All Things
Notes
Transcript
Opening text
19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.
20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.
21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.
22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.
23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
A. Rapport for the time
B. Reading of the text
C. Review of the text
D. Relevance of the text
I. A disciple who disciples
I. A disciple who disciples
1 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek.
2 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium.
3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
Vs. 1-3a---
At first glace at the text Luke is simply introducing us to another person in scripture. With Barnabas heading off in a different direction we are introduced to Timothy. The Relationship between Timothy and Paul is a priority from this point forward. Most believe Paul is in his 40’s at this point and he will spend a lot of time pouring into Timothy.
Paul would see Timothy as a son..
17 That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.
2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul would write to separate letters to timothy that we know of that are in our scriptures in 1 and 2nd Timothy.
6 of the letters That Paul wrote to the churches include Timothy as a worker with him in Christ and sender of the letter. (pick a few)
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:
1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.
1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
1 Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker
Timothy is apart of the ministry of Paul more than any other from this point forward.
21 Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.
10 When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am.
Listen to his letters to Timothy.
18 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,
19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith,
Encouraging Timothy to hold on to his faith—MacArthur---A good conscience serves as the rudder that steers the believer through the rocks and reefs of sin and error. Timothy is to wage war and He is not alone in Battle, Paul is with him to walk the faith walk with him. Listen to how he talks to Timothy at the end of the 1st letter.
11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.
12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,”
21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you.
The word of God has been planted inside of Timothy and will bear much fruit for the Kingdom of God. Paul desires that Timothy keep fighting the good fight of faith.
2 To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Remember Paul truly sees Timothy as his son and cares for him that way.
Application: Do you have someone like this in your life that God has blessed you with to pour yourself into that you both may grow. Discipleship is about growing in the Faith of our Lord. It will change you and challenge you to care for someone the way the Lord cares for you.
II. Timothy Circumcised
II. Timothy Circumcised
3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem.
5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.
When we first read this passage it seems like the opposite of everything we learned in chapter 15 about how the church came to and understanding around circumcision. In fact, in verse 4 of this passage Luke tells us that Paul, Silas, and Timothy are going around telling the churches of the what was established by the apostles when they got together.
19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God,
20 but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.
21 For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”
To understand why Paul has Timothy circumcised we need to understand that the Acts 15 passage is speaking about Jewish people and Gentiles. Jews will not be required to abandon their History and Gentiles would not be required to become Jews in order to become Christians. What we have with Timothy is a different situation entirely from Paul’s perspective.
Timothy...
1 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek.
Timothy’s father is a Gentile and His mother is Jewish. To dive deeper into Jewish thinking at the time—
According to later rabbinic law, a child born of a Jewish mother and a Greek father was considered to be Jewish. The marriage of a Jewish woman to a non-Jew was considered a nonlegal marriage; and in all instances of nonlegal marriages, the lineage of the child was reckoned through the mother
Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 343). Broadman & Holman Publishers.
With this in mind, Timothy would have been considered Jewish from this stand point and to not be circumcised is to not follow God’s instruction. Understand, that Paul is not circumcising Timothy for salvation in anyway. Paul having Timothy circumcised because of Timothy’s family and who he is about to go minister. Paul’s desire is that nothing restrict the message of the Gospel going forward. The message of the Kingdom of God of our Lord Jesus Christ is the main thing above everything else. Like Paul’s description of how a soldier has a singular focus, Timothy must live the same way.
This message with Timothy made me think the passage we started the day with...
19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.
20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.
21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.
22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.
23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
vs. 20—became a Jew—The desire was to not offend but to lead his fellow Jews to the knowledge of Christ and salvation
vs. 21—Speaking of gentiles—Paul’s desire is to reach them with the Gospel and not be above them
vs. 22—The Gospel is for all people—Salvation is for all who will believe—Within the bounds of God’s Word, he would not offend the Jew, Gentile, or those weak in understanding. Not changing Scripture or compromising the truth, he would condescend in ways that could lead to salvation.
MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (1 Co 9:22). Thomas Nelson Publishers.
Application: Am I this? Do I understand who I am in Christ Jesus?