Timothy–Philemon: Unlocking the Scriptures for You

Top Highlights

“Christians must be self-disciplined. An athlete who loses his self-discipline will soon get out of shape, quit practicing, begin to fear competition, and try to bend the rules.” (Pages 138–139)

“One is the desire of a teacher to have disciples follow him” (Page 23)

“ second motivation is the desire for financial benefit” (Page 23)

“Timothy’s ministry is related both to God’s action for Timothy (gift of God) and to Timothy’s responsibility for reaction with that (fan into flame). There is always God’s side and our side to any ministry. We must work out what God has worked in; we must stir up what God has dropped in; we must not be so busy running here and there that we lose the inner man that God has given us to guard. God has grace for us, but we must have gumption with it. God has mercy for us, but we must have management. God has peace for us, but we must have practice. God has power for us, but we must have persistence. God has love for us, and we must labor. God has the Spirit for us, and we must have service and sacrifice.” (Page 127)

“Whatever we do with this issue must be consistent with what we do with the rest of the characteristics. If we require that all of the other characteristics describe a man’s total life-style throughout his entire past, then the issue of divorce should be treated the same way. But if we conclude that the characteristics are dealing with a man’s spiritual maturity in his present stage of life, then we should deal with divorce in the same way. Would we disqualify a man whom we discovered was a lover of money twenty years ago, but now through God’s strength has a generous spirit?” (Page 70)