Discussion Questions
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Why did Paul teach against asceticism? What danger(s) did he see in it?
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If the heresy Timothy was combating indeed had twin influences from the Judaizers and the Gnostics, it is understandable why Paul had to teach against ascetism, such as forbidding people to marry and to eat certain foods (1 Tim 4:3). Ascetism actually denies the goodness of God in giving us good things to enjoy (1 Tim 4:4-5). Its danger is also to return to a semblance of justification by works. It is triggered by a doubt that Christ’s atonement is sufficient to save us, so that we have to mistreat our bodies to make up for it. It is fuelled by a hidden pride that I am better than other Christians if I can abstain from so many things. Spirituality has been objectified by a list of pious acts, the motive of which is to glorify myself. In essence this is no different from the Pharisees.
#Timothy
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It is a false Humility. God blesses us with things to enjoy.
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Paul was teaching against anything that takes the place of our salvation only from faith in God. He does not want us to feel that we can earn it through our works or behaviors.
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Asceticism is an extreme from of self-discipline. Avoiding all of life’s pleasures isn’t what is being instructed. The love of those things is the problem. The addiction to those things is the problem. There needs to be contentment in what God has given, self discipline, but there is a caution here to not mistranslate the verse. The danger is moving further and further from the Lord.
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Denying ourselves to make us look like more spiritual or Godly, but that is the wrong focus. We are not made better by our works, our relationship with God makes our works better.
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First Timothy 6:10 contains the often misquoted verse about money. In your opinion, what is Paul teaching in 1 Timothy 6:3-10? How can you apply this teaching in your life today?
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Paul is not saying that making money or having money is bad or sinful. He is saying that making money an idol and having it become more important than God is the sin. As Christians, we need to make sure that God is the center focus and use the resources towards His goal.
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money causes people to do evil things when all they focus on is becoming wealthy, and some that have done it have suffered for it.
I can apply this teaching to my life, by not making money my main focus in life, so it does not become an idol in my heart above God.
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We were raised that money is not everything. That we need to look at the blessings that we are given and that money can cause more separation from God when it is the most valued thing.
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“Godliness with contentment is great gain.” This is the main idea, that we should be content in whatever financial situation we find ourselves, and to use that situation for God’s glory, whether we are poor, wealthy, or in between. I apply this to my life by remembering not to seek after money but to life in a way that pleases God.
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I think that this verse is teaching about greed and how it can consume a person’s life, but also about how loving anything more than God is a sin. In our lives if we let our greed for money of valuables, or our love for such things over shine our love for God then we are not living the life God would want us to.