First Timothy - Chapter 1 Summary
COUNTED FAITHFUL
1ST TIMOTHY 1:1-20
Application: The student will learn that God expects His children to be faithful no matter the situation or circumstance.
THIS LETTER IS SAID TO BE THE LAST EPISTLE WRITTEN BY PAUL, WRITTEN FROM ROME AROUND 68 A.D.
THE LETTER WAS SENT AFTER HIS FIRST PRISON SENTENCE AND IT IS GENERALLY BELIEVED HE HAD RESUMED HIS WORK IN ASIA MINOR AND MACEDONIA, AND EVEN POSSIBLY INTO SPAIN.
FALSE TEACHERS IN BOTH EPHESUS AND CRETE WERE HAVING GOOD LUCK IN OPPOSING THE GOSPEL MESSAGE.
TIMOTHY WAS THE PASTOR IN EPHESUS AND TITUS WAS THE PASTOR IN CRETE.
THESE LETTERS ARE KNOWN AS THE PASTORAL EPISTLES AS THEY WERE WRITTEN TO THESE PASTORS TO REINFORCE THEIR FAITH AND TO REASSURE THEM OF THE RIGHTNESS OF THEIR MESSAGES.
IT WAS IN THESE YEARS THAT CHRISTIANS HAD BEGUN TO MAKE SERIOUS INROADS INTO THE POLITICAL LIFE OF ROME, WITH MORE THAN A FEW SERVING IN THE ROMAN SENATE, AND WERE SOLID IN THEIR OPPOSITION TO THE HORRIBLE TYRANT NERO.
IT IS THOUGHT THAT NERO HAD THE FIRE STARTED THAT BURNED HALF OF ROME IN ORDER TO BLAME IT ON CHRISTIANS AND THEREBY RID HIMSELF OF THESE OPPONENTS.
HIS PERSECUTIONS OF CHRISTIANS AFTER THE FIRE WAS WITHOUT MERCY AND STILL TODAY IS AMONG THE BLOODIEST TORTURES & PERSECUTIONS EVER KNOWN.
HE COVERED CHRISTIANS IN TAR AND HUNG THEM ALIVE FROM POSTS AROUND ROME TO BURN AS STREETLIGHTS.
HIS HORRID EFFORTS CONTINUED FOR YEARS.
THIS LAST MESSAGE COMES TO US IN THREE PARTS:
THE FUNDAMENTALS OF CHRISTIAN CHARACTER AND SERVICE IN CHAPTERS 1 & 2.
THE SOUNDNESS OF DOCTRINE & CHRISTIAN ENDURANCE, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD AND COMING PERILOUS TIMES, IN CHAPTER 3.
CLOSING THOUGHTS AND TESTIMONIES OF FAITH IN THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE LETTER.
AS IN MANY OF HIS WRITINGS, PAUL INTRODUCES HIMSELF IN VERSE 1 AS AN APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST, BY THE COMMANDMENT OF HIM WHO IS OUR HOPE.
HE IS STATING HIS CREDENTIALS TO SEND THE LETTER SO THAT THERE BE NO DOUBT AS TO HIS AUTHORITY.
WE NOTICE PAUL USES THE WORD SAVIOR TO DESCRIBE JESUS HERE WHICH IN THOSE DAYS WAS THE WORD DEMANDED BY ROMANS TO DESCRIBE THEIR EMPORERS.
IN VERSE 2 PAUL REVEALS THE IDENTITY OF THE ONE TO WHOM HE IS WRITING, TIMOTHY:
A TRUE SON IN THE FAITH, AND PAUL BEGINS BY SENDING HIM GRACE MERCY AND PEACE FROM THE FATHER AND JESUS OUR LORD.
IT IS LIKELY THAT PAUL HAD LED TIMOTHY INTO SALVATION, ALONG WITH HIS MOTHER EUNICE DURING HIS FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY DESCRIBED IN ACTS 14 & 16.
