Archive for August 2023

Ezra 8, Proverbs 6, Luke 14:25-35, 1 Timothy 4 1 Timothy 4: In this passage, Paul teaches Timothy – and us – what the nature of false teaching is and what is to be done about it. First, according to Paul, false teaching will occur in the last days. That is, in the time between Jesus’ first coming…

Ezra 7, Proverbs 5, Luke 14:15-24, 1 Timothy 3:8-18 1 Timothy 3:8-18: Paul now describes the necessary qualifications for the role of deacons. Basically, they are similar to that which he described for an overseer with this important distinction: while an overseer must be able to teach, a deacon need only “keep hold of the deep truths of…

Ezra 6, Proverbs 4, Luke 14:1-14, 1 Timothy 3:1-7 1 Timothy 3:1-7: The Bible reading program that we follow in our devotionals suggests that this reading goes to verse 10 (and then the next from verses 11 to 18). But the more natural way to divide this chapter is at verse 7 – see the “similarly” at verse…

Ezra 4-5, Proverbs 3, Luke 13:22-35, 1 Timothy 2 1 Timothy 2: This chapter begins a section of Paul advising Timothy how he is to conduct worship in (as he calls it at the end of the section) “God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” To put it…

Ezra 3, Proverbs 2, Luke 13:10-21, 1 Timothy 1:12-20 1 Timothy 1:12-20: Paul is writing to Timothy to give him the necessary instructions to deal with the false teaching that had arisen in the church at the key city of Ephesus. Previously, he outlined what those false teachings were and how they were contradictory to the gospel. Now…

Ezra 1-2, Proverbs 1, Luke 13:1-9, 1 Timothy 1:1-11  1 Timothy 1:1-11:  In this (and its companion letter 2 Timothy), Paul is writing to the young Timothy to give him specific instructions regarding how to shepherd the church under his care in the great ancient city of Ephesus. In particular, Timothy will need to correct the false teachers…