2 Timothy (Part 5)

v.5. 1. Timothy possessed an unfeigned faith. A. Unfeigned: "Not feigned, pretended, or simulated; sincere, genuine, true, real." B. Timothy's faith was not "form only" (c/w 2TI 3:5), an outward shew of piety with no basis in the heart. c/w MAR 7:6. C. Timothy's faith was not devoid of good works. JAM 2:17 c/w TIT 1:15-16. D. Timothy's faith was not a sham pretext for gaining influence amongst the saints. ACT 15:5 c/w GAL 2:4. E. Timothy's faith was obviously based upon conviction of the word of God. 2TI 3:15 c/w ROM 10:17. (1) Timothy must have believed that the copy of the Scriptures from which he was instructed was not the word of men but the very word of God! c/w 1TH 2:13. (2) In other words, Timothy was not one who claimed that his faith was based upon the infallible word of God while actually holding that the word of God was only in lost original autographs! (3) God has indeed ordained that His word be preserved in copies. DEU 17:18-20; JOS 8:32; PRO 25:1. F. An unfeigned faith is an integral part of the fulfilling of the law. 1TI 1:5. 2. Timothy's faith dwelt (abode, continued) first in his grandmother and mother. A. This implies that Timothy's Greek father was not a believer. ACT 16:1. (1) Timothy's father was likely not even a convert to the religion of the Jews since the Jews "...knew all that his father was a Greek" and he had not seen to Timothy's circumcision. ACT 16:3. (2) That his mother should marry a Gentile was contrary to the law of Moses. DEU 7:3. (3) Timothy did not let the blots and disadvantages of his upbringing impede him from following Christ and doing right! B. At some point, Timothy's mother had become a believer. (1) Believers in a divided marriage are not at liberty to abandon their unbelieving spouse. 1CO 7:12-13. (2) Timothy's mother's belief was his father's sanctification and Timothy's holiness. 1CO 7:14. (3) Since faith cannot properly be distinct from obedience (JAM 1:22; 2:17), Timothy's mother would have been responsible to impart the knowledge of God and holy living to Timothy. PRO 1:8; 31:1. (4) Timothy's mother started his Bible lessons early. 2TI 3:15. (5) Let the believing parent of an unequally yoked marriage take note: the training of children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord defaults to you! C. Timothy's mother and grandmother had obviously lived a life of faith that was a good model which Timothy could respect and imitate. v.6. 1. Paul reminds Timothy to stir up his gift that was in him by the putting on of hands. A. This is the second such encouragement. c/w 1TI 4:14. B. Elders need other elders' exhortations. ACT 20:28; 1PE 5:1. C. To stir up means to "set in motion, to rouse from indifference or sloth." SON 2:7; PSA 35:23. D. All believers need reminders to stir them up. 2PE 1:13; 3:1. E. Failure to stir up a gift is evidence of sloth. PRO 12:27. F. Failure to stir up a gift incurs severe judgment. MAT 25:24-30. G. 1TI 4:13-16 and 2TI 4:2 teach a minister how to stir up his gift. 2. The laying on of hands is the act of ordaining (appointing) an elder. TIT 1:5. A. 1TI 4:14 describes this function as the "laying on of the hands of the presbytery." This does not demand a plurality of elders in ordination. B. Presbytery: "The office of a presbyter; eldership or priesthood." C. One elder can perform this function of the ministry. TIT 1:5. 3. The pastoral gift is a gift of God in that God gives certain men the ability to fill it. EPH 4:8-11; 2CO 3:6. 4. The gift is given by the laying on of the hands of an elder in that this process puts one whom God has called into that office.