1 Timothy 1:18-20 Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, 19 holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith. 20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
Timothy had been set apart for ministry when the elders laid their hands on him. 1 Timothy 4:14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Apparently at this ceremony, several brethren had prophesied about Timothy’s gifts and strengths. Timothy’s task in Ephesus is to fight the battle well and hold on to faith and a good conscience in the context of the dangers posed by the false teachers, represented here by Hymenaeus and Alexander.
How did Paul hand Hymenaeus and Alexander over to Satan? Paul expelled these men from the body of believers, excluding them from the fellowship of the church. The church, or assembly, was considered a sanctuary from Satan’s power. Out in the world, away from the fellowship and care of the church, they would be “taught” (the word means basically “to discipline”) not to blaspheme. Such action was and is designed to protect the church from the spread of false teaching, but it was also the best chance to restore these two individuals. Removing someone from the fellowship forces them to face the seriousness of their conduct.
The remainder of the letter consists of the instruction that Paul has “entrusted” to Timothy. And this week we will have the first of two lessons from 1st Timothy 2. Verses 1-8 provides a perspective on prayer. Christians are not only supposed to pray, but to pray for all people. This even includes kings, rulers, and government officials. The basis for this is that God wants to see such people saved; His love for them is as great as it is for anyone else. This Sunday we will focus on 1st Timothy 2:1-8 and what we can take and apply from this passage.
Praying everyone has a blessed week,
In Christ,
Gary T.