Encouraging a Pastor

1 Timothy 1:1-20

1 Timothy 1:1–20 (NLT)

1 This letter is from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, appointed by the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus, who gives us hope.

2 I am writing to Timothy, my true son in the faith. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.

3 When I left for Macedonia, I urged you to stay there in Ephesus and stop those whose teaching is contrary to the truth.

4 Don’t let them waste their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees. These things only lead to meaningless speculations, which don’t help people live a life of faith in God.

5 The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.

6 But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions.

7 They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don’t know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently.

8 We know that the law is good when used correctly.

9 For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders.

10 The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching

11 that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God.

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him,

13 even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief.

14 Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.

15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.

16 But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.

17 All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.

18 Timothy, my son, here are my instructions for you, based on the prophetic words spoken about you earlier. May they help you fight well in the Lord’s battles.

19 Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.

20 Hymenaeus and Alexander are two examples. I threw them out and handed them over to Satan so they might learn not to blaspheme God.

INTRODUCTION:

A. Background

1- The Book of Acts closes with Paul a prisoner in Rome (Acts 28:30–31).

2- While the NT does not give us a clear picture of Paul’s later years, the following chronology is agreed upon by most students:

Paul was acquitted before Caesar and forced to leave Rome after his two years of imprisonment. This would be about the spring of a.d. 62.

With Luke and Timothy, he visited Ephesus, where he discovered that his prophecy about the “wolves” (Acts 20:29–30) had been fulfilled, for the church at Ephesus had been invaded by false teachers.

His warnings in 1 Timothy suggest that this false teaching was similar to the gnosticism he had attacked at Colosse.

Paul ministered there himself for a short time, then left to go to Philippi.

He left Timothy behind as his special assistant to oversee the Ephesian church and get rid of the false teachers.

Their parting was a sorrowful one, according to 2 Tim. 1:4.

B. The Letter

1- It is likely that Paul was at Colosse, enjoying his promised visit to Philemon, when he wrote this first letter to young Timothy (Phile. 22).

2- Paul was planning to return to Ephesus shortly (1 Tim. 3:14), but matters in the Ephesian church were so urgent that he dared not delay advising his associate.

a. This letter is filled with encouragement for a youthful Christian worker who was facing many difficult problems in a “big city church.” We may summarize these problems as follows:

(1) Timothy was a young man seeking to pastor older people (1 Timothy 4:12; 5:1–2), and this was not easy to do.

(2) Timothy greatly missed Paul and wanted to quit (1 Timothy 1:3; 2 Tim. 1:4).

(3) Paul gave specific instructions to inspire Timothy’s diligence. (1 Timothy 4:11–16).

(4) Paul addressed the appointment of leaders in the church and discussed church conduct. (1 Timothy 3-5)

(5) Paul warned Timothy about false teachers and instructed him on how to handle them. (1 Timothy 6)

b. One of the key words in 1 Timothy is “charge,” sometimes translated “commandment” (1 Timothy 1:3, 5, 18; 4:11; 5:7; 6:13, 17).

(1) It was a military term, referring to an order to be passed down the line.

(2) God had entrusted the Gospel to Paul (1 Timothy 1:11), who had passed it along to Timothy (1 Timothy 1:18–19; 6:20).

(3) Timothy was “charged” to guard this treasure (2 Tim. 1:13–14) and pass it along to faithful people who would, in turn, entrust it to others (2 Tim. 2:2).

(4) Military language is woven throughout both epistles to Timothy: 1 Timothy 1:18; 5:14 (where “occasion” means “a base of operations”); 2 Tim. 2:3; 3:6.

c. The basic theme of 1 Timothy is summarized in 3:15—that people (not “thou”) might know how to conduct themselves as members of the local church.

d. It is a book of “know-how” for the young pastor and the church member.

e. The local church is “the pillar and ground (foundation) of truth,” yet people neglect it and abuse it by disobeying the Word of God.

f. As we study 1 Timothy, let us pray that it will make us better Christians and therefore better church members.

I. God Has Entrusted You with a Ministry (1 TIMOTHY 1:1–11)

1 Timothy 1:1–11 (NLT)

1 This letter is from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, appointed by the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus, who gives us hope.

2 I am writing to Timothy, my true son in the faith. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.

3 When I left for Macedonia, I urged you to stay there in Ephesus and stop those whose teaching is contrary to the truth.

4 Don’t let them waste their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees. These things only lead to meaningless speculations, which don’t help people live a life of faith in God.

5 The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.

6 But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions.

7 They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don’t know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently.

8 We know that the law is good when used correctly.

9 For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders.

10 The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching

11 that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God.

A- God gives his appointed leaders the ability to serve. (1 Timothy 1:1-2)

1 Timothy 1:1–2 (NLT)

1 This letter is from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, appointed by the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus, who gives us hope.

2 I am writing to Timothy, my true son in the faith. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.

B- God gives his appointed leaders the responsibility to correct false doctrine and useless speculation. (1 Timothy 1:3-4)

1 Timothy 1:3–4 (NLT)

3 When I left for Macedonia, I urged you to stay there in Ephesus and stop those whose teaching is contrary to the truth.

4 Don’t let them waste their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees. These things only lead to meaningless speculations, which don’t help people live a life of faith in God.

C- God gives his appointed leaders the task of pointing His people in the right direction. (1 Timothy 1:5-11)

1 Timothy 1:5–11 (NLT)

5 The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.

6 But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions.

7 They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don’t know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently.

8 We know that the law is good when used correctly.

9 For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders.

10 The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching

11 that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God.

II. God Will Enable You to Do Your Work (1 TIMOTHY 1:12–17)

1 Timothy 1:12–17 (NLT)

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him,

13 even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief.

14 Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.

15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.

16 But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.

17 All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.

A- God is the one who provides his servants the strength to do His work. (1 Timothy 1:12)

1 Timothy 1:12 (NLT)

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him,

B- God’s servants should always remember that there is no room for spiritual pride. (1 Timothy 1:13-14)

1 Timothy 1:13–14 (NLT)

13 even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief.

14 Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.

C- God uses His servants to be living examples of His goodness and grace. (1 Timothy 1:15-17)

1 Timothy 1:15–17 (NLT)

15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.

16 But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.

17 All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.

III. God Has Equipped You for Battle (1 TIMOTHY 1:18–20)

1 Timothy 1:18–20 (NLT)

18 Timothy, my son, here are my instructions for you, based on the prophetic words spoken about you earlier. May they help you fight well in the Lord’s battles.

19 Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.

20 Hymenaeus and Alexander are two examples. I threw them out and handed them over to Satan so they might learn not to blaspheme God.

A- God’s servants need to be reminded that God has appointed them and He equips us for battle. (1 Timothy 1:18)

1 Timothy 1:18 (NLT)

18 Timothy, my son, here are my instructions for you, based on the prophetic words spoken about you earlier. May they help you fight well in the Lord’s battles.

(2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17 )

2 Timothy 2:15 (NLT)

15 Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NLT)

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

b- God’s servants must remember to pursue a real walk with Christ. (1 Timothy 1:19-20)

1 Timothy 1:19–20 (NLT)

19 Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.

20 Hymenaeus and Alexander are two examples. I threw them out and handed them over to Satan so they might learn not to blaspheme God.

(2 Timothy 2:15-18)

2 Timothy 2:15–18 (NLT)

15 Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.

16 Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior.

17 This kind of talk spreads like cancer, as in the case of Hymenaeus and Philetus.

18 They have left the path of truth, claiming that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; in this way, they have turned some people away from the faith.

CONCLUSION: