to be saved from hellfire, is a doctrine of works. Paul is not saying this at all in verse 16. You are right, it is rather odd of Paul to say that Timothy must persevere in ministry to be saved (from hellfire). When elsewhere, Paul writes that we receive salvation by faith and not works. We find, by examining the verses 6 to 16, that Paul's statement in verse 16 is not teaching salvation from hellfire by persevering, but salvation from false doctrines and false works, by persevering to progress in ministry, by avoiding common things (myths etc), conducting spiritual exercise, public reading, exhortation, teaching, spiritual gifts.
Hello James.
You replies are always solid and informative, sometimes even challenging.
In your first line was the word 'context' and rightly so, this is neglected to
often in so many posts. Context is king within the revelation of the scripture
and always will be.
Starting around verse 6, Paul is saying how Timothy can be a good
minister of Christ Jesus. So right there, we can see that Paul is not giving
Timothy a "how to be saved" sermon.
Sadly James, you did not get off on the right foot after mentioning context.
I think you are curiously selective in your choice of verses James.
Your first reference was from (verse 6) and not (verse 1). True context starts
at (verse 1). Here is (verse 1) which you probably know from memory.
1 Timothy 4
1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith.
This is the true context of this fourth chapter James, and this is primarily what
Paul is instructing Timothy to be on guard about. Paul is commanding Timothy to
discharge his duties in all Godliness. Not to fall into the trap of listening to the
doctrines of demons and getting derailed from his calling. Context!
10 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the
living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.
This is Timothy's calling a labor of a pure Godly life based on the eternal truth
of Jesus Christ.
15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will
be evident to all. 16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere
in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and
for those who hear you.
The final verse exactly matches the first verse, the final verse cures the danger
that Paul indicated was present in the first verse. Paul opened with the issue of
falling away and provides the only safe guard against falling away. The Doctrine
of Godliness, Love, Purity, Scripture!
If we quickly read further into Paul's letter to Timothy we do see why Paul was
so emphatic about Godliness. Because Timothy was in grave risk of losing what he
possessed, Timothy himself was being seduced into the very doctrines of demons.
Pay careful attention to the gravity of what Paul says.
1 Timothy 6
11
But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness,
faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith;
take hold
of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the
presence of many witnesses. 13
I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to
all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate,
14 that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of
our Lord Jesus Christ, .
Flee from these things Timothy, flee you man of God. Don't fall for this error Timothy.
Here is the line James,
'I charge you in the presence of God'. This is not a relaxed and
content Paul that is making this statement. Paul is beside himself in fear and concern
that his star pastor Timothy is asleep at the helm. Timothy is listening to deceiving
spirits and has lost the plot. 'I charge you before God' is the ultimate instruction from
Paul. It is a solemn warning to Timothy to stand up a walk the full Christian walk.
20 O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter
and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”
Wake up Timothy and take hold of the eternal life to which you were called!
Avoid the mistake of absorbing worldly knowledge and wake up Timothy.
You have incorrectly assumed that salvation here is referring to salvation from eternal perdition.
When the word 'salvation' is used it means exactly what it says James.
'you will ensure salvation both for yourself' means your salvation is dependent
on your faithful obedience. We cannot and will not separate justification by faith
from the Godly life in Jesus Christ. They are welded together James in the letters
of the New Testament. We are not saved by works of the flesh or law. We are saved
by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the conformity of our behavior to this Gospel.
3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words,
those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,
4
he is conceited and understands nothing;
A doctrine which says Timothy must persevere in ministry to be saved from hellfire,
is a doctrine of works.
Negative James, Timothy must live the new life in Christ. There is no justification
by faith without the application of the faith itself. Our Christian life is a life lived
in the spirit not an adherence to a creed or a theological proposition. No one can
be justified by faith unless one responds to the instruction of the scripture and
the instruction of the spirit.
Faith and love are interlocked, you cannot have one without the other. There is no
justification on it's own and there never has been, that is reformation theology. You
are a New Creation in Christ and justified fully given that you follow Jesus in your life.
Not following Jesus means you cannot be justified. If you do not conform to the doctrine
of Godliness you understand nothing!
