1 Timothy 3-5
My Problem
I have a problem that shows up when I read Paul’s writing. I have a short attention span. Let me give an example. In the first 4 verses in Chapter 2 Paul tell us to pray for one another and those in authority. He then gives us three verses that seem to wander on to a new subject, but instead, he is using them to illustrate what he has just said and then follows with a conclusion in verse 8 to what he said in the first 4 verses, but by that time I think he has covered three subjects.
Over the years I have learned to read these passages and then remove from the context the illustration and read them again so I stay in the flow of what Paul is saying. Once I have connected the first section with the last section I have a better understanding of what Paul is saying and I can add back the illustration without letting my mind wander off to another subject. I know I am not alone in this. I often use illustration in my sermons to help make the point of what I am trying to teach. I have found that people will remember the illustration but often miss the teaching as a result. Not only that, if I am not careful, they can use the illustration to say just the opposite of what I was trying to convey. I believe Paul was faced with the same problem.
Paul wrote this letter to Timothy who was the pastor of the church in Ephesus. He was a young man. The church had a diverse group of people with various needs and agendas. Paul is giving Timothy instruction on how to deal with the issues in the church that he was facing. In Chapter 5 the focus turns to dealing with people and leaders who are problems. Earlier he gave Timothy a list of qualifications regarding those who want to be leaders. 1 Timothy 3:1-13
Paul continues to deal with issues and people. By Chapter 5 he is talking about elders and leaders. Paul writes, “Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thus share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin. The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them in judgement; for others, their sins follow after. Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed.” 1Timothy 5:22, 24&25
This passage flows and makes sense to me. There is only one problem. I left out verse 23. You know, the one where Paul tells Timothy to stop drinking water only and drink some wine instead. Now I have to ask myself did Paul have a random thought about an entirely different subject that was so important that he stopped in the middle of what he was saying to insert something totally off the subject? Was he afraid he would have a “senior moment” and forget this important message before he wrote the next two verses? I don’t think so. So what is Paul really saying?
Paul is talking about choosing people for church leadership roles. He has given Timothy a list of qualifications for the candidate. The list is helpful but there is a problem with lists like this. A person who has a hidden motive can outwardly work to achieve the qualifications on the list and attain the position only to then reveal his hidden motive. He will be found to be the wrong person for the position but he will likely have a group of people who support him which will make it difficult to remove him from that position. This can easily cause a church to split. I believe this type of problem is what Paul was referring to as Timothy’s frequent ailments in verse 23. I believe the water Paul referred to is the list mentioned above and the wine is the Spirit. I have pastored in a denomination that had a list of offices and qualifications and I have seen, and had to deal with, people who qualified for the list but did not belong in the position. I also found that the people who were qualified were unable to remain in the position because of term limits. This is a problem especially with choosing elders. The Bible teaches that God has gifted Christians as He desires for works of service which He has planned in advance. Ephesians 2:10 and 1 Corinthians 12
I have learned that the gifted, qualified person God has chosen will be doing what God has called them to do whether or not they hold an official position. My job is to observe and identify what the Holy Spirit is doing and who He is qualifying. This I believe is Paul’s reference to using a little wine. I believe the wine was a reference to the Holy Spirit. Paul was saying don’t go by the list only but look for the Holy Spirit working in the life of the person you are going to appoint to the position. He does the same thing, giving instruction and illustration in 2 Timothy 2:1-8 and then tells him to consider what he has said to Timothy and let the Lord give him understanding.
To take verse 23, in 1 Timothy 5, as an excuse to drink is wrong but I have had many people use it that way. Most often they had problems associated with drinking alcohol. I even had one person quote me this verse and then tell me the Bible had more positive verses about alcohol than negative. Alcohol destroyed him, his family, and his relationships. What the verse does do is reveal the problem which may be observable or in the background yet to be revealed. But if left unchecked it will become evident.
There are at least two lessons here. First, a lesson on Bible study and making sure we have the right context and to not make up the context. The second lesson is on the use of alcohol. If one has to defend its use they may well have a problem with it. Here are a few verses to consider regarding Alcohol.
Proverbs 20:1, 23:31-35, 31:4&5; Romans 13:13, 14:15-21; Galatians 5:19-21: Ephesians 5:18; 1 Peter 4:3
If alcohol is a problem don’t deny it or excuse it. It is a thief who takes everything of value in life.
Pastor Dave