'Sober-minded' (2 Tim 4:5)

Paul advises Timothy to be ‘sober-minded’, when surrounded by many false teachers telling people what their ‘itching ears want to hear.’ (2 Timothy 4:5)

When people want to hear something specific, usually there is something specific that has already ‘intoxicated’ the mind and heart. Now they want someone to ‘teach’ it as though true. This will seal the deal. I think of Dostoyevsky saying, ‘Reason is the slave of passion.’ (Crime and Punishment) In other words, I’ll find a teaching – a reason – to suit and serve my passion.

Is there something that you want to believe is true? You will certainly find a scholar, a book, a YouTube channel, a Rabbi or a church that will take your tithe and tell you what you want to hear.

Paul tells Timothy he will be surrounded by ‘many’ false teachers, but that he is to be ‘sober-minded’ – or ‘keep his head’ – in all situations.

My friends, when it comes to Scripture, the most calibrating, ‘sobering’ thing we can do, is to keep reading. In other words, don’t get stuck on one verse, one insight, one example, one story. Why? Because you might become ‘intoxicated’ – too much of one ingredient, causing you to lose stability, perspective, judgement, accuracy. God gave us 66 books, multiple histories and moments, multiple authors and cultural circumstances, so that we would ‘correctly handle the word of truth.’ (2 Timothy 2:14-15)

He also gave us his Spirit, and calls us to know both the ‘power of God’ and a ‘knowledge of the Scriptures.’ (Matthew 22:29) This is challenging, humbling, but his way of working, and where full truth takes effect. We are not called to just know chapter and verse, but to discern the Spirit of Scripture. For example, Paul rebuked Peter because he was acting ‘out of line with the gospel’. (Galatians 2:14) He was not breaking a specific rule (in fact, he was, in a way, keeping an Old Testament rule) but this was ‘out of line’ with the Spirit of God and the whole story, person and life of Jesus Christ and his message.

So we know the Scriptures, the written word, but we soak it all in the Living Word, the Spirit of God. Paul again refers to the law – the writings of Scripture - being ‘spiritual’, not a type of word puzzle that carries authority in itself. (Romans 7:14) This is why the Devil could quote Scripture, and yet be not only wrong but evil. (Matthew 4:1-11)

Some things come through consistently when the whole Bible is read and understood. Certain values course through the histories and teachings from Genesis to Revelation, holding true in the Old Covenant and the New, from the mouth of Moses to the mouth of Christ and to and through the church thereafter. Other things feature in this or that instance, and give us insight and instruction on the things of God, but they are not patterns, not solid teachings, not core to the fabric, the mission, the example and instruction of Jesus and his apostles.

Look at what Paul says to Timothy about Scripture and its place in Timothy’s life, and that of all believers:

‘From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.’ (2 Timothy 3:15-17)

Are you being sober-minded in your spiritual judgments and walk? This is not about zeal or fervor, but about stability and health. Are you looking deeply into not only the teachings here and there in the Bible, but the very ‘pattern of sound teaching’ in the Bible? (1 Timothy 1:13) Are you looking for the Spirit of thing – consistent with the gospel and character of God – or are you just pinning down some verses here and there?

​Are you spending time not only in the Word, but in the Spirit of God? Are you spending time not only in the Spirit of God, but in the Word?

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