1 Timothy Simplified

Author & Audience

Author: The apostle Paul

Audience: Timothy, one of Paul’s closest associates, but no doubt intended also to be read to the whole church in Ephesus

As the greeting indicates (1:2), Paul is writing to Timothy, a native of Lystra (in modern Turkey). Timothy’s father was Greek, while his mother was a Jewish Christian (Ac 16:1). From childhood he had been taught the OT (2 Ti 1:5; 3:15). Paul called him “my true son in the faith” (1:2; see note there), perhaps having led him to faith in Christ during his first visit to Lystra (see photo, p. 2121). At the time of his second visit Paul invited Timothy to join him on his missionary travels, circumcising him so that his Greek ancestry would not be a liability in working with the Jews (Ac 16:3). Timothy helped Paul evangelize Macedonia and Achaia (Ac 17:14–15; 18:5) and was with him during much of his long preaching ministry at Ephesus (Ac 19:22). He traveled with him from Ephesus to Macedonia to Corinth (see Ac 20:3 and note), back to Macedonia, and to Asia Minor (Ac 20:1–6). He may even have accompanied him all the way to Jerusalem. He was with Paul during the apostle’s first Roman imprisonment (Php 1:1; Col 1:1; Phm 1).Following Paul’s release from his first Roman imprisonment (after Ac 28), he left Timothy in Ephesus to deal with the problems there while Paul went on to Macedonia. Paul’s closeness to and admiration of Timothy are seen in Paul’s naming him as the co-sender of six of his letters (2 Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, 1, 2 Thessalonians and Philemon) and in his speaking highly of him to the Philippians (Php 2:19–22). At the end of Paul’s life he requested that Timothy join him in Rome (2 Ti 4:9, 21). According to Heb 13:23, Timothy himself was imprisoned and subsequently released—whether at Rome or elsewhere, we do not know.

Purpose

The Reason Paul Wanted Timothy to Stay at Ephesus was to Deal with the False Teachers There

1 Timothy 1:3–4 (NASB95)

3 As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines,4 nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith.

Paul Wanted to Return to Ephesus, But in the Meantime He Wrote this Letter…

To Address the Way the Ephesian Christians Should Behave

1 Timothy 3:14–15 (NASB95)

14 I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long;15 but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.

The Pastoral Epistles deal with church structure issues and, unlike Paul’s other letters, were addressed to men serving in pastoral roles rather than to churches. But we must also recognize these are separate letters with their own distinctives. They were not written primarily to describe church structure or pastoral ministry (contrary to popular opinion), but to teach Christian living in response to the gospel.

In 1 Timothy Paul stated two purposes for writing. First, he directed Timothy to give vigorous personal opposition to the false doctrine developing in Ephesus (1:3). Second, he instructed Timothy about the kind of behavior that should characterize Ephesian believers as members of “God’s household” (3:15).

The need for presenting a committed Christian life-style in contrast with the corrupt, self-seeking practices of the false teachers provided the occasion and purpose for the statement of 3:15. The Epistle of 1 Timothy provides us information on the identity of the false teachers and the characteristics of their error. Understanding these facts will provide an explanation of the reason for Paul’s writing.

First, Paul’s statements in 1 Timothy show us the identity of the false teachers. Paul had warned the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:30 that false teachers would arise from within their own body. In 1 Tim 1:18–20 Paul urged the excommunication of Hymeneas and Alexander, who were apparently influential leaders of the Ephesian church. His emphasis on the personal qualifications of church leaders in 3:1–13 and in 5:17–25 leaves us the hint that spiritually unqualified leaders had posed a severe threat in the church. Paul’s statements also indicate that the heretics had found a ready response among certain gullible women in Ephesus (2:9–15; 5:3–16; 2 Tim 3:6–9). Probably the church situation in Ephesus consisted of multiple house churches that were falling under the sway of the erring teachers. Paul’s words to Timothy provided guidelines on meeting the challenge that these double-dealing charlatans provided.

It is interesting to contrast the problems in Ephesus with those earlier encountered in Galatia and in Corinth. In those two locations outside troublemakers appeared on the scene (Gal 2:4; 2 Cor 11:4). In Ephesus the problem was homegrown.

Second, Paul’s statements in 1 Timothy provide information on the nature of the false teaching and false teachers. The problem makers, were Jewish in background, claimed an interest in the law (1:7–8), and observed dietary restrictions (4:3). The teachers claimed access to a superior knowledge (6:20–21) and expended their energies in word-battles (6:4), fables, and genealogies (1:4). Apparently a strain of Greek influence caused the false teachers to disparage the body and prohibit marriage (4:3). The character of the false teachers was utterly corrupted and deceitful (4:2; 6:5).

With such perverse, strategically placed opponents Paul found it necessary to write this letter in order to establish Timothy before the church as his personal representative. The letter exposed the false teaching Timothy was to oppose. It also provided a strong warning to the church to avoid trifling with such a doctrinal monstrosity. Paul urged Timothy to emphasize “sound doctrine” (1:10) in order to counter the vicious, pernicious doctrine of the heretics. As a longtime friend and companion of Paul, Timothy already knew this truth. It was Timothy’s responsibility to pass it on clearly to the gullible, defenseless believers in Ephesus.

Theme

Theme: Paul instructs Timothy to oppose false teachers, to appoint godly leaders, and to otherwise strengthen the church at Ephesus.

Good

pert. to being in accordance at a high level w. the purpose of someth. or someone, good, useful.

Godliness

awesome respect accorded to God, devoutness, piety, godliness

Faithfulness

Teaching/Doctrine

Sound/Healthy Teaching/Doctrine is Teaching that is in Conformity with the Gospel

1 Timothy 1:8–11 (NASB95)

8 But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully,9 realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers10 and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching,11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.

Outline

Timothy’s Commission (1)

Shut the Corrupt Teachers Down

They are Dividing the Church

Instructions for Ephesus (2-6a)

Timothy’s Commission (6b)

Key Passage