1 Timothy 1A. Introduction [1:1–2] 1 Timothy 1—Fighting for the Faith

THE CHIEF OF SINNERS

A Topical Study of 1 Timothy 1:15 (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.

The book, I’m OK, You’re OK, was written in 1967. Yet, it appeared on the New York Times bestseller list for two decades. Amazing. After twenty years, the book that is the prototype for the self-esteem movement was still selling like hotcakes.

Yet what does the Bible say? Scriptures declare we are sinners and that all we like sheep have gone astray (Isaiah 53:6), that there is none righteous no not one (Romans 3:10), that there is poison under our lips, blood on our hands, and our feet are swift to walk where they ought not to walk (Proverbs 6:17, 18). In other words, the diagnosis of the One who created us is that we are anything but okay!

No one understood this better than Paul. At the outset of his ministry, he declared himself to be the least of the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:9). Later on, he saw himself as less than the least of all saints (Ephesians 3:8). And here in our text, toward the end of his life, what does he say? Not, “I once was the chief of sinners,” not, “I used to be the chief of sinners,” but, “I am the chief of sinners.”

Paul went from being the least of the apostles, to the least of all the saints, to the chief of sinners. How can this be? Did Paul become a worse and worse person the longer he walked with God? Did he sin more and more hideously, more and more frequently? No. Paul simply discovered that the closer he drew to the Lord, the more intimate he became with the Lord, the more he realized how far he was from the holiness of the Lord.

When I play hoops with a first-grader, I am awesome. My hook shots, rebounds, and lay-ups are incredible—when I play against a first-grader. But if I went one on one with Shaquille O’Neal on the same court with the same ball, I would be the “chief of losers”! Why? Not because I had changed, but because my standard of excellence had changed.

If we compare ourselves with neighbors, friends, or even brothers and sisters in the congregation, we don’t look too bad. But when we go one on one with Jesus Christ, as we draw closer to Him and spend more time with Him, we can’t help but notice a huge difference between ourselves and the One we love.

“Woe unto you, woe unto you, woe unto you,” Isaiah proclaimed to the people of Israel and the surrounding communities (see Isaiah 1–5). But then in chapter 6, we read, “In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord high and lifted up. And I cried Woe is me!” In seeing the Lord, Isaiah also saw his own sin.

So, too, the longer I walk with Jesus, the clearer I see my own sin and inconsistencies. And this does several things for me…

Amazed by Him I just look at Him and say, “Wow, Lord, I’m amazed that in Your holiness and beauty and purity You would put up with a guy like me!”

Thankful for Him In the choir of those who say, “Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power” (Revelation 19:1). Why “Hallelujah”? Because halal speaks of “praise” and Yahh speaks of “God.” Therefore, it’s not “Hallelu-me” or “Hallelu-you” but “Hallelu-jah” for it is God alone who saved and continues to save us from our sin, from our stupidity, from ourselves.

In Love with Him The person who is unaware of his sin and who thinks he’s pretty good has, at best, a limited love for the Lord. But the one who is truly aware of that which goes on in his heart, of that which comes from his lips, and of that which runs through his mind says, “I love You, Lord, because I’ve been forgiven so much.”

Pleasing to Him

The more clearly I see my sin, the more I desire to please Jesus. Paul tells us we are not to be those who grieve the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). When I sin, it grieves the Spirit not because He’s mad at me or disappointed in me, but because He knows how sin will hurt me.

When your younger family members make decisions you know are not wise, you don’t turn your back on them—yet you know a painful process lies ahead of them. Such is the heart of our heavenly Father. And this causes me to say, “I want to walk with You, Lord. I want to do what You say because I know Your way is best.”

