Scriptural Highlights

• Learn and teach true doctrine.
• Be...an example of the believers.
• Follow after righteousness and deny ungodliness.

Introduction

1. Paul's release from prison in Rome.
• Luke, in the book of Acts, says nothing about Paul's release from prison.
• Tradition and other indicators point to the idea that Paul was acquitted after he had been imprisoned for two years.
• Probably released about A.D. 63.
2. Paul resumed his missionary travels.
• a) It is believed that he went to Spain.
• Clement of Rome, reported in A.D. 96, that Paul "reached the limit of the West."
• There are additional sources that report his travel there.
• Much of his travel after his release is left to speculation.
• It is presumed that he traveled to Ephesus, where he left Timothy to minister to the Church.
• In Crete he left Titus with a similar assignment.
• As he continued his travels, he wrote the letters to Timothy and Titus to strengthen them and to counsel them in their responsibilities as pastors or shepherds over the Saints.
• Because of this, these letters are often called the pastoral epistles.
3. Who Was Timothy?
• He became the companion, confidant, missionary associate of Paul.
• At the time he received this first epistle, it appears that he must have held some major position of church supervision and administration.  Paul instructs him in the calling of bishops and other church officers.  He may have been the equivalent of a stake president or even a member of the Council of the Twelve.
4. Who was Titus?
• Titus must have been a companion to Paul when he visited the island of Crete.
• Titus was left on Crete to set order in the Church.

Instructions To Timothy

1. Warnings against apostasy and false doctrine.
• READ 1 TIMOTHY 1:3-4. Teach no other doctrine.
• Most of Paul's letters include warnings about apostasy and false doctrines.
• WHY WAS HE SO CONCERNED ABOUT THIS?
• He knew the time would come when there would be those that teach the doctrines of men.
• READ 1 TIMOTHY 4:1-4. In the latter times some shall depart from the faith.
• 2 TIMOTHY 3:13:  "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived."
• READ 2 TIMOTHY 4:3-4:  The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine.
• WHAT SHOULD WE TEACH?
• READ D&C 88:77-80. Teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom.
• Bruce R. McConkie: "Teachers in the Church represent the Lord in their teaching. The Church is the Lord's; the doctrine is the Lord's. Teachers speak at the invitation of the Lord and are appointed to say what he wants said, nothing more and nothing less. There is no freedom to teach or speculate contrary to the revealed will. Those who desire to express views contrary to gospel truth are at liberty to find other forums or to organize churches of their own. But in God's Church, the only approved doctrine is God's doctrine." (DNTC 3:70-71)
• Consider these thought from the talk given by Elder Dallin H. Oaks at the most recent (October 1999) General Conference:
• "...a superior teacher of the gospel will teach from the prescribed course material, with greatest emphasis on teaching the doctrine and principles and covenants of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is commanded in modern revelation, where the Lord said:

    "'Teachers of this church shall teach the principles of my gospel, which are in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, in the which is the fulness of the gospel.
    "'And they shall observe the covenants and church articles to do them, and these shall be their teachings, as they shall be directed by the Spirit' (D&C 42:12­13)."
• "Teachers who are commanded to teach 'the principles of [the] gospel' and 'the doctrine of the kingdom' (D&C 88:77) should generally forgo teaching specific rules or applications. For example, they would not teach any rules for determining what is a full tithing, and they would not provide a list of dos and don'ts for keeping the Sabbath Day holy. Once a teacher has taught the doctrine and the associated principles from the scriptures and the living prophets, such specific applications or rules are generally the responsibility of individuals and families.

    "Well-taught doctrines and principles have a more powerful influence on behavior than rules. When we teach gospel doctrine and principles, we can qualify for the witness and guidance of the Spirit to reinforce our teaching, and we enlist the faith of our students in seeking the guidance of that same Spirit in applying those teachings in their personal lives."
• "As I have visited in quorums and Relief Societies, I have generally been pleased and impressed at how these Teachings of Presidents of the Church are being presented and received. However, I have sometimes observed teachers who gave the designated chapter no more than a casual mention and then presented a lesson and invited discussion on other materials of the teacher's choice. That is not acceptable. A gospel teacher is not called to choose the subject of the lesson but to teach and discuss what has been specified. Gospel teachers should also be scrupulous to avoid hobby topics, personal speculations, and controversial subjects. The Lord's revelations and the directions of His servants are clear on this point. We should all be mindful of President Spencer W. Kimball's great instruction that a gospel teacher is a 'guest':

