1 Timothy 5:11-18 "Younger Widows & Elders"

Marc Transparenti
1 Timothy  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  54:59
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Open your Bibles to 1 Tim 5, and if you want also mark 1 Cor 9, as we will visit that passage today as well. We have come as far as 1 Tim 5, verse 11. Last week we looked at the widow who is really a widow...the woman that would be considered for full time support by the church. Qualifications in summary from last week: 1. She has no family or other support- verse 4 2. She is a pray warrior- verse 5 3. She is not living a self-indulgent lifestyle- verse 6 4. She is older in years (at least 60)- verse 9 5. She was faithful to her husband- verse 9 6. And, she has been and is devoted to good works- verse 10 In many scriptures God has given us commands to show compassion on the widows, orphans, and strangers, for very much we were strangers or sojourners and God showed compassion on us. So, as we look at the oppressed people of the world, our hearts should feel mercy, for we have been shown mercy. Today, we will continue in 1 Tim 5 picking up at verse 11, and we will read about younger widows and begin talking about Elders...church officials. Let's Pray and then we will read 1 Tim 5:11-18 1 Tim 5:11-12 "But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, 12 having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith." 1. In contrast to the older woman who had Godly character, that would be taken into the number or brought on full-time church support, Paul now instructs to refuse the younger widows, and he will explain why... 2. The older widow was to be at least sixty years old, so the younger widow is assumed less than 60, however discernment is still needed. For example, an woman aged 58 or 59, who met all the criteria we discussed last week...is she to be refused? Discernment...Paul gives us a great sketch for criteria to consider who we should support, but leadership still needs to be led by the Holy Spirit in every circumstance. 3. Generally speaking, the younger widow was not to be supported full-time by the church because she could remarry and start afresh in life. She very well may receive some support from the church for a season, but it would be atypical for full-time long-term support. 4. Paul says to refuse the younger widow because she will "grow wanton against Christ..." 5. If a younger widow is brought on full-time support of the church and pledged to serve by praying for the church and is devoted to good works (expectations as laid out in verses 5 & 10)... serving the church and Christ...Paul warns this will only last for a season, because the younger widow is going to have sensual desires (which is the definition of "grow wanton")...she will once again desire to have a husband more than she desires to keep her pledge to Christ. So, it is better for her to remarry, then feeling conflicted and having a divided heart in serving the Lord full-time. 6. There is great wisdom exercised by Paul here, because it's quite natural and normal to want to remarry if one is widowed at a younger age. 7. When Paul stated at the end of verse 11 "desire to marry," this phrase can be rendered "determined to marry"...this is not just a casual desire, no...Paul recognizes this is the primary desire for these widows. Widow = almost certain destitution. 8. And, once remarried, her husband would be able to provide for her. Married = security. 9. In the first century, women did not have equality to men. Women were not allowed to serve in politics, they typically were not taught to write, and only received a basic education; and they were subject to the authority of a man, either their father or husband. Now, women did have more freedom to manage a business...in Acts 16, we meet Lydia a seller of purple. She had a business and seemed to be well off in her financial affairs, but this was more the exception than the norm. Most woman in the first century were wives, mothers, and worked in the home, and without a husband they struggled to support themselves. 10. So, Paul understanding the culture of his times, and the nature of people, advises...actually he commands as "refuse" is a present imperative... 'Timothy continuously refuse putting younger widows on the list because when their physical desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they will want to remarry. 11. Now, this next verse, Verse 12 gives us insight into the problem with the scenario described in verse 11... 12. The younger widow will "have condemnation because they have cast off their first faith." 13. This means she will bring judgment on herself because she broke her pledge of devotion to Christ. 