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Pastoral Epistles of Paul the Apostle

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Pastoral Epistles of Paul the Apostle 2 COMMENTARY on THE PASTORAL EPISTLES OF PAUL THE APOSTLE by CORNELIUS R. STAM Founder, BEREAN BIBLE SOCIETY Former Editor, BEREAN SEARCHLIGHT Radio Teacher, BIBLE TIME Author, THINGS THAT DIFFER And Other Bible Studies Berean Bible Society N112 W17761 Mequon Road Germantown, WI 53022 Copyright, 1983 by Cornelius R. Stam Second Printing Printed in USA 3 IN GRATEFUL APPRECIATION Our heartfelt thanks go to many who have helped in the completion of this volume. To my beloved wife, Ruth, who listened intently and made many wise comments as I read most of the manuscript aloud to her. To Pastor Richard Jordan, now President of Berean Bible Society, for his many penetrating suggestions. Also to Pastor Russell Miller, a faithful and beloved co-worker with a keen insight into the Word, who likewise offered many helpful suggestions. To Brother Richard Hunt, for typing the entire commentary on our Linocomp - without financial remuneration. To our proofreaders - every one well qualified for the work: Dan Dobler, Martha Kaptan, Virginia Tremper - and others who helped in various ways to get the job done: Rose Ann Carli and Jodie Dokousian among them. Our sincere thanks too, to many dear friends who have written to share with us the light that God has given them on these epistles, or to put our views on certain passages to the test. While we have not adopted all of their suggestions, we have been helped by many of them and thank all these dear saints for what their suggestions have meant to us along the way. Finally, we thank God for those who have provided the funds for the publication of this book in these difficult times. 4 CONTENTS Preface 9 Introduction to the Pastoral Epistles: 10 Labourers Together With God Introduction to the Epistles of Paul to Timothy: 14 Timothy’s Background - Timothy and the Pastorate - Timothy’s Age - Time of Writing FIRST TIMOTHY CHAPTER I – I Timothy 1:1-4 The Salutation: 20 Timothy’s God-Given Ministry - My Own Son - The Anatomy of the Local Church - The Organization of the Local Church - Paul’s Own Example - The Condition of the Ephesian Church at that Time - Timothy’s Ministry at Ephesus - No Other Doctrine CHAPTER II – I Timothy 1:5-11 The Object of Paul’s Charge and the Purpose of the Law: 33 The Need for Paul’s Charge to Timothy - The Purpose of the Law CHAPTER III – I Timothy 1:12-17 The Significance of the Conversion of Saul: 37 Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners - The Importance of the Conversion of Saul of Tarsus - The Lost Significance of Saul’s Conversion - The Chief of Sinners CHAPTER IV – I Timothy 1:18-2:7 Sound Doctrine and the Salvation of the Lost: 43 A Good Warfare vs. Shipwreck - A Ransom for All - Prayer for the Unsaved - Prayer for Our Rulers - Does God Love All Men? - Did Christ Die For All? - One Mediator - Testified In Due Time CHAPTER V – I Timothy 2:8-15 Grace in Practice: 51 The Divine Order of the Sexes - Salvation in Childbearing 5 CHAPTER VI – I Timothy 3:1-16 Leadership in the Local Church: 58 The Office of Bishop - A Good Work - The Office of Deacon - The Mystery of Godliness CHAPTER VII - I Timothy 4:1-16 The Closing Days of the Dispensation of Grace: 72 The Great Apostasy - Which Latter Times? - God’s Infinite Grace - Man’s Response to God’s Grace - Doctrines of Demons - Celibacy and Fasting - The Value of Godliness - God’s Love for All - Meditate Upon These Things CHAPTER VIII – I Timothy 5:1-16 The Widow’s Pension: 92 A Sensitive Problem - Widows Indeed - A Dispensational Problem CHAPTER IX – I Timothy 5:17-25 Bishops and Prospective Bishops: 100 Elders Who Rule Well - Another Dispensational Lesson CHAPTER X – I Timothy 6:1-21 God and the Christian Life: 106 God and Human Relations - God and Christian Relationships - Rank, Rights and Righteousness - The Words of Our Lord Jesus Christ - From Such Withdraw Thyself - Godliness With Contentment - The Good Fight - Charge The Rich SECOND TIMOTHY Introduction to II Timothy: 121 Paul’s Circumstances Radically Changed CHAPTER I – II Timothy 1:1-5 Paul to His Beloved Timothy: 123 The Apostolic Greeting - An Apostle By the Will of God - A Dearly Beloved Son - Paul and the Believer’s Conscience - The Apostle’s Desire to See Timothy 6 CHAPTER II – II Timothy 1:6-12 Power, Love, and a Sound Mind: 128 Courage For the Conflict - Stir Up the Gift That Is In Thee - Courage For the Conflict - The Gospel Committed to Paul - How and When? - The Reason For Paul’s Sufferings CHAPTER III – II Timothy 1:13-18 That Precious Deposit: 136 What Is This Deposit? - Heartache and Encouragement CHAPTER IV – II Timothy 2:1-15 Strong in Grace: 142 