1. The identity of the author, Paul (1)

a. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ: Paul, in his self-description, emphasized his credentials (apostle) and authority (by the commandment of God). He did this both as a personal encouragement to Timothy and so the letter could be used as a letter of reference before any erring Ephesian Christians.

i. It seems that 1 Timothy was written by the Apostle Paul to Timothy sometime after his release from Roman imprisonment as described at the end of the Book of Acts, and was written from Macedonia (1 Timothy 1:3).

ii. Apparently, after his release (hoped for in Philemon 22 and Philippians 1:25–26 and 2:24), Paul returned to the city of Ephesus. There he discovered that during his absence Ephesus had become a storm center of false teaching (a sad fulfillment of the prediction he had made to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:29–30).

iii. Paul probably dealt with the leaders of the heresy personally, but soon found it necessary to leave for Macedonia. He then left Timothy in charge of affairs at Ephesus, as his own personal representative. He knew that Timothy had a tough job to carry out, so he hoped that this letter would both equip and encourage him in the task.

iv. “The use of this official title is an indication that the Pastoral Epistles were not merely private letters, but were intended to be read to the Churches committed to the charge of Timothy.” (White)

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.

b. Our Savior: At that very time, the title Savior was used in the worship of the Roman Emperor. People called, and were forced to call Caesar Nero “savior.” Paul made the identity of real Savior clear: The Lord Jesus Christ

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.

1 Timothy 2. The Identity of the Recipient, Timothy (2)

2. The identity of the recipient, Timothy (2)

a. A true son in the faith: Paul could consider Timothy a true son in the faith because he probably led him and his mother to faith in Jesus on Paul’s first missionary journey (Acts 14:8–20 and 16:1).

i. Timothy was a resident of Lystra, a city in the province of Galatia (Acts 16:1–3). He was the son of a Greek father (Acts 16:2) and a Jewish mother named Eunice (2 Timothy 2:5). His mother and grandmother taught him the Scriptures from the time of Timothy’s youth (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:15).

b. Grace, mercy, and peace: This is a familiar greeting of Paul in his letters to congregations. Here, he also applied it to an individual. God grants His grace, mercy, and peace not only to churches, but also to the individuals who make up the churches.

i. Yet there is a difference. When Paul wrote to churches, he just greeted them with grace and peace. To both Timothy and Titus he added mercy to the greeting.

ii. “Not only grace and peace, as to others. When we pray for ministers, we must be more than ordinarily earnest for them with God. These three are joined together only in the Epistles of Timothy and Titus.” (Trapp)

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.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Chapter 1)

In verses 4 through 19, Paul will address four areas relating to doctrine: the loss of truth, the law of God, the love of Christ, and the life of faith. Here, we see the loss of truth. Leaving Timothy to continue the work in Ephesus while he traveled on to Macedonia, Paul’s initial instruction to Timothy was to charge the Ephesian believers not to get caught up in any doctrine other than the simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Loss of truth

As we learn the Word and share with others, there is a danger of trying to find something in Scripture no one else has ever seen before. That’s what some in Ephesus were doing as they looked into Old Testament genealogies, discussed the stories endlessly, and veered off into all sorts of vain speculations. In so doing, they missed out on solid teaching. To those who desire to be Bible teachers, I give this piece of advice: Give up trying to be creative and innovative. Instead, stick with the simple, powerful truth of the gospel—and you’ll never go wrong.

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.

After talking about the loss of truth, Paul speaks of the law of God—fulfilled simply and fully in love and faith.

Jon Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 1370.

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

The Christian Counselor’s New Testament and Proverbs: Notes (Chapter 1)

6 Counselors must never allow counselees to engage them in “empty discussion” of any sort, but must always work toward helping them love God and their neighbors (v. 5). Cf. 1 Ti 6:3–5.

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.

“Let not many of you desire to be teachers,” James declares, knowing that we who are teachers shall have the greater condemnation (see James 3:1). If God calls you to teach, that’s terrific. But it shouldn’t be a driving desire in any man or woman because with greater responsibility comes greater potential for condemnation should a teacher swerve from the simplicity of the Word.

Jon Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 1370.

8 We know that the law is good when used correctly. The Christian Counselor’s New Testament and Proverbs: Notes (Chapter 1)

8 Paul was not against law, but its misuse.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Chapter 1)

The law definitely has its place—not to lead people off on tangents, but to bring them to Jesus (Galatians 3:24).

