"Timothy: A True Son in the Faith - Understanding Paul's Letter of Authority and Mentorship"

If you have your Bible, please turn with me to 1 Timothy and Stand with me in honor of God’s words as we read the first 2 verses of 1 Timothy

1 Timothy 1:1–2 CSB

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope: To Timothy, my true son in the faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Prayer - seated

As we begin our study of 1 Timothy, I want you to remember that we are reading a letter written by one man (in this case Paul) to another man (Timothy).

In essence, we are reading someone else's mail—and we need to keep this in mind as we examine the letter.

So if we're going to properly interpret and apply this letter, we first need to do some research.

We need to know what prompted Paul to write this letter We need to understand as much as we can about Paul and Timothy What was their relationship like We need to understand what was happening in the church at Ephesus, since the church is a major topic of discussion in the letter

But before we get to all of that, I first want to point out the format that Paul used to write the letter

The Format of Ancient Letters

This letter to Timothy followed the typical format of ancient Greco-Roman letters, which consisted of several key elements:

Letters would begin with a salutation:

First, the sender's name and identity Then the recipient's name and identity

This would be followed by a greeting, and then the heart of the letter—where they would share their message with the recipient.

As we examine these first two sentences this morning that contain the salutation and greeting, we'll see how they set the tone for the entire letter.

Let's begin by talking about Timothy—the one who is receiving this letter

Timothy

In the Greek language, his name means

one who honors God or "he who honors God"

The name was given to him by his mother and grandmother, who were devout Jews.

We know this because in Second Timothy, we read that his mother and grandmother taught him the Jewish law from a very early age.

His father was Greek, who most likely was not a believer—it's safe to assume he had passed away by this point.

Circumcision - Acts 16:3 tells us that

Acts 16:3 CSB

Paul wanted Timothy to go with him; so he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, since they all knew that his father was a Greek.

Timothy's mother and grandmother are mentioned by name in 2 Timothy 1:5:

2 Timothy 1:5 ESV

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

This passage highlights the important role these women played in Timothy's spiritual upbringing, passing down their sincere faith to him from an early age.

In the first century, parents would name their children with intentional meaning. Timothy's mother and grandmother desired for him to grow up to be one who honors God—and that he certainly did.

Timothy was Paul's protégé—his closest companion

Look at 1 Corinthians 4:16-17

1 Corinthians 4:16–17 CSB

Therefore I urge you to imitate me. This is why I have sent Timothy to you. He is my dearly loved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you about my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere in every church.

Timothy became exactly like Paul—as he should have. He joined Paul in his late teens and was about 35 when he received this letter.

Throughout those years, Timothy remained close by Paul's side, learning and growing into the godly man we read about in this letter.

One important detail is that whenever Paul entered a town to begin his ministry, he would start at the Jewish synagogue. Timothy's Jewish background allowed him to enter these synagogues with Paul.

His Greek heritage also made him uniquely able to connect with the Gentiles.

Timothy - True Child of God

Look at the phrase we see in verse 2 - I encourage you to circle or highlight it:

Timothy, my true son in the faith

Some versions use the phrase "genuine son."

Timothy brought such great joy to Paul.

Paul prayed faithfully for him He spent countless hours pouring into him—teaching, mentoring, and helping him become the man he was meant to be Though not his biological son, their bond was just as strong

D.A. Carson describes the relationship between Paul and timothy by saying

"The mentoring relationship between Paul and Timothy stands as perhaps the finest example of discipleship in the New Testament, demonstrating how spiritual fatherhood transcends biological ties."

Eyes up here:

Do you have these kinds of relationships in your life?

Do you have someone who, like Paul, has mentored you and taught you what it means to be a child of God? Do you have someone you've poured into and raised up to be a child of God? Perhaps you're discipling someone right now who brings you great joy

This should be the case for all of us. While we may not have a long list of people we've discipled, if we've been Christians for some time, we should be able to name at least one person.

