Could You Give Me An Example?
Ephesus. A city filled with false religious movements and sentiments. Home to the famed Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. A culture radically lost in worldliness. And in the middle of this epicenter? The Ephesian saints.
With this setting in mind, Paul instructs a young Timothy to stay in Ephesus to combat false teaching that had penetrated the Ephesian church (1 Tim. 1:1-3). In the letter we know as 1 Timothy, Paul charges Timothy, in contrast to this false teaching: “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12).
How was Timothy to combat this false teaching? Paul exhorts Timothy not only to speak a different doctrine, but to be a different type of person. Timothy was to be an example to the Ephesian church, not just in teaching, but in godliness (1 Tim. 4:7).
What does godliness entail? Paul lists five aspects of a godly example for Timothy to follow: speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. Timothy was supposed to be a holistically godly person through living out each of these areas well to the Ephesians.
To Paul, the godly person is one in speech. Paul speaks at great length about teaching in this letter, confronting elements of false teaching among the Ephesians. Both “myths” (1 Tim. 1:4, ESV) and vain discussion without true knowledge about the law (1 Tim. 1:6-7) serve as examples of such false teaching. Paul even warns Timothy that some will devote themselves to the “teaching of demons” (1 Tim. 4:1). In contrast to such false teaching, Timothy was to confront such things by devoting himself to the presentation of the words of Scripture and teaching in accordance with it (1 Tim. 4:6, 11-13).
The godly person is also one in conduct. Timothy was “to train” himself “for godliness” (1 Tim. 4:7) and practice teaching and exhortation to be a faithful steward of his gift (1 Tim. 4:13-15). The letter is filled with responsibilities for Timothy to live out, including the pursuit of “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness” (1 Tim. 6:11). Through such faithfulness in godly living, Timothy would “fight the good fight” (1 Tim. 6:12).
The godly person is one in love. Paul begins the letter by reminding “the aim” of their charge “is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Tim. 1:5). Timothy's work was to be characterized by love.
The godly person is one in faith. The false teaching among the Ephesians is contrasted by the faith (1 Tim. 6:20-21). This faith was what Timothy was to contend for, by teaching the things Paul was instructing in the letter (1 Tim. 4:6).
Finally, the godly person is one in purity. In correcting false teaching about the law, Paul connects the law’s purpose for sinners, including “the sexually immoral” and “men who practice homosexuality” (1 Tim. 1:10). Following this discussion, Paul emphasizes the need of church leaders to be “husband of one wife” people (Tim. 3:2, 12). Essentially, Paul is stressing heterosexual monogamy in marriage to Timothy as the Christian sexual ethic. This was the picture of sexual purity for the church. In addition, Paul warns of the dangers that sexual passion had to drive younger widows in the church away from Christ (1 Tim. 5:11). Timothy was to be an example of Christian purity for the Ephesians in a culture that showed a different sexual ethic and against false teaching that “forbid marriage” (1 Tim. 4:1-3).
Through being an example of godliness, Timothy would challenge the church to live up to its faith in contrast to false teaching. What should we gather from Paul’s charge? In a world opposed to the gospel message and a church culture rampant with false teaching, we must take on the charge given to Timothy, being an example to other believers in godliness. Our speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity should point to the One who is truly godly in every way, the person of Jesus, and the message that we proclaim about His work.
When people see you – the things you espouse, the life you live, the way you love others, the faith you hold, and the sexual ethic you practice – do they see Jesus? Or, do they see a contradiction? Let the world and the church see in you a picture of Jesus and a model of godliness to follow. If we long for a godly church, we must be godly people. If we long to show a godly church to the world, we must be a godly people before them. Live as examples of godliness, for your Christian brothers, sisters, and lost neighbors. We need examples. Be one.