Jacob - First Timothy
Jacob ends with some erring, but Timothy stays the path and can bring them back.
Err
Jacob suggests it's possible to bring back someone who has erred. He does not say how to do this, or who is qualified, but that it wipes out a multitude of sins and saves someone's soul from death when it happens.
In First Timothy Paul writes Timothy saying that he needs to remain in Ephesus (stay his current path) in order to confront people who have gone astray (erred) as evidenced by their teaching. Timothy is qualified to help people back on the path because he knows the truth well enough to correct the err. Timothy is the person at the end of Jacob.
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55 Jacob 5:19-20 |
56 First Timothy 1:3-7 |
Paul's Ministry
Paul defines his own call in terms of helping people "return" to the truth (meaning they have erred).
56 First Timothy 2:3-7
3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of god our savior,
4who desires all men to be saved and to return to the knowledge of the truth.
5For there is 1 god, and 1 mediator between god and men, the man Jesus, an anointed,
6who gave himself a ransom for all, a testimony which came in due time.
7For that testimony, I was appointed a preacher and an apostle; I tell the truth and I do not lie; and I became the teacher of the Gentiles in a true faith.
It's a bit wordy because he's saying a lot, but he's saying that the way back to the truth is through Jesus and the testimony of what he has done and Paul is all about sharing that testimony with the Gentiles so they can return to the truth. He's helping the Gentiles back on the path because they are in err as long as they are without the truth.
Later in the book Paul tells Timothy that his ministry is very similar. He says as long as Timothy is careful about his teaching, he has the ability to save himself and his listeners.
56 First Timothy 4:16-5:0
16Be careful for yourself and for your teachings; and be firm in them; for in doing this, you will both save yourself and those who hear you.
This statement Paul makes about Timothy's ability to save through his teaching is very close to what Jacob says at the end of his book. Here it is again.
55 Jacob 5:19-20
19My brothers, if any of you err from the way of the truth, and someone converts him from his err,
20let him know that he who converts a sinner from the err of his way, will save his soul from death and will wipe out a multitude of sins.
The theme of saving those who have erred is very clear in Paul and Timothy's ministry calls.
Ways to Err in First Timothy
Paul gives a half dozen examples in First Timothy of ways that people commonly err. He seems to be warning his apprentice so he does not slip up personally, but also explaining how this can happen so he's better able to help those around him who need it.
Not Listening
56 First Timothy 1:18-2:0
18This charge I commit to you, my son Timothy, in accordance with the prophecies given about you before, that you might fight a good fight
19in faith and good conscience; those who have rejected this charge have lost their faith;
20namely, Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to the accuser to be disciplined, so that they may no longer blaspheme.
Two guys lost their faith (or erred) when they did not listen. Not listening to and acting on truth directed to you is one way to err.
Listening to Misleading People
56 First Timothy 4:1-5
1Now the spirit says expressly that in the latter times some will depart from the faith following after misleading spirits and doctrines of devils,
2who with false appearance mislead and speak lies and are seared in their own conscience,
3who prohibit marriage, and demand abstinence from foods which god has created for use and thanksgiving of those who believe and know the truth.
4For all things created by god are good; nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with thanksgiving,
5for it is sanctified by the word of god and prayer.
This is the inverse of the previous scenario. Listening to people who mislead is another way to err. So pick your teachers carefully and test what they say with scripture.
Shirking Responsibility
56 First Timothy 5:8
8But, if any man does not provide for his own, and especially for those who are of his own house who are of the faith, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
The specific scenario Paul deals with is someone who is unwilling to care for a parent in their old age, and would rather burden their faith community (church) with that. Paul says anyone acting this way is worse than an unbeliever. To shirk responsibility, like in this scenario, is to err.
Bailing on Jesus
56 First Timothy 5:11-15
11But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to wax wanton against this anointing, they will marry.
12Their judgment awaits them, because they have been untrue to their first faith.
13And with it all, they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only to be idle, but also tattlers and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
14Therefore I would that the younger widows marry, bear sons, manage their own houses, and give no occasion to the adversary for disdain.
15For as conditions are now some have already strayed after the accuser.
Paul advises young widows to remarry because they likely won't serve Jesus well as single people after marriage. The risk he's managing is that they will marry Jesus, but loose thier resolve over time and ultimately break thier vow with Jesus and return to married life with a man. If this is the case it's better to just serve Jesus within the constraints of marriage then to start down a path with Jesus that you will eventually bail from.
Using Ministry
56 First Timothy 6:3-5
3If there is any man who teaches a different doctrine, and does not offer the wholesome words of Master Jesus, an anointed, and the doctrine of reverence to god,
4he is proud, knowing nothing, and dotes on an argument, and quarrels on the use of a word, and this is the cause of envy and controversy, and blasphemy and evil premeditation,
5and strife among men whose minds are corrupt, and who are cut off from the truth, and who think worshipping god is for worldly gain; keep away from such people.
Sometimes people use a ministry context to advance their own interests. This happens from both sides of the platform. Teachers teach a certain doctrine and the audience members subscribe to or share the paradigm hoping to advance their personal interests. This motivation crowds Jesus out of the picture and thus is a misapropriation of ministry. It's an err.
Love of Money
56 First Timothy 6:8-10
8Therefore let us be satisfied with food and clothing;
9for those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and snares, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in degeneration and destruction.
10For the love of money is the root of all evil; and there are some men who have coveted it and have thereby erred from the faith, and have brought to themselves many sorrows.
Love of money is another way to err. Paul describes "love of money" as wanting more than one needs. His rule of thumb is that as long as I have food to eat, clothes to wear (and I would include shelter in that idea), then I have everything I need to survive and I can use the rest of my time and resources to serve Jesus. To think otherwise is to err on the subject of money.
False Science
56 First Timothy 6:20-21
20Timothy, be careful of what is entrusted to you; flee from empty echoes and from the perversion of false science;
21for those professing this have strayed from the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.
Whatever "false science" is, it too, is an err. It's an err because it leads people away from faith, which is to say, what Jesus believes. Since Jesus knows the truth, believing otherwise is false by definition, and thus an err, however heartfelt.