1 Timothy 1

Before we look dive into 1 Timothy, let's look at the context of this pastoral epistle by Paul-

Acts 20:17-38-

Paul went to Ephesus and found some disciples there. He taught in the synagogue, but when some of the people developed hard hearts Paul took the disciples and formed the Ephesian church where he remained for two years. Paul proceeded to Macedonia and Greece, then returned to Miletus, about 30 miles south of Ephesus, on his way to Jerusalem. Paul thought that this was the final time he would be with the Ephesian elders, meeting Miletus.

Paul's final instructions to the elders in Ephesus:
v28 Be on guard for yourselves and for 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"I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;

30and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.

31"Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.

v35 "In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

After Paul's release from prison in Rome, he ended up returning to Ephesus and Timothy joined him there later. Paul then instructs Timothy to stay in Ephesus to continue as the pastor there.

Here we go!

v1:1 Paul, an apostle

of Christ Jesus

according to the commandment of God our Savior and

of Christ Jesus,

who is our hope

What is an apostle? "men who were commissioned by the Lord Himself and given the task of speaking authoritatively on doctrine and practice in the church."

Though 1 Timothy was a personal letter to Paul's "true child in the faith" (v1:2), Paul knew that his letters would be distributed among the churches. Therefore he identifies the his authority from Christ Himself, for one issue in the 1st century church was a debate of whether to consider Paul an apostle since he was not among the original 12 disciples.

Therefore, we are to likewise heed Paul's instructions as authoritative and from God. Paul identifies Timothy as his "true child in the faith." Perhaps this was also a "vote of confidence" or "stamp of approval" for Timothy in the Ephesian church as he was young (v4:12).


v1:3 Timothy's purpose in Ephesus:
so that you may

instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines,

4nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies

which give rise to mere speculation
rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith. (NIV: God's work)

v1:5 The goal of Paul and Timothy's instruction is love from:

1. pure heart
2. good conscience
3. sincere faith

Some people wanted to be teachers of the Law, even though they didn't understand what they were saying! (v1:7) Implied that they were not using the Law lawfully. (v1:8) Law is for the anything that is contrary to sound teaching (v9, 10) according to the gospel, with which Paul's been entrusted. (v11).

Note also that Paul and Timothy's instruction is not just for the sake of correcting heresy, but it is to be out of love and to produce love!

Paul has been entrusted with the gospel, hence he is instructing Timothy to teach men not to teach strange doctrines.

Paul continues in the v12-17 to explain how he was entrusted with the gospel:
v12 Begins w/ thanksgiving to Christ Jesus our Lord who strengthened me, because He considered him faithful, hence put him into service.
God strengthens those who are faithful and will put them into service.

v13 "even though I was formerly"-

• a blasphemer
• persecutor
• violent aggressor

Yet shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief.

v14 "and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus."

Paul did things in ignorance (unbelief) but was granted mercy- he didn't receive the punishment that he deserved. Rather he received grace, faith and love from God.

v15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.
Interestingly, Paul is writing Timothy to teach men not to teach unsound doctrine and in this first chapter, sound teaching is found right here in v15- a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance- that Jesus came into the world to save sinners! We just gotta stick to the truth!

Paul also identifies himself as the preeminent sinner in v15. But because he is the worst of all sinners, Christ demonstrated "perfect patience" to grant Paul mercy. When Paul was known as Saul, the Pharisee persecuting the Christians, I bet many Christians may have thought, "Why does God not act?" Have you ever heard that question posed? It's usually on the topic of pain and suffering. Why doesn't God step in and stop killers, rapists, etc.? Here Paul gives the reason he was granted mercy- because of Christ's "perfect patience."

What is perfect patience? It may be hard to accept and understand sometimes, but God had a purpose in allowing the Christians to be killed by Saul. Now "Paul," he says that it was so that it may be example for "those who would believe in Him for eternal life." Seeing the persecution of the church by Saul, God could have stopped him in a myriad of ways. But God was patient and merciful and called Saul, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"

Acts 1:5-And he(Saul)said, "Who are You, Lord?" And He said, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do."

"But" expresses God's mercy on Saul. Mercy in that God could have taken Saul down right then and there.
"And" expresses God's grace on Saul. Grace in that God gave Saul an opportunity to turn around from being the foremost of sinners to an apostle of Christ!

Back to 1 Timothy 1:16, Paul is saying that if he, the worst of the worst of sinners can be reformed by God, then no one is ever totally lost in this life. God has given each of us a time here on Earth to call him Savior and Lord, when that time is up and we've not put our full faith in Him, then we are totally lost to damnation.

Fittingly, Paul breaks into praise, v1:17- 17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

The chapter ends with Paul's commission again to Timothy-

18This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight,

19keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.

20Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.

v18-19, Paul commissions Timothy again fight the good fight = keeping faith and good conscience
Very similar to v5, love from:

1. pure heart
• no ulterior motives or agenda
  
2. good conscience
• doing what you know you should
  
3. sincere faith
• not a hypocrite
  

In this first chapter, Paul instructed Timothy what to do and how to do it.
What: He was to each men not to teach unsound doctrine. In other words, Timothy was to teach men how to teach sound doctrine, hence preventing them from teaching strange doctrines.
How: Out of love- with a pure heart, clean conscience, and a sincere faith.