14. The NASB renders this verse, "...thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge." 15. Paul knows the reputation of younger widow is at stake here. If the younger widow made a commitment to serve Christ and then broke that commitment, the would carry a continuous reproach...she would have a bad reputation that would stay with her into her newly married life, which not only would affect her, but her new husband as well. 16. You may see a note next to "first faith" in your Bible, which says "solemn promise." The hypothetical is that the younger widow made a promise to serve and later renounced her pledge to full-time ministry...she broke her promise because she was determined to get married. 17. Actually, if you look at verse 15, where Paul says "some have already turned aside to Satan" this actually is not a hypothetical or conjecture at all. Younger widows were literally and figuratively "casting off their first faith" in breaking vows and committing apostasy...all of which would cause condemnation in this lifetime, and before God in the next. 18. So, this prohibition to refuse the younger widows actually protects their reputation in the community and their eternal standing. If refusing the younger widow seems harsh to you, it's actually in their favor in the long run. Paul has a lot of critics, but I don't think they truly understand the good in what he writes, and we know it's good because it was inspired by the Holy Spirit. 19. Paul addressed a similar idea in 1 Cor 7:8-9 "But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; 9 but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion." 20. Paul recognizes being celibate and single has advantages, such as being able to be fully dedicated to the Lord, but he also recognizes human nature that people have physical desires, and it would be better for them to marry than to sin through lust or fornication. 21. Imagine a younger widow if she pledged her life to serve Christ, and then fell into promiscuous behavior. Not only would her reputation be damaged, but it would also give cause to unbelievers to mock the church and blaspheme God's name. 22. All of these bad scenarios are avoided by Paul's counsel here to refuse younger widows. In verse 13, Paul addresses additional concerns for the younger widow making a pledge to full-time ministry. 1 Tim 5:13 "And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not." Additional reasons why Paul instructs Timothy to refuse younger widows enrollment into the number are... 1. They learn to be idle - anyone who lacks the normal tasks of work, family, caring for the home can be tempted to be idle... 2. ...and you know what the Bible says about being idle... "Idle hands are the devil's workshop." And, if you are thinking that's actually just a saying, well the 3. 1971 Paraphrase version of the Bible called The Living Bible translates Pro 16:27 as "Idle hands are the devil's workshop; idle lips are his mouthpiece." So there! Don't ask me how they came about that translation, as the literal translations are vastly different. I am definitely not a fan of paraphrase versions of the Bible, except when you are really struggling to get a concept from a literal translation to modern thought. Still, if you just study a little bit, you can typically understand any concept in the Bible. 4. Ok, back on topic...idleness is the idea of being free from labor, living in leisure...by definition this sounds like being always on vacation, and while that seems nice, by definition idleness is "shunning the labor which one ought to perform" and there lies the issue. When you have a job and you don't perform the duties of said job, there is an issue. Younger widows would have expectations in their duties for the church, but Paul is suggesting they would learn to, or fall into a habit of laziness. They would become useless or inactive. 5. In Proverbs 31, we get a glimpse of a Godly woman, and verse 27 says of her, "She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness." 6. Pro 19:15 "Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, And an idle person will suffer hunger." 7. The next concern for Paul, is the younger widow will "wander about from house to house..." 8. Expositors suggests there may have been a duty assigned to the widows serving the church where they performed house visitations...certainly this would be a good work as spoken of in verse 10, 9. ...but the concern with the younger widows is they would be idle or lazy about visitations, and would use the time to gossip...which, in it's definition, carries the idea "to throw up bubbles" since bubbles are hollow and useless things. And, so is gossip...it escapes the lips and has no substance, and gossip floats about from place to place until discovered as false, and then "pop." I love that illustration. 10. They would also be busybodies meaning they are busy about other people's business...they are meddling in other people's affairs. This is a side effect of idleness...gossip and prying into the affairs of other people becomes a sick form of entertainment. 