MONDAY: 1 Timothy
Please read through 1 Timothy 1-5. As you do, keep this principle in mind:
If we are examples of the believers of Jesus Christ, we can help bring salvation to ourselves and others.
Paul is writing this this epistle to Timothy, who was a leader in Ephesus. Paul describes many ways in which he (Timothy), the priesthood leader of the congregation, could be an "example of a believer."
In what ways can you be an "example of a believer"? Can you think of a specific example this past week that you were or saw someone else be an "example of a believer"?
(This is a link to the "Home Study" portion of the seminary manual, if you would like to dive further into this: https://www.lds.org/manual/new-testament-study-guide-for-home-study-seminary-students/introduction-to-1-timothy/unit-26-day-4-1-timothy?lang=eng)
I hope that everyone else is able to get on and post something, but I suppose I can start things off.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading through 1 Timothy, the way to be a believer that really stood out was the specific direction on how to be a Christ-like leader. In Chapter 3, qualifications of a bishop and deacon are described; one attribute both needed was to be "blameless." I thought this was an interesting term to use and the list following the bishop's "blameless" in verses 2-7 seems to indicate that the bishop should not be able to be blamed for misguidance of others in his life, i.e. setting a good example at all times. This seems like a ridiculously hard thing to do, but looking back at the many bishops I have been able to know, though I know many of them had trials and difficulties, they remained "blameless" and good examples. They were definitely not perfect, but I know they could stand "blameless before God."
Chapter 1 verse 5 gives a great example of how to be a believer. We need to be charitable and serve others because we are genuinely good people nothing more nothing less. Verse 9 was confusing, “law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient”. What does that mean? Righteous people utilize the law as well. The whole be more like Christ thing is summed up in the first chapter I think by saying be of a “good conscious”. That reminds me of karma be a good person and have genuine kindness and you will attract others and also more kindness.
ReplyDeleteChapter 2 from verse 9 until the end are rude and offensive… that’s all… Goes against the whole Christ like theme of the lesson.
Chapter 3 elludes to the fact that men have a lot of authority in the church and with that authority comes a lot of responsibility. (Again ignoring the belittling treatment of women). But no polygamy so that’s a plus. Verse 16 is interesting and brings comfort but also a lot of questions, “God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit”. Cool ending.
Chapter 4 verse 10 talks about trusting God, which I know to be very comforting because humans make error on purpose and accident and trust is easily lost. I guess some people call that trust issues, but God has always been there and never has broken my trust in the end. Sometimes “in the end” seems like forever away but it always happens. Also this chapter talks about letting the profit of good work shine for itself instead of trying to show others because sometimes we may get in the way of his light. I also like in verse 12 when it says, “let no man despise thy youth”.
Chapter 5 I think is trying to say we can be believers by respecting others. Also is it saying that parents are responsible for the lack of faith in their own children? I could be just making that up…
-Isabel
In 1 Timothy 1:9, one phrase that I thought was just really cool and interesting was "the law is not made for the righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient.”
ReplyDeleteChapter 1 also reminds me of the talk, I don’t recall who gave it or when it was given, about how believing in Christ is not enough, rather we have to let ourselves change according to those beliefs.
In Chapter 2, I liked the phrase “that we may live quiet and peaceable life” because often it can be forgotten that we can have more than a lack of trouble and contention, but we can have peace on the other side of the spectrum.
Chapter 2 states:
11 Let the woman learn in silence will all subjection.
12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence…
13 Yeah
14 Yeah
15 Yeah
Bad. Interpretation? Just wrong?
Interesting that in Chapter 3 it specifically says “a husband of one wife” referring to the qualifications of being a bishop.
“Be an example of the believers in conversation” I like that. Being an example can be conveyed simply through the way we speak