Healthy Pastoral Instruction From Paul To Timothy

In 1st Timothy 6, Paul begins to instruct Timothy on how to minister to several different groups of people in the church(4 to be exact).

1. Christian slaves in vss 1 & 2


2. False Teachers in vss 3-10


3. The Pastor Himself in vss 11-16 and then again in vss 20 & 21


4. And also to the rich in vss. 17-19

• First of all he recognizes the ethical obligation of serving both the saved and the lost masters.


• Secondly, he reminds Timothy that spiritual leaders in the local church most constantly oversee what is being taught because it is easy for False Doctrine to slip in as could be seen in Acts 20:28-31 "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears."

A. Remember some of the marks of a False Teacher :

1. Refuses to adhere to "sound instruction (more interested in ear tickling)


2. The attitude of the teacher is a second mark. Proud instead of humble - A believer who understands the truth will have a burning heart, not a big head.

B. Because of a teachers motives these False Teachers supported "that Godliness is a way of financial gain." Be careful of those who would use the office for material gain.

• Third he reminds Timothy that while it is important to care for the flock, it is also important to care for the Pastor himself. "Pay close attention to yourself and your teaching" (4:16).

A. Verse 6:11 says to "flee"... There are times when running is a mark of wisdom.

B. Verse 6:11 also says to "follow or pursue" things like

• Righteousness - personal integrity


• Godliness - Practical piety - These first two deal with character and conduct of a pastor.


• Faith - your greatest ability is dependability.


• Love - sacrifices for others - seeks to give, not gain.


• Perseverance - to endure...Paul continues to encourage Timothy to "stick with it"


• Gentleness - Courageous endurance without meekness could make a person a tyrant.

C. Fight is the "catch phrase" in verse 6:12 and the verb here means "keep on fighting". We get our english word "agonize" here.

• Finally, the fourth warning that Paul gives to Timothy is to be on the lookout for the motivatios of the rich.

Pastors have a "near impossible" obligation to God to take care of the flock. The Bible says in 2 John 7 & 8 that "...many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, that you might not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward."

For all of you who "shepard a flock" I pray for your strength and integrity. We are coming to a place in the world where it is starting to look like more and more Biblical Prophecy is taking place and we need to be on our guard.

God bless you all,

Dave