提摩太前书［第五章］
Book of 1 Timothy 5
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提摩太前书［第五章］|Book of 1 Timothy 5【持守纯正福音的牧养】
28/05/2024
保罗写信给教导提摩太，教导他如何处理教会的人并牧养他们，使他们可以持守福音的纯正。
一、牧养老少（V1-2）
保罗嘱咐提摩太，要合宜地运用权柄、劝勉会众。其实，保罗在这里带出，我们要待教会的人如同家人。因此，我们对所有人，都要表达一份爱，去关心及劝告。若他做得不对要说出来，但要有技巧地说。
二、牧养寡妇（V3-16）
1．尊敬真寡妇（V3-10，16）
若是有能力的家庭，应认清自己有责任照顾家中有需要的寡妇。那么，教会便可负责照顾没有家庭、年老的寡妇。保罗认为，教会作为「神的家」，有责任按照神的心意照料那独居无靠、真为寡妇的，作为神对她们祷告的回应。
2．辞年轻寡妇(V11-15)
保罗鼓励年轻的寡妇再婚，由丈夫供养她们。他教导寡妇嫁人，是针对缺乏自制的年轻的寡妇，因为她们当中「已经有转去随从撒但的」（V15），也就是那些被引诱，陷在罪里的。
三、牧养长老（V17-25）
1.敬奉善管长老（V17-18）
虽然保罗并不坚持自己的权利，就是他自己不拿工价，但却清楚地教导信徒供应长老的生活需要。这是因为摩西律法记载，更重要的是，主耶稣的教导。因此，基督的工人有权获得教会的供给。
2.行事不可偏心（V19-21）
无论是犹太人还是教会，一个人被公开指控之前，都需要两个以上的见证人郑重作证。一方面，教会不能随便允许人恶意中伤长老，另一方面，如果控告属实，就应该「当在众人面前责备他，叫其余的人也可以惧怕」（V20），才能及时堵住破口。
3.保守自己清洁（V22-25）
教会不应太仓促地拣选和按立教会领袖；我们需要检视他们的生命，也不可忽视他们的罪，否则，那些罪便好像是被认可似的，并在他们的罪上有份。
教会的领袖一旦生活不清洁，就丧失了「无亏的良心」（提前1:19），不但自己不能持守真道，也无法公正地处理别人的罪。
总结：
保罗在这里教导提摩太如何去牧养，其实也是对今天在做牧养的弟兄姐妹说的。我们身为牧养的人，要拿起权柄，按着真理牧养群羊，好让教会能持守纯正的福音而站立得稳，不偏离神、不走向世界。
1 Timothy Chapter 5: Maintaining the shepherding of the pure gospel
GK611 Morning Devotion
28 May 2024
The Morning Devotion Speaker: Ps Stella Ling
Introduction:
Paul wrote to Timothy to teach him how to handle people in the church and shepherd them so that they could maintain the purity of the gospel.
1. Shepherding the old and young (v1-2)
Paul instructed Timothy to use his authority appropriately to exhort the congregation. In fact, Paul brings out here that we should treat the people in the church like family. Therefore, we must express love, concern and advice to all people. If he does something wrong, say it, but say it skillfully.
2. Shepherding widows (v3-16)
(1) Honour the true widow (v3-10,16)
If you are a capable family, you should recognize your responsibility to take care of the needy widow in your family. The church could then be responsible for caring for elderly widows without families. Paul believed that the church, as the "house of God," had the responsibility to care for those who were alone and truly widowed according to God's will, as God's answer to their prayers.
(2) Farewell to the young widow (v11-15)
Paul encouraged young widows to remarry and have their husbands provide for them. He teaches widows to marry, which is aimed at young widows who lack self-control, because “for some have already turned aside after Satan. ” (v15), that is, those who have been tempted and fallen into sin.
3. Shepherding elders (v17-25)
(1) Respect the elders who are good stewards (v17-18)
Although Paul did not insist on his right to not receive wages, he clearly taught believers to provide for the elders’ daily needs. This is because of what was recorded in the Law of Moses and, more importantly, the Lord Jesus’s teaching. Therefore, Christ's workers have a right to the provisions of the Church.
(2) Do not be partial in your actions (v19-21)
Whether it is a Jew or a church, before a person is publicly accused, more than two witnesses need to testify solemnly. On one aspect is the church cannot easily allow people to maliciously slander the elders. On the other hand, if the accusation is true, it should "those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear." (v20), so that the gaps can be blocked in time.
(3) Keep oneself clean (V22-25)
The church should not be too hasty in selecting and ordaining church leaders; we need to examine their lives and not ignore their sins, otherwise those sins will appear to be recognised and have a part in their sins.
Once church leaders live an unclean life, they lose their "good conscience" (1 Timothy 1:19). Not only are they unable to uphold the truth, they are also unable to deal fairly with the sins of others.
Conclusion:
Paul here teaches Timothy how to shepherd, but he is actually also talking to the brothers and sisters who are shepherding today. As shepherds, we must take up authority and shepherd the flock according to the truth so that the church can stand firm by adhering to the pure gospel and not deviate from God or go into the world.
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