1 Timothy I. Introduction A. Paul's first letter to Timothy B. Instruction of an evangelist, exhortation to Christians C. Let us consider the book II. 1 Timothy: The Details A. Authorship 1. 1 Timothy 1:1: Paul 2. As with 2 Timothy and Titus, Pauline authorship sometimes questioned by modern "scholars" 3. Based on speculative principles that betray an ideological bias against the substance of the letters 4. Consistent testimony throughout time is that 1 Timothy is truly from Paul B. Dating 1. As with all New Testament letters, no specific date 2. 1 Timothy 1:3: Paul told Timothy to remain in Ephesus while he was going to Macedonia 3. Paul not in Macedonia any significant amount of time before first Roman imprisonment; Timothy with him during earlier trip in Macedonia anyway (Acts 20:4) 4. Therefore, likely after first imprisonment, but well before his second imprisonment (62-67 CE, likely 63-64) C. Audience 1. Timothy, Paul's "true child in the faith" (1 Timothy 1:2) 2. Timothy from Lystra in Asia Minor; mother Eunice, grandmother Lois, father a Greek (Acts 16:1, 2 Timothy 1:5) 3. Taught Scripture from a young age by mother and grandmother; became a disciple; Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, had him circumcised to that end (Acts 16:2, 2 Timothy 3:14-15, ca. 51 CE) 4. Went as far as Berea; Paul left Timothy there, sent him up to check on Thessalonian brethren; relieved when Timothy brought news to him in Corinth (Acts 17:14-15, 18:5, 1 Thessalonians 3:2, 6) 5. Timothy works again with Paul, sent out for a journey or two (1 Corinthians 4:17, 16:10); we then hear that Timothy is sent to Macedonia while Paul is in Ephesus (Acts 19:22) 6. Timothy accompanies Paul from Macedonia on to Jerusalem (Acts 20:4), likely also to Rome 7. Timothy greets the Romans (Romans 16:21) 8. Listed along with Paul as "writer" of 2 Corinthians (2 Corinthians 1:1), Philippians (Philippians 1:1), Colossians (Colossians 1:1), 1 and 2 Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 1:1, 2 Thessalonians 1:1), Philemon (Philemon 1:1) 9. Paul wished to send Timothy to Philippi; his worth, serving with Paul in the Gospel as a son with a father (Philippians 2:19, 22) 10. Timothy in Ephesus when 1 Timothy written to him (1 Timothy 1:3); likely still there when 2 Timothy written to him a few years later 11. Summoned to Rome by Paul toward the end of the latter's life during second imprisonment (2 Timothy 4:13) 12. Hebrew author indicates that Timothy was released from prison, and the author will see the Christians to whom he is writing soon with him (Hebrews 13:23); possibly an event after all of this, after death of Paul? D. Purpose 1. To strengthen Timothy in his faith, practice, and ministry 2. To make sure that assemblies are conducted and church composed as God intends 3. To exhort Christians through Timothy's ministry to obedience and avoidance of false teachings III. 1 Timothy: The Story A. Introduction; False Teachers; Salvation 1. Paul, apostle of Jesus by command of God our Savior, Christ Jesus our hope; to Timothy, true child in the faith; grace, mercy, peace from God the Father, Christ the Lord (1 Timothy 1:1-2) 2. Paul encouraged Timothy to remain in Ephesus when former went to Macedonia to charge certain people to not teach different doctrines, devote selves to genealogies and myths; they produce speculations rather than stewardship from God by faith; aim of our charge is love issuing from pure heart and good conscience and a sincere faith; certain people have wavered from this, wandering into vain discussions, desiring to teach law, not knowing what they are saying or the things about which they make assertions (1 Timothy 1:3-7) 3. Believers know law is good if used lawfully; law not for the just but for lawless and disobedient, ungodly and sinners, unholy and profane, those hitting parents, murderers, sexually deviant, homosexuals, enslavers, liars, whatever else is against sound doctrine; sound doctrine consistent with the gospel of the glory of blessed God; Paul entrusted with that message (1 Timothy 1:8-11) 4. Paul thanks Christ who has given him strength, having been judged faithful, appointed to His service; Paul formerly a blasphemer, persecutor, insolent opponent; received mercy because of acting ignorantly in unbelief; grace of Lord overflowed for Paul with faith and love in Christ; saying trustworthy, deserving of acceptance: Christ came to save sinners, Paul the chief; Paul received mercy for this reason, foremost exemplar of Christ's patience, example for those who were to believe in Him for eternal life; to King of ages, immortal, invisible, only God, honor and glory forever (1 Timothy 1:12-17) 5. This charge Paul entrusts to Timothy his child in accordance with prophecies made of him; he will wage the good warfare, holding faith and good conscience; some have rejected this, making shipwreck of their faith; Hymenaeus and Alexander examples of this; Paul handed them over to Satan so that they may learn not to blaspheme (1 Timothy 1:18-20) B. God's Desires for People (1 Timothy 2:1-3:13) 1. First of all-- supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings to be made for all people, especially those in authority, so believers can lead peaceful, quiet life, godly and dignified in every way; good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved, come to knowledge of the truth; one God, one Mediator between God and man, man Christ Jesus; Jesus as giving Himself as ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time; for this