 Jacob to  1 Timothy

Bringing back those who err.

Err

¹⁹My brothers, if any of you err from the way of the truth and someone restore him from his err, ²⁰let him know that he who turns a sinner from the err of his way will give his soul life from death and will blot out a multitude of sins. Jacob 5:19-20 (Jacob 5:19-20 BRB)

³When I went to Macedonia I requested you to remain in Ephesus and that you command certain men not to teach various teachings, ⁴and not give attention to fables and to stories of endless genealogies. These things cause contentions and do not build up in the belief of god. FA 1 Timothy 1:3-4⁵But, the fulfillment of the commandments is love S Matthew 22:40 S Mark 12:28 1|3 from a pure heart, 2|3 and from a good conscience, 3|3 and from true belief, ⁶from which some have gone astray and have turned to empty words, ⁷desiring to be teachers of the law, not understanding what they speak nor even what they argue. 1 Timothy 1:5-7 (1 Timothy 1:3-7 BRB)

Jacob suggests it's possible to bring back someone who has erred. He does not say how to do this, or who is qualified, but that it wipes out a multitude of sins and saves someone's soul from death when it happens.

In First Timothy Paul writes Timothy saying that he needs to remain in Ephesus (stay his current path) in order to confront people who have gone astray (erred) as evidenced by their teaching. Timothy is qualified to help people back on the path because he knows the truth well enough to correct the err. Timothy is the person at the end of Jacob.

Other Notes

Paul's Ministry

Paul defines his own call in terms of helping people "return" to the truth (meaning they have erred).

³For this is good and acceptable in the sight of god our lifegiver, ⁴he who desires all the children of men will have life, and will return to the knowledge of the truth. ⁵For there is 1 god, and 1 mediator between god and the children of men, the son of man Joshua the anointed, ⁶who gave himself a ransom for all, a testimony which came in due time. ⁷For that testimony, I was appointed a preacher and an apostle; I tell the truth and I do not lie; and I became the teacher of the peoples in a true belief. (1 Timothy 2:3-7 BRB)

It's a bit wordy because he's saying a lot, but he's saying that the way back to the truth is through Jesus and the testimony of what he has done and Paul is all about sharing that testimony with the Gentiles so they can return to the truth. He's helping the Gentiles back on the path because they are in err as long as they are without the truth.

Later in the book Paul tells Timothy that his ministry is very similar. He says as long as Timothy is careful about his teaching, he has the ability to save himself and his listeners.

¹⁶Beware in your soul and in your teachings, and be firm in them, for in doing this your soul will live, and those who hear you. (1 Timothy 4:16 BRB)

This statement Paul makes about Timothy's ability to save through his teaching is very close to what Jacob says at the end of his book. Here it is again.

The theme of saving those who have erred is very clear in Paul and Timothy's ministry calls.

Ways to Err in First Timothy

Paul gives a half dozen examples in First Timothy of ways that people commonly err. He seems to be warning his apprentice so he does not slip up personally, but also explaining how this can happen so he's better able to help those around him who need it.

Not Listening

¹⁸This command I commit to you my son Timothy in accordance with the prophecies about you before, that by them you might fight an excellent fight ¹⁹in belief and good conscience. Those who have rejected this have lost their belief. ²⁰Namely Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to an accuser to be disciplined so that they may no longer blaspheme. 1 Timothy 1:18-20 (1 Timothy 1:18-20 BRB)

Two guys lost their faith (or erred) when they did not listen. Not listening to and acting on truth directed to you is one way to err.

Listening to Misleading People

FA ¹But the spirit says expressly that in the latter times some will depart from the belief following after misleading spirits and teachings of devils, ²who with false appearance mislead and speak lies and sear their consciences, ³who prohibit marriage, and demand abstinence from foods which god has created for use and thanksgiving of those who believe and know the truth. ⁴For all things created by god are good; nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with thanksgiving, ⁵for it is made holy by the word of god and prayer. 1 Timothy 4:1-5 (1 Timothy 4:1-5 BRB)

This is the inverse of the previous scenario. Listening to people who mislead is another way to err. So pick your teachers carefully and test what they say with scripture.

Shirking Responsibility

⁸But, if any man does not provide for his own, and especially for those who are of his own house who are of the belief, he has denied the belief and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Timothy 5:8 BRB)

The specific scenario Paul deals with is someone who is unwilling to care for a parent in their old age, and would rather burden their faith community (church) with that. Paul says anyone acting this way is worse than an unbeliever. To shirk responsibility, like in this scenario, is to err.

Bailing on Jesus

¹¹But refuse the younger widows, for when they have begun to wax wanton against the anointed, they will marry. ¹²Their judgment awaits them, because they have been untrue to their 1st belief. ¹³With it all, they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only to be idle, but also tattlers and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. ¹⁴Therefore, I would that the younger widows 1|4 marry, 2|4 bear sons, 3|4 manage their own houses, 4|4 and give no occasion to the enemy for disdain. ¹⁵For as conditions are now some have already strayed after an accuser. 1 Timothy 5:11-15 (1 Timothy 5:11-15 BRB)

Paul advises young widows to remarry because they likely won't serve Jesus well as single people after marriage. The risk he's managing is that they will marry Jesus, but loose their resolve over time and ultimately break their vow with Jesus and return to married life with a man. If this is the case it's better to just serve Jesus within the constraints of marriage then to start down a path with Jesus that you will eventually bail from.

Using Ministry

³If there is any man who teaches another teaching and does not offer the sound words of our master Joshua the anointed and the teaching of reverence to god, ⁴he is proud, knowing nothing, and dotes on an argument and quarrels on the use of a word. This is the cause of 1|5 envy, 2|5 and controversy, 3|5 and blasphemy, 4|5 and evil premeditation, 5|5 ⁵and strife of the children of men whose minds are corrupt and who are cut off from the truth and who think worshipping god is for worldly gain. Keep away from such people. 1 Timothy 6:3-5 (1 Timothy 6:3-5 BRB)

Sometimes people use a ministry context to advance their own interests. This happens from both sides of the platform. Teachers teach a certain doctrine and the audience members subscribe to or share the paradigm hoping to advance their personal interests. This motivation crowds Jesus out of the picture and thus is a misappropriation of ministry. It's an err.

Love of Money

⁸Therefore let us be satisfied with food and clothing. ⁹For those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and snares and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in degeneration and destruction. ¹⁰For the love of silver is the root of all evil and there are some men who have coveted it and have thereby erred from the belief and have brought to themselves many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:8-10 BRB)

Love of money is another way to err. Paul describes "love of money" as wanting more than one needs. His rule of thumb is that as long as I have food to eat, clothes to wear (and I would include shelter in that idea), then I have everything I need to survive and I can use the rest of my time and resources to serve Jesus. To think otherwise is to err on the subject of money.

False Science

²⁰Timothy, beware of what is entrusted to you and flee from empty echoes and from the perversion of false knowledge, ²¹for those professing it have erred from the belief. 1 Timothy 6:20-21Grace be with you. Amen. 1 Timothy 6:21 (1 Timothy 6:20-21 BRB)

Whatever "false science" is, it too, is an err. It's an err because it leads people away from faith, which is to say, what Jesus believes. Since Jesus knows the truth, believing otherwise is false by definition, and thus an err, however heartfelt.

Ryan Eaton 2008-09-12 2011-03-14