Review of 1 Timothy

Review:

Who is Paul

Paul is an Apostle, called by God, commissioned to bring the Good News to the Gentiles.

Paul’s background is that he grew up as a pharisee and persecuted the church until called by God.

Paul will become one of the most influential Apostles in the years to come and between he and Luke his companion, write the majority of the New Testament.

Who is Timothy

Timothy is Paul’s son in the faith.

Acts 16:1–5 “1 Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek. 4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.”

Timothy is circumcised as a Jew, not to become a Jew.

This will help Timothy to enter into the synagogues. (It helps keep the focus on the main theme.)

1 Corinthians 7:19 “19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.”

Timothy is not overly strong or healthy.

Yet He has a love for God that is real, deep and genuine and will continue to the day of His death.

He succeeds in keeping Ephesus on the straight and narrow all of his days.

He is not overly courageous.

Paul jumps in with both feet. He doesn’t know the meaning of half-hearted. He is at heart, at home in a good debate, choosing his beliefs and sticking to them.

Timothy is respectful of his elders and tends to get pushed around, even when he shouldn’t give ground.

Paul is going to write this letter to help him.

Main Theme

1 Timothy 3:14–15 “14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

Conduit in the House of God.

What does it mean to contend for the truth, to be a pillar and support of the truth.

Jude 3–4 “3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Paul’s reason for leaving Timothy

Act 20 Paul calls the Ephesian elders to him to give them his last charge.

Acts 20:25–31 “25 “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.”

Take heed to yourselves and to the flock...

Shepherd the church of God....

Savage wolves will come in among you...

from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things…

1 Timothy 1.

1 Timothy 1:3 “3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine,”

We are not only to teach the true doctrines of God.

We are to stop the false teaching of God.

Examples: 1 Timothy 1:4 “4 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.”

Fables: Stories from outside the bible. 1) false gospels and apocrypha… 2) Personal experience becoming the leading authority. 3) Physiology — Self help, self identity, self respect, ....

Endless genealogies: The idea that blessing come through our blood lines, not from God.

Numbers 14:18 “18 ‘The Lord is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.’”

Here is God promise to punish sin, even to the third and forth generation. He will never compromise and let sin continue.

It isn’t punishing the children for the Fathers sin, just a difficult passage to translate and understand correctly.

Ezekiel 18:1–4 “1 The word of the Lord came to me again, saying, 2 “What do you mean when you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children’s teeth are set on edge’? 3 “As I live,” says the Lord God, “you shall no longer use this proverb in Israel. 4 “Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die.”

1 Timothy 1:5 “5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,”

Here is the encouragement for Timothy.

This commandment will produce love from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith.

The rewards are worth it.

Warning of how the gospel is being distorted continues.

1 Timothy 1:6–7 “6 from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.”

The law is for the lawbreaker.

It isn’t a manual on how to get to God.

It can only show us our sin.

1 Timothy 2 — How are we to behave in the Church?

1 Timothy 2:1 “1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,”

Primarily addressed to men — 1 Timothy 2:8 “8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;”

1 Tim 2 9-15 He addresses the role of Women in the church.

Men are to lead in prayer....

Woman are to be properly adorned. with good works, learning in quietness and in submission.

1 Timothy 3. Paul continues to lay out the behavior of the Church

Elders — Those that lead the church with the emphasis on the ability to teach.

Men, one wife, children with a good testimony, mature in the faith, with a good reputation without.

1 Timothy 3:5 “5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);”

Deacons — Very similar but without teaching and for the work of the church.

Both 1 Timothy 3:10 “10 But let these (men) also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless.” and 1 Timothy 3:12 “12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.” show this is as well a man’s office.

Yet 1 Timothy 3:11 “11 Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.”

The wives may be involved in some of the work and need to be women of character.

1 Timothy 3:14–15 “14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

1 Timothy 4.

1 Timothy 4:1–3 “1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.”

Paul again returns to his theme of the importance of Sound doctrine. Knowing that the times will only grow harder, it is vital to lay down the truth now.

1 Timothy 4:6–7 “6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. 7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.”

1 Timothy 4:13–16 “13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. 15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.”

1 Tim 5 & 6...

How to treat the old men and women in the church.

How to treat widows.

How to treat Elders.

1 Timothy 5:21 “21 I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.”

Chapter 6, Slaves and Masters....

1 Timothy 6:3–8 “3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. 6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.”

1 Timothy 6:13–15 “13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, 15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords,”

1 Timothy 6:20–21 “20 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge— 21 by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.”

Applications

It is hard to over emphasize the importance of a good church.

As times get harder, find a church first and foremost.

It is the church is going to feed and disciple you, to encourage you and your family.

Seek to understand God and to know the scriptures and what it teaches.

1 Timothy 4:1–3 “1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.”

Our war is with “deceiving Spirits’ and doctrines of demons.... This isn’t going to be easy. Paul was concerned and even with all his efforts, Ephesus would stand, but lose their first love. Revelation 2:4 “4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”

Understand that we are people under the charge of God, to follow, to obey, to stand....

Proverbs 25:26 “26 A righteous man who falters before the wicked Is like a murky spring and a polluted well.”

We are a source of light and water to all around. Things that are highly needed, but maybe not immediately values.

But to be helpful, to see fruit, we must stand.