Matthew 28:19-20 gives us this command:

Matthew 28:19–20 CSB

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

We are to be raising up people in the Lord—every Christian should either be discipling someone or being discipled.

We are commanded to do so.

Let me speak for a moment to those who are still babies in Christ—those still learning to walk with the Lord:

First, let me say we've all been babies in our walk—it's actually a good thing because it means you've accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior But—and hear me clearly—it's not okay to stay a baby. You need to grow This should motivate you to find a Timothy in your life—someone who will find joy in teaching you and helping you mature in Christ. If you need help finding someone, come see me and I'll help you

To the rest of us—those further along in our walk—perhaps we're not as far along as we think if we're not out there living out the command to make disciples.

I'm not saying find ten people to disciple—that would be a terrible idea. But find one or two.

Can we commit to that? And let's not overcomplicate it—just help them be more like Jesus today than they were yesterday.

Back to the passage—have you ever heard someone say "he's the spitting image of his father"? That's the idea here. Timothy was the spitting image of Paul—the offspring of his ministry.

This is who Paul writes this letter to—it's a deeply intimate, heartfelt letter.

Keep this context in mind as we study the letter. Paul addresses several challenging topics while reminding Timothy and others of his full authority, all while encouraging Timothy along the way.

The letter covers various important matters that Timothy needed to understand as a church leader. We must recognize the deep love and close mentoring relationship between Paul and Timothy, with Timothy serving as Paul's protégé.

Timothy's Identity

The identity Paul assigns to Timothy here is that of a true child in the faith.

The word "child" here is the same term used for a biological offspring—someone to whom you've given birth.

Paul implies that Timothy is his child in the faith because Paul was his spiritual father. Timothy owes his spiritual life to Paul's guidance.

While we often speak of being brothers and sisters in Christ, Paul specifically calls Timothy his son in Christ.

When Paul sends Timothy somewhere, he's essentially saying, "Here's my mirror image." To the church at Ephesus, Paul is saying, "Listen to Timothy—he reflects my authority, my desires, and everything I stand for."

Timothy is both born of God and Paul's disciple.

This introduction carries special weight because the church in Ephesus faced challenges from those promoting false teachings who might resist Timothy's instructions.

In this letter, Paul will address:

error and false teaching and how this should be handled inside the church He will unpack what it means to be a spiritual leader in the church and how a leader ought to behave He will show how important it is to have strong doctrinal teaching and preaching that is centered in the person of Christ He will show us how we should behave as men and women in the church And how to practice church discipline in the church

The key verse of the whole letter is 1 Timothy 3:15—I encourage you to memorize this verse, as it's crucial to understanding the letter:

1 Timothy 3:15 NIV

if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

This letter fundamentally teaches us how to behave as children of God in His house.

Paul

Let's look at Paul.

Although his life story would make a fascinating study, we don't have time to cover everything. Here are the key highlights:

Paul was formerly known as Saul of Tarsus and was a zealous persecutor of Christians before his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus. He wrote this letter to Timothy, his young protégé whom he had taken under his wing during his second missionary journey. The letter was likely written around 62-64 AD, after Paul's release from his first Roman imprisonment.

Paul was arrested in Jerusalem after being accused of bringing Gentiles into the temple area and teaching against Jewish law (Acts 21:27-36). This arrest led to a series of trials and eventually his appeal to Caesar, resulting in his journey to Rome as a prisoner (Acts 25:11-12, 27:1). Paul had spent about three years in Ephesus during his third missionary journey, establishing a strong foundation for the church there. While there, he faced many challenges both within and outside the church. In fact, as we will read later in the letter, Paul reminds Timothy that he had already invoked church discipline on two men within the church for their false teaching. As we have already seen, Paul's relationship with Timothy was very close. In Philippians 3:5-7, Paul gives us a brief rundown of his life:

Philippians 3:5–7 CSB

circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law, a Pharisee; regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless. But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ.

