Reading 1 - Joshua 8

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v.30 Ebal is about 20 miles up the Jordan valley from Ai. There is always value in looking at maps to locate places.

Peter Forbes

Reading 2 - Isaiah 12

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Reading 3 - 1Timothy 1,2 & 3

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1 v.20 Whilst Alexander was a powerful supporter of the truth at Ephesus [Acts 19:33] Things had gone badly wrong by the time Paul wrote to Timothy the first time. [1 Timothy 1:20] And by the time of the second letter, it appears that he was a lost cause. [2 Timothy 4:14]

2 v.2 The word 4587 'gravity' 1 Timothy 3:4 Titus 2:7 can be seen to carry the sense of 'honesty'. Thus we can understand more precisely what it is to be 'grave' in a Scriptural sense.

3 v.3 The warning to be 'not given to wine' is seen in the following passages 1 Timothy 3:3,8 Titus 1:7 2:3 The 'striker' is contentious. Thus his disposition renders him unsuitable for ecclesial office. Such individuals should be 'peacemakers - though we are not advocating peace at any price. Rather the objective should be peace rather than contention. Being materialistic must have been a problem in the first century because on a number of times:- 1 Timothy 3:3,8 Titus 1:7,11 1 Peter 5:2 There is the warning that those who take ecclesial office should not be greedy of 'filthy lucre'. We know that a gift perverts justice. Exodus 23:8 Proverbs 17:23 On reading 'brawler ' 269 we might be inclined to think of fighting. Titus 3:2 But the Greek word can carry the sense of 'contention' as can be seen from the lexicon entry below.

269 amachos
from 1 (as a negative particle) and 3163;
AV - not a brawler 1, no brawler 1; 2
1) not to be withstood, invincible
2) not contentious
3) abstaining from fighting
Peter Forbes

1:3 The comment on the way that Paul instructed Timothy to 'abide still at Ephesus' reflects the narrative in Acts 20:1

2:1 The exhortation that prayers be made for all in authority that a peaceful life would be enjoyed by the brethren and sisters is made against the background of the riot (Acts 19:28-41) at Ephesus where Timothy was when he received this letter.

3:7 The 'good report' that should be had by those who would be deacons was a description already given of Timothy (Acts 16:2) indicating that Timothy had the qualities that he should look for in others.
Peter Forbes

Notice the way in which 'doctrine' is a key word in 1 Timothy
1:3, 10
4:1, 6, 13, 16
5:17
6:1

Godliness is key word running through 1 Timothy.
2:2, 10
3:16
4:7
You might like to follow the word through the letter. Godliness flows from right doctrine.

3:4 'gravity' is the same word as translated 'honestly' (1 Timothy 2:2). So we see 'being 'grave' is not looking solemn. It is a matter of attitude and behaviour.
Peter Forbes

Just as we need to have an aim to keep us on track on the direction of our lives, and just as we want to achieve things in our lives which are shown by the actions and decisions reflect that motivation, so we have goals in the things we say. If you are anything like me, it is very rarely that I stop to think, "What is the reason I am about to say what I have just thought?" If we asked that question every time before we spoke there would probably be many times we would keep our mouths shut when we discover we are wasting time, pulling someone down, enhancing our own status, or worse, blaspheming.

Paul told Timothy that the goal of our conversation should be "love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." So he says, don't discuss false doctrines, myths or endless genealogies which are just meaningless talk. Instead make the goal of your discussion to encourage love - true love and a strong and sincere faith with a clear conscience. So next time we open our mouths, let's stop and think: Will this promote love?
Robert Prins