11. NLT renders this verse well, "And if they are on the list, they will learn to be lazy and will spend their time gossiping from house to house, meddling in other people's business and talking about things they shouldn't." continue to verses 14-15 1 Tim 5:14-15 "Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 15 For some have already turned aside after Satan." 1. In light of Paul's concerns of the younger widows in vss 11-13, he desires the younger widows marry. 2. When Paul says he "desires", this is not speaking about an emotional desire, but more a desire that comes from reason. Instead of "I desire", some Bible versions use "I want", "I counsel", "I advise." 3. Based on his logic, Paul is recommending a better path for the younger widow. One where she will have purpose that will meet her needs, and will not stain the church. 4. She will be an honor to the church by getting re-married, having children, and managing her house..perhaps even starting a business. 5. And, anyone who would say Paul is misogynistic is a fool, because the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write this, and also inspired scripture like Pro 31 where the virtuous wife not only cares for her household, but also is well respected in society for her industrious ways and Christianity, in general, has done so much for the cause of the woman. Compare rights of woman today in countries that have not been influenced by Christianity, and you will know this is true. 6. Moving on, look at the end of verse 14...If the younger widow served the church and did so poorly, this would give opportunity for "the adversary to speak reproachfully." 7. Any person or demonic being against the church is the adversary. In Paul's day, this could have been antagonizing Jews, unbelieving Gentiles, or Satanic influences. Pretty much the same is true today, but with greater emphasis on unbelievers and Satanic influences. 8. Whenever something bad happens in the church, the adversary just loves to blaspheme the name of God and rail on God's people. Satan himself is titled "the accuser of our brethren" in Rev 12:10. 9. In verse 15, we see there is an unfortunate happening in Ephesus, some of the younger widows have fallen away from the church, they have commited apostasy, and have gone to the ways of the world...which in essence is "turning aside after Satan." 10. You know people like this...I do. People who once served in church, who talked like a Christian, and confessed belief in Jesus, but now have renounced Him and are living for themselves, and for the world...they have turned aside after Satan. It's a heartbreaking thing to see. 11. With this verse, we realize that Paul's hypothetical concerns about younger widows are not hypothetical at all...there was an unfortunate reality happening in Ephesus. continue to verse 16 1 Tim 5:16 "If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows." 1. Wrapping up this section on the care of widows, Paul reminds believers, that they have a higher expectation, a biblical mandate to care for their parents. 2. Paul spoke of this in verse 4...caring for parents shows piety or respect towards one parents fulfilling the 5th commandment to Honor thy father and mother; and caring for parents shows reverence towards God. 3. This is an act of reciprocity paying back to the parents the time and investment they gave to their children in their younger years. 4. And, in verse 8, Paul rebuked the believer who would deny this natural order...stating the believer who does not provide for his own... is worse than an unbeliever. 5. Lastly, in verse 16, Paul shares that the church has a duty to the real widows, just as family has a duty to their own family in need... to financially support them...to honor them in this way. Next, in verse 17, Paul shifts now to the treatment of another people group the elders in the church...those who serve in official church leadership positions. 1 Tim 5:17 "Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine." 1. In Chapter 3, Paul addressed the qualifications for the Bishop. And, now in this last segment of Chapter 5, Paul addresses how the church should treat the Elders, the church leadership. 2. A certain advantage of teaching chapter by chapter and verse by verse is not only do you cover controversial verses, like this verse, but also you know that I am not biased in my choosing of the topics I teach. 3. So, when we come to verses about pay or tithing, know these have not been hand selected by me to fill the church coffers. Our verse by verse style of teaching will take us through all kinds of topics as ordered in the Bible. So, we come to this verse and this teaching because we have been teaching through 1 Timothy, and this is the next verse presented in Paul's epistle. 4. "Let the elders..." 5. Elders- presbyteros. Same word as in verse 1 of chapter 5, but different context. Scholars agree that verse 1 refers to older men in general, while here in verse 17, Paul now addresses the office of an elder. 