    "'He has been given an authoritative position and a stamp of approval is placed upon him, and those whom he teaches are justified in assuming that, having been chosen and sustained in the proper order, he represents the Church and the things which he teaches are approved by the Church. No matter how brilliant he may be and how many new truths he may think he has found, he has no right to go beyond the program of the Church'."
•  HOW CAN WE BE SURE WE TEACH THE TRUTH?
• D&C 52:9: "And let them journey from thence preaching the word by the way, saying none other things than that which the prophets and apostles have written, and that which is taught them by the Comforter through the prayer of faith."
• WHAT DID PAUL MEAN WHEN HE REFERRED TO ENDLESS GENEALOGIES?
• Joseph Fielding Smith: "The Jews had scrupulously preserved their genealogical tables, till the advent of Christ; and the evangelists had recourse to them, and appealed to them in reference to our Lord's descent from the house of David: Matthew taking this genealogy of the descending, Luke of the ascending line. And whatever difficulties we may now find in these genealogies, they were certainly clear to the Jews; nor did the most determined enemies of the gospel attempt to raise one objection to it from the appeal which the evangelists had made to their own public and accredited tables. All was then certain; but we are told that Herod destroyed the public registers: he, being an Idumean, was jealous of the noble origin of the Jews: and that none might be able to reproach him with his descent, he ordered the genealogical tables, which were kept among the archives in the temple, to be burned.... From this time the Jews could refer to their genealogies only from memory, or from those imperfect tables which had been preserved in private hands; and to make out any regular line from these, must have been endless and uncertain. It is probably to this the apostle refers; I mean the endless and useless labor which the attempt to make out these genealogies, must produce; the authentic tables being destroyed.

    "So we may well conclude that Paul's denunciation was towards doubtful and untruthful genealogies which had been tampered with for improper purposes." (Answers To Gospel Questions, 1:214-215)
• Paul may also have had reference to the Jewish tendency to take great pride in their ancestry and in their belief that genealogical descent was a proof of God's favor.
2. Praying For Others.
• READ 1 TIMOTHY 2:1-4. Prayers be made for all men.
• WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR US TO HEED PAUL'S COUNSEL TO PRAY FOR ALL PEOPLE?
• See v3-4: It is good in the sight of the Savior.  He desires to have all men come to him and be saved.
• If we are to become like God, we must develop a love for all men and wish for all to be partakers of eternal salvation.
• WHAT BE MIGHT SOME CHALLENGES TO DOING THIS MEANINGFULLY?
• HOW CAN WE OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES?
• Paul says that we should pray for kings and all that are in authority.
• WHY SHOULD WE PRAY PARTICULARLY FOR THE LEADERS OF NATIONS?
• See v2: That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life.
• That the doors of missionary work may be opened.
• So that men can fulfill their religious duties without interference.
• Roger Williams, founder of the Methodist Church in America, once stated: "If the church is ever going to get done in the world what God wanted it to get done, there has to be a wall of separation between church and state and that will keep the government out of the church, but allow Christian principles to remain in the government."
• Governments often encroach on the liberties of men.  Williams knew this, and knew that in order for the will of God to be accomplished in the world, that the power of governments would need to be checked.  The founding fathers believed this and thus the First Amendment contained the provision protecting religious freedom and its exercise.  There are those today who are using government to encroach on this protection and thus the continuing need to pray for those who lead our nation.
3. Jesus: Our Mediator.
•  1 Timothy 2:5: "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus".
• IN WHAT WAYS IS JESUS THE MEDIATOR BETWEEN US AND THE FATHER?
• John 14:6: "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
• We cannot achieve eternal life with Heavenly Father without the intervention of Jesus Christ on our behalf.
• Hebrews 9:15: "And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance."
• WHAT IS A MEDIATOR?
• One who brings two sides of an issue together in hopes of find resolution.
• As an elected union official for the past 18 months,  I have spent a lot of time in labor/management relations.  In my position, I often have the opportunity to be a mediator between an employee and management.  In order to avoid the filing of grievances, and the costly process of arbitration, I try to work with the two disputing parties to resolve their differences.

