Giving Attendance

Giving Attendance

Donnie Oliver

          Paul admonished Timothy:  “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Tm. 4:13).  Let’s consider what these things Timothy was instructed to give attendance to.

READING

The Bible places emphasis on reading.  Peter connected the Word and growth in 1 Peter 2:2.  In a simplistic statement he wrote:  “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Pt. 3:18).  Through reading we can know what God gave by revelation (Eph. 3:3-5).  By reading we can come to a knowledge of truth (1 Tm. 2:4).  It is by truth a person is made free (Jn. 8:32).  The man who read John’s material, revealed by the Holy Spirit, was said to be blessed (Rev. 1:3).  Perhaps we’d all do better to give attention to more Bible reading.  You agree?

EXHORTATION

Exhortation has the idea of hortation and imploring.  It comes from the Greek word παρακαλησις.  This Greek word is a compound word (a word which is comprised of two words).  It is made up of the word παρα which means near and the word καληω which means to call.  Hence, the word exhortation literally means to call near.  In exhorting, one is imploring or calling another to come near.  We implore others to steadfastness, faithfulness, etc.  Peter did some exhorting on Pentecost Day:  “And with many other words did he testify and exhort….” (Ac. 2:40).  He also exhorted Elders (1 Pt. 5:1).  Paul did some exhorting (Ac. 14:22,27:22; 2 Cor. 9:5; 1 Th. 4:1; 2 Th. 3:12; 1 Tm. 2:1).  Jude exhorted (Jd. 1:3).  We are called upon to exhort as well.  Notice:  “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another:  and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Heb. 10:25).

DOCTRINE

Doctrine means teaching.  Paul urges Timothy to give attention to teaching.  Paul had earlier, in the same book, instructed Timothy to:  “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them:  for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Tm. 4:15,16).  The faithful gospel proclaimer must both know and obey the Book he implores others to know and obey.  The blessed man is the man who continuously meditates upon the word of God (Ps. 1:1ff).  The man who does not know the Book is not in a position to teach others.  Just as serious, the man who teaches to others what he will not practice himself, will stand condemned come the Judgment (Ro. 2:1; 1 Cor. 9:27).