The Colfax chronicle., 1900-08-18
Chronicle Bible Glass.
Synopsis of Lesson 81.
LIST and I'd Timothy, and the epistle
IN Titus


Synopsis of Lesson 81.
LIST and I'd Timothy, and the epistle
to Titus.
These are called Pastoral Epistles,
and they are full of valuable instrnc-
tion for all Christians, and especially
for ministers of the gospel. Here we
learn more about church officers, their
duty, the church government, doc
trine, and the mission of the church,
than elsewhere. Timothy was bishop
or elder of the church at Ephesus,
whose members were in the enjoyment
of lofty religious experience. st.
Paul writes to Timothy, and exhort~
him to live a pure and holy life. and
be careful to teach the brethren to
avoid all strife about fables and gene
alogies, and plainly intimates thatno
one can reach, retain and enjoy this
high spiritual life of faith, until he
rise above these things. For ''chari-
ty out of a pure heart" is not only thu
end. but the cpowning attribute oi
christianity, 1: 5. The letter of ths
law was intended for those who live
beneath this experience, /: 9. Evil
IDENTIFY there IRE very many preachers,
as well as laymen, to-day, who should
fast, pray and study, 1T, and 2d
Tim. 2: 1926, that they may ascend
the Christian Stair Way and live
above strife and confusion, I'd Peter
AT. For here Christ, (the annoint-
ed Truth is seen as the blessed
God," /: IL, IL, II, and "lrhe Ever
lasting Father" lisa. .: 6. Pray for
all men, that they may have knowl-
edge of the truth and be saved; for
the man Jesus is mediator and ran-
som for all, Ito he testified in due
time," 2: 1-6.
Probably the only difference be-
tween bishops and elders consisted in
the nature and extent of the work
each was expected to perform. An
elder was ruler of one church, Of
which he was member, as well as
spiritual father, and WAS not neces-
sarily Il preacher, list Tim. 8: IL,
and ): II, and Heb. 13: z, II. But
a bishop, who might be an elder also,
Travelled more or less and ordained
an elder and deacons for every new
church. 1t was evidently the duty Of
to see after the secular affairs
Of the church, Acts 6: 1-6, 1st Tim. 3:
S-14. The apostles ordained men
bishops, elders, and deacons, as rulers
and officers in the church-women
were inelligible-1st Tim. 2: IL, IL,
but it appears from the whole of the
New Testament that the Lord has re-
served the exclusive right to call, IL
cense, and ordain His own preachers,
Mark B: IA and John Is: Is. The
whole church, except the apostles,
were out preaching, Acts 3: 1 +, A, Rom.
~: 6, and LIST Cor. II: 10. All may
1st Cor. Ia: 1 and 81.
Women may pray and prophesy, 1st
Cor. IL: 5. St. Paul seems to recog-
nize Priscilla as worthy preacher,
Acts Is: 26 and I'd Tim. 4: 10. Now
many are not willing for women to
preach, nor even holy, gifted men
if they do not indOrse and preach
Dur doctrine. But surely 1.-THE due
time" has come, 1st Tim. 2. 6, and
We should look up and forward for
guidance, instead Of down to the dark
ages; then the partial eclipse, A: 1,
will be over and gone. We should
not forget, nor neglect, our duty to
the church and each other as portray
III in this epistle, also in the second,
[: 7-1O, and all Of ch. 2. Let us hope
that the ''perilous times" is nearly
over, 3: 1. This is probably the apos- :