NOTES. 1 Thessalonians v. 14. "And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, encourage the faint-hearted, support the weak, be longsuffering toward all.” — Revised Version.

15. See that none render evil for evil. The meaning is that we are not to take vengeance. The moment we feel ourselves acting from a desire to return evil for evil, that moment we are acting wrong." But ever follow that which is good. That which is to be commended for its kindness, generosity, or justice. — Both among yourselves and to all men. "One toward another, and toward all.". - Revised Version. "The phrase to all men' seems to have been added to avoid the possibility of misconstruction. Some might possibly suppose that this was a good rule to be observed towards those of their own number, but that a greater latitude in assuaging injuries might be allowable towards their enemies out of the church. The apostle, therefore, says that the rule is universal.” — Barnes. 16. Rejoice evermore. Rejoice alway."- Revised Version. always joyful."- Noyes. "This was the exultant word of this, probably the earliest of Paul's Epistles, and was also found in one of the latest, that to the Philippians, which is a song of joy and thankfulness from beginning to end." Livermore.

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"Be

17. Pray without ceasing. "Meaning of course not the overt act of prayer at all times, but the perpetual attitude of reverence, love, and sense of dependence which constitute the essence of devotion. The spirit of prayer, like the fire on the old Hebrew altar, was never to be put out.” — Livermore.

18. For this is the will of God. That is, that you should be always full of thanksgiving. "Give thanks always, for God has no wish to give you cause for sorrow."

19. Quench not the Spirit. "This may have a general or a special application. It may either signify that they should not extinguish those spiritual intimations which rise in every man's bosom, or that they should not, from a dread of enthusiasm, repress those spiritual and free utterances which were made by zealous exhorters in the church.” — Livermore.

20. Despise not prophesyings. "Despise not prophesyings, but prove all things."-Noyes. "Prophesyings" means the utterances of inspired teachers, with no special reference to predictions.

21. Prove all things. Do not believe everything preached to you, but exan ine it, compare it with what you know to be true, and then hold fast what you find to be good. "No popular current in favor of any doctrine, no influence which name and rank and learning can give it, is to commend it to us as certainly worthy of our belief. By whomsoever held, we are to examine it fully before we embrace it; but when we are convinced that it is true, it is to be held, no matter what current of popular opinion or prejudice may be against it; no matter what ridicule may be poured upon it; and no matter though the belief of it may require us to die a martyr's death."- - Barnes.

22. Abstain from all appearance of evil. evil." Revised Version, and Noyes.

"Abstain from every form of

LESSON XXXV.

THE EVIL OF AVARICE.

1 Timothy VI. 6-19.

If I am rich, oh, guard my heart
Temptation to withstand,

And make me willing to impart

The bounties of thy hand.

GOLDEN TEXT: Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. — MATT. vi. 20.

1. What are some of the uses of money ?
2. When is the possession of it a good thing?

3. When is effort to get it a bad thing?

4. What is said in the First Epistle to Timothy about those who are determined to be rich?

"They fall into temptation, and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition." 5. What does this Epistle teach that we should strive after more than riches?

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After righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” 6. What further does it say that we should do?

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• Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life.”

7. What is it to fight the good fight of faith?

8. What is it to lay hold on eternal life?

9. What charge does this Epistle say should be given to the rich?

"That they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.” 10. What other charge does it say should be given to the rich?

"That they be rich in good works.”

11. Will you repeat the Golden Text?

12. Who spake these words, and where were they spoken?

1. What can you say of the authorship of the First Epistle to Timothy?

2. What is "godliness," and what is said of it in 1 Timothy vi. 6?

3. Will you mention some of the uses of money?

4. Is it necessarily bad for a person to have great riches? 5. When is the possession of riches a good thing?

6. When is striving for them an evil?

7. What is said of those who are determined to be rich? 8. What are some of the temptations and snares into which those who have an inordinate desire for riches are apt to fall? 9. What is said of the love of money in verse 10?

10. What is a better translation of "the root of all evil"? 11. Is it literally true that every kind of evil has its root in the love of money?

