Man – Woman Forms
 - Quickly write down a characteristic, trait or role that you associate with each word.
 
Timothy had no doubt heard Paul’s testimony before, but Paul apparently never tired of telling the story of the power of God’s grace in his life.

• No matter where you came from or what you did, if you trust in Jesus as your substitutionary sacrifice, you too have a testimony of grace to proclaim.[1]

PAUL’S TESTIMONY
1 Timothy 1
12 I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry--13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man.

• Persecutor – hunted down Christians like wild animals. Violent man – bully.
• Paul was describing his life before his conversion.
• “I am the worst of all sinners.”

But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

• Paul received grace first, then faith and love was established in Paul through Jesus’ presence in him.

15 This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them.

• The only time Paul refers to himself as a sinner.

16 But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life.

• Quote from Augustine: “God does not choose a person who is worthy, but by the act of choosing him he makes him worthy [translation mine].”[2]

17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
 
ENGAGE IN BATTLE
18 Timothy, my son, I am giving you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies previously made about you,

• Most likely Paul is referring to an experience in Timothy’s early days whereby he was recognized to have received the gift of the Spirit for ministry, a recognition that was made clear through some prophecies.[3]

so that by recalling them you may fight the good fight, 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and have shipwrecked their faith.

• There is always going to be distractions and distortions in teaching Scripture.
• Biblical worldview – so many interpretations.

20 Among them are Hymenaeus (him-men-nay-us) and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme. [4]

• They will not repent, so Paul has no other choice but to put them out of the church because they are damaging the faith of some of the believers. (2 Tim 2:17-18)
• Delivered to Satan – handed over.
• There was nothing Paul could do because they weren’t even listening to Paul.
• Sounds evil, but I’ve heard it said, “I am here to feed sheep, not coral goats.”
• Paul was encouraging Timothy to make the best of his time and energy.

 
INSTRUCTIONS ON PRAYER
2 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone,

• “Then” – In reference to the 2 men who had been turned over to Satan because of their lack or repentance.
• He was not outlining church organization, but he was confronting errors and heresies already underway[5]
• “First of all” – Pray
• “everyone” – For God so loved the world!

2 for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

• Godless Emperor Nero was on the throne at that time, and yet the believers were supposed to pray for him!
• We are on the verge of WWIII. We need to be praying for Putin and Zelensky.
• Even when we cannot respect men or women in authority, we must respect their offices and pray for them.[6]
• Praying for them is for our own good – to live in peace with ourselves.

3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior,

• Because our lives would be based upon love and respect.
• “I can’t respect…” still focused on you.
• You miss this and you live in torment… not peace.

4 who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

• The term “all/everyone” in v. 4 must refer to the same group as the reference to “everyone” in v. 1.
• The petitions of v. 1 are to include all human beings, and the objects of Christ’s death must include the same group.
• It would certainly include all persons without distinctions of race or social standing, but it also refers to all persons individually[7]

5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,

• “Mediator” necessary
• “mankind” – identifies with us

6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time.

• John 3:16 – “that He gave His only Son…”

7 For this I was appointed a herald, an apostle (I am telling the truth; I am not lying), and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

• If God did this for Paul, then certainly there is hope for everyone.

 
INSTRUCTIONS TO MEN AND WOMEN
8 Therefore, I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument.

• Morally pure hands
• Not in dispute with others.
• Sometimes this is a posture in prayer.
• Our traditional posture of bowing the head, folding the hands, and closing the eyes is nowhere found or commanded in Scripture.
• Actually, there are many prayer postures found in the Bible: standing with outstretched hands (1 Kings 8:22); kneeling (Dan. 6:10); standing (Luke 18:11); sitting (2 Sam. 7:18); bowing the head (Gen. 24:26); lifting the eyes (John 17:1); falling on the ground (Gen. 17:3).
• The important thing is not the posture of the body but the posture of the heart.[8]

9 Also, the women are to dress themselves in modest clothing, with decency and good sense, not with elaborate hairstyles, gold, pearls, or expensive apparel, 10 but with good works, as is proper for women who profess to worship God.

