The Book of 1 Timothy

Introduction

A year and a half ago, we began considering the overall story of scripture. We saw initially that:

God created everything - and established things in a good way where we might be able to have perfect fellowship with him.

Humanity corrupted God’s creation with sin - replacing the goodness of God with the temptations of this world - fracturing that relationship with God.

God ordained the catastrophe of the flood to set things straight and then began again with one family.

When people continued to rebel and set themselves up against God, he allowed the confusion of languages in order to spread us out. Most of the Old Testament is in this time of confusion.

We talked about how God entered into covenants with humanity in order to work toward restoration - and yet as we saw through the history of the people of Israel, we humans continue to want to replace the goodness of God with the temporary things of this world.

Eventually God sent His Son Jesus Christ - to be the perfect embodiment of fellowship between God and humans and then...

made a way for all of us who are fallen in sin to be in relationship with God by taking our sin on the cross

After commissioning his followers to continue what he started, Jesus ascended and his church was established. As his church, we get to proclaim God’s love for the world and get to daily submit to God’s ways as the Kingdom of God expand throughout the world.

Eventually one day, Jesus Christ will return to reign and will bring a consummation of the Kingdom of God.

We summarized this with the 7Cs of History from the folks at Answers in Genesis:

Creation

Corruption

Catastrophe

Confusion

Christ

Cross

Consummation

So here we are between the cross and the consummation in this age of the church. Many of the letters that were written in the New Testament were written to churches to help them be the church that God called them to be. Many of those were written by the Apostle Paul.

Today, we’re beginning to look at a different section Paul’s letters - instead of being written to a church - these are written to pastors or elders. Sometimes we call these the “Pastoral Epistles” or Pastoral Letters.

Today we’re beginning with Paul’s first letter to Timothy.

Background

Paul and Timothy met in Lystra on Paul’s second missionary journey - around AD 49-51. (Acts 16:1-3)

Timothy, it seems, continued with Paul and Silas to Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea

Timothy and Silas remained in Berea for a time while Paul went on to Athens (Acts 17:14, 16).

Some time later, Silas and Timothy joined Paul in Corinth (Acts 18:5)

It seems that Silas and Timothy remained in Corinth for a while - Paul went on to Ephesus briefly and then back to Antioch.

On his third missionary journey, Paul returned to Ephesus and spent about three years there. Timothy was with him for a while and then was sent with Erastus to go to Macedonia (Thessalonica, Philippi, Berea) (Acts 19:22).

Overall, Timothy was one of Paul’s closest and most trusted and faithful ministry partners. He is mentioned in nearly every one of Pauls letters (excluding Galatians and Ephesians).

Timothy himself was a unique young man. His mother was Jewish and his father was Greek. He had a great reputation in his community. (Acts 16:1-3)

Some suspect that Paul wrote this letter about 10 years after the establishment of the church, while on a fourth missionary journey - not referenced in Acts.

In spite of the fact that this church had the benefit of over three years of Paul’s ministry - in time - it seems that challenges set in. There were doctrinal issues that seemed to threaten the health of the church. So Paul writes this letter as a means of instructing Timothy as he seeks to instruct and encourage the church at Ephesus.

Today, as we walk through the book, we’re going to launch from the outline that the Bible Project guys have used - dividing the book into four sections, roughly divided or concluded by a prayer or benediction.

Reminding Timothy of his Assignment (ch. 1)

Over the many years that I’ve had the privilege of knowing Danielle’s dad, one of the themes that has come up often in our conversations is the idea of an assignment. He talks frequently about the assignments that God has for him. It may be a co-worker, his sunday school class, his children and grandchildren, the neighbors he serves with his truck. He is keenly aware of the ministry assignments that God has given him and refuses to consider that assignment completed until he has peace from God about it.

Here in the book of 1 Timothy - we get to see Paul reminding Timothy of the assignment that God has placed before him. In many ways, the whole letter is a a reminder and clarity on that assignment. Here in the opening chapter, Paul makes it clear that Timothy’s assignment is to refute false doctrine in the church of Ephesus with a pure hearted-love, clear conscience, and sincere faith.