12. What is said to have befallen some who coveted money? 13. What exhortation does verse 11 contain?

14. What further exhortation is given in verse 12? 15. What counsel should be given to the rich? 17-19. 16. Why is the living God the best object to trust in ? 17. What is the best thing we can lay up for time to come? 18. What is it to lay hold on eternal life?

INTRODUCTION. Timothy, who probably was a native of Derbe or Lystra, in Lycaonia, joined Paul while he was in that region, on his second missionary journey, and accompanied him during a considerable part of his subsequent travels. The First Epistle to Timothy purports to have been written to him while he was abiding at Ephesus, and to have been written by Paul. Many suppose that the apostle, after two years' imprisonment at Rome, A.D. 61, 62, was released; that he again preached in Asia Minor and Macedonia; and that he wrote this Epistle while in Macedonia, about A.D. 66 or 67. Both its date and authorship are, however, matters of doubt and dispute, into which it would not be profitable to enter in these Lessons.

NOTES. 1 Timothy vi. 6. But godliness with contentment is great gain. "Godliness" is piety. The godly man is the God-loving and Godserving man. In verse 5 a warning is given against those who think that godliness is a means of gain; here it is said that there is a sense in which godliness is great gain. "The idea is that piety, connected with a contented mind, or a mind acquiescing in the allotments of life, is to be regarded as the real gain."

8. And having food and raiment. A part is here used to denote the whole, as is frequently the case. "The idea is, if our necessary wants be supplied, we should not eagerly desire more."

9. But they that will be rich. "But they that desire to be rich.". Revised Version. An active desire, a determination to be rich, is implied. "Not merely they that have wealth,' but they that wish it; for a man may have wealth, and may administer it rightly, and rise far above it."

10. For the love of money is the root of all evil. "A root of all kinds of evil." Revised Version. "A root of all evils." - Noyes. "This is evidently not to be understood as literally true, for there are evils which cannot be traced to the love of money; the evils growing out of ambition and intemperance and debasing lusts, and of the hatred of God and of goodness. The expression here is evidently a popular saying, - 'All sorts of evils grow out of the love of money.' . . . Of the truth of this, no one can doubt. No small part of the crimes of the world can be traced to the love of gold. But it deserves to be remarked here, that the apostle does not say that 'money is the root of all evil,' or that it is an evil at all; it is the 'love' of it which is the source of evil." - Barnes.

...

11. Flee these things. That is, the love of money and the evils of which it is the source. Follow after righteousness. What a good array of virtues and graces is repeatedly commended in the New Testament Epistles! How much there is in such words as righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness, and how much nobler and better we should be if we were filled with these qualities!

17.

Charge them that are rich in this world. "In this present world." - Revised Version. — That they be not high-minded. This is one of the sins to which the rich are peculiarly liable. They are apt to overestimate the importance of riches, and to overestimate their own importance on account of their riches. Nor trust in uncertain riches. Most things are uncertain, - health, reason, reputation, influence may be lost, — but nothing is so uncertain as riches. They are at the mercy of the elements, at the mercy of the dishonest, at the mercy of chance. No prudence, no forethought, no shrewdness can make them secure. But in the living God. What a wonderful contrast is here presented in the objects of trust, that between uncertain riches and the living God!

18. That they be rich in good works. There is an agreeable and forcible play upon words here. That the rich should be rich in good works. Their good works should be as abundant as their riches.

19. That they may lay hold on eternal life. "That they may lay hold on the life which is life indeed."- Revised Version. "That they may lay hold on the true life."- - Noyes.

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GOLDEN TEXT: But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. —JAMES i. 4.

1. Will you repeat the Golden Text? 2. What is here meant by patience? The right endurance of trials.

3. What is said in another part of this epistle about patience?

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Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient."

4. What does patience mean in this case?

It means contented waiting for what we expect to take place. 5. What is said about patience in the Epistle to the Hebrews?

"Let us run with patience the race set before us." 6. What is meant by patience in this instance? It means constant effort to accomplish our purpose.

7. What are we to do if we lack wisdom to bear trials aright?

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"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."