Final Encouragements

Throughout this letter Paul has been encouraging Timothy to fulfill His pastoral responsibilities in leading the church of Ephesus through some difficult days. False teachers had arisen within the eldership and they were wreaking havoc on the church not only by the wrong things they were teaching but also by the ungodly ways that they were living.

The main reason that Timothy has stayed in Ephesus is so that he might help the church put things in order—so that the members of the church might conduct themselves properly as the “household of God.” Paul has written very pointedly in this letter about how Timothy is to do that.

From chapter 1 all the way through chapter 6 Paul has warned him not to teach, or allow others to teach, any doctrines that are contrary to the teaching he had received from Paul. He is to insist that the elders and deacons in the church be godly, trustworthy men. He is to train himself for godliness; to teach with boldness; to devote himself to the public reading of Scripture; to fight the good fight of faith; to warn and command rich church members not to trust their wealth, but to be generous.

Then, in the last 2 verses of chapter 6, Paul wraps up his final thoughts with one final admonition to his young friend.