ordinances and the neglecting of the body found in chapter 2, which 'beguile

of the reward' (verse 18).  There is not so much revealed in Colossians

concerning other forms of attack by spiritual foes, the revelation being

rather the assurance of their overthrow.

'Who hath delivered us from the authority of darkness' (Col. 1:13

author's translation).

'Having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them

openly, triumphing over them in it' (2:15).

After writing these three prison epistles and the short epistle to

Philemon, the apostle was liberated for a time, and occupied his freedom in

establishing the church as far as that was possible.  The church at Philippi

had 'bishops and deacons' (Phil. 1:1), and there is no reason why the church

of the One Body should not be ruled 'decently and in order'.  Consequently we

find both in 1 Timothy and Titus a concern regarding the character and

appointment of bishops and deacons.

The evils exposed in 1 Timothy are complicated; we therefore tabulate

them, and leave the analysis for private study.  There is 'other doctrine'

(1:3; 6:3) and 'the doctrines of demons' (4:1).  There are 'fables and

endless genealogies', 'vain jangling', 'teachers of the law who understand

neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm', and in regard to faith and a

good conscience, there are some who have 'made shipwreck' (1:7,19).  There is

the warning concerning the abuse of prayer, the vanity of outward adornment

and the usurpation of authority by woman over man in the matter of teaching,

indicated as a contributive cause of failure (2:8,9 -12).  The moral and

spiritual qualifications for bishops and deacons are

pointed in their suggestiveness.  Take, for example, one qualification of the

'One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection

with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how

shall he take care of the church of God?)' (1 Tim. 3:4,5).

Other statements such as 'not given to wine', 'not greedy of filthy

lucre', 'not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the

condemnation of the devil' (3:3,6) indicate contributory causes to the

failure of the testimony.

In 1 Timothy 4, however, the Spirit 'speaketh expressly' and definitely

reveals that 'in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving

heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of demons ... forbidding to marry and

commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with

thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth' (4:1 -3).  'Profane

and old wives' fables' and the over -emphasis upon 'bodily exercise' follow

these solemn utterances (4:7,8), showing how interrelated the doctrines of

demons may be with matters of everyday life.  Provisions for young widows

against Satan's snares is made in 1 Timothy 5:11 -15, and an undue

abstemiousness on the part of Timothy is corrected in 1 Timothy 5:23.

Timothy is told to withdraw himself from those who teach 'other doctrine'

(6:3 -5), and is warned against the 'love of money', the 'trust in uncertain

riches', and the 'vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so

called' (6:10,17,20).