And he was on a mission to reach the world. It is this man who is writing the letter.

Who is now an apostle of Christ Jesus—taught by Jesus, chosen by Jesus, and sent by Jesus—an ambassador of the Lord to spread the Gospel Message. Paul's purpose in writing the letter was to provide guidance to Timothy on how to lead the church effectively and maintain sound doctrine. Interesting fact here—Paul refers to him as Christ Jesus. Paul is the only apostle to refer to him in that manner; every other time we see this phrase it was Jesus Christ. Why?

Because the others met Jesus the man first and then later understood that he was Christ the Lord. But on that Damascus Road, Paul was confronted with Christ the Lord and then later understood who Jesus the man was.

So why does Paul introduce himself this way to Timothy—his son in Christ who knew him well? Why include his credentials? Because Timothy will have to enforce these difficult matters within the church. Paul reminds Timothy and the others who would see this letter that Timothy carries Paul's full apostolic authority.

Timothy was dealing with some very serious and difficult things within the church. As we will read in 1:20, when Paul and Timothy first went to Ephesus, Paul had to deliver two men over to Satan—two key leaders within the church. After doing so, he placed Timothy in charge and left to continue his missionary journey.

That was a very hard thing to do—and things seem to have escalated since then.

lets move in verse 1 we read

By the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope:

Paul reminds them that his authority comes from God and Jesus, implying that his written words carry this same divine authority—so we must listen carefully.

These are sobering words—not only for the original audience but for us as well. What Paul has to say demands our full attention.

The word "command" here refers to a royal decree—it's not up for debate.

This church faced serious problems and needed serious solutions. Sin and false teachings were prevalent, and the solutions had to come from Jesus our Lord and His authority.

Paul makes a strong reference to Christ's deity, which he'll address more fully later in the letter (3:16).

He reminds us that Jesus is not only our Lord but our Savior.

God is both a God of authority and power, and a God of grace and forgiveness—our Savior and the source of our salvation.

Paul clearly sets the foundation for correction that will come later regarding false teaching.

While we can't pinpoint the exact nature of the false teachings, we can see the big picture.

There was an attack on both Jesus and God Himself—a false religion gaining momentum within the church.

Timothy had to confront this head-on, reminding both leaders and church members that God is our source of salvation. Though accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior remains a personal choice, God sent His Son to die on the cross, pay for our sins, and rise from the dead. Now seated at the Father's right hand, Jesus offers us new life.

Christ is our Hope—and any teaching that denies Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life leads people away from Christ and robs them of salvation.

Because these problems attacked God's very character and our source of salvation, this letter needed to come from a place of authority.

The matter was serious and required a serious solution.

This should serve as a wake-up call—just 30 years after Jesus's death, forces within the church were already trying to distort the message of salvation.

This attack comes from the enemy, who knows salvation comes only through making Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. By distorting this truth and turning people away, he keeps them from knowing Jesus and making Him Lord of their lives.

In essence, he prevents them from knowing Jesus as Savior.

The enemy will stop at nothing to disrupt the church.

As I've mentioned, this is no laughing matter—it's a serious issue that demands full authority to address.

And that leads us to the church itself

The Church

The church in Ephesus had several defining characteristics:

Established by Paul: The church in Ephesus was founded by Paul during his second missionary journey (Acts 18:19-21). Brief initial visit: During his second missionary journey, Paul's stay in Ephesus was relatively short. Acts 18:19-21 indicates he spent only a brief time there, possibly a few weeks, before sailing to Caesarea. Extended ministry: Paul spent about three years in Ephesus during his third missionary journey, establishing a strong foundation for the church (Acts 20:31). Strategic location: Ephesus was a major city in Asia Minor, known for its temple of Artemis and as a center of pagan worship. Diverse congregation: The church likely consisted of both Jewish and Gentile converts, leading to potential conflicts in understanding and practice. False teachings: The church was facing challenges from false teachers who were distorting the gospel message (1 Timothy 1:3-7). Leadership issues: There were concerns about the qualifications and conduct of church leaders (1 Timothy 3:1-13). Societal pressures: The church was dealing with external pressures from the surrounding pagan culture and internal struggles to maintain Christian distinctiveness.