The Metaphors of Paul - Be Strong - Gather An Army - The Illustrations of Scripture - The Old Testament Types - Our Lord’s Parables - Paul’s Metaphors - What God Expects of His People - The Steward - The Soldier - The Athlete - The Farmer - The Craftsman – Conclusion – Consider - Remember CHAPTER V – II Timothy 2:16-26 Negatives: 158 What to Avoid - Wrongly Dividing the Word of Truth - Meet for the Master’s Use CHAPTER VI – II Timothy 3:1-17 Perilous Times: 163 The Course of This Age - The Results of Satan’s Sway - An Appalling Record of Human Depravity - Moral and Spiritual Issues - The Power of Godliness Exhibited in the Life of Paul - Continue Thou CHAPTER VII – II Timothy 4:1-8 The Last Solemn Charge: 176 Preach the Word - Preach the Word - Make Full Proof of Thy Ministry - Do the Work of An Evangelist - Henceforth A Crown! CHAPTER VIII – II Timothy 4:9-22 Farewell Requests: 186 The Apostle Almost Wholly Abandoned - A Cloak and Some Reading Matter - The Final Words 7 TITUS Introduction: To Paul’s Epistle to Titus 193 CHAPTER I – Titus 1:1-4 The Salutation: 194 The Promise God Made to Himself - The Promise of God - A Promise–To Himself? – The Promise - The Revelation of the Promise - The Common Faith CHAPTER II – Titus 1:5-16 Order to Be Established: 202 Elders To Be Ordained - The Qualifications For This Position - A Character Beyond Reproach - Well Trained Children - Other Qualifications - Negative - Positive - The Word of God and Our Responsibility Toward It - Holding Fast the Faithful Word - The Gainsayers CHAPTER III – Titus 2:1-10 The Things That Become Sound Doctrine: 213 Godly Behavior - But Thou - The Key to an Effective Pastorate - The Things Which Become Sound Doctrine - The Aged Men and Aged Women - The Young Women and Young Men - Titus’ Personal Responsibility - Exhort Servants CHAPTER IV – Titus 2:11 The Epiphany of Grace: 220 The Greatest Revelation of All Time - The Dispensation of the Grace of God - The Revelation Lost Sight Of - The Extent of Paul’s Ministry - The Twelve and Their Commission - Paul and His Commission - The Amazing Energy With Which Paul Proclaimed Grace - The Apostle Divinely Empowered - The Light Dimmed - Our Responsibility To Relight the Torch CHAPTER V – Titus 2:12-15 Disciplined by Grace: 234 The Upward Look - Knowledge Not Enough - That Blessed Hope – The Upward Look - Grace and the One Body - The Rapture of the Body - Imminent - Why We Long to Be With Christ 8 CHAPTER VI – Titus 3:1-15 Subjection to Those in Authority: 243 The Last of Paul’s “Faithful Sayings” - Considering God’s Grace to Us - Paul’s Closing Words to Titus - Paul’s “Faithful Sayings” - Final Instructions - Two Christian Gentlemen - Generosity To Be Taught - Final Greetings 9 PREFACE Not long ago I wrote to a friend: "I have sailed the sea of Christian service for a long time now, and as my strength begins to wane I sometimes think I see land. But every time again the Lord seems to put His hand on my shoulder and say, 'Sail on for a little while longer, son. Soon enough you'll reach the harbor."' This has been particularly true where the writing of this commentary is concerned, for most of it was accomplished while I was beset with physical infirmity. But who knows how much the Lord will yet help us to accomplish? What was a wearying task, physically, however, was pure delight, spiritually. Having now completed commentaries on the Acts and four of Paul's epistles, I can truly say that the writing of this last, on Paul's three Pastoral Epistles, has proved the most blessed experience of all. Frankly, I had not realized the extent to which these epistles abound with exciting dispensational lessons, while at the same time providing so much encouragement to godly living. And now, as this book goes to press, it is our prayer that these studies, which have brought so much light and blessing to the writer's heart, may do the same for the reader. And may God in His grace help us all to use this light and blessing in our witness to others - for His glory. -CORNELIUS R. STAM Chicago, Illinois January 10, 1983 10 INTRODUCTION TO THE PASTORAL EPISTLES "LABORERS TOGETHER WITH GOD" In order to gain the best possible understanding of the Pastoral Epistles, we will do well to consider first the personalities and characters of the pastors involved: Timothy and Titus. And since they were so different from each other we begin with the following question: What type of Christian personality, do you suppose, can God best use in His service? Your type? My type? The bold, outspoken type? The reserved, cautious type? The answer is: the type that most sincerely desires to be used of God, for the area of Christian service is so wide that there is need for many and varied personalities.
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