Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
Paul's charge calls for careful, thoughtful weighing of what he says. To all who do so the Lord himself gives understanding in all things, for he alone is its source. What is to be weighed is his counsel to be strong in Christ's grace, to pass sound teaching to faithful teachers, to endure hardship as Christ's soldier free from worldly entanglements and obedient to the Commander, and to strive lawfully and labor like the farmer who shares first in the fruit. That understanding fits trained, consecrated workers to open the Bible's hidden treasures with humble, Christ-centered study and to walk in the Lord's way in justice and judgment. It lays weighty responsibility on all who teach others, calling them to press truth to the heart in active, faithful service for the lost instead of ruining faith with strange theories and speculative questions about things not plainly revealed.
Words and Immediate Context
Consideration is commanded, careful and thoughtful weighing of what Paul says, with a heart to understand. To those who so consider, understanding in all things is promised, and the Lord himself gives it, for he alone is its source. That dependence is absolute, since the needed insight is received from God as the teaching is reflected upon.
The things to be considered are the instructions that come just before, concerning strength in the grace of Christ, committing sound teaching to faithful teachers who will pass it on, and enduring hardship as Christ's soldier. They include avoiding entanglement with worldly affairs, obeying the Commander faithfully and without delay, striving lawfully for the mastery, and laboring like the farmer who is first partaker of the fruits of his work. In this setting the call to consider and the promise of understanding belong to disciplined service and fruitful labor.
The same charge to consider is bound to study of Scripture and to rightly dividing the word of truth. Timothy must give close attention to the instruction given him, and as he does so the Lord supplies understanding in all things.
Understanding for Teaching and Living
All who open the Scriptures to others are charged to read carefully and with a heart to understand, weighing what is said with the assurance that the Lord will grant insight in all things. That charge lays a terrible responsibility upon teachers, for their work is meant to be a savor of life unto life. They may instead become a savor of death unto death by subverting their hearers and ruining faith. This happens through taking up ideas received from Satan that turn hearers away from the truth. The work of opening the Bible and unfolding its spiritual treasure and hidden treasures therefore calls for trained, cultivated and consecrated workers rather than novices, who consider instruction carefully and depend on the Lord for understanding.
Their study and service are to be humble and centered in Christ. The charge is to educate people in every family and school. The promised understanding is needed by all who thoughtfully consider apostolic instruction, and it enables walking in the way of the Lord and doing justice and judgment. It is received by working under God's direction and in harmony with Him while gratefully acknowledging His power. Fruit follows those who have it, for He causes their work to bear fruit. The teaching of the chapter is to be impressed on the heart and put into practical life, shaping active, faithful service through thoughtful attention to the Lord's counsel and the understanding He gives.
That understanding is to move believers to pray and work for the lost, to support evangelistic efforts, and to take their part in service rather than remain indifferent. The same chapter guards against inventing strange theories and pursuing speculative questions about matters not plainly revealed, such as details of the sealing. Humble seeking of God brings instruction, but curiosity about side issues is not to be encouraged, since salvation does not depend on them and what is essential will become known in due time.
Paul's charge calls for careful, thoughtful weighing of what he says. To all who do so the Lord himself gives understanding in all things, for he alone is its source. What is to be weighed is his counsel to be strong in Christ's grace, to pass sound teaching to faithful teachers, to endure hardship as Christ's soldier free from worldly entanglements and obedient to the Commander, and to strive lawfully and labor like the farmer who shares first in the fruit. That understanding fits trained, consecrated workers to open the Bible's hidden treasures with humble, Christ-centered study and to walk in the Lord's way in justice and judgment. It lays weighty responsibility on all who teach others, calling them to press truth to the heart in active, faithful service for the lost instead of ruining faith with strange theories and speculative questions about things not plainly revealed.
Words and Immediate Context
Consideration is commanded, careful and thoughtful weighing of what Paul says, with a heart to understand. To those who so consider, understanding in all things is promised, and the Lord himself gives it, for he alone is its source. That dependence is absolute, since the needed insight is received from God as the teaching is reflected upon.
The things to be considered are the instructions that come just before, concerning strength in the grace of Christ, committing sound teaching to faithful teachers who will pass it on, and enduring hardship as Christ's soldier. They include avoiding entanglement with worldly affairs, obeying the Commander faithfully and without delay, striving lawfully for the mastery, and laboring like the farmer who is first partaker of the fruits of his work. In this setting the call to consider and the promise of understanding belong to disciplined service and fruitful labor.
The same charge to consider is bound to study of Scripture and to rightly dividing the word of truth. Timothy must give close attention to the instruction given him, and as he does so the Lord supplies understanding in all things.
Understanding for Teaching and Living
All who open the Scriptures to others are charged to read carefully and with a heart to understand, weighing what is said with the assurance that the Lord will grant insight in all things. That charge lays a terrible responsibility upon teachers, for their work is meant to be a savor of life unto life. They may instead become a savor of death unto death by subverting their hearers and ruining faith. This happens through taking up ideas received from Satan that turn hearers away from the truth. The work of opening the Bible and unfolding its spiritual treasure and hidden treasures therefore calls for trained, cultivated and consecrated workers rather than novices, who consider instruction carefully and depend on the Lord for understanding.
Their study and service are to be humble and centered in Christ. The charge is to educate people in every family and school. The promised understanding is needed by all who thoughtfully consider apostolic instruction, and it enables walking in the way of the Lord and doing justice and judgment. It is received by working under God's direction and in harmony with Him while gratefully acknowledging His power. Fruit follows those who have it, for He causes their work to bear fruit. The teaching of the chapter is to be impressed on the heart and put into practical life, shaping active, faithful service through thoughtful attention to the Lord's counsel and the understanding He gives.
That understanding is to move believers to pray and work for the lost, to support evangelistic efforts, and to take their part in service rather than remain indifferent. The same chapter guards against inventing strange theories and pursuing speculative questions about matters not plainly revealed, such as details of the sealing. Humble seeking of God brings instruction, but curiosity about side issues is not to be encouraged, since salvation does not depend on them and what is essential will become known in due time.