OVERVIEW: The proper use of the law of God (chapter 1); the power of prayer and the place of women in the local church (chapter 2); the qualifications for church leaders (chapter 3); the contrast between false and faithful teachers (chapter 4); the responsibilities of the members of a local church (chapter 5); sound advice from God to servants, false teachers, the rich, and the educated (chapter 6).
HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:
The Book of 1 Timothy is the first of three New Testament Books referred to as “Pastoral Epistles”, the others being 2 Timothy and Titus. These Books are obviously called “Pastoral Epistles” because they are addressed to pastors of local churches, and have to do with conducting the affairs in the church as the “under-shepherds” of Christ’s flock, the Lord Jesus Christ, of course, being the Chief Shepherd. (1 Peter 5:1–3) The instruction in these letters is very specific, and most certainly deals with situations pastors will encounter in carrying out their biblical office. But whether we’re a pastor or not, don’t miss that these letters have incredibly practical ramifications for all of our lives and ministries! Just as surely as these letters have tremendous application for those who hold the office of a pastor in a local church, recognize that God intends every member of every local church to have a “pastoral mindset” toward the other members of the church, as well as toward the work of Christ in and through the church!
Recognize also that the Pastoral Epistles also present a great model for understanding the relationship God intends to exist between a disciple and discipler. Paul’s relationship with Timothy, and Timothy’s relationship with Paul, paint one of the most graphic pictures of real discipleship in the entire New Testament. Sure, Timothy had been given the responsibility of holding the office of pastor in the church at Ephesus, but it’s also important to recognize that he was also an individual member of the body of Christ. He is a real person, with real weaknesses, real problems, and real struggles just like everybody else. So, understand, God placed the books in the Bible that we refer to as the Pastoral Epistles not just to provide information for pastors, but to provide every believer practical instruction concerning being a follower (disciple) of Christ, from either side of a discipling relationship.
As we move into 1 Timothy today, keep in mind that Timothy was the son of a father who was a Greek, and a mother who was a Jew. (Acts 16:1-3) His mother’s name was Eunice and his grandmother’s name was Lois. (2 Tim. 1:5) He resided in Lystra (Acts 16:1-2; 20:4) where he was raised in the knowledge of the scriptures. (2 Tim. 3:15)
Upon visiting Timothy’s hometown of Lystra, on his second missionary journey, Paul was impressed with Timothy’s testimony in his local church, and felt impressed to invite him to join he and Silas as a part of their missionary team. Keep in mind that this invitation was extended to Timothy immediately following Paul’s conflict with Barnabas concerning the fact that Paul didn’t want John Mark to be included on his missionary team because he was too young, too fearful, and because he still had quite a way to go in the process of discipleship. (Acts 15:36-41) Because God is sovereign, and because He obviously has a sense of humor, He turns right around and gives Paul a fearful young man, who still had quite a way to go in the process of discipleship, to be a part of his missionary team! Just file into your head, that when we refuse to learn the lessons from the situations God has placed in our lives, He will simply recreate similar circumstances until we learn them!
To catch the real heart of this letter, recognize a few pertinent details:
- Paul most likely led Timothy to Christ when he and Barnabas came to Lystra on their first missionary journey. (Acts 14:5-7; 1 Tim. 1:2, 18; 2 Tim. 1:2, 2:1; 1 Cor. 4:17)
- Timothy became Paul’s most trusted companion and friend, and Paul used him for some of the toughest assignments in dealing with various situations that arose in various churches. (1 Thess. 3:1-7; 1 Cor. 4:16-17)
- Paul goes on in scripture to describe Timothy as a selfless individual, one with whom he was completely likeminded, and viewed serving with him as a father would with his own son. (Phil. 2:19–22)
- Timothy struggled with the problem of fear (1 Cor. 16:10; 2 Tim. 1:7), which probably led to his stomach problems and other physical infirmities that Paul mentions in chapter 5 and verse 23.
- Paul wrote this letter because he felt the need to give young Timothy some encouragement to stay in the battle as a good soldier, and to war a good warfare (1:18) in the midst of false teachers and backsliding believers in the church at Ephesus. (1:3-4, 19-20)
Keep in mind, Paul himself had invested three solid years in this church at Ephesus (Acts 20:31) and had an intense love for them. (Acts 20:37-38) Paul writes to Timothy to encourage him to stay at Ephesus, and fulfill his role and responsibility as the church’s pastor, in spite of the difficulties he faced. Paul had warned the Ephesian elders that false teachers would both enter and arise out of the church, and now that it had happened, Paul felt confident that Timothy was the man for the job of shutting the mouths of the false teachers and protecting the flock of God in that church. (1:3; 4:7; 6:17)
This letter was written from Laodicea (see AV 1611 postscript) and sent to Timothy in Ephesus between Paul’s two imprisonments in Rome. It is interesting to note that Paul desired Timothy to stay in Ephesus, a place that was “fully purposed” to do God’s work (note that the word Ephesus means “fully purposed”—Rev. 2:1-2), rather than join him in Laodicea (where the Christians felt they had “rights”—Rev. 3:14-18). Paul knew where God’s work could most effectively be accomplished. Practically speaking, we would do well in this age if we would just “stay in Ephesus”, as opposed to “living and loving Laodicea”.
Note some other additional highlights from Paul’s first letter to young Timothy:
- 1:1–2 reveal that Christ is four things to those of us who know Him. He is…
* Our SAVIOR.
* Our HOPE.
* Our FATHER.
* Our LORD.
- 1:8–10 reveal that the lawful use of God’s law is two-fold:
* To reveal what sin is. (Rom. 5:20, 7:7)
* To bring us to Jesus Christ. (Gal. 3:21-24).
- 1:16 reveals that Paul’s life of longsuffering is the pattern for our lives. (2 Cor. 11:23-28)
- 1:18–20 reveal that standing for truth will sometimes require the politically incorrect practice of naming the names of those who are disobedient and that teach false doctrine.
- 2:1 reveals that as believers, prayer is the “first” thing we should do to maintain a close relationship with God.
- 2:5 reveals that no mediator (“middle-man”) other than CHRIST can bring us and/or our prayers to the Father. Not Mary. Not the saints. Not a priest. ONLY Christ!
- 3:16 reveals that God was manifest (i.e. shown to us; revealed) in the flesh and it is “WITHOUT CONTROVERSY”! The way we might say that today is that there are “no ifs, ands, or buts about it!” Or, “You can take that to the bank!” (1 Cor. 15:1-8)
- 4:11–12a reveal that we should refuse to be intimidated by those who insinuate that perhaps we’re too young to be doing God’s work. Regardless of our age, we are to preach and teach God’s truth with charity, purity, humility, and authority!
- 6:5–9 reveal that the desire for more will end up fooling and hurting you.
- 6:20 reveals that we are to “avoid oppositions of SCIENCE falsely so called.” Note: Evolution is called “science,” but it’s actually a religion:
* By faith, Christians believe, “In the beginning GOD…”
* By faith, evolutionists believe, “In the beginning DIRT…”