• Acceptable standards of modesty will vary with place and generation.
• Most people can even see through “classy”.
• Paul’s point is that genuine faith in God should display itself in holiness.[9]
• He did not forbid the use of nice clothing or ornaments.
• He urged balance and propriety, with the emphasis on modesty and holy character.[10]
• Women will pursue other women.
• Do you want to be pursued because of your style or behavior?
• Do you want to be pursued because of your maturity and wisdom?
• We must never underestimate the important place that godly women played in the ministry of the church.
• The Gospel message had a tremendous impact on them because it affirmed their value before God and their equality in the body of Christ (Gal. 3:28).
• Women had a low place in the Roman world, but the Gospel changed that.
• There were devoted women who ministered to Jesus in the days of His earthly ministry (Luke 8:1–3).
• They were present at His crucifixion and burial, and it was a woman who first heralded the glorious news of His resurrection.
• In the Book of Acts we meet Dorcas (Acts 9:36ff), Lydia (Acts 16:14ff), Priscilla (Acts 18:1–3), and godly women in the Berean and Thessalonian churches (Acts 17:4, 12).
• Paul greeted at least eight women in Romans 16; and Phebe, who carried the Roman epistle to its destination, was a deaconess in a local church (Rom. 16:1).
• Many believing women won their husbands to the Lord and then opened their homes for Christian ministry.[11]

11 A woman is to learn quietly with full submission.

• “Silence” is an unfortunate translation because it gives the impression that believing women were never to open their mouths in the assembly.
• This is the same word that is translated “peaceable”[12]
• Paul was not demanding physical silence but a teachable spirit.[13]
• “Submission” – We have made this such a negative term in relation to women. I get it.
• But we have also distorted the idea of “submission”
• It is about the rank of the “role”… not the rank of value or ability.
• You submit every day… if you don’t… you can look at the news and see what happens.
• Submit to what? Those who were in Biblical authority.
• They were being taught freedom with the Gospel but they interpreted that as “freedom with their flesh” rather than “freedom with their spirit”.

12 I do not allow a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; instead, she is to remain quiet.

• It’s not a rule. Paul says he does not allow.
• What is his reasoning?
• Women are permitted to teach.
• Older women should teach the younger women (Titus 2:3–4).
• Timothy was taught at home by his mother and grandmother (2 Tim. 1:5; 3:15).
• But in their teaching ministry, they must not “lord it over” men.
• There is nothing wrong with a godly woman instructing a man. (Acts 18:24–26 - 24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native Alexandrian, an eloquent man who was competent in the use of the Scriptures, arrived in Ephesus. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately about Jesus, although he knew only John’s baptism. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. After Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God to him more accurately.[14])
• But the women never assumed authority in the church and try to take the place of a man.
• She should exercise “quietness” and help keep order in the church.[15]
• This would be referring to the gossip of the church.

13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and transgressed. 15 But she will be saved through childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with good sense.[16]

• She will receive fulfillment through her role as a parent in the household.

How I led my youth ministry for years has influenced how I lead Leavener currently.
 
How I lead my family will influence my family to come.

• Cory

1.      How would you describe how your Mom and I manage our family?
•   When things hit the fan, Dad usually steps up to the crisis.
•   Mom handles on the day to day basis that fits her skills.
•   Kids pick and choose who they go to during emotional crisis… depending on situation.
•   To Mom when health issues and stressful… Dad when he has relationship problems or need to fix something.
•   Day to day roles are divided
2. Who is the teacher?
•   Both are teachers… it was hard to learn from you when I was kid.
•   Mom helped me school stuff more… Mom taught Bible stories… Dad taught more spiritual stuff
•   Mom taught me how to do daily essentials… laundry, cooking, etc… Dad was more technical.
3. What is the one thing that defines our marriage?
•   Never gave up on each other… focused on importance on being one… always being on the same page… one flesh.
4. What is the one thing I could work on in our marriage?
•   What Mom would want… words of affirmation. You are never ooey gooey with Mom.
5. What would it look like if Mom was the leader?
•   It would shut you down which would be problematic and make it uneasy in the house. It wouldn’t be natural… awkward situations.
6. What is the one thing that has been modeled that you want to carry on to your family?
•   You guys had times when you didn’t get along but you never did that in front of us. You created a sense of stability and peace. You have to be evenly yoked.
7. What is the one thing that has been modeled that you don’t want to carry on to your family?
•   Can’t think of anything…Involved al ot at church because of job… extracurricular activities
8. Would you say your mom submits to me?

