Confront False Teaching at Ephesus
Opening Greeting (1-2)
Paul asserted two points of interest in his greeting: first, he was an apostle by command, and second, Timothy was a true spiritual son (1-2).
Confront False Teachers (3-7)
Paul commissioned Timothy to confront false teachers at Ephesus who were dishing up a different teaching from theirs—teaching devoted to theories, genealogies, and hypotheses concerning Jewish legends and family trees, aimed at distorting the gospel revealed throughout the Old Testament. The Apostolic gospel was based on eyewitness accounts of Jesus, and nothing else would ever produce faith or a faith lifestyle (3-4). Paul then gave a summary of the faith lifestyle—a life dominated by love, resulting from a purified heart; a commitment not to violate conscience; and genuine faith in Christ and His promises (5). Paul stated the obvious: false teachers weren’t eyewitnesses; thus, they did not know what they were talking about (6-7).
Confront False Uses of the Law (8-11)
Another feature of a false teacher is their misuse of the Law. Paul made it clear that the Law was not for those who lived by and acted out gospel faith (8, 11) but for the lawless (9-10).
Confront False Concepts Concerning Grace (12-17)
Paul then served himself up as an example of the transformative power of gospel faith. First, he mentioned that gospel faith, which was the result of grace (14), made him faithful (12) and changed him from being a blasphemer and persecutor (13) into a man of faith and love (14). Then, Paul confessed that Christ came to save sinners (15), and he considered himself one of the worst, an example of how faith in Christ and the resulting grace radically changed his entire being (16). Paul finally erupts in a song of praise (17).
Confront False Actions in Yourself (18-20)
Paul ended the chapter by reminding Timothy to wage the good warfare for faith, as was his prophetic destiny, and to beware of the catastrophic disasters of those who had rejected their faith and begun to blaspheme it (18-20).
Prejudicial Proverbs (16:1-22:16)
Solomon lays out the appropriate conduct in conversations and for friendship in verses 1 through 8.
A) Unfriendly speech (1)
B) Fools love their own opinion (2)
C) Scandal and disgrace (3)
D) The depth of wise words (4)
D) The depth of wise judgment (5)
C) Quarrels and disgrace (6)
B) Fools' opinions destroy them (7)
A) Friendship destroying speech (8)
Solomon next lays out six proverbs dealing with the theme of security. In verse 9, he states that laziness leads to calamity; in verse 10, calling on the name of the Lord is a great security. In verse 11, wealth is an illusion of security; and in verse 12, when someone feels most secure in himself, it is the time to actually be the most concerned. In verse 13, we find security in listening well before an answer; and in verse 14, a person's spirit and attitude will bring security and stability in times of sickness.
In verses 15 through 19, Solomon deals with the subject of justice in the courts. In verse 15, we learn that those who give justice are always learning. In verse 16, we learn that gifts given to people of influence can give someone access to their help. Next, Solomon inserts that the first to present his argument does not necessarily have the advantage (17). Solomon adds that sometimes the evidence is not very compelling and flipping a coin is the best way to resolve a conflict (18). Finally, it must be noted that the closer the relationship, the harder it is to resolve the offense (19).
Solomon then presents two proverbs on the power of words: first, the words we use feed our souls (20), and second, our words have the power to give or drain someone of life (21).
Finally, the chapter concludes with Solomon defining the foundation for healthy friendships. First, we are to treasure our wives (22); next, we are to be merciful (23); and finally, we are to show great loyalty (24).