petra1000

Problem: Paul says that widows are not permitted to remarry: “When they [widows] feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married, 12 thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge” (1 Tim. 5:11-12). But elsewhere, he makes clear that they can remarry (1 Cor. 7:9, 28). Which is it?

RESPONSE: The context for this passage is the stewardship of the church to help the truly poor. The financial giving of the church is a serious stewardship. Failure to properly distribute the church’s hard-earned resources is sinful (v.7). Paul’s instruction is to give to “those widows who are really in need” (v.3 NIV). He states that younger widows don’t qualify, because they can get remarried. In this day, women were dependent on their families to care for them in old age. Paul explains that widows with children or grandchildren should depend on them for help (v.4, 8).
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Problem: Only God can ensure salvation –not men (Jn. 6:37-40; 10:27-30; 1 Cor. 1:8; Heb. 7:25; Rom. 8:1; 1 Pet. 1:3-5; Eph. 1:13-14). However, this passage states that Timothy could “ensure salvation” for himself and the people in his church.
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Problem: Paul tells Timothy to “kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (2 Tim. 1:6). What was Timothy’s gift, and why was it given through the laying on of Paul’s hands?

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Problem: Paul refers to Timothy’s “youthfulness.” We picture a “youth” to be in their teenage years. However, Timothy was the leader of the church in Ephesus, which must have been quite large. Was a teenager leading a church of this size?
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Problem: Advocates of drug use argue that “everything created by God is good” and “nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude” (1 Tim. 4:4; c.f. Gen. 1:29). Since God created marijuana and hallucinogenic mushrooms, advocates of drug use argue that it would be wrong to reject God’s glorious creation.
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