• Yah

9. Is it a bad thing? Why?
•   No… I think you submit to each other… but at the same, when you have a family or a group of people, you have to have a person who makes decisions.

[1] Evans, T. (2019). The Tony Evans Study Bible (p. 1432). Holman Bible.
[2] Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, p. 73). Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[3] Fee, G. D. (2011). 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus (pp. 57–58). Baker Books.
[4] Christian Standard Bible (1 Ti 1:12–20). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, pp. 84–86). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 215). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[7] Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, p. 89). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[8] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 216). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[9] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (1 Ti 2:10). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[10] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 218). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[11] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 218). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[12] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 218). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[13] Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, p. 98). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[14] Christian Standard Bible (Ac 18:24–26). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[15] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 218). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[16] Christian Standard Bible (1 Ti 2:1–2:15). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.

James (The Lord’s Half-Brother) Is Martyred

• Porcius Festus dies in office. (Roman provincial governor)
• This account comes from the Jewish historian Josephus and the church historian Eusebius.
• Albinus is slated to replace Festus.
• But it will take at least five weeks for the news to travel from Judea to Rome and at least five more weeks for Albinus to travel from Rome to Judea.
• During this three-month waiting period, Ananus the high priest convenes the Sanhedrin and brings “James the Just” (the half-brother of Jesus) and some others in Jerusalem before the council.
• Before the Sanhedrin, Ananus accuses James of blaspheming the Law.
• James is brought to the pinnacle of the temple, thrown down, and is clubbed and stoned to death.
• Since James was held in high regard in Jerusalem as being a “Torah-true Jew,” the fair-minded Jews in the city are offended by his execution.
• Albinus takes office, and Ananus is deposed for illegally convening the Sanhedrin.

 
63 AD – 70 AD

• Peter and Silas have been spending time traveling in northwest Asia bordering the Black Sea (modern Turkey)—specifically the regions of Pontus, North Galatia, Cappadocia, and Bithynia where there are churches mixed with Jewish and Gentile believers. (1 Peter 1:1)
• Peter and Silas now come to Rome where they join John Mark. (1 Peter 5:12-13)

