Thoughts on 1 Timothy – Part 1
1TIM 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
1TIM 1:2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
Some people do not pay much attention to the salutations in the epistles. The salutations contain much more than just hello. They are more than a necessary way to start a letter. Take these first two verses of this letter.
Paul is an apostle. Paul holds a special position. And Paul not just anyone’s apostle. He is the apostle of Jesus Christ.
Paul did not apply for the job. He did not get it by accident. Paul was made an apostle by the commandment of God. The Bible does teach a God called ministry.
Our hope is Jesus Christ. Hope is not found in ourselves or our power. It is only found in Jesus.
Timothy is Paul’s son in the faith. This teaches that when we get saved we have a new family. We become a part of the family of God.
Grace, Mercy, and Peace comes from God.
We should desire that God gives other Christians grace, mercy, and peace.
I just listed 7 truths taught in this salutation, and I did not exhaust all that is in those 2 verses.
When you read the Bible, take the time to consider the salutations. They are much more than just a way to start a letter.
1TIM 1:3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
1TIM 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
A preacher is not to give any heed to the fables of men. Zero! Some are more far out than others. Believe me I have heard a lot in the last couple of decades. And the context here is in the church. Verse 3 says charge some that they teach no other doctrine. Paul is not talking here about the pagan religion teachers.
He is addressing that there are those in the church who are teaching things that do not line up with God’s Word. Timothy is to put a stop to that. All pastors need to be aware that these things happen. Way back when my wife and I were teaching 2nd and 3rd grade Sunday School I noticed that in the 1st grade room next to us there was a candle on the teachers teaching stand. I mentioned it to the Pastor who looked into it. Come to find out she was teaching some very strange stuff to those kids. She was alphabet soup before they assembled all those letters.
The wicked one will always try to sneak tares in with the wheat and wolves in sheep’s clothing.
Sometimes the problem in churches is a servant of the wicked one and sometimes it is carnal Christians who want to distract from the teaching of the Word of God and cast doubt. Why? Teaching the Word brings conviction and the strengthening of faith leads to action and they do not want either one.
One of the things that I have battled many times is the fable of evolution. Preachers are not to give any heed to things like that. Rebuke the lie and stick with teaching the word of God in faith. That is what spiritually edifies people.
1TIM 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
1TIM 1:6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
1TIM 1:7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
Since the age of grace started there have always been men who desire to put people under the burden of the law. No one can carry the burden of the law. The law demands perfect obedience and there is none righteous no not one. All have sinned. Jesus fulfilled all the demands of the law and He paid the penalty for our sin.
We are now declared just by believing in what Jesus did for us. We are free from the law. To that I say Praise God! Verse 7 says that people who be teachers of the law do not understand what they say. They are obviously lost and are blind leaders of the blind.
The law of God is good and moral and right. There is nothing wrong with thou shalt not kill, or covet, or bear false witness, and so on.
1TIM 1:8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
1TIM 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
1TIM 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
Everything that the law said was sin is sin. And Jesus died to pay the penalty for every one of those sins. He did it out of Love. It really is the glorious gospel.
1TIM 1:11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
1TIM 1:11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
I love the way this is worded. “the glorious gospel” We just don’t have good news. Our news is glorious. That God would leave heaven and come to earth and be made in the likeness of men.
Phi 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Phi 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Phi 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Here you have the Almighty coming to the earth to die on the cross. And He did it for us, and He died for us while we were yet sinners.
Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
What a wonderful truth! What a glorious truth! That God loved us so much to send His Son to die for us, and that if we would but believe with a repentant heart we shall be saved.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
No wonder it is called the glorious gospel.
1TIM 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
1TIM 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Some people have a hard time believing that God can save them because they are too wicked. They are aware of their sin and think that they have done something or many things that are too awful to be saved.
The truth is that God came to save sinners. He came to save even the vilest of sinners. God saved Paul who was chief of sinners.
1TIM 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
Paul blasphemed God. Paul persecuted Christians and injured them, and yet Paul found mercy.
1TIM 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
Not only did this chief of sinners get saved, but God put him into the ministry. God completely changed his life. Paul became a new creature in Christ and was greatly used of God.
If you have never accepted Christ as your savior because you think you are too wicked, you need to understand that no one is too wicked to be saved.
1TIM 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
This becomes clearer if you stop and think about who Paul was before he saw Jesus on the Damascus road and got saved. Paul was out persecuting Christians. He was breaking up families getting people thrown in jail and ruining lives. Paul was a Pharisee puffed up in pride and doing wickedness and saying it was in the name of God.
Paul is saying in verse 16 that God giving Paul mercy and showing longsuffering before Paul got saved was a visible object lesson to others who would believe in the future. Paul was an undeniable example that God is not only willing but able to save even the Chief of sinners.
1TIM 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Paul is an example of not only how God can saved wicked sinners but Paul is also an example of how God can completely change a life and give a new direction and purpose. And all of this shows forth God’s wisdom and power and mercy and brings honor and glory to God.