     I recall a situation where the employee was frustrated because she had not received promotion to the next level in the career level.  The employee blamed the employer for being unfair and cheating her out of the promotion.  In contrast, the employer maintained that the employee was not performing in all areas up to the standard required for the position.  The two sides were at an impasse.  As a mediator, I brought both sides together to discuss the situation.  A three month performance plan was mapped out, to which both sides agreed.  If the employee adhered to the plan, the employer agreed to make the promotion.  The plan was executed and the employee received the promotion at the end of three months.
• Christ is our mediator with the Father.  In a sense, we are like the disgruntled employee.  Our performance level is such, that we are unable to achieve the lofty goal of eternal life with Heavenly Father.  We cannot overcome the penalty of sin on our own.  We need a mediator to step in and help us.  Jesus Christ is the mediator.  He overcame physical death and through the atonement bridged the gap between us and eternal life with the Father.  He stepped in, provided what we could not provide, and has now put us on a performance plan.  Like the frustrated employee, if we follow through on the performance plan (keeping the commandments and living the gospel of Jesus Christ) we will receive the eternal promotion.
4. Teachings on Modesty.
• READ 1 TIMOTHY 2:8-10. Adorn in modest apparel.
• HOW DOES PAUL'S COUNSEL ABOUT MODEST DRESS AND BEHAVIOR COMPARE WITH THE COUNSEL OF MODERN DAY CHURCH LEADERS?
• Joseph Fielding Smith: "The standards expressed by the General Authorities of the Church are that women, as well as men, should dress modestly. They are taught proper deportment and modesty at all times. It is, in my judgment, a sad reflection on the 'daughters of Zion' when they dress immodestly. Moreover, this remark pertains to the men as well as to the women. The Lord gave commandments to ancient Israel that both men and women should cover their bodies and observe the law of chastity at all times."
• Review brochure - For The Strength of Youth, page 8.
• WHY HAVE OUR LEADERS PUT SUCH AN EMPHASIS ON THIS COUNSEL?
• WHY DO YOU THINK PAUL WARNED US AGAINST WEARING COSTLY APPAREL?
• Bruce R. McConkie: "Worldly styles and fashions in women's dress, whatever they may happen to be at any moment, being of the world, which those who join the Church are commanded to forsake, are improper and to be avoided. Almost always the apparel so involved is excessively costly, with those who wear it being lifted up in the pride of their hearts. The Nephite prophets repeatedly identified the wearing of costly clothing with apostasy and failure to live by gospel standards. (Jac. 2:13; Alma 1:6, 32; 4:6; 5:53; 31:27-28; 4 Ne. 24; Morm.8:36-37.) The love of precious clothing is one of the desires of the great and abominable church. (1 Ne. 13:7-8.) In this dispensation, the Lord has commanded: 'Thou shalt not be proud in thy heart; let all thy garments be plain, and their beauty the beauty of the work of thine own hands.' (D. & C. 42:40.)" (DNTC, 3:80)
5. Be An Example.
• 1 Timothy 4:12: "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."
• WHAT DOES PAUL'S COUNSEL TO TIMOTHY TEACH US ABOUT THE WAYS WE SHOULD BE AN EXAMPLE TO OTHERS?
• Paul says that we are to be an example of the believers.  When others view us they should see within us the characteristics of a true follower of Christ.
• We should be upbeat and optimistic.  We should have the greatest hope of all men.
• In word and conversation: The way we write and speak says everything about our character and what we truly believe.
• In charity: How do we treat others?  Do we follow the example of Christ.
• In spirit and faith: Are we true to the church and the gospel.  Do we radiate the spirit.  Do we keep the commandments.
• In purity: We talked about modesty.  What do we read?  What kind of television, videos, and movies do we view?
• WHY SUCH EMPHASIS ON SETTING A PROPER EXAMPLE?
• We are an advertisement for the gospel, either positive or negative.  Billions are spent each year to advertise a multitude of products and services.  I think most any organization will admit that the best kind of advertising is also free, "word of mouth".  We are the "word of mouth" advertisers of the gospel.
• Matthew 5:16: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
• As Paul said to the Galatians (5:7), "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump."  We can make a difference in the world.
6. Riches.
• READ 1 TIMOTHY 6:7-10. The love of money.
• It is important to note in verse 10 where Paul say that it is the "love of money", not the money, that is the root of all evil.
• Dallin H. Oaks: "There is nothing inherently evil about money.  The Good Samaritan used the same coinage to serve his fellowman that Judas used to betray the Master.  It is 'the love of money [which] is the root of all evil.'  (1 Timothy 6:10)  The critical difference is the degree of spirituality we exercise in viewing, evaluating, and managing the things of this world."  (Ensign, Nov. 1985, p63)
• WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF BEING OBSESSED WITH RICHES?
• According to Paul:
• One may fall or be snared into temptation.
• One could be led into foolish and hurtful lusts.
• Once we have fallen into temptation and partaken of foolish and hurtful lusts, we are on our way down the slippery slope which  can drown men in destruction and perdition.
• Those who covet after money have erred from the faith.
• It has led to piercing one "through with many sorrows".
• IN WHAT SENSE IS THE LOVE OF MONEY THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL?
• 2 Nephi 9:30: "Wo unto the rich, who are rich as to the things of the world. For because they are rich they despise the poor, and they persecute the meek, and their hearts are upon their treasures; wherefore, their treasure is their God. And behold, their treasure shall perish with them also."
• According to this verse, their hearts are upon their riches.  When are hearts become focused on anything besides the gospel, we can be led away from that which is good and right and eternal.
• Money has the allure of security, of things, of power, and fame.  It has the potential of leading us into all kinds of sins.
• HOW CAN WE BE SURE THAT WE DO NOT BECOME CORRUPTED BY THE DESIRE FOR MATERIAL WEALTH?
• Time after time after time, we discuss the question of how we resist influences that can lead us and our families away from the gospel and its saving principles.  The answers remain basically the same: feast on the word of God, prayer and meditation, repentance, service to our fellow men, commune with our fellow Saints, and the variety of other activities involved in gospel activity.
• Jacob 2:18-19: "But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.