TIMOTHY WAS THE SON OF A GREEK FATHER & JEWISH MOTHER WHO LIVED IN LYSTRA, A CITY IN THE PROVINCE OF GALATIA.
NOW IN VERSES 3-4 PAUL BEGINS BY URGING TIMOTHY TO STAY IN EPHESUS, EVEN THOUGH HIS TIME THERE WAS MOST DIFFICULT.
TIMOTHY WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THOSE BRINGING THE FALSE TEACHINGS WHICH PAUL WARNS ARE CAUSING DISPUTES.
NOW PAUL IS VERY CLEAR THAT THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY TIMOTHY HAD IN EPHESUS WAS TO ASSURE THAT THE TRUE DOCTRINE WAS TAUGHT AND THAT NO OTHER DOCTRINE WAS ALLOWED IN THE CHURCH.
DOCTRINE IS AMONG THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL PRIORITIES FOR ANY CHURCH UNDER JESUS. WHAT PEOPLE BELIEVE IS PRIMARY TO HAVE A SOLID CHURCH AND THE PEOPLE MUST KNOW WHY THEY BELIEVE WHAT THEY DO.
A HARSH REMINDER WAS GIVEN TO US IN THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN JESUS AND PILATE WHEN PILATE ASKED THE LORD, “WHAT IS TRUTH?'
UNFORTUNATELY IN OUR MORE MODERN AGE, THIS QUESTION IS STILL BEING ASKED AS IF TRUTH IS RELATIVE. IT IS NOT.
JESUS TAUGHT THAT HE WAS THE WAY & THE TRUTH.
HE STILL IS.
SOME IN THE CHURCH WERE BEING CARRIED AWAY BY FABLES AND ENDLESS HISTORIES HAVING NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL AND THERE WERE ITCHING EARS LISTENING TO THESE FALSE TEACHERS.
THESE TEACHINGS WERE CAUSING DISPUTES RATHER THAN PROVIDING A GODLY BUILDING OF FAITH.
VERSES 5-7 GIVE THE TRUTH OF THE COMMANDMENT OF PURITY IN GOSPEL TEACHING.
IT IS A TEACHING ON THE INWARD CHANGE OF THE HEART FROM THE LOVE OF GOD FOR THOSE WHO ARE HIS.
IT COMES FROM A GOOD CONSCIENCE AND A SINCERE FAITH. FROM WHICH SOME HAVE STRAYED AND TURNED TO IDLE TALK RATHER THAN CONTINUING IN THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL TEACHING.
OUR KING JAMES CALLS THIS TYPE OF TALK VAIN JANGLING, WHICH IS SIMPLY MEANINGLESS BABBLE.
NOW IN VERSES 8-11 PAUL CONDEMNS THOSE WHO REST ON LEGALISM IN THE LAW BUT HE IS CAREFUL NOT TO CONDEMN THE LAW ITSELF.
HE SAYS WE KNOW THE LAW IS GOOD IF ONE USES IT PROPERLY.
THE LAW WAS NOT PRODUCED FOR THOSE RIGHTEOUS BUT FOR THOSE WHO ARE LAWLESS, INSUBORDINATE, AND UNGODLY.
HE ADDS A LONG LIST OF OTHER THINGS WHICH THE LAW WAS MEANT TO POINT OUT AS APART FROM THE WILL OF GOD:
UNHOLY PERSONS
PROFANE PERSONS
MURDERERS OF FATHERS & MOTHERS
MANSLAYERS
FORNICATORS
SODOMITES
KIDNAPPERS
LIARS
PERJURERS
AND ANY OTHER THING THAT OPPOSES SOUND DOCTRINE.
THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW WAS TO SHOW US OUR SIN AND PAUL REVEALS IN GALATIANS 3 THAT IT ACTUALLY REVEALED HIS OWN SIN TO HIMSELF.