1 Timothy 1:3–5 ESV

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

It seems that there were people who were teaching certain things about food, marriage practices, adherence to some form of the Torah or the OT Law, and genealogies there in the church at Ephesus. Paul urges Timothy to face these controversies head on - to nip them in the bud - as it were.

We have to recognize that there will always be teachings that will threaten sound doctrine in a church and ultimately lead to instability in the lives of believers.

In the verses we read, Paul seems to lay out the manner in which we should go about refuting false doctrine and rooting out heresies. It’s not to belittle or to ostracize people - though there may be a place for hard language and church discipline. Paul’s motivation is redemptive - it’s love.

1 Timothy 1:5 ESV

The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

Paul is not trying to make people see things his only way. It seems that he is sincere and genuine in his desire to see the church be established on a sure foundation.

In fact one way that we see Paul’s heart in this regard is in the next section. He acknowledges that he is not worthy to be called to the roll to which God has called him and so in humility, he says...

1 Timothy 1:15 ESV

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

Imagine what would happen in our spiritual and theological debates if we came with this attitude? What would happen in our completing the assignments that God has for us if we were to enter in knowing that God has called us for this task from our own point of weakness?

We’ve seen elsewhere in scripture that...

“knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” ~ 1 Cor. 8:1

I pray that as we grow in our knowledge of God’s word and in the finer nuances of our faith, that we will also grow in love, so that we might also build up one another and God’s church.

Friend, if you are not yet a follower of Christ, I hope you can see that as we do life together in the church, we don’t claim to have all the answers. We don’t try to come to every debate and issue with pride. We recognize that were it not for what Jesus did on the cross for us - taking our sin on his sinless body, paying out debt, we would have no standing with God. In humility, we plead with you, as sinners who have been saved by God’s grace, respond to the call of the Lord.

Paul concludes this reminder to Timothy with this benedictory prayer:

1 Timothy 1:17 ESV

To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

All that we do is to be done for the glory and honor of God. Our completed tasks are not so we can gain credit and renown, but so that God will be praised.

After reminding Timothy of his assignment, Paul goes on to discuss...

Ecclesiastical instructions for Ephesus (ch. 2-3)

Ecclesia.... what? ! Ecclesiastical essentially means church.

These ecclesiastical instructions for the church seem to deal with things relating to the corporate or congregational elements of church life.

He begins with the...

priority of prayer.

1 Timothy 2:1–6 ESV

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

Paul’s desire is that prayer be a hallmark of the church. Prayer is our deep and abiding communication with the Lord. Prayer is our opportunity to converse with God on personal, corporate, national and global matters.

Prayer helps to recognize our ongoing need for God’s work in this world and in our lives.

Paul’s instruction here helps us to see that we should pray

for one another,

for those in authority,

for those who are far from God.

We try to follow the Bible’s encouragement to pray individually and corporately as we consider each other’s needs and concerns with the prayer list that Reneta puts in the bulletin.

Individually: Please use this in your personal time of prayer with the Lord. If you have prayer requests, you can certainly write on the registration card, scan the QR code or go to our website to the prayer page (under we grow) and click on the prayer request link.

Corporately, we try to make prayer a priority as we set aside time in the service each week and in our midweek prayer gatherings. Let me encourage you go join us on Wednesdays at 7PM as we pray together.

If you’re at all like me, prayer does not come easily. I can tend to fall into repeating patterns of prayer. I have recently been encouraged by this little book by J.C. Ryle entitled “Do you Pray?” We have several copies in the Book Nook. Please take a copy for your own encouragement and edification.

In addition to making prayer a priority, Paul gives Timothy some information regarding the...

roles of men and women in church (1 Tim. 2:8-15).

For men, he is urging us to worship and do life together without fighting. He doesn’t say much about it here, but simply urges that men not quarrel with one another.

For women, Paul has a bit more to say.

1 Timothy 2:9–15 ESV

likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.