6. Elders, Bishops, and Pastors...there are many verses in the New Testament that use these terms interchangeably...they are the same office or leadership role. In this verse we should understand the elder not as a lay leader (as in serving on the modern elder board), but the role of the elder in a broad sense as in the office of an elder or Pastor. 7. As you read this verse, observe, Paul focuses on two roles of the elder: to rule and to teach. 8. In some churches you may observe a Teaching Pastor as distinguished from a Senior Pastor or a Lead Pastor.... especially larger churches, where the office of ruling and the office of teaching are divided. 9. Paul first addresses the elders "...who rule well..." 10. The idea of ruling well means the elder is a good leader...they are faithful to their work. 11. Ruling speaks of the elder presiding over church affairs; and well speaks of the quality of their rule...well can be defined as excellently, nobly, commendably. 12. These elders are overseeing the affairs of the church in an honorable fashion. 13. "...be counted worthy of double honor..." and this is difficult to interpret, thus is controversial... 14. Contextually, Paul in verse 3 of this chapter said, "Honor widows..." and this meant to financially support the widows who are really widows. 15. Same idea here. Church leadership who are doing their work well are deserving of financial support. And, you can say the same about the reverse. The elder who does not rule well is not deserving of their pay. Most scholars would agree that remuneration, money paid for work or service, is the general idea of double honor, but there are a number of interpretations scholars present, because what is meant by 'double', and what is meant by 'honor'? 16. Honor in greek is the word timē and is translated in the New Testament most often either as honor or price. In the context of these verses, price, as in pay, is the favored interpretation. 17. Now, I don't think this means double salary, as in all Pastors should have their salaries doubled. 18. But, why did Paul say "Double honor?" Perhaps, this is a way of saying the elder is to receive pay and, in addition, respect. Double honor... denoting the elder should be respected and receive a respectable salary. Maybe. I like this interpretation, it makes sense... 19. There are many careers where double honor is paid in our society. 20. A good Dr. is well deserving of respect and is highly compensated. They can improve your quality of life and save your life. 21. A good Lawyer is well deserving of respect and is highly compensated. They can help you protect your rights and freedoms. 22. The good Pastor is also well deserving of respect and respectable compensation. 23. In contrast to the work of the Dr. and Lawyer who's work is in the physical realm, the temporal realm. The Pastor's work is in both the physical realm, life now, and the spiritual realm, life eternally. The work of no other profession in this world extends into eternity like the saving and sanctifying work of the teaching and preaching of the word of God. Pastor's are indeed worthy of 'double honor.' 24. Double Honor may also be an idiom for "much more," which is interesting. I don't see this idiomatic speech as a different interpretation, but as a point of emphasis to any of these interpretations. 25. There are other verses which uses similar language of "double" or "twice" and it seems idiomatic for "much more." Kind of like, "Whatever you do to me, I'm going to do to you double." 26. Rev 18:6 gives us a feel of this idiomatic speech, "Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her." 27. In this verse, Babylon as the false religious system in the tribulation time, is being judged... "repay her double" and "mix double for her" speak of the intense judgment poured out on this false religious system. So, idiomatic speech is a possibility with "double honor" to emphasize the additional respect and remuneration due to the elder. 28. One other thought is, especially in the case of a new work, a church plant "double" may touch on an honorarium paid to the bi-vocational elder. Double denotes they are paid through their tent-making or regular job and being paid whatever "honor" the church can afford. Interesting, I'm not sure about this interpretation though. 29. So, this phrase "double honor" presents a challenge in that we don't know precisely what Paul's interpretation is. Again, most scholars agree this is a speaking about... respectable remuneration, and I do like the idea of respect paid in addition. 30. What I, and many scholars do not think this means is only "double respect" in that the elder should not be paid at all, only given respect. There are those who think this way. But, this is not Biblical, and we will talk about why... in the next verse. 31. And notice, at the end of this verse, Paul talks about the teaching elder, and emphasizes their role as worthy of double honor... "...especially those who labor in the word and doctrine." 32. If you are a lazy Pastor or Teaching Elder who is not laboring in the word and doctrine, and your role is teaching, you are not worthy of double honor. 