Lessons

Timothy Study – Part 15. The lesson on July 1, 2007 continues the audio series in Timothy and covers Chapter 6:13-21 which comes to the end of the chapter. Derek starts by reviewing all the groups that have been addressed for instruction in the church that Timothy is leading in Ephesus. He addressed Widows, Elders, Servants, and then he spoke to those who don’t understand the truth. There are men who think that gain is godliness and he spends most of chapter 6 addressing this group. He explains that these men are usually proud and argumentative. The lesson today picks up in verse 13 which includes some dispensational teaching within this pastoral letter. In part 14 of this series we looked at the testimony that was given to Pilate who is recalled in verse 13. We see Paul tell Timothy in 1 Tim 6:14 “That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:” What is Timothy supposed to keep? 1 Tim 6:11-12 “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” How long is he supposed to keep these? Until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. This word “appearing” is in the Greek ”epiphaneia” which means a shining forth upon (english: epiphany) and is associated with our calling in the Mystery. Many believe that the text “his appearing” involves the second advent. This is not so because the word that speaks of that event is “parousia”. “Parousia” is always used in relation to the kingdom teaching which involves the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel) and involves His bodily presence here on Earth. The word “Parousia” is used 24 times in scripture, 17 times it speaks of the Lord and His coming, the other 7 times speaks of Paul and his being there. An example of using the word “Parousia” is in Matthew 24:3 “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” The rest of Matthew 24 deals with answering these questions which is Kingdom teaching pertaining to Israel. This ties in with 1 Thessalonians 4:13 where they are discussing their hope of a resurrection (your calling always determines your hope and the hope always determines the inheritance). In 4:15 you will see Parousia when it says “the coming of the Lord”. In Revelation 19:7-16 you will see a description of the Parousia of the Lord. Now, back in 1 Timothy 6:14, we have the word “Epiphaneia” which is associated with our calling apart from Israel’s. In Colossians 3:1-4 we see that we get to be a part of Christ’s Epiphany in glory (not on this earth). We see in Titus 2:13 that epiphany is our hope “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”