Good morning,
This week we will look at 1 Timothy 1.
Timothy was a young preacher, lead to Christ by Paul. Paul is now writing to Timothy words of encouragement, challenge, and a charge on how to best minister to the church at Ephesus.
We will look at an introduction to 1 Timothy, the warning against false teachers, the Lord’s grace to Paul, and the purpose of Paul’s instruction to Timothy.
Introduction to 1 Timothy
AUTHOR: The apostle Paul, as stated in the salutation (1Ti 1:1). The internal evidence certainly supports Paul as the author, especially references to his earlier life (1Ti 1:13), and the close relationship between the author and Timothy (1Ti 1:2; cf. Ph 2:22).
RECIPIENT: Timothy, Paul’s “true son in the faith” (1Ti 1:2,18). We are first introduced to Timothy in Ac 16:1-3, where we learn that his mother was Jewish (cf. also 2 Ti 1:5; 3:14-15) and his father Greek. Well spoken of by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium, Paul desired that the young disciple travel with him and therefore had him circumcised to accommodate Jews they would seek to evangelize. This began a long relationship of service together in the work of the Lord, in which Timothy served Paul as a son would his father (Ph 2:19-24). Such service included not only traveling with Paul, but remaining with new congregations when Paul had to leave suddenly (Ac 17:13-14), going back to encourage such congregations (1 Th 3:1-3), and serving as Paul’s personal emissary (1 Co 16:10-11; Ph 2:19-24). He had the honor of joining Paul in the salutation of several epistles written by Paul (2 Co 1:1; Ph 1:1; Co 1:1; 1 Th 1:1; 2 Th 1:1), and from such epistles we learn that Timothy had been with Paul during his imprisonment at Rome. Such faithful service helps us to appreciate why Paul would leave him in Ephesus (1Ti 1:3)
TIME AND PLACE OF WRITING:
Paul wrote this epistle from Macedonia, following his first imprisonment in Rome (cf. Ac 28:16, 30-31). Paul was released and allowed to travel for several years before being arrested again and finally put to death by Nero. It is possible to conjecture from several references in his epistles that he went to places like Philippi (Ph 1:26; 2:24), Colossae (Phile 22), and even Spain (Ro 15:24,28). With more certainty his destinations included Ephesus (where he left Timothy, 1 Ti 1:3), Macedonia (where he wrote 1st Timothy, 1 Ti 1:3), Crete (where he left Titus, Tit 1:5), Miletus (2 Ti 4:20), Corinth (2 Ti 4:20), and a winter at Nicopolis (Tit 3:12). Any attempt to determine the exact order of these visits is pure speculation, however. If 1st Timothy was indeed written during this period, the date would be around 63-64 A.D.
PURPOSE OF THE EPISTLE: Paul had left Timothy behind at Ephesus with an awesome responsibility: to charge some not to teach anything contrary to the “sound doctrine” which was according to the “glorious gospel of the blessed God” (1Ti 1:3-11). Fulfilling this charge was made difficult by Timothy’s youth and natural timidity (1Ti 4:11-12; cf. 2 Ti 1:7-8). While Paul hoped to come himself, he writes Timothy to guide him in the meantime (1 Ti 3:14-15).
So how does this impact us?
When Paul got saved, he began the life long mission of learning about Christ, proclaiming Christ, and discipling or equipping others.
What have we done since we have been saved? It is our responsibility to know and obey God’s word. If we are doing that, then the natural outcome will be an overwhelming desire to tell others about how they can become believers in Christ. Once the lost become saved, then they need to learn about who Jesus is, what the Bible says, how that applies to them, and be challenged to share their faith with others.
“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2)
This is what the great commission is all about. Reaching the world for Christ.
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
Are we doing our part?
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
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