"On every page of the God-breathed writings are many thoughts that stretch out like long, clear arms of light across the darkness, discovering things otherwise hidden and illuminating wider areas than those of the immediate context. They are searchlights. I have selected one in each chapter of Scripture, for at least one central thought in every chapter should arrest the mind and affect the life," wrote G. Campbell Morgan, a skilled, wise, warm-hearted Bible teacher who conducted a classic 3-year study called Life Applications from Every Chapter of the Bible. Here is the fruit of that research—summarized, illustrated, and amplified with useful details—on all 66 books of the Bible.
DEUTERONOMY, JOSHUA, JUDGES, RUTH,
1 JOHN, 2 JOHN, 3 JOHN, JUDE, REVELATION
1 Timothy 1:11 "According to the Gospel of the glory of the blessed God." First Timothy is one of 3 pastoral letters (including 2 Timothy and Titus) that the aging apostle Paul sent to those who would continue his work. Timothy was Paul’s spiritual son. Young but gifted, Timothy had been assigned to lead the church at Ephesus. In this letter, Paul directs Timothy on matters of church leadership, including proper worship and qualifications for leaders. He also addresses confronting false teachers and respectfully treating the different kinds of people within a congregation. Paul urges Timothy to live a life beyond reproach, giving believers a Christ-like example to follow. He states, "The Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that it is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for ... those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, people who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is not in accord with the Gospel of the glory of the blessed God." God Himself lives in bliss and pure happiness. That is what He wishes for His creatures, but we who are made in His image need to trust and obey Him first. God mercifully helps us, as Paul experienced personally. He tells us, "Formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus." Mercy like that helps us "fight the good fight, keeping the faith and a good conscience."
1 Timothy 2:1 "Supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgiving." The what, who, why, where, and how of prayer are the themes of this entire chapter. Supplications are requests expressing a need that all those offering them share, such as for spiritual cleansing and enablement. Prayers are distinct acts of worship in which the need, for the moment, is forgotten and the sense of God's majesty and mercy bring adoration. Intercessions are requests for others as an expression of love for them and God Himself. Thanksgivings are glad outpourings of grateful hearts remembering the Giver of all gifts. God's people are to pray this way for all people, especially for those "who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." Our Lord Jesus Christ is the one mediator between God and man, "who gave himself as a ransom for all"—all kinds of people. Christian men are to lift "holy hands without anger or quarreling" and Christian women are to be modest and self controlled. The God who made us knows what each of us most needs to hear.
1 Timothy 3:5 "If a man does not know how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?" Paul in this part of his letter is giving instructions on the orderly government of the church. Their first application is to its leaders, but they contain a principle that applies to the whole field of Christian service. Picture around every believer a series of concentric circles in which his or her service and Christian witness operates: those of home, church, city, and nation. Necessarily one's influence is more evident in the first circle, but it will extend positively to the others only as the inner circles are managed well. Paul's question has a self-evident answer: If a man is not able to regulate the affairs of his own household, he cannot guide and guard the church to ensure its orderliness. His failure in his own house will negate any attempt he may make in the church, for people will obey only an authority evidenced by results. Fitness for the guidance of others in the home, church, or anywhere is created by control of one's own life as it is wholly under the sway of the Lord.
1 Timothy 4:12 "Let no man despise your youth, but show yourself an example to the believers in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity." The first meaning of this instruction is that Timothy should conduct himself with such excellence as to make it impossible for people of good will to despise him. Another way of saying this is, "See to it that—your youth notwithstanding—you are not despicable, but quite the opposite!" It may be that there is a tendency among older people to hold youth in contempt, but it is often as much the fault of youth as of age. A young man enamored by the dignity of his office and seeking to impress others with that dignity is always despicable and invariably despised. A man concerned about his character and seeking to realize in his life the ideals of his Lord gives a weight and dignity to his office, which is recognized and yielded to without any reference to his age. This injunction to Timothy is of perpetual application, and not alone to the young.
1 Timothy 5:8 "If anyone does not provide for his own, especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." Paul is instructing Timothy on the duty of the church to care for its most vulnerable members, especially widows. That the church has such a responsibility when there is no other recourse he makes perfectly clear in this chapter, but he also shows how it ought to be safeguarded. In all such matters responsibility first lays with the family (1 Timothy 5:4, 16). That principle is most clearly stated in 1 Timothy 5:8, above. It is characterized by the sane, practical common sense everywhere displayed in Paul's inspired teaching. A man's very first responsibility is that of his own, his own household. No call on him must be allowed to take precedence over that, not even that of the church, and certainly not his own pleasures. To neglect to make such provision is to deny the Christian faith, which is the way of love in all its most practical bearings. The believer who does so is worse than an unbeliever, for common human instincts prompt unbelievers to care for their own flesh and blood. Christianity is the transfiguration of the commonplace, and in proportion as it enables a man or woman to realize all human obligations on the highest level, he or she is thereby recommending it to others. Teaching like this presents serious rebuke for some and much comfort for others. The family is God's first circle of society, and it is a person's first sphere of responsibility.
1 Timothy 6:10 "The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." Not money, but the love of it. Money is not a root of evil. Neither is it a root of good. It is non-moral. It may be the greatest curse that can come into a person's life; it may be the instrument of untold good. Much depends on how it is used, but even more important is the soul's attitude towards it. "Love of money," 3 words in English, translates just one Greek word meaning exactly that. Avarice is probably the closest one-word English equivalent because it describes a fierce love for money in and of itself, so is characterized by hoarding. Covetousness, by way of contrast, is an inordinate desire for things that Paul elsewhere equates with idolatry, so it also is a root of evil. Both vices dry up the springs of compassion in the soul. They lower the whole standard of morality and are the inspiration of all the basest things. Both arise from a wrong conception of life, for Jesus said, "One's life does not consist in the abundance of things he or she possesses" (Luke 12:15). Paul therefore concludes, "Godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out.... If we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into ... many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.... Flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness.... As for the rich in this present age, charge them not ... to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to ... be rich in good works ... and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life" (1 Timothy 6:6-19).
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