It seems that the false teaching in the church at Ephesus had resulted in a situation where women were in competition with each other - trying to show off their wealth and beauty by how they dressed. It seems they were also in competition with men in the church - competing for authority and a voice. In our age of #metoo and men generally acting poorly toward women in culture, passages like these don’t settle well with some.

Some people look at this and want to see it as Paul’s way of ensuring that men stay in power because they see Paul as a misogynist or a chauvinist. But a more thorough reading of the New Testament and even of Paul’s letters to Timothy will reveal that it’s not his ego that is leading him to this conclusion. Paul frequently praises the women with whom he has associated and has seen them as vital to the health of churches.

Other people look at it as a way of addressing a specific issue that the Ephesian church faced. This may be the case to some degree. There were specific doctrinal, practical and ecclesiastical issues that we only get to see through Paul’s response. In response to this view, some people limit Paul’s comments to the Ephesian church and look at the roles of men and women in church in an “egalitarian” way. Essentially saying that all of the roles in church are open for men or women.

Still others see Paul’s instruction here as a guideline for all churches as a way of reflecting God’s order in creation within the church. When you look at nature and structure of Paul’s argument, he is going back to the order in creation. God is a God of order and in his wisdom seems to want his order reflected in the church. This view is often referred to as “complementarian” - or the idea that men and women are created equal in value before God but are given different roles in the home and in the church. In other words, because of different roles, men and women complement each other.

With prayer as a priority and a particular understanding of the roles of men and women in the church, Paul moves on to a couple of specific roles in the church - that of Elders and Deacons.

Essentially, Elders are to be godly men of good rapport who are able to teach and who have good relationships with their family and community (1 Tim. 3:1-7). I don’t think God designed churches to be led by one man. There is wisdom in a plurality of elders. I am so grateful for God’s wisdom in this plurality and in the men that He has chosen to serve as elders here.

Deacons are essentially servants in the church. These are men and women who also have a godly character, a good rapport in the community and at home (1 Tim. 3:8-13).

I’m so grateful for the team of Deacons that we have here at PBC. These men and women have a heart to glorify God and edify the body Christ. So often they serve in many ways behind the scenes, but do so with sincere hearts. (Dan, Gabriel, Tom, Robin, Buddy, Zech, Brian P.)

As he did after the first section, Paul concludes this section with an explanation and a beautiful hymn of benediction or doxology:

1 Timothy 3:14–16 ESV

I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

We could spend more time reflecting on all that Paul’s doxology here implies, but for now, let’s move on the to the last half of the book as we consider...

General instructions for Ephesus (1 Tim. 4:1-6:2)

As Paul continues to help Timothy - he gets a bit more specific in some of his exhortations here. He gives some instructions that are general principles and practices in the church, but he also give some specific instructions for Timothy.

He essentially tells Timothy to...

Correct false teaching with good doctrine

Train for godliness

Let honoring one another permeate everything

Let’s consider these briefly. Paul begins this section by urging Timothy again to...

Correct false teaching with good doctrine (1 Tim. 4:1-5)

1 Timothy 4:1–5 ESV

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

It seems like there were people at Ephesus who were teaching strange and anti-biblical doctrines. As a young pastor, Timothy us urged to be mindful of these false doctrines - keeping in mind that God created all things to produce life, hope, health.

In order to help in gain a clearer perspective on how to be prepared for this, Paul tells Timothy to...

Train for godliness (1 Tim. 4:6-16)

Paul writes...

1 Timothy 4:6–8 ESV

If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

Essentially don’t get distracted or sidetracked by godless things.

When we train for something - we look at doing it little by little by little and gradually growing in our fitness. In much the same way, when we regularly submit ourselves to learning to live in godliness, we gain a spiritual fitness that doesn’t just last for our lifetime here, but lasts into eternity.

How are you doing in your own spiritual training? How are you doing in your growth as a disciple of Christ? Are you regularly in the word? Are you praying regularly? Are you participating in the discipleship groups that are available throughout the week? Maybe even ask someone to train with you? Read/study scripture each week, reflecting on how to apply it. For mature believers, if someone approaches you, don’t feel like “oh I don’t know enough” - all you have to do is pour out what you do know while leading them to the source.

