1 Timothy

Paul writes to his youthful apprentice, Timothy. This is the young guy that Paul had circumcised in Acts, just so the people Paul was going to preach to wouldn't be offended. Why anyone would stick with such a cold, calculating person, I can't imagine, but Paul was apparently able to command Timothy's loyalty. In this letter, Paul gives instructions for keeping the faith.

1 Tim 1:3,4 - I urge you, as I did when I was on my way to Macedonia, to remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach any different doctrine, and not to occupy themselves with myths and endless genealogies that promote speculations rather than the divine training that is known by faith.
As always, Paul is concerned up front with making sure that all the "correct" points of church doctrine are followed, and that anyone who says differently from Paul are put down. I wonder, in passing, what Paul's comment on studying genealogies might mean? Could it be that there were people who concerned themselves of the genealogy of Jesus? Or were there possibly some Mormon-like people who were keen on geneologies, like today's Mormons are? I wonder what other "myths" were concerning Paul when he wrote this letter?

1 Tim 1:8-10 - Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it legitimately. This means understanding that the law is laid down not for the innocent but for the lawless and disobedient, for the godless and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their father or mother, for murderers, fornicators, sodomites, slave traders, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching...
What struck me as interesting (though hardly new, coming from Paul) was not the condemnation of everyone Paul objects to, but the fact that he added in slave traders! Yes, this is the closest thing I have seen in the Bible to any sort of condemnation of slavery! Oddly enough, though, it was written in the context of "the legitimate use of the laws." Why is this odd? Because there is no law in the Old Testament against slave trading. Paul's objection must be against that group for some reason other than their actual business!

1 Tim 2:3,4 - This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Logically, there's a big problem here! How could God, who we're told is all-powerful and to whom nothing is impossible, possibly have anything that he wants not come through? Also, in 2 Thessalonians, we saw that Paul claims that God sends strong delusions to make sure lots of sinners believe the wrong things. There are an awful lot of contradictions involved here!

1 Tim 2:11-15 - Let a woman learn in silence with full submission. I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to keep silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she will be saved through childbearing, provided they continue in faith and love and holiness, with modesty.
My, how things have changed since the book of Romans! There, Paul commended a deaconess of the church. Now, women are not allowed to even speak! I recall hearing that Paul held this position because of a bad personal experience with female leaders, but I recall no mention of this in my reading of the New Testament. And here, Paul brings up not personal experience, but some rather clumsy thinking from the Old Testament to support his rather chauvinist stance. Then, he goes on to state that women need to bear children if they're to be saved! I can just imagine the cheering and "amen" chorus coming from all the husbands who heard this letter read out in church!

1 Tim 3:8-13 - Deacons likewise must be serious, not double-tongued, not indulging in much wine, not greedy for money; they must hold fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them first be tested; then, if they prove themselves blameless, let them serve as deacons. Women likewise must be serious, not slanderers, but temperate, faithful in all things. Let deacons be married only once, and let them manage their children and their households well; for those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
Looks like Paul was here able to reconcile himself to the possibility of female deacons, though I can't for the life of me imagine how. Could a deaconess perform any useful function in church while keeping silent? But this also shows that Paul was more concerned with outward appearances and public approval than with making sure of the quality of a person, once in the job, translated into good performance. I also note that Paul never talked about the method used for actually choosing deacons. I wonder if they voted or used a random choice?

1 Tim 4:1,2 - Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will renounce the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared with a hot iron.
That's pretty strange. I renounced the faith by reading the Bible and paying attention to what it actually said. I then learned more about atheism by learning the rules of logic and applying them to my beliefs. I don't think there was much room or need for lies in what I learned. I think, however, the item about being "seared with a hot iron" is a pretty open invitation to inquisitorial tortures. I expect Torquemada was rather fond of passages like this!

1 Tim 4:4 - For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, provided it is received with thanksgiving...
Here's some fascinating theology! I wonder if Paul thought it through before writing it? Paul was talking about food here. I recall that earlier, he made a big deal about making sure no believer ate food that had been sacrificed to an idol. Here, he seems to be changing his stance, and resuming another stance he had that eating anything that won't eat you is acceptable. He wasn't much on consistency!

1 Tim 4:7 - Have nothing to do with profane myths and old wives' tales. Train yourself in godliness...
From what I can see, Paul's religion and "godliness" look like a "profane myth." I wonder which he would prefer his followers do?

1 Tim 5:5,6 - The real widow, left alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day; but the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.
Now Paul goes after women who had their husbands die! He thinks such a woman should pretty much stop living, and she should definitely not try to enjoy life. What sort of judgmental, life-sucking monster was this guy?

1 Tim 5:7-12 - Give these commands as well, so that they may be above reproach. And whoever does not provide for relatives, and especially for family members, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Let a widow be put on the list if she is not less than sixty years old and has been married only once; she must be well attested for her good works, as one who has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the saints' feet, helped the afflicted, and devoted herself to doing good in every way. But refuse to put younger widows on the list; for when their sensual desires alienate them from Christ, they want to marry, and so they incur condemnation for having violated their first pledge.
Paul really gets in some good orders for condemnation here! He's keen on condemning anyone who doesn't toe his line, considering them "worse than sinners," which I suppose means they'll get more than the infinite punishment that regular sinners will get. Then, if a woman's husband has the bad grace to die while his wife is a young 55 years old, she's flat out of luck in Paul's book! After all, at that age, they can still have (oh NO!) sexual desire! Now, how Paul could consider a widow to still be bound to her marriage vows after the death of her husband is beyond me - after all Jesus said that there's no such thing as marriage in heaven!

1 Tim 6:1,2 - Let all who are under the yoke of slavery regard their masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be blasphemed. Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful to them on the ground that they are members of the church; rather they must serve them all the more, since those who benefit by their service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these duties.
Paul was certainly no social reformer or visionary. Instead, he was an ardent protector of the status quo and orderliness, as were most Romans. He had no interest in speaking out against the practice of slavery, and had no interest in urging that slaves should ever be freed, even if the "owners" were Christians also!

1 Tim 6:3-5 - Whoever teaches otherwise and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that is in accordance with godliness, is conceited, understanding nothing, and has a morbid craving for controversy and for disputes about words. From these come envy, dissension, slander, base suspicions, and wrangling among those who are depraved in mind and bereft of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
This is a continuation of Paul's instruction on slaves and their relationships to other believers. As such, I suppose it condemns any who would dare to say Paul got it wrong. Paul thinks he has Jesus' words to back him up, and that's entirely possible, as nothing in the gospels say anything against slavery. What I also found amusing about this is that Paul would mention the idea that "godliness is a means of gain"! <begin sarcasm mode>I can't imagine where I might get the idea that anyone would use religion to become wealthy! <end sarcasm>

1 Tim 6:13-15 - In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will bring about at the right time-he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Here's the second and last instance where Paul give any hint that he know of any details of the life of Jesus. It has just about zero detail, which means he most likely was completely unsure of any details, which I think is odd, considering his claim to know all sorts of other things that God was telling him in great detail. In the Southern US, we call that sort of thing "hogwash!"

1 Tim 6:20,21 - Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the profane chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge; by professing it some have missed the mark as regards the faith. Grace be with you.
I think we can safely state that this is a matter of the pot calling the kettle black. What Paul has written in all of his letters has numerous contradictions, both internally and contradicting the rest of the Bible. It also has more than its share of chatter. Paul advises Timothy (and the church thought it would be good advice for all believers!) to avoid this thing called knowledge.