Even though we walk by the Spirit, it is essential that we also be grounded in God’s written word, lest we fall prey to deception [1]…

^4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,

…and become deceivers ourselves:

² speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,

Though they themselves ignore the true law, such deceivers often burden their followers with an ascetic legalism:

³ forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

Depriving God’s people of wholesome pleasures He intends us to enjoy:

⁴ For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; ⁵ for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

This is key. Apart from the “word of God” — which can be read as either Scripture or Christ — nothing is truly holy. But when submitted to His word, everything God has created brings nourishment instead of condemnation [2]:

⁶ If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.

Of course, it is not enough to merely feast on sound doctrine; we must also exercise:

⁷ But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.

As we discussed earlier, the purpose of discipline is godliness, which requires us to exert ourselves to seek God’s name.

Paul — who must’ve been in excellent physical shape to survive his many hardships! (cf. 2 Cor. 11:24-27) — takes pains to remind us that spiritual conditioning is still far more important [3]:

⁸ For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. ⁹ This [is] a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.

In fact, Paul sees such fruit as the primary goal of his own efforts:

¹⁰ For to this [end] we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is [the] Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

Paul sees no conflict between his labor and God’s sovereign salvation, but considers the former a logical consequence of the latter [4].

He also urges Timothy to pursue the same — with authority!

¹¹ These things command and teach.

Despite his youth:

¹² Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

In effect, to act as a proxy for Paul, to do for his flock what Paul cannot do from a distance:

¹³ Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Here in a nutshell we see Paul’s priorities for how to lead a church to godliness, which we might summarize as:

• Reading the Word of God, in both private study and public proclamation
• Exhorting followers to conform their lives to God’s character, as revealed in His Word
• Nurturing an intellectual understanding of God’s truth, as revealed in His Word

No matter how you slice it, everything starts by reading God’s Word [5].

Among other things, this is the foundation for the proper use of all spiritual gifts:

¹⁴ Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.

And what Paul commands Timothy to continually reflect upon:

¹⁵ Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.

This is a trustworthy saying, and worthy of full acceptance. If we want to our lives to manifest visible progress towards godliness, we must do as Timothy did: read God’s word, and meditate upon its truths.

It is the best thing we can do — not just for ourselves, but also for those we influence:

¹⁶ Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

From everything we know, Timothy did in fact heed Paul’s advice, and had an eternal impact for the Kingdom of God. Will we?