DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
1 Timothy 4:4-8, 16 (12/4) Epistle for Friday of
the Twenty-Sixth Week after Pentecost
Instruction in Good Doctrine: 1
Timothy 4:4-8, 16, especially vs. 6: “If you instruct the brethren in these things, you
will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of
the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.” In
this portion of the Epistle to Timothy,
Bishop Kallistos Ware asserts
that to be Orthodox: “...it is not enough simply to give intellectual
assent to a system of doctrine, for Tradition is far more than a set of
abstract propositions - it is a life, a personal encounter with Christ in the
Holy Spirit. Tradition is not only
kept by the Church - it lives in the Church, it is the life of the Holy Spirit
in the Church.” Those who
teach in the Church prove themselves good ministers of the Lord when
they are themselves “...nourished in the words of faith...” with
which they “...instruct the brethren...” (vs. 6). To pass on trust in the Lord, educators
transmit both doctrine and living trust to others by instruction and example
that manifests their own struggle for knowledge, faith, and salvation.
Consider the Apostle’s words, “...nourished in
the words of faith and of the good doctrine...” (vs.
6). How is it that the words
of teaching and doctrine nourish?
What in us is fed by words and doctrine? Recall the Lord’s visit to the
Samaritan city of
Now bringing food, the Disciples urge the Lord:
“'Rabbi, eat'” (Jn. 4:31).
“But He said to them, 'I have food to eat of which you do not
know'” (Jn. 4:32). They are
puzzled by this remark, so the Lord Jesus explains, “...'My food is to do the will of Him Who sent Me, and to finish
His work'” (vs. 34). Teaching
and doctrine have nourished Him!
There is an aspect of our selves that hungers and thirsts
for something that may be called food, which no bread in this world can
satisfy. In this vein, the Lord
reprimanded Satan: “'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word
that proceeds from of the mouth of God'” (Mt. 4:4). The words of God and His Holy doctrine
are bread in the Kingdom that even now we may receive (Lk. 14:15).
While most often we are able to take only the milk of doctrine rather
than its strong meat (1 Cor. 3:2), still our spirits hunger and thirst for the
words of God and for good doctrine.
“Blessed are these who do hunger and thirst for righteousness, for
they shall be filled” (Mt. 5:6).
Only those nourished on sound doctrine can transmit the Faith.
When God’s people are nourished on good doctrine,
they more carefully follow what they have received and exercise themselves toward
godliness (vs. 7). In the
original, the word exercise is gymnaze,
the root of our word gymnasium (a place of exercise). Consider what our Faith disciplines,
trains, and exercises: our spirits!
As our hearts grow in godliness through the practice and exercise of good
doctrine, we grow and mature, gaining in faith for this life but also for
“...that which is to come” (vs. 8). Be like a good athlete: refuse that
which is of little profit, the profane, the false, and the trivial (vs.
7). Continue in a truly Holy
Tradition that will save you and any who hear us (vs. 16). This is Orthodox Faith: known, received,
and worthy to pass on.
Feed us, O Lord, with Thy pure words that we may increase
in stature, unto ripe old age.
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