    "And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good--to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted."
• Bruce R. McConkie: "One of the great purposes of this mortal probation is to allow men to choose between the riches of the world and the riches of eternity. Those who set their hearts on the things of this world lose their souls. 'Wo unto the rich, who are rich as to the things of the world. For because they are rich they despise the poor, and they persecute the meek, and their hearts are upon their treasures; wherefore, their treasure is their God. And behold. their treasure shall perish with them also.' (2 Ne. 9:30.) 'For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?' (Mark 8:36-37.) Those who set their hearts on the things of the Spirit inherit eternal riches which consist of eternal life." (DNTC, 3:93-94)
7. Evils of the Last Days.
• READ 2 TIMOTHY 3:1-5. Perilous times to come.
• ARE WE EXPERIENCING THIS IN OUR TIME?
• Lovers of their own selves - the time we are living in is a time of the "me".
• Disobedient to parents - there seems to be a great turning away from parental authority and teaching as we see with so many children.
• Without natural affection - many seem to have no concern for others.  Consider the increasing rates of violence, particularly within homes.
• Trucebreakers - consider the lawsuits and counter suits within society.
• Incontinent - according to McConkie this means "Without self-control; failing to restrain appetites and passions, especially sexual appetites." (DNTC 3:109)
• Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof - consider the multitude of churches and religions professing the path to salvation, but lack the power to save.
• Bruce R. McConkie: "Paul speaks here of the direful spiritual darkness that covers the earth in the dispensation of the fulness of times, the seeds of which were even then sprouting among the meridian Christians. This apostasy, spawned by Satan and nurtured in lust, has increased and abounded for two millenniums -- until it is universal and all pervading; until God himself has quoted Paul's very words in describing it; until the perilous times following the restoration of the gospel; until this final period of the earth's temporal continuance in which we now live; and it shall continue until the cup of iniquity overflows; until the Lord shall return to take vengeance on the wicked; until he shall come to destroy and burn and consume every ungodly thing and to usher in his own era of millennial righteousness." (DNTC 3:107)
• AGAIN, HOW CAN WE PROTECT OURSELVES FROM THESE EVILS?
• The same basic steps as noted above and we need to learn to turn away from the allure of evil and avoid the temptation.
• We must seek to know the Lord as never before.
• Study the scriptures.
• READ 2 TIMOTHY 3:12-17. Scripture inspiration from God.
• A study and knowledge of the scriptures make us wise regarding the principles of salvation.
• They teach us the correct path and may reprove us at times.
• Teach us how to be righteous.
• Lead us towards perfection.
• Continuing his discourse on the Last Days, Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:7 that men are "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."
• IS THIS HAPPENING IN OUR DAY?
• It is another evil to be wary of in our day.
• 2 Nephi 9:28-29: "O that cunning plan of the evil one!  O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men!  When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not.  And they shall perish.

    "But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God."
8. READ 2 TIMOTHY 4:6-8. Paul has fought the good fight.
• Paul occasionally makes reference to athletics.  I don't know that he is doing that in this case, but one might draw that conclusion when talks of fighting the good fight and finishing the course.
• 1 Corinthians 9:24: "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain."
• Hebrews 12:1: "...let us run with patience the race that is set before us."
• I have made reference in past weeks to my experience in running a marathon.  Such a race is a capsule of what we are attempting to do in this life.  Over 26.2 miles, one goes through many struggles including the desire to quit.  For most, success in a marathon is simply in finishing the race.  We don't need to be the first across the finish line.  But as Paul stated to the Hebrews, we need to run with "patience the race that is set before us."  We want to "finish the course".  Running a marathon is sometimes an exercise in patience.  When one begins the race, there is a lot of adrenaline and energy.  If one runs too fast, he or she will collapse before the race is finished.  We want to be consistent in our efforts throughout life, doing the best we can at the time, so that we can endure to the end, finish the course, and win the prize.
• HOW CAN WE RECEIVE THIS SAME ASSURANCE THAT PAUL SEEMED TO HAVE NEAR THE END OF HIS LIFE?
• Fight a good fight: To stand up to evil.
• Finish the course: Endure to the end.
• Keep the faith: Do those things we have talked about that keep us focused on the gospel.

Titus

1. In his letter to Titus, Paul gave many instructions about living righteously.  Consider these:
• Read Titus 2:1-8.
• Read Titus 3:1-11.

Next Week

Lesson 42: James