Forge Church

Jonah was a prophet of Yahweh in the nation of Israel, after the 10 tribes split off of Judah, and worshipped the gold calf idols in Hebron and Dan. God's message was to Ninevah, in Assyria, one of Israel's enemies, that had made Israel a vassal nation. We all know the plot line for Jonah, but let's press in to Holy Spirit for what lies behind the plot.

Paul finishes his epistle to Timothy, and through him, to the Ephesian churches, with exhortations to Timothy to flee the false teachings and passion for quick wealth, while pursuing righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Then Paul turns to Timothy and imparts a title, "Man of God," on him while urging him to fight the good fight of faith. Then he addresses those in the churches that have wealth, and how to use it. He closes with "Grace be with you" to Timothy.

Paul addresses Timothy with the needs in the churches of Ephesus brought about by slaves and masters in the congregations. He then shifts over to pointing out a further set of errors by the false teaachers, this time in relationship to financial greed.

Paul is instructing Timothy, by Holy Spirit, regarding Church Discipline in the churches of Ephesus. Those Elders who lead well, teach the Word of God with passion and clarity, are due the double honor of financial support and honor for their position. Those elders charged with sin are to be accosted by two or three witnesses to clarify the events leading up to the accusation. If they repent, so be it. If they will not, they are to be rebuked in public. Paul urges Timothy to take great are of his own life, land to not lay hands quickly on repentant church folk.

Paul's words to Timothy about caring for the many widows in the churches of Ephesus laid down principles for the church for the next 2000 years. A widow could not inherit her husbands estate, and that put her before her family, threw her into the marketplace to make a living, or into destitution. Paul lays out categories of need to help Timothy and leaders discern how to care for those most vulnerable in the churches.

Paul turns from dealing with the issue of false teachings, to charging Timothy how to minister to leaders of the house churches and their groups as a pastor and overseer in the midst of confusion and persecution. Those wisdom words apply to us as well.

Verse 16 of Chapter 3 probably should be the first verse of Chapter 4. In that verse, Paul records the elements of the mystery of godliness, that mystery that was hidden until the coming of Christ. In six lines, Paul lays out the essence of the life of the Risen Messiah. In chapter 4, he launches into instructions to Timothy regarding the core false teachings that were plaguing the house churches Timothy was pastoring.

Paul continues to instruct Timothy how the house churches of Ephesus are to be led. Qualifying men and women will have met the list of 15 qualifications that are here in Chapter 3. The problems that arise is that translation committees that help publish English language Bibles have chosen to trust other English translations over the Greek Text of Chapter 3. Here is a treatment of the text that is faithful to the Greek manuscripts.

The Apostle Paul is instructing Timothy how to lead in times of persecution and confusion. Pau, with a fatherly, gentle manner, tells the women in the house churches in Ephesus that they too are to pray, to dress so as not to draw attention to themselves, to sit quietly and learn all they can, at that time. Further, Adam was created first, and sets the stage for men in the churches to lead and protect the women. Women's salvation (SOZO) does not come from their fecundity, but from THE child-bearing of the Messiah, through whom men and women are saved.

The Apostle Paul tells Timothy where to start....with prayer! Then he lays out 4 distinct prayer forms, which together please the Lord God. The hook in praying for all men is that Timothy is to pray for Nero, and all others in authority. Nero has launched a genocidal plan to remove Christians from the earth. Paul says: Pray for him, because God wants all mankind to come to the knowledge of the truth and repent.