1 Timothy

When the Sheep Hold the Shepherd’s Purse: The Man Who Stays, Part 4

The Man Who Stays

In this series I’ve argued one thesis. The Bible never authorizes paying a pastor, or anyone laboring inside a local church, a regular salary. One point needs to stand clearly in view, because it aids our comprehension of what the New Testament is communicating.

“Do not muzzle the ox.” “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” These phrases answer one question and one question only: does someone who labors in gospel work deserve support? Yes. Jesus says so. Paul says so. Nobody disputes this.

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Posted by Eddie Lawrence in 1 Timothy, Church Leadership, Money, Word Studies

The Immortal Soul? Part 1

Immortal Soul

As Paul nears the end of 1 Timothy, he writes

He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen. (1 Tim. 6:16 BEREAN)

Paul’s point in this passage is “not that God is the only immortal being but that he alone inherently possesses immortality.”1 Other spiritual beings such as angels possess immortality, but they do not possess it by their own nature as God does. The point is not what other beings may or may not have received; it is that humans cannot assume they are in that category simply by virtue of being created. 

By extension, most people assume that humans are also immortal by nature. The immortality of the human soul is a widely held belief, often seen as self-evident. This assumption permeates both secular and religious worldviews. It is a foregone conclusion that the human soul is immortal, and this is rarely, if ever, questioned. Nevertheless, the Bible is clear that God did not create humans with immortal souls. 

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Posted by Eddie Lawrence in 1 Timothy, Afterlife, Immortality, Misconceptions

The Strange Story of Two Yahwehs

Two Yahwehs

In the first century AD, every Jewish child grew up knowing the Shema: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One” (Deut. 6:4 BEREAN). This verse stresses that there’s only one God. But strangely, in the New Testament, Jesus’s Jewish followers didn’t seem bothered by the idea of Jesus being God’s Son alongside God the Father. They remained unperturbed by the potential tension of acknowledging, for lack of a better phrase, “two Yahwehs.”

If we dig deeper, we’ll see that the real issue isn’t about two Gods. It’s about how we understand monotheism today versus what the Bible’s perspective on monotheism is. Subtle clues found in 1 Timothy 6:13-16 offer insight into the nuanced Jewish concept of monotheism.

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Posted by Eddie Lawrence in 1 Timothy, Theology

Chasing Money: Trading Peace for Pennies

Money

Though centuries of wisdom scream against it, money remains our modern idol. In the time that has elapsed since Paul wrote to Timothy, people have written volumes about the dangers of the love of money. Adding my voice is probably redundant.

Nevertheless, I have recently been made aware of a money problem which festers in the Western church like cancer. This silent scourge distorts our message, undermines our credibility, and leaves us slaves to a master we may not be aware we are serving.

I’ll elaborate on this later, but first let’s heed the wisdom of the Scripture lest this insidious problem grows worse.

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Posted by Eddie Lawrence in 1 Timothy, Money

What Would You Sacrifice for the Kingdom?

Sacrifice for the Kingdom
Iron slave shackles. Photo: BiblePlaces.com

Becoming a Christian in the modern Western world typically doesn’t entail significant personal sacrifice. Sure, we must repent of our sins and make lifestyle changes to follow Jesus. Nevertheless, this usually doesn’t create personal hardship in occupations. This hasn’t always been the case. In the early days of the church, the demands of the gospel required many Christians to sacrifice personal freedoms. Following Jesus may sometimes demand a significant sacrifice for the kingdom.

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Posted by Eddie Lawrence in 1 Timothy