These circumstances help explain why Paul wrote with such urgency and authority, addressing specific issues that threatened the health and witness of the Ephesian church.

Understanding the Church in Ephesus

Let's examine Acts 20 for context.

Before leaving Ephesus, Paul expressed deep concerns about false teachers infiltrating the church and warned the congregation accordingly.

This letter confirms his fears were well-founded—false teaching had indeed become a significant problem.

The church in Ephesus was later addressed in one of the seven letters in Revelation.

The message was sobering: they had lost their first love.

Though Timothy's leadership helped combat false teaching and restore order, Revelation reveals a subsequent decline. Despite maintaining good works, the church had drifted from its primary devotion to Christ.

Pay close attention here.

This stands as a powerful warning that Satan will use any means to undermine the church.

We must stay alert to this danger.

N.T. Wright explains, "The false teaching at Ephesus represented a serious threat to the gospel's integrity. Paul's forceful response through Timothy shows how crucial it was to maintain doctrinal purity in the early church."

Consider the church's journey: Paul invested three years building its foundation—who could be more qualified? He then entrusted it to Timothy, his carefully mentored protégé. Yet within a few years of Paul's departure, heresy had taken root. By the time of Revelation, the church faced serious difficulties.

These biblical accounts serve as crucial lessons to help us avoid similar pitfalls.

Such spiritual battles have challenged the church since its beginning, making these warnings particularly relevant.

Mercy - Grace - and Peace

Let's turn our attention to how Paul concludes the first part of his letter with a greeting of grace, mercy, and peace. Unlike his other letters where he typically mentions only grace and peace, here Paul includes mercy. Why? Because Timothy will need all three to handle what lies ahead.

Grace is God's unmerited favor that frees us from the consequences of our sin.

Mercy is God's compassion and kindness toward us in our weakness and struggles.

Paul likely added "mercy" in his greeting to Timothy because:

Timothy faced a particularly challenging task in confronting false teachers and organizing the church As a young leader, Timothy would need God's mercy to handle difficult situations with both truth and grace

Peace represents the result of experiencing both God's grace and mercy—the internal calm and confidence that comes from knowing we are right with God.

Paul clearly understands the serious problems occurring in the church. He wants to ensure Timothy knows he has all the power and authority needed to lead. This leadership will require an ongoing foundation of mercy, grace, and peace.

Challenging Our Response

As we reflect on these truths about the early church in Ephesus, we must ask ourselves several important questions:

Are we vigilant in protecting sound doctrine, or have we become complacent about what is taught and believed? Do we rely on God's grace, mercy, and peace in our daily walk, or are we trying to serve in our own strength? How seriously do we take the responsibility of maintaining unity and truth within our church family?

The challenges faced by the Ephesian church remind us that we must:

Stay grounded in God's Word and sound doctrine Maintain strong, Biblical leadership Keep our focus on Christ as our primary source of hope and salvation Regularly examine our hearts to ensure we haven't lost our first love

These lessons from Timothy and the Ephesian church are not merely historical accounts—they are vital warnings and instructions for us today.

Perhaps you're here today and you've never made Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior. The truth we've studied shows us that Jesus is our only hope of salvation. You don't need to leave today without knowing Him personally. I invite you to surrender your life to Christ right now. He died for your sins and rose again, offering you new life and hope eternal.

And if you're searching for a church home, we welcome you to join our family of believers. Here you'll find a community committed to sound doctrine, genuine worship, and loving fellowship. Come speak with me after the service—I'd love to talk with you about taking your next steps with Christ and becoming part of our church family.

Let us pray.