33. Labor means to grow weary, tired, exhausted. That's the kind of work the Pastor should be doing in their sermon preparation and studies. 34. A quality teacher of the word of God spends hours reading, researching and preparing; mental energy expended, time in prayer, time being led by the Spirit, time working to ensure the word is taught accurately. It is a labor, but it is the best of labors. 35. It's a calling. I love laboring in the word. As you labor in the word, you always discover new things in the word, your understanding grows deeper, your heart is effected, and you are fed spiritually. Continue to Verse 18 1 Tim 5:18 "For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer is worthy of his wages." Verse 18 is a proof text for why it is Biblical that elders...church leaders should be paid. 1. To support his point in verse 17, look what Paul does, he quotes Scripture in verse 18. When Jesus was tempted by Satan, He quoted Scripture. Always good to look to Scripture for support to how you are being guided in decisions, for advice, against spiritual attacks, etc. 2. Paul quotes 2 Scriptures Deut 25:4 "You shall not muzzle and ox while it treads out the grain." and the second one I really love because he quotes Jesus Himself in Luke 10:7 "The Laborer is worthy of his wages." 3. Before I explain why he cited these two verses, I want to get on a little soapbox about the inspiration of scripture because Paul takes a verse from the OT and a verse from the NT and places them on equal ground...both are Scripture...and while his point is not the inspiration of scripture, by quoting the OT and NT, especially the NT, he gives credence to the the authority and authenticity of these NT writings, thus touching on the subject of inspiration. Do you also notice in verse 18, how the word "Scripture" is capitalized? It's capitalized because this word graphē is speaking about the Holy Scriptures. Jews considered the OT the Holy Scriptures, and Paul is citing, in the 1st century, NT writings in Luke, and perhaps Matthew as well...also Holy Scripture. And, this was far before the Council of Carthage in 397 A.D. that resulted in an agreement on the biblical canon...for the most part. 4. Peter, in the first century, he also cited contemporary NT writings as Scripture... 2 Pet 3:16 "...our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures." 5. Peter said Paul's writing was Scripture. And, the word Scripture in that verse is also capitalized...Paul's writings were considered divinely inspired in the 1st Century. 6. Listen to these other verses that speak to this same idea of inspiration: 7. 2 Tim 3:16 "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness..." 8. "inspiration of God" in Greek is theopneustos which literally means "God-Breathed. 9. 1 Cor 2:13 "These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual." 10. 2 Pet 1:21 "...for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." 11. We read the Bible every week, and most of us trust it, but don't understand the depth of why we can trust it. A good book to read on the Inspiration of Scripture and Canonicity is "From God to Us: How We Got Our Bible" by Norman Geisler and William Nix. Charlie Campbell's website "Always Be Ready.com" also has a good article entitled "Evidence for the Bible." And, Answers In Genesis has good articles as well on their website. 12. There are so many evidences for why we can trust this book which range from internal consistency, prophetic writings, archaeological evidence, extrabiblical writings, manuscript evidence, and scientific accuracy to name a few. 13. 66 Books...39 OT Books...27 NT Books...it is one of the oldest Books in the world, and is still the bestselling book in the world. The Bible was written by over 40 authors...men of various professions (from kings to fishermen) who composed their works from palaces to prisons; written on three continents, in three languages (Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek), written over 1500 years, and yet has a consistent message. You can read it front to back or back to front and it still makes sense, and is the only book to have true impact in changing one's life now and leading people to faith in Jesus who secures us for eternity. 14. I'm going to get off my soapbox now, but I hope that quick overview of Biblical inspiration is helpful to stir thoughts on why you can trust your Bible...especially for all you kids listening. 15. Back to Verse 18, Paul is giving us a biblical basis for why Pastors should be financially supported. He first quotes Deut 25:4 "You shall not muzzle and ox while it treads out the grain." 16. The phrase "you shall not muzzle an ox" is difficult to understand, for many people have no experience farming with animals. The process of treading on the grain or corn was to separate the edible portion from the inedible portion (similar to separating the wheat from the chaff). The ox was doing the labor of treading on the grain. An ox that was not muzzled could eat some of the grain while it worked and renew it's strength, thus it would be worked very hard, even to death. 