As a young pastor who was intimidated by the assignment before him, Timothy was urged to be constantly training, preparing his soul and life, so that he could...

“…set an example for believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” (1 Tim. 4:12)

Just as we might see physical training make an impact in our physical appearance - losing weight, gaining muscle, increased capabilities - so our spiritual training is not only for growing in knowledge. People should see the fruit of that training.

Are you training?

Are you setting an example?

Finally, in this section, Paul addresses some matters that were particular to the church in Ephesus, but I think they are also valuable to us. He urges Timothy to...

Let honoring one another permeate everything (1 Tim. 5:1-6:2)

As we interact with each other, mutual honor should be present - much like you should have in a family - where children don’t correct parents, but might encourage them. There is a sense of mutual respect.

Paul also urges that widows be honored. It seems like the New Testament church kept some sort of a list of widows who would receive help from the church. Paul desires that widows who do not have outside means, who do not have family who can help, and who are not too young should be put on this “list” and honored by the way that church cares for them.

Regarding elders, Paul urges that Timothy should not be quick to have someone appointed as an elder, but also that elders should be especially honored. Elders are not perfect people and do make mistakes and fall into sin, but that accusations and rebukes should be taken seriously.

I’ve said it before, but I’m so grateful for our elders. Carl, Vern, and Bryan are men who have a sincere love for the Lord and for his church.

Finally, Paul addresses servants. There must have been an issue where servants did not fully respect their believing masters.

1 Timothy 6:1–2 ESV

Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these things.

It’s almost as though the servants were sloughing off their work because they were working for a brother in Christ. No matter who we are working for, we should give it our best, we should honor those in authority over us and do our work as unto the Lord.

So after all of these specific instructions, Paul comes back to the beginning by...

Reinforcing Timothy’s Assignment (1 Tim. 6:3-20)

The underlying charge is to correct error in the church by teaching and living correct doctrines. Our doctrine should impact how we live - it should make a difference in our lives.

From the time of Paul and Timothy until today, there have been people who have proclaimed a false gospel that is tied to wealth. Paul seems to be urging that the love of wealth is a distraction to true godliness.

1 Timothy 6:6–7 ESV

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.

And so rather than getting distracted by the things of this world and adjusting our theology to match our lives, we should obey this admonition...

1 Timothy 6:11 ESV

But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

The things of this world can be helpful tools, but they can also be horrible masters.

When we pursue...

righteousness, we’ll know how to use our wealth rightly

godliness - we’ll learn how to live open-handedly - giving as God has given to us

faith - we’ll be able to trust that God will provide in the midst of financial downturn.

love - our affections will be turned in the right direction as we unconditionally love one another

steadfastness - we’ll see a faithfulness, a steadiness in our lives that persists through good times and bad as we do live in community as a church.

gentleness - we will be able to take every set back in stride and will be more ready to show honor to one another.

Conclusion

So many of the letters of the New Testament are written to whole churches. They are written to instruct, to correct, to challenge. Here as we get into a different section of scripture, we get to see some more detailed instruction to an individual - in this case a young man who was assigned a task of helping to establish the church at Ephesus. Next week, we’ll get to look at a more intimate letter in this regard.

The guys at the Bible Project summarize the message of 1 Timothy in this way as thy project...

A Holistic Vision of the Church

What a church believes will shape how it lives

The church should be known for integrity and service to the poor out of service to King Jesus

I pray that what we believe (our orthodoxy) will be displayed in how we live (our orthopraxy) - without regret.

Beloved, keep up the great work!

Let’s pray.

Memory Verse: 1 Tim. 1:15

Benediction:

1 Timothy 6:13–16 ESV

I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

References:

https://bibleproject.com/learn/1-timothy/

Crossway Bibles. The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008.

deSilva, David Arthur. An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods and Ministry Formation. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2004.

Dever, Mark the Message of the New Testament: Promises Kept, Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2005

Gromacki, Robert G. New Testament Survey. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1974.

Wiersbe, Warren. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books 1996.