 
63 AD

• After spending two years of house arrest in Rome, Paul is released for lack of evidence to convict him.
• Upon his release, Paul makes his long-awaited trip to Spain. (Romans 15:24)
• The visit is brief, and no churches are planted. (There are no records of Pauline origins)
• Paul travels southeast and meets Titus on the Island of Crete.
• Both men minister to the churches on the island.
• The churches are undergoing an assault of false teaching.
• As a result, they are falling apart.
• Paul leaves Titus on the island to strengthen the churches and to select overseers (elders) who will be able to care for the church when Titus leaves.
• Paul travels northeast and spends some time in Asia Minor.
• He visits Miletus where he begins preaching the gospel.
• Paul sends a message to Trophimus in Ephesus to meet him in Miletus to help with the work.
• Trophimus joins him and a church is planted in Miletus—a community who expresses Jesus Christ.
• Regrettably, Trophimus gets sick.
• Paul heads off to Colosse as he had promised, (Philemon 22)
• But he leaves Trophimus behind in Miletus. (2 Timothy 4:20)
• Timothy sends word to Paul in Colosse that the Ephesian church is being ravaged by false teachers.
• Paul meets Timothy in Ephesus and excommunicates two men from the church, Hymenaeus and Alexander.
• These men are blaspheming and teaching that the resurrection of the believers has already passed.
• They will not repent, so Paul has no other choice but to put them out of the church because they are damaging the faith of some of the believers. (1 Timothy 1:20 & 2 Timothy 2:17-18)
• Alexander, who is a metal-worker, retaliates by opposing Paul’s message and causing him great harm. (2 Timothy 4:14-15)
• A brother in the church in Ephesus named Onesiphorus is of great help to Paul. (2 Timothy 1:16-18)
• Paul leaves Timothy in Ephesus and instructs him to combat the false teachers in the church who are ambitious to teach the Law (yet know little about it).
• These men are teaching myths that pervert the creation account and they are debating over genealogies. (1 Timothy 1:3-7; 2 Timothy 4:4)
• Paul heads off to Macedonia.
• On his way to Macedonia, Paul visits the church in Troas and stays in the home of Carpus. Paul departs Troas, but he leaves behind his winter coat, some scrolls, and some parchments at Carpus’ home.
• Paul arrives in Macedonia and visits the church in Philippi as he had planned to do while in prison.
• Crisis in Ephesus Despite Timothy’s attempt to re-center the church of Ephesus back on Christ, the problems worsen.
• Paul’s warning to the elders in Ephesus is finally coming to pass.
• Five years earlier he forewarned the Ephesian elders that wolves would penetrate the church and draw disciples after themselves with perverse teachings. (Acts 20:28-30)
• The wolves have appeared in Ephesus. (1 Timothy 1:3-7; 6:3-5)
• The heresy they are teaching is a kind of Jewish proto-gnosticism. (Gnosticism will make its appearance in the second century. According to gnosticism, full salvation comes through special knowledge—gnosis—that only the initiated possess.
• In Ephesus, an embryonic form of the heresy has emerged.) (1 Timothy 6:20)
• Here is what they are teaching:
• 1) It is a sin to eat meat and to engage in marriage. (1 Timothy 4:1-3)
• 2) Eve is both a mediator and redeemer figure who pre-existed Adam. (1 Timothy 2:5, 13-14)
• 3) Man came into existence because of a woman, and he was given enlightenment through the woman.
• 4) Since Eve was the first to take a bite from the Tree of Knowledge, she is the bearer of special spiritual knowledge (called gnosis).
• 5) Women are called to lead people to the illuminating gnosis which was represented by the Tree of Knowledge.
• Redemption completely reversed the effects of the Fall so that men are no longer subject to earthly authorities and women are no longer subject to their husbands. (Paul refutes this in 1 Timothy 2:9-15)
• Those in the Ephesian church who are accepting this heresy prefer the leadership of women over men.
• Male teachers were the first to spread the false doctrine in Ephesus. (1 Timothy 1:20; 2 Timothy 2:17)
• But it finds fertile ground among the women in the church. (1 Timothy 4:7; 2 Timothy 3:6-9)
• The homes of the Ephesian women provide a network by which the heresy is spread rapidly through “gossip.” (1 Timothy 3:11; 5:13-15)
• Some of the women are teaching the heresy in the church meetings and are lording it over (dominating) the men.
• They have also accepted the ideals of the “new women” of the Roman Empire.
• They are dressing in an immodest and exploitive way (like that of prostitutes) and are defying other accepted norms regarding marriage and family.
• There is also a problem with respect to how the widows are being cared for in the church.
• 40% of women between the ages of 40 and 50 are widows.
• As a group, they compromise 30% of women in the ancient world.
• The Christian community in Ephesus decided that only women who were at least 60 years old should be supported by the Church.
• Some of the widows have adopted the heresy, and others have family members who are able to care for them.
• Still worse, some of the younger widows who decided not to remarry are acting promiscuously.
• Consequently, Timothy wants to know which widows the church ought to be responsible for.
• Further, some of the rich brethren in the church are trusting in their riches and are influencing their poorer brethren to desire wealth.
• The church in Ephesus is in crisis and Timothy writes Paul about it.
• Upon hearing the news, Paul wishes to return to Ephesus. But he cannot.
• So he responds to Timothy by letter.

 
From: Philippi in Macedonia
To: Timothy who is in Ephesus
Provocation: In this letter, Paul reminds Timothy how the believers ought to behave themselves in the community (3:15).

