As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus,
when I went into Macedonia, that thou
mightest charge some that they teach no
other doctrine, neither give heed to fables
and endless genealogies, which minister questions,
rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
Now the end of the commandment is charity
out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience,
and of faith unfeigned: from which some
having swerved have turned aside unto vain talking:
desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding
neither what they say, no whereof they affirm.
1Timothy 3-7
This time that we spend looking at those early Church fathers we will come to a greater understanding of what it means to be an Authentic Christian. The men that I am quoting are men who walked and talked with the apostles having lived during their lifetimes. Due to this fact we ought to take care to read what they have written as what they have said are that which they have learned from those apostles. So once again I turn to Polycarp (65-155 A.D.) as he was taught by the apostle John.
Expressions of personal unworthiness.
These things, brethren, I write to
you concerning righteousness, not because I take anything upon myself, but
because ye have invited me to do so. For neither I, nor any other such one, can
come up to the wisdom (Comp. 2 Pet. iii. 15). of
the blessed and glorified Paul. He, when among you, accurately and stedfastly
taught the word of truth in the presence of those who were then alive. And when
absent from you, he wrote you a letter, (The form is plural,
but one Epistle is probably meant. [So, even in English, “letters” may be
classically used for a single letter, as we say “by these presents.” But even
we might speak of St. Paul as having written his Epistles to us; so the
Epistles to Thessalonica and Corinth might more naturally still be referred to
here]). which, if you carefully study, you will find to be the means of
building you up in that faith which has been given you, and which, being
followed by hope, and preceded by love towards God, and Christ, and our
neighbour, “is the mother of us all. (Comp. Gal. iv. 26). For
if any one be inwardly possessed of these graces, he hath fulfilled the command
of righteousness, since he that hath love is far from all sin.
One
of the problems in the Church today is that most congregants have not read the
letters of Paul, nor have taken time to read these works of those who lived and
were taught by the apostles. Notice that Polycarp states: “if you carefully
study, (there is the crux: carefully study), you will find to be the means of
building up you in faith which has been give to you.
More
from Polycarp:
“But the love of money is the root of all evils.” (1 Tim. vi. 10).
Knowing, therefore, that “as we brought nothing into the world, so we
can carry nothing out,” (1 Tim. vi. 7). let
us arm ourselves with the armour of righteousness; (Comp. Eph. vi. 11). and
let us teach, first of all, ourselves to walk in the commandments of the Lord.
Next, [teach] your wives [to walk] in the faith given to them, and in love and
purity tenderly loving their own husbands in all truth, and loving all [others]
equally in all chastity; and to train up their children in the knowledge and
fear of God. Teach the widows to be discreet as respects the faith of the Lord,
praying continually (Comp. 1 Thess. v. 17).
for all, being far from all slandering, evil-speaking, false-witnessing,
love of money, and every kind of evil; knowing that they are the altar (Some here read, “altars).” of God, that He clearly
perceives all things, and that nothing is hid from Him,
neither reasonings, nor reflections, nor any one of the secret things of the
heart.
The duties of deacons, youths, and virgins.
Knowing, then, that “God is not
mocked,” (Gal.
vi. 7). we ought to walk worthy of His commandment and glory. In
like manner should the deacons be blameless before the face of His
righteousness, as being the servants of God and Christ,
(Some read, “God in Christ).” and not of men. They must not be
slanderers, double-tongued, (Comp. 1 Tim. iii. 8). or
lovers of money, but temperate in all things, compassionate, industrious,
walking according to the truth of the Lord, who was the servant (Comp. Matt.
xx. 28). of all. If we please Him in this present world, we shall
receive also the future world, according as He has promised to us that He will
raise us again from the dead, and that if we live ( Πολιτευσώμεθα, referring to the whole conduct; comp. Phil. i. 27). worthily
of Him, “we shall also reign together with Him,” ( 2 Tim. ii. 12). provided
only we believe. In like manner, let the young men also be blameless in all
things, being especially careful to preserve purity, and keeping themselves in,
as with a bridle, from every kind of evil. For it is well that they should be
cut off from (Some read, ἀνακύπτεσθαι, “to emerge from).” the lusts that are in the world,
since “every lust warreth against the spirit; (1 Pet. ii. 11). and
“neither fornicators, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
shall inherit the kingdom of God, (1 Cor. vi. 9, 10). nor
those who do things inconsistent and unbecoming. Wherefore, it is needful to
abstain from all these things, being subject to the presbyters and deacons, as
unto God and Christ. The virgins also must walk in a blameless and pure
conscience.
Polycarp
reminds us that we are to walk worthily of the commandments of God. Today as
never before those within the Church are too busy trying to “get ahead,” to
have the “American dream,” and are seeking that more than seeking to follow the
commands of God. Oh, they do follow what pleased them, that is, not an
inconvenience to them, easy to follow, no pressure to be different from the world.
We have Churches teaching that it is ok to be effeminate (homosexual), or to be
a drug addict (abusers of themselves), Lust after fornication, adultery, all
that has the same, if not somewhat larger, number of such things as divorce,
adultery, have intercourse before marriage, even some as allowed perverse
people to remain in their congregations. Polycarp reminds us that those are
them that will not inherit the kingdom of God. Are you chasing after your
genealogy? Are you having sexual affairs, as a single person, or in your
marriage? What has you fullest attention? This world or the world to come:
which has your priority? Are you willing to be a serious person who studies the
word of God? Well…there have been many Scriptures for you to read. Will you?
For the LORD shall judge His people,
And repent
Himself for His servants,
When He seeth that their power is gone,
And there is not
shut up, or left.
And He will say, Where are their gods,
Their rock in
which they trusted,
Deuteronomy 32:36-37
The power is in your hand to be obedient
