There were some church members who were being rebellious and divisive, and did not want to repent or change their behavior, so Paul said that he had "handed them over to Satan" (verse 20). As a last resort remedial discipline, the disobedient Christians were not allowed to enjoy close fellowship or serve in the church...
(1 Timothy 1:3-20) As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, 4 nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith. 5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, 7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.
8 But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers 10 and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; 14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. 15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. 16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
18 This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, 19 keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. 20 Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.
Paul gives some guidelines for the selection process of church elders and leaders. The higher standards are necessary criteria so that spiritual leaders will be less likely to stumble or fall into temptation...
(1 Timothy 3:1-7) It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. 2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. 4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity 5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), 6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. 7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Jesus is our perfect example and standard! While He was on earth in flesh, Jesus' ministry, death and resurrection was witnessed by both angels and mankind...
(1 Timothy 3:14-16) I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; 15 but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. 16 By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness:
He who was revealed in the flesh,
Was vindicated in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Proclaimed among the nations,
Believed on in the world,
Taken up in glory.
Was vindicated in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Proclaimed among the nations,
Believed on in the world,
Taken up in glory.
We become more vulnerable to deception and stumbling into temptation when we take our focus off of God's will...
(1 Timothy 4:1-5) But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3 men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; 5 for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.
From this we see:
- as our perfect example and standard, while He was on earth in flesh, Jesus' ministry, death and resurrection was witnessed by both angels and mankind (1 Tim.3:16)
- believers are susceptible to being deceived by spirits (1 Tim.4:1)
- believers are susceptible to stumbling if they love money (1 Tim.6:10)
- pride goes before the fall, which Satan will use to cause a believer to feel condemned (1 Tim.3:6)
- Satan will use a believer's bad reputations and weaknesses to cause them to stumble (1 Tim.3:7)
- "handed over to Satan" is more of an expression to explain how if a believer is disobedient to the point of non-repentance, then they should NOT be allowed to serve in the church or enjoy close fellowship with the church. Basically, they should be considered as and be treated as a nonbeliever, who will be left to experience the consequences of their own sinful actions (1 Tim.1:20)
Personal experience: I have seen elders become prideful and lead a church down a very messy and volatile path. And these men were "young in Christ', although not that young in age.
I know they meant well. And they were very sincere in what they were thinking and doing, but they had become "very sincerely" wrong. Even though they knew about the verses above, people claimed that they were mature enough in Christ.
They wanted so badly not to allow any evil into the church on their "watch" - that they themselves unwittingly brought in evil.
It started with the whole "conviction race" thing, where one would claim how "convicted" they felt about it being MORE spiritual to homeschool their children - to the point that they decided it was sinful for any Christian parent to send their children to public schools or even to Christian private schools. It didn't take long for the homeschooled children to start telling other children that their parents mustn't love them.
Then another would claim how "convicted" they felt about how all Christian contemporary music was sinful. And on and on it went, until not only did the church become legalistic, but they began to judge people according to what they felt, rather than what the Bible actual said.
It reached a point where they were judging motives and punishing people for making mistakes - even though they had already apologized and corrected their behavior! And sometimes people were judged and punished for supposed mistakes - based on very misguided gossip.
Many people left to attend other churches, while other people left church altogether. The few who stuck around were praying like crazy for unity in the Spirit, until finally the elders realized their own sins.
In their own efforts of trying to keep people on the straight and narrow - they had actually been leading people astray.
Today's takeaway: when we hear about these situations, let us not become prideful in our own spiritual-ness! But - let us be praying earnestly for our spiritual leaders to remain accountable. And let us be praying earnestly for our fellow believers to remain steadfast.
Let us all be pressing forward to maturity, knowing that although we don't want to, we will make mistakes. But God is always faithful! We have been saved and we are kept secure by His amazing grace!...
(1 Timothy 4:6-15) In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. 7 But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; 8 for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. 10 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.
11 Prescribe and teach these things. 12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. 13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. 15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.
(1 Timothy 6:3-21) If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
11 But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which He will bring about at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.
17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.
20 O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”— 21 which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith.
Grace be with you.
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