• He encourages Timothy to be faithful to his ministry, and exhorts him to combat the proto-gnostic heresy that is spreading like a cancer in Ephesus.
• Paul gives Timothy practical instructions on how to do it.
• One solution is to forbid the women who are peddling the false doctrine from teaching in the meetings.
• He also addresses the problem of the Ephesian women accepting the ideals of the “new women” in their dress (2:9ff).
• Paul calls for the need to select new overseers (3:1ff) and exhorts the church to give respect to those overseers who are serving well (5:17ff).
• He exposes the spirit behind the present heresy and predicts that it will increase in the future (4:1ff).
• Paul exhorts Timothy to let no one despise his youth, but rather, to boldly proclaim the truth in the face of error.
• He also gives Timothy instructions on caring for the widows (5:1ff).
• Paul closes the letter by admonishing the contentious and the rich (6:3ff).
• Luke is with Paul and serves as his recorder to pen the letter.
• This letter, along with Titus and 2 Timothy, are written to Paul’s coworkers rather than to a church.
• This fact, along with Luke’s penmanship, account for the uniqueness of vocabulary and style in the so-called “Pastoral Epistles.”
• While Paul was responsible for the content, Luke shaped the vocabulary and style.

Excerpt from: Viola, Frank. “Untold Story of the New Testament Church.” Destiny Image, Inc., 2010-03-10. iBooks.
​
GREETING
1 Timothy 1
1 Paul,

• A missionary to the Gentiles and the writer of 13 NT letters. Paul’s ministry is the focus of Acts 13–28.

an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope:

• One commissioned for a particular task and given the authority to carry out the task.
• Having appointed Timothy as leader of the churches in Ephesus, Paul refers to himself as an apostle to remind those under Timothy’s leadership of his authority[1]

2 To Timothy, my true son in the faith.

• Timothy’s father was Greek
• Timothy’s mother was Jewish Christian (taught OT)
• Timothy became a believer in Lystra.
• Began traveling with Paul to Macedonia, Ephesus, Corinth & Asia Minor. Maybe even to Jerusalem.
• Was with Paul during his 1st Roman imprisonment.
• Ended up in Ephesus to deal with chaos.

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
 
FALSE DOCTRINE AND MISUSE OF THE LAW
3 As I urged you when I went to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus

• At least 8 years after Paul’s 3 year stay in Ephesus.

so that you may instruct certain people not to teach false doctrine 4 or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies.

• Don’t teach theology based upon man.
• Teach the doctrine that we have always taught.
• These false teachers have no good news for lost sinners.
• Instead of producing love, purity, a good conscience, and sincere faith, these novel doctrines were causing division, hypocrisy, and all sorts of problems.
• They seek instead to lead Christians astray and capture them for their causes.[2]
• We have no cause here at Leavener.
• We don’t need you for anything other than building community under the banner of Jesus.

These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan, which operates by faith. 5 Now the goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.

• Where does a pure heart, good conscience, and a sincere faith come from?
• W. Hendriksen calls the love:
• 1) “a personal delight in God,
• 2) a grateful outgoing of the entire personality to him,
• 3) a deep yearning for the prosperity of his redeemed,\
• 4) an earnest desire for the temporal and eternal welfare of his creatures.”[3]

6 Some have departed from these and turned aside to fruitless discussion. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, although they don’t understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on. 8 But we know that the law is good, provided one uses it legitimately.

• They were leading believers out of the liberty of grace (Gal. 5:1ff) into the bondage of legalism, a tragedy that still occurs today.
• The flesh loves religious legalism because rules and regulations enable a person to appear holy without really having to change his heart.
• Paul listed fourteen kinds of people who were condemned by the Law

9 We know that the law is not meant for a righteous person, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and irreverent, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral and males who have sex with males, for slave traders, liars, perjurers, and for whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching 11 that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which was entrusted to me.

