The Gospel and the Law Andy Nagahara
A. Timothy and the Pastoral epistles (1-7)
1) Introduction of the epistle and Timothy (1, 2)
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, 2 To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
2) The role of Timothy at the church in Ephesus (3-7)
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer
4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work--which is by faith.
5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
6 Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk.
7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.
B. The Law is good if one uses it properly (8-11)
1) The principles of using the old Testament properly. (8, Mark 7:9-13)
8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly.
(Mark 7:9-13) And he said to them: "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, `Honor your father and your mother,' and, `Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.' But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: `Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban' (that is, a gift devoted to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that."
2) The understanding of the law that conforms to the gospel. (9-11)
9 We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers,
10 for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers--and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine
11 that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
Summary
Paul trusted Timothy and appointed him as one of the next generation leaders of the church in Ephesus. By Paul's guidance and practical training, he was growing to become a mature pastor there. As both Paul and Timothy taught how to understand the Old Testament properly, let us learn how to read the whole bible properly. Then we will not only be a likeness of Jesus more and more but be the ones who will help people to be a likeness of Jesus too.
For Discussion
1) What is the problem for the church in Ephesus?
2) How to use the law properly?