1TIM 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1TIM 1:18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
Many times in the New Testament living the Christian life is likened to warfare. It is not warfare like the world has. But it is a spiritual warfare against the flesh and the wicked one and his servants and his wicked world system.
And one of the hugely important things that we need to war a good warfare is faith. Paul is telling Timothy to hold on to faith and also a good conscience. And not just faith in anything and not a conscience that is seared or run amuck. This is talking about both faith and a good conscience that line up with the revealed Word of God.
1TIM 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
1TIM 1:20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.
Paul gives examples of two men who did not do this. And Paul tells how he handled them. He says he delivered them unto Satan that they might learn not to blaspheme. We see a similar thing in 1 Corinthians with the man who was having relations with his Father’s wife.
I personally believe that 1 Tim and 1 Cor. are showing us that there is some kind of level of protection that comes from being a part of a local body of believers, which is a group of believers that assemble together. And how much Satan is allowed to buffet, harass and hurt is limited some by God. And when someone is kicked out of a local assembly it seems that Satan is allowed to attack them on a greater level.
The purpose is stated both in 1 Cor. and here in verse 20. The purpose is so that they will learn. I believe the goal is actually restoration.
1TIM 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
Notice it says all men. Not just for your brothers and sisters in Christ.
1TIM 2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
We are to be praying for the leaders of our country. All of them. Yes even if you do not like them. Even if you voted for the other guy. God does not put any exclusions in this command. God’s Word says that we are to pray for all that are in authority. This means we are to pray for more than just the president. It would also mean the congress, our governors, the state legislature, mayors, and yes even judges.
We are to pray for them and the reason is given. It is so that we may have a quiet and peaceable life. Common sense time. Our prayers are so we can lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty. So our prayers for the leaders of our country are to be along those lines. We are to pray that they do not make laws that go against or disrupt our ability to live as God instructs us to live. 3 of the big ones are loving God and being obedient to Him, loving our neighbor as ourselves and obeying the Great Commission. Getting the gospel out, seeing people saved and baptized and then teaching them all things that Jesus commanded.
These verses are not telling us to pray that they might pass a bill that we kind of would like to see pass. These verses are not telling us to pray for menial petty political theater types of things. These verses are teaching that we pray so that they will not misuse their authority to get in the way of use serving God.
His children being able to live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness is good and acceptable to our Lord an Saviour.
1TIM 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
1TIM 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
1TIM 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
1TIM 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1TIM 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Some teach the false doctrine that God chooses who is to be saved and that God chooses who is going to hell. However, the fact is that God does not want anyone to go to hell.
In verse 4 we see that God’s will is that all men get saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. In verse 5 we see that the only way to be saved is thru Jesus. There is only one mediator between God and men. Only one can bring peace between a sinful man and a Holy God. Jesus left the throne of heaven and became man and yet He retained His deity. We see the deity of Jesus in verse 3. Our Saviour is Jesus, and verse 3 calls our Saviour God. In verse 5 we see the humanity of Jesus. He is called the man Christ Jesus. Jesus was both God and man at the same time. This put Him in the proper position to be the only mediator between man and God. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. And we see that He came to save all the lost.
1TIM 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all,
Jesus went to the cross for everyone. He made Himself a ransom for all. God does not want anyone to go to hell. The teaching that God chooses who goes to hell is a false teaching.
So if God wants everyone to be saved, then why does not everyone get saved? The answer is that God gave man a free will. To get saved a man must come to God with a repentant heart.
But does not God have to call? Yes God does.
But is not God Sovereign? Yes He is.
Does not God have perfect foreknowledge? Yes He does.
And yet man still has a free will.
How then can God maintain His sovereignty and man still have a free will? The answer is because He is an all-powerful and all-knowing perfect God, and nothing is impossible to Him. The truth is God is Sovereign and man does have a free will. The Bible teaches both because both are true.
1TIM 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
1TIM 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
1TIM 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1TIM 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
There is only ONE way to be saved. There is only ONE way to God. There is only ONE mediator between God and men, and that ONE way is Jesus. Jesus did what no other could ever do. He gave Himself a ransom for all. He paid the price for our sin. He is the only one that could pay the ransom. The payment of anyone else would be refused because it would be tainted with sin. You can’t pay for sin with more sin. The only one that could pay the price would be someone who was sinless. The only one that meets that standard is Jesus. He was virgin born so He had no sin nature. He came from above so He has a divine nature. As man he could go to the cross, as the sinless perfect Son of God His payment on the cross would be accepted. Many men have died a horrible death on a cross. Don’t forget there were two other crosses on that hill that day. But only what happened on the middle cross paid for sin. It was not the cross itself that made the difference. It was who was on that cross that mattered. Only Jesus could make Himself a ransom for all. Only Jesus saves. Amen and Amen.
See more lessons from 1 Timothy