• The lawful use of the Law is to expose, restrain, and convict the lawless.
• The Law cannot save lost sinners (Gal. 2:21; 3:21–29); it can only reveal their need for a Savior.
• When a sinner believes on Jesus Christ, he is freed from the curse of the Law (Gal. 3:10–14); and the righteous demands of the Law are met by the indwelling Holy Spirit as a believer yields to God (Rom. 8:1–4).[4]

[1] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (1 Ti 1:1). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 211). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3] Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, p. 68). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 211). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

ORDER IN CHURCH MEETINGS
1 CORINTHIANS 14
26 What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything is to be done for building up.

• For one verse, Paul reflects again on a representative sampling of the whole range of spiritual gifts.[1]

27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, there are to be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, that person is to keep silent in the church and speak to himself and God.

• But even there, he didn’t rule out the public use of tongues altogether.
• When we get to the end of the chapter he will say, “Do not forbid speaking in tongues.”
• We need to be extraordinarily cautious, therefore, in our contemporary world whenever we hear Christians claiming that this gift or any of the gifts is not for today or should not be practiced or should be practiced but limited to a private context.
• We should also be extraordinarily careful for those who refer to tongues or prophecy or any other gift without reflecting on checks and balances, accountability, mechanisms for controlling and evaluating the alleged presence and use of these gifts.
• So what Paul does in verses 29–36, recognizing that no true gift of the Holy Spirit is ever given in a way that that individual cannot exercise control over it, is to give some criteria for their regulation, for what he will call, at the end of the chapter, “a fitting and orderly [practice].”[2]

29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate. 30 But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged. 32 And the prophets’ spirits are subject to the prophets, 33 since God is not a God of disorder but of peace.

• If there is a prophecy in the nature of a future prediction, we need to wait to see if it, in fact, comes true.
• If it is an instruction for people today, is what it is teaching or commending consistent with biblical teaching elsewhere?
• If it’s something that can’t readily be evaluated by these criteria, does it seem to have the intention of edifying or building people up?
• We can never allow the so-called word of a Christian prophet, whether it’s in “ordinary preaching” or a spontaneous utterance to trump what we know God is saying from His Word.
• There has to be discernment.
• There has to be evaluation.[3]
• This was typically done by the elders in the church.

As in all the churches of the saints, 34 the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but are to submit themselves, as the law also says. 35 If they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home, since it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.

• Paul had already permitted the women to pray and prophesy (1 Cor. 11:5), so this instruction must apply to the immediate context of evaluating the prophetic messages.
• It would appear that the major responsibility for doctrinal purity in the early church rested on the shoulders of the men, the elders in particular (1 Tim. 2:11–12).[4]
• It seems much more likely that some combination of a privilege restricted to the elders as the leaders of the church, in conjunction possibly with the intrusive questions, lack of education, need for women to in public be perceived as appropriately submitting to their husbands, is what’s going on.[5]

36 Or did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only?

• How am I able to speak to you each week?
• If this is me making these messages up… look out!
• You can be mad at me, but all I am actually doing is reading the Word, studying it in context of all 66 books and teaching what has been revealed to me.
• You have the ability to evaluate what I am teaching as truth.
• But there is no reason to be mad at me.

37 If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord’s command. 38 If anyone ignores this, he will be ignored. 39 So then, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
40 But everything is to be done decently and in order.[6]

• So, he winds up the passage by saying, “Prefer prophecy.
• Seek prophecy.
• Don’t forbid speaking in tongues, but let everything be done decently and in order.”
• And to whatever degree there still is some tension, as there is at times in our world, between the noncharismatic and the charismatic world.
• These two closing verses say almost all that we need to hear:
• To the noncharismatics, “Don’t exclude any spiritual gift;”
• To the charismatics: “Don’t see how wild you can get. Do everything decently and in order.”[7]

 
RESURRECTION ESSENTIAL TO THE GOSPEL
1 CORINTHIANS 15
1 Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve.

• It’s not surprising because, while bodily resurrection was commonplace in the Jewish world (indeed all but the Sadducees of the major leadership sects strongly believed in it), it was not at all common in the Graeco-Roman world.
• Much more common was a belief in a disembodied immortality of the soul, if indeed there was a hope for an afterlife at all.
• The movie “Soul” – Conveyer belt of souls to the big bug zapper in the sky. What?
• And here is the potential creed or early Christian confession: “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.”[8]

6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, he also appeared to me.