SO THESE LEGALISTS HAVE PERVERTED THE REASON FOR THE LAW.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHY PAUL WANTED TIMOTHY TO STAY, BECAUSE IT WAS DIFFICULT AND REQUIRED A FAITHFUL ONE TO OPPOSE AND CORRECT THESE FAULTS FESTERING THERE INSIDE THE CHURCH.
HE WAS TO USE THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL OF GOD TO OVERCOME THESE MOST SERIOUS FALSE WAYS BEING TAUGHT AGAINST THE GOSPEL.
THE REAL TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL MUST REMAIN & BE PRESERVED.
IN VERSES 12-14 PAUL ALLOWS WHY HE HAD BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH THE SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL ITSELF.
JESUS PUT PAUL IN THE MINISTRY EVEN THOUGH HE HIMSELF HAD BEEN A BLASPHEMER, A PERSECUTOR, AND AN INSOLENT MAN.
THE LORD HAD EXTENDED MERCY TO PAUL BECAUSE HE HAD DONE THESE THINGS IN IGNORANT UNBELIEF, AND HE WAS A LIVING EXAMPLE OF THE LOVE AND GRACE OF THE LORD.
NO MAN DESERVED LESS AND NO MAN OF HIS TIME WAS GIVEN MORE BY THE LOVE OF THE LORD.
JESUS HAD ENABLED PAUL AND HAD PUT HIM IN THE MINISTRY, WHICH IN THE GREEK ORIGINAL LANGUAGE MEANT JESUS HAD PUT PAUL INTO SERVICE.
HIS PAST, WHILE HORRIBLE, DID NOT DISQUALIFY HIM FROM SERVICE TO GOD.
THAT IS A FINE MESSAGE OF TRUTH TO ANY & ALL.
WE ARE ALL SINNERS WHO HAVE BEEN AFFORDED GRACE.
SO IF AT ANY TIME TIMOTHY FELT UNWORTHY TO SERVE, PAUL HIMSELF WAS FAR MORE UNWORTHY.
IT WAS NOT PAUL'S IGNORANCE THAT SAVED HIM BUT THE GRACE OF GOD ONLY.
IN VERSE 15 PAUL SUMMARIZES HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE GOSPEL.
“This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.”
PAUL REVEALS THAT JESUS CAME NOT TO THOSE LIVING UNDER THE ILLUSION OF THEIR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS. JESUS SAID IN MARK 2:17 THAT IT IS THE SICK WHO NEED A PHYSICIAN.
PAUL'S CONFESSION SHOWED US THAT WHILE ALL ARE SINNERS, NOT ALL ARE EQUALLY SINFUL.
SPURGEON SAID THAT ALL MEN ARE IN THE MUD AND MIRE BUT SOME HAVE SUNK DEEPER INTO IT THAN OTHERS.
PAUL'S CONFESSION INSPIRED SPURGEON TO PREACH THIS TRUTH.
PAUL EVEN CONFESSED HIS “CHIEF OF SINNERS” STATUS BEFORE KING AGRIPPA IN ACTS 26:11 :
“And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.”
SPURGEON SAID THAT NO MAN CAN NOW SAY HE IS TOO GREAT A SINNER TO BE SAVED BECAUSE THE CHIEF OF ALL SINNERS WAS SAVED 1800 YEARS BEFORE.
IN VERSE 16 PAUL THEN REMINDS TIMOTHY THAT HE WAS USED BY JESUS AS A PATTERN FOR THOSE WHO WILL BELIEVE.
IF GRACE CAN BE EXTENDED TO ONE SUCH AS PAUL, ALL OTHERS SHOULD KNOW THAT GRACE IS SURELY EASIER FOR THEM TO RECEIVE BECAUSE ALL ARE LESS SINFUL THAT HE WAS.
IN VERSE 17 PAUL SHOWS HIS PRAISE FOR GOD WHO HAD SAVED HIM.