17. The literal meaning of this principle of not muzzling an ox has practical implications against animal cruelty, but there is a different principle, a spiritual lesson, which is the true intent of the application, which is... to repay the worker, be it the ox who treads the grain (Deut 25:4), the elder of the church who is deserving of double honor (1 Tim 5:18), or church leaders having sown spiritual things who deserve to reap material things (1 Cor 9:11). The broader principle is the Church leader should be paid for they have labored in the word and doctrine. 18. Turn to 1 Cor 9:9. Paul also quotes Deut 25:4 in this passage and also touches on this idea of financial recompense. 19. 1 Cor 9:9 "For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain." Is it oxen God is concerned about? 10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?" (1 Cor 9:9-11) 20. If you are plowing, you hope for a crop, if you are threshing, you hope for a harvest. When you labor, you hope for a reward. You work a job, and you get a paycheck. It's the same for the church leader...if they are laboring to sow spiritual things, material recompense is not too great an expectation. 21. With all that to say, please know that in the season we are in of church planting, it is not at all an expectation that I have that I should receive double honor, or really any compensation whatsoever. There may be a time and season when the Lord says there should be some sort of financial compensation, but I do not have that expectation right now. 22. There was a season for Paul when he too worked a secular job, and a spiritual job...we see this in Acts 18:3-4 "So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them [them being Aquila and Priscilla] and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers. 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks." 23. But, there comes a time when a secular job will interfere with the ministry. A great example of this is in Nehemiah 13:10-11 Nehemiah states "I also realized that the portions for the Levites had not been given them; for each of the Levites and the singers who did the work had gone back to his field. So I contended with the rulers, and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" 24. In Nehemiah's reforms, he set things straight. He made sure the Levites and the singers had adequate provisions so they could attend to the work of the temple, and the work of spiritual services. They were in their fields tending to livestock and crops for their own provisions, which should not have happened in that season because the people should have provided for the Levites and singers, so they could attend to the ministry. 25. A congregation that does not support the material needs of the shepherd, forces the shepherd to "get a job" in the secular world to meet his financial needs, and thus with his time consumed with secular work he cannot adequately meet the spiritual needs of the congregation. Such was the situation in Nehemiah's day. 26. The second verse Paul cites is Jesus Himself "The Laborer is worthy of his wages." 27. An exact quote of this verse is found in Luke 10:7, with a close parallel in Matt 10:10. 28. In Luke 10 the Seventy Disciples were sent out, on what we would call a short-term domestic missions trip; and in Matt 10, similar idea, but this was a different sending with just the 12 Apostles in a different geography. 29. In both accounts, Jesus explains a provision may be provided to those being sent, and they were worthy to receive the provision for their labors. 30. Listen to these verses: 31. 1st- the sending of the 70 "Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. But whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house.' And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages." Lk 10:4-7. 32. Now the sending of the 12 "Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.", Mt 10:8-10. 33. They did not need to bring extra provisions, for they would be supplied their daily provisions through their labor, and they were worthy of this remuneration. 34. So, in many Scriptures, it is clear that the elder who is laboring in spiritual matters should be paid for his work. We will pick up next week in verse 19, but look...the Holy Spirit desires good things for the people of the church. These sketches, these guidelines on men and women, older and younger women, elders...God knows the best structure for us. He wants us to thrive, and His system and hierarchy was designed from before the beginning of time. His wisdom is beyond our wisdom...definitely beyond our culture. And, the word of God we read is inspired directly by His Holy Spirit. So, this week be blessed by laboring in the word and doctrine. Let's pray!
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