• Jesus appeared to the witnesses and disciples within 40 days of his resurrection from the tomb.
• The 500 plus brethren all saw Him at the same time, so it could not have been a hallucination or a deception.
• Mass hallucination has occurred numbers of times throughout history, but always in conjunction with a place and a visible, tangible, physical element of some kind—a statue of a person perhaps, or a painting, or an icon, a holy shrine.
• There was nothing in common about the locations or the contexts of all the places that Jesus was said to have appeared.[9]
• This event may have been just before His ascension[10]
• For Paul, it was within 2-3 years from Jesus’ resurrection, on the road to Damascus.

9 For I am the least of the apostles, not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

• 1 Timothy 1:15 - This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them.[11]
• Paul is referring to his life before his spiritual conversion and transformation.

10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 11 Whether, then, it is I or they, so we proclaim and so you have believed.

• He acknowledges his utter unworthiness to even being the recipient of this gracious—three times referring to the concept of God and His grace—being the recipient of this gracious touch from God’s Spirit, and puts himself on a level playing field, neither above nor below these other apostles because of this experience.
• “Whether it was they or I who preached, it was this same gospel.”
• It was the gospel that you believed.
• The bodily resurrection is central to it all.[12]

 
RESURRECTION ESSENTIAL TO THE FAITH
12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say, “There is no resurrection of the dead”?

• Those of you Corinthians who are still inappropriately influenced by your Graeco-Roman background, who don’t believe in the resurrection of a dead person ever, let’s think through the logic that inexorably follows from that.
• That means that our teaching that Jesus was raised is false.
• But if He was not raised bodily, then our teaching that we can look forward, one day, to all the wrongs of this world being righted in a glorious and perfected and eternal future of incomparable joy and blessing is equally false.[13]

13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain, and so is your faith. 15 Moreover, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified wrongly about God that he raised up Christ—whom he did not raise up, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Those, then, who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. 19 If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone.

• This is very similar to putting our hope in 2021.
• Yes, 2020 was a dumpster fire for many.
• That’s because they view life from a worldly perspective.
• The perspective of 2020 is different for those who stay focused on the resurrection of Christ and the eternal abundant life that is afforded to us.

 
CHRIST’S RESURRECTION GUARANTEES OURS
20 But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

• Once you saw the first of the crops, you knew that there were plenty more to come, even if not instantly.
• And that’s what Paul is saying about Christ’s resurrection compared to ours.[14]

21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. 22 For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
23 But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at his coming, those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he abolishes all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he puts all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be abolished is death. 27 For God has put everything under his feet., Now when it says “everything” is put under him, it is obvious that he who puts everything under him is the exception. 28 When everything is subject to Christ, then the Son himself will also be subject to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all.[15]

• There is a functional subordination of the Son and Spirit to God.
• The Father never proceeds from the Son or the Spirit; the Son and the Spirit never command or send God the Father to do anything.
• But God rightly commands and sends the Son and the Spirit to do things.[16]

[1] Blomberg, C. L. (2017). NT334 Book Study: Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[2] Blomberg, C. L. (2017). NT334 Book Study: Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[3] Blomberg, C. L. (2017). NT334 Book Study: Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 615–616). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5] Blomberg, C. L. (2017). NT334 Book Study: Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[6] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (1 Co 14:26–40). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] Blomberg, C. L. (2017). NT334 Book Study: Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[8] Blomberg, C. L. (2017). NT334 Book Study: Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[9] Blomberg, C. L. (2017). NT334 Book Study: Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[10] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 617). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[11] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (1 Ti 1:15). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[12] Blomberg, C. L. (2017). NT334 Book Study: Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[13] Blomberg, C. L. (2017). NT334 Book Study: Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[14] Blomberg, C. L. (2017). NT334 Book Study: Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[15] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (1 Co 15:1–28). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[16] Blomberg, C. L. (2017). NT334 Book Study: Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.