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 Not that righteous men do not have to obey it, but rather that they are not condemned by it or fear it, since they obey it

Jay E. Adams, The Christian Counselor’s New Testament and Proverbs, ed. Donn R. Arms, Fourth Revised Edition. (Cordova, TN: Institute for Nouthetic Studies, 2019), 423.

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.

The law has one primary purpose: It’s a schoolmaster to show us our need for a Savior and to drive us to Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:24). You see, contrary to the popular psychology of the day, I’m not okay—and neither are you! We’re sinners in need of a Savior. Once, however, we come to that understanding, we are no longer under the demands of the law.

Sometimes people say to me, “Hey, you’re laying the law down!”

“You’re right!” I answer. “If you were walking righteously, I wouldn’t need to. If you were loving the Lord and enjoying Him, there would be no need for the law. But not all are righteous. Not everyone wants to walk in the Spirit. Consequently, I have no other choice but to lay down the law.”

As seen in the passage before us, any culture or person involved in sin needs the law for its own welfare—for without it, sin runs unchecked.

Jon Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 1370–1371.

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.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Chapter 1)

Here, Paul speaks of the love of Christ. “I was sincere when I was persecuting Christians, dragging them out of their houses to incarcerate them,” said Paul. “I was sincere—but I was sincerely wrong.” Paul’s admission sobers me greatly because the possibility exists that you and I can do wrong, all the while convinced we’re doing right. What if we’re wrong? Then God will do to us what He did to Paul: He’ll knock us down and set us straight (Acts 9:4).

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.

The Christian Counselor’s New Testament and Proverbs: Notes (Chapter 1)

15, 16 Counselors should not be overwhelmed by the sin of counselees: God saved and transformed Paul—the foremost of sinners

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary Chapter 1

The closer Paul drew to the Lord, the more he understood the extent of his sin. But the Good News is that sinners are the very people Jesus came to seek and to save. Ever the Good Shepherd, Jesus specializes in finding the one in the back row, on the fringe, out to lunch, off the wall. This gives me great comfort and real hope. I must accept acceptance courageously. I must accept grace graciously. Jesus Christ came to save guys like me—and to keep saving me daily!

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.

“If God saved Paul, He can save anyone!” said people of the man who had previously persecuted believers. That’s why the Lord saved you, by the way—as a pattern, as an example, so that people can look at you and say, “If he’s a Christian, I guess anybody can be one! If she can serve the Lord, I guess I can, too.”

Jon Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 1371.

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.

Reflecting on the grace of God in turning him from a blasphemer into a believer, Paul has no other recourse but to burst forth in praise.

Jon Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 1371.

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.

The Christian Counselor’s New Testament and Proverbs: Notes (Chapter 1)

18 The Christian life is a struggle. Paul does not say he rested “the good rest” of quietism.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary Chapter 1

Finally, we see the life of faith. Words of prophecy are words of edification and exhortation, instruction and direction (1 Corinthians 14:3). “You heard such words,” Paul reminded Timothy. “Now hold on to them, for they are vital in spiritual battle.”

1 Timothy 1:19 (b)

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.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Chapter 1)

The loss of truth, the law of God, the love of Christ, the life of faith are four areas in which Timothy was schooled by Paul at the very outset of Paul’s letter to him.

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.

The Christian Counselor’s New Testament and Proverbs: Notes Chapter 1

20 “Handed over to Satan” means put out of the church and into the world—Satan’s arena. N.B., discipline—even at this extreme stage of exclusion—has a teaching function.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary Chapter 1

We don’t know for sure what Hymenaeus and Alexander did, but Paul prayed that the Lord would remove His protective hedge from them, thereby exposing them to the Enemy. Why? His hope was that they would get burned out on their evil ways by getting a taste of the fires of hell. Paul’s purpose was not punitive. It was restorative—that Hymenaeus and Alexander might be brought back to wholeness.

J