HE SAYS HONOR & GLORY BE EXTENDED TO GOD FOREVER BECAUSE HE ALONE IS KING ETERNAL, IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE, AND HE ALONE IS WISE.
HE IS TEACHING TIMOTHY HERE THAT THIS GREAT GOD IS WORTHY OF TIMOTHY'S SERVICE AND HE WILL EMPOWER TIMOTHY TO SUCCEED THERE IF TIMOTHY REMAINS THERE IN FAITH.
IN VERSE 18 PAUL CHARGES TIMOTHY TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, AND NOT TO GIVE UP.
THIS WORD “CHARGE” IS A MILITARY TERM MEANING AN ORDER FROM A SENIOR OFFICER.
BUT HE REMINDS TIMOTHY AGAIN THAT HE IS HIS OWN SPIRITUAL SON.
IN THIS VERSE AND VERSE 19 PAUL REMINDS TIMOTHY THAT THE PROPHETS ARE STILL IMPORTANT AND THAT TIMOTHY SHOULD WAGE THE GOOD WARFARE BY THEM.
IN VERSE 19 HE REMINDS TIMOTHY THAT THE WEAPONS OF THAT WAR ARE FAITH AND A GOOD CONSCIENCE.
TIMOTHY HAD TO HAVE THE FAITH THAT GOD WAS IN FULL CONTROL AND WOULD GUIDE HIM IN THE WAY HE INTENDED TIMOTHY TO GO.
NOW TO CLOSE HIS INITIAL THOUGHTS, PAUL PROVIDES TWO NAMES TO TIMOTHY WHO HAVE REJECTED THE TOOLS OF THIS WARFARE, HYMENAEUS & ALEXANDER.
PAUL HAD APPARENTLY DISCIPLINED BOTH FOR THEIR DISOBEDIENCE TO GOD IN HERESY AS BLASPHEMERS.
PAUL FURTHER REVEALS THAT HIS DISCIPLINE WAS NOT PUNISHMENT ENOUGH AND HE HAS THEREFORE DELIVERED THEM UNTO SATAN.
IN THIS FIRST LETTER WE ARE NOT GRANTED SPECIFICS AS TO THE SIN OF THESE MEN BUT IF WE LOOK AT THE NEXT LETTER TO TIMOTHY (2ND TIMOTHY 2:17-18) WE SEE THE CLEAR REASON ONE WAS REMOVED:
“And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymeneaus, Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith of some.”
AND IN 2ND TIMOTHY 4:14 WE SEE THE REASON THE OTHER WAS REMOVED:
“Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works.”
THEY WERE PUT OUT OF THE CHURCH, AND TURNED OVER TO THE EVIL ONE OF THE WORLD WHICH SEEMED TO BE THE PLACE THEY DESERVED HAVING REJECTED THE GOSPEL.
SO THE MAIN MESSAGE IS FOR US TO UNDERSTAND JUST AS PAUL WANTED TIMOTHY TO UNDERSTAND.
WHEN THINGS GET DIFFICULT WE ARE TO REMAIN THE THE FIGHT AND NOT TO WAVER AND TO BELIEVE THAT GOD IS IN FULL CONTROL OF ALL THINGS AND WILL CARRY US ONWARD.
PAUL GIVES TIMOTHY SIX DIFFERENT REASONS HE SHOULD STAY IN EPHESUS AND CONTINUE THE WORK OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST:
BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THERE NEED THE TRUTH (3-7)
BECAUSE YOU MINISTER IN A HARD PLACE (8-11)
BECAUSE GOD USES UNWORTHY PEOPLE (12-16)
BECAUSE YOU SERVE A GREAT GOD (17)
BECAUSE YOU ARE IN A BATTLE AND SHOULD NEVER
SURRENDER (18)
BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE REMAINS IN FAITH AND
VICTORY IS GIVEN TO THOSE WHO DO (19-20)
