Instruction for leaders: (Chap.4)
Apostle Paul gives instructions to Timothy to discern the Godless shepherds and Godly shepherds.
Godless shepherds: (4:1-5):
Paul predicts that in the later times many would reject the true Gospel and become false teachers. They try to teach pseudo gospel and trap people from becoming the followers of Christ. It is very important for the church to understand what God has revealed about these teachers. Paul brings out this revelation specially from the Gospel (Mk.13:22). Even Peter also spoke about the false teachers (2 Pet. 3). In the later days, the situation will degenerate as Christ’s return approaches, men will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Some of the activities of these godless shepherds are:
- They abandon the faith and follow the teaching of deceiving spirits and demons: (4:1a): These are the people who come very close to the Gospel that saves but leave. Judas Iscariot and Demas are some examples. Jesus’ teaching on the “sowing of seeds” (Lk.8:13) that some will fall on the rocky soil are like this. They receive the Word with joy and since they have different priorities, they will not allow the seed of life to grow in their life, turn their face from eternal joy to eternal hell.
- They are hypocrites and lying leaders: (4:2): They are hypocrites. They do not directly confront their victims but deceive them with hypocritical lies. This is Satan’s SOP (Standard operating procedure). Satan selects such deceivers and sears their conscience with hot iron. They do not have any feelings or shame, but all the time trying to twist the truth.
In Ephesus church there were some people following Green philosophy human body was evil and the supreme thing is the soul. So they could not believe that Jesus took the human body and lived for 33 1/2 years in this world. So by believing this, they bring doubts about the resurrection and the glorification.
- They forbid marriage and eating of certain foods: (4:3): Some of the Ephesian church members were practicing Gnosticism. According to it, body is evil and therefore it should not be allowed to have normal human life such as marriage and eating certain food. These false teachers were forbidding people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods (Col.2:21). Some people were having such thoughts that they will be more justified if they practice celibacy and avoid certain foods. They think that if they sacrifice these things, God will be more indebted to them. Perhaps they can twist God’s arm and get all their selfish things. This is the spirit of demonism trying to look down the God of creation. “They hold that it is far better for a priest to keep many whores than to have a wife.” (Trapp)
So Paul speaks straight to their heart that our bodies are created by God. The world is created by God and given to us. We can receive them with thanks giving to God. Anything eaten with thanksgiving, God will purify and give us the strength to live.
In contrast to the teaching of false leaders and their philosophy, Paul affirmed that whatever God has created is good for the human beings. Nothing is to be rejected that God created. Man can abuse what God has created viz. adultery, abuse of the marital sexual relationship and gluttony. Such abuses should certainly be rejected. Instead of abusing we should enjoy what God has created and must be received with thanks giving. When we receive the ordinary things with prayer and thanksgiving, they become extraordinary as they are consecrated by the Word of God and prayer. We must recognise God’s blessing behind all the created things. Further our bodies are the temple of God. We can glorify God through our bodies with a sanctified and consecrated life.
Godly shepherds: (4:6-16):
Paul gives 12-points for a godly shepherd and the qualities they need to exhibit.
- Warn the church members of impending apostasy: (4:6): God’s children must be warned about the false teachers and their doctrines. Paul said: “For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God” (Acts 20:27). When we go through the roads of the city, there would be many sign boards and signals giving caution to the driver of impending dangers ahead. Similarly, Paul is cautioning Timothy and all the church leaders, overseers, bishops, pastors etc. must discern the dangers of false teachers and their doctrines and educate the congregation. Now-a-days many cults are slowing sneaking into the congregation and diverting the members from the truth. So the shepherd must base his doctrines on the Word of God alone to ward of such deceivers. He must nourish himself of the Word, practice it and feed daily to the congregation. Sometimes it would be better for the shepherds to take the sermons on chapter-wise on a regular basis from the books of NT instead of jumping into topics.