purpose Paul appointed a preacher and apostle, teacher of Gentiles in faith and truth (1 Timothy 2:1-7) 2. Men should pray in every place, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; women likewise to adorn themselves in respectable apparel, modestly and with self-control, not with gold, braided hair, pearls, or costly clothes, but what is proper for those professing godliness: good works (1 Timothy 2:8-10) 3. Women to learn quietly and with all submissiveness; women not to teach or have authority over men, but remain quiet; Adam formed first, then Eve; Adam not deceived, but Eve deceived and became transgressor; Eve as saved through childbearing, if women continue in faith, love, holiness, with self-control (1 Timothy 2:9-15) 4. Trustworthy saying: anyone desiring office of overseer desires a noble task; overseer thus must be above reproach: the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, competent at teaching, gentle, managing household well; if he does not know how to manage his own house, how can he manage God's church?; not drunkard, not violent, not quarrelsome, not lover of money, not recent convert, lest he get puffed up with conceit and fall into condemnation of devil; thought of well by outsiders so he will not fall into disgrace, snare of devil (1 Timothy 3:1-7) 5. Deacons likewise to be dignified: not double-tongued, not addicted to wine, not greedy for dishonest gain; must hold to faith with clear conscience; deacons to be tested, to serve if they prove blameless (1 Timothy 3:8-10) 6. Their wives also to be dignified: not slanderers, sober-minded, faithful in all things (1 Timothy 3:11) 7. Deacons also to be husband of one wife, managing children and households well; those who serve well as deacons gain good standing for themselves, also great confidence in faith in Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 3:12-13) C. Godliness vs. Departures from Faith (1 Timothy 3:14-4:16) 1. Paul hopes to come to Timothy soon; writes these things so if he is delayed, Timothy to know how to conduct himself in household of God, which is the church of God; church as pillar and buttress of truth; great is mystery of godliness: Jesus manifested in flesh, vindicated by Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among nations, believed upon in world, taken up in glory (1 Timothy 3:14-16) 2. Spirit expressly says in later times some will depart from faith by devoting selves to deceitful spirits, demonic doctrines, through insincerity of liars who have seared consciences; they forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods God has provided for people with blessings; everything God created is good, nothing to be rejected if received with thanksgiving, made holy by word of God and prayer (1 Timothy 4:1-5) 3. If Timothy puts these things before Christians, he will be a good servant of Jesus, trained in words of faith and good doctrine he has followed; Timothy to have nothing to do with myths; instead, train for godliness; bodily training of some value, godliness of value in every way: it holds promise for present life, life to come; saying trustworthy, worthy of full acceptance; to this end we strive, toil, hope set on living God, Savior of all people, especially those who believe (1 Timothy 4:6-10) 4. Timothy to command and teach these things; Timothy not to let anyone despise his youth, but to be an example to believers in speech, conduct, love, faith, purity; Timothy to devote himself to public reading of Scripture until Paul comes; he is not to neglect the gift given by prophecy when elders laid hands on him; Timothy to practice these things, immerse himself in them, so all can see progress; he is to keep a close watch on himself and teachings; by persisting in this, he will save self, those who hear him (1 Timothy 4:11-16) D. More Ecclesiastical Exhortations (1 Timothy 5:1-6:10) 1. Timothy not to rebuke an older man but encourage him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity (1 Timothy 5:1-2) 2. Widows who are truly widows to be honored; if widow has child or grandchild, let them learn to show godliness to own household and return to parents; pleasing in sight of God; true widow, left alone, has hope set on God, continues in prayer night and day; self-indulgent widow dead while she lives; Timothy to command these as well, so that they would be without reproach; anyone not providing for relatives, especially for household, has denied the faith, worse than unbeliever (1 Timothy 5:3-8) 3. Widow to be enrolled if over sixty, having been wife of one husband, having reputation for good works: brought up children, washed feet of saints, cared for afflicted, devoted self to good works; younger widows should not be enrolled, for passions draw them away from Christ; desire to marry, have condemnation for abandoning faith; they learn to be idlers, gossips, going from house to house, busybodies, saying what should not be said; younger widows to marry, bear children, manage households, give Satan no occasion for slander; some such have already strayed after Satan; if believing woman has relatives who are widows, she is to care for them, so church is not burdened, so church can provide for widows indeed (1 Timothy 5:9-16) 4. Elders who rule well worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching; ox not to be muzzled when treading out grain, laborer deserves wages; do not admit charge against elder except on evidence of two or three witnesses; elders who persist in sin to be rebuked before all so rest may fear (1 Timothy 5:17-20) 5. Paul charges Timothy in presence of God, Jesus, elect angels to keep these rules without prejudice, not acting according to partiality; Timothy should not be hasty to lay hands on anyone; do not take part in sins of others; keep pure; Timothy not to drink only water, but also a little wine for his stomach and illnesses; sins of some men conspicuous, toward judgment, sins of others evident later; good works also conspicuous, those that are not cannot remain hidden (1 Timothy 5:21-25) 6. Let all slaves regard masters as worthy of honor so name of God, teaching may not be reviled; slaves with believing masters are not to be disrespectful because they are brothers in Christ but should serve all the better since their masters are believers and beloved; Timoyhu to teach and urge these things (1 Timothy 6:1-2) 7. If anyone teaches different doctrine, does not agree with sound words of Lord Jesus, teaching according to godliness, such a one puffed up with conceit, understands nothing; he has unhealthy craving for controversy, quarrels about words, producing envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, friction among people depraved in mind, deprived of truth; they imagine godliness is a means of gain (1 Timothy 6:3-5) 8. Great gain in godliness with contentment-- we brought nothing into world, cannot take anything out of it; if we have food and clothing, content with these; those desiring to be rich fall into temptation, snare, senseless and harmful desires, plunging people into ruin and destruction; love of money root of all kinds of evils; through this craving some have wandered from faith, pierced selves with many pangs (1 Timothy 6:6-10) E. Final exhortations (1 Timothy 6:11-21) 1. Timothy, man of God, is to flee the love of money; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness; fight the good fight of faith; take hold of eternal life to which he is called, about which he made good confession before many witnesses; Paul charges Timothy in presence of God and Christ who made the good confession in His testimony before Pilate to keep the commandment unstained, free from reproach, until Jesus appears; He will display at the proper time; God as blessed, only Sovereign, King of kings, Lord of lords, alone having immortality, dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one ever has, ever could see; honor and dominion to Him forever (1 Timothy 6:11-16) 2. Timothy to charge the rich of this present age to not be haughty, not to set hope on uncertain riches but on God who richly provides for us; they are to do good, rich in good works, generous, ready to share, storing up treasure for themselves, laying good foundation for the future, to take hold of what is truly life (1 Timothy 6:17-19) 3. Timothy to guard deposit entrusted to him; avoid irreverent babble and contradiction of what is falsely called knowledge (gnosis); many have swerved from faith by professing it; grace be with Timothy (1 Timothy 6:20-21) IV. 1 Timothy: Christology and Theology A. God the Father, Savior; Christ the Lord, our hope (1 Timothy 1:1-2) B. God overflowing in mercy and grace through Christ; Christ came to save sinners; Paul exemplar of God's forgiveness, demonstrating that any and all can be forgiven (1 Timothy 1:12-16) C. God as King of ages, immortal, invisible, only God; worthy of honor and glory forever (1 Timothy 1:17) D. God as desiring all people to be saved, come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:3-4) E. God as one, Jesus as the one Mediator, Redeemer (1 Timothy 2:5-6) F. Church as household of God (1 Timothy 3:15) G. Jesus manifest in flesh, vindicated by Spirit, taken up in glory (1 Timothy 3:16) H. Jesus made confession before Pontius Pilate, to return one day (1 Timothy 6:13, 14) I. God as giving life to all things, blessed and only Sovereign, King of kings, Lord of lords, immortal, dwells in unapproachable light; no one as ever seeing God, ever able to see God; worthy of honor, eternal dominion; richly provides believers with all things to enjoy (1 Timothy 5:13, 15-17) V. 1 Timothy: Old Testament References A. 1 Timothy 2:13-14 / Genesis 2-3 B. 1 Timothy 5:18 / Deuteronomy 25:4 1. Also a quotation of Luke 10:4 2. Demonstration of Luke as Scripture C. 1 Timothy 5:19 / Deuteronomy 19:15 VI. 1 Timothy: The Kingdom A. Hold firm to the stewardship by faith; do not wander into genealogies, vain discussions, myths; use law properly (1 Timothy 1:3-8) B. All immorality inconsistent with sound doctrine, gospel (1 Timothy 1:8-11) C. Believers not to blaspheme but fight good fight of faith, holding faith and good conscience (1 Timothy 1:19-20) D. Expectations of believers 1. Prayers, intercessions, supplications, thanksgivings for all men, especially in authority, so believers can live peaceful, quiet lives; believers to be godly and dignified in every way (1 Timothy 2:1-2) 2. Men should pray without anger or quarreling (1 Timothy 2:8) 3. Women to dress modestly and with self-control, not with gold, pearls, costly attire; put on good works; learn quietly with submissiveness; not to teach or exercise authority (1 Timothy 2:9-12) 4. Women to continue in faith, love, holiness, with self-control (1 Timothy 2:15) E. Expectations of elders, deacons (1 Timothy 3:1-13) 1. Both: husband of one wife, managing household well, not drunkards, not greedy 2. Elders: above reproach, competent to teach, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, competent at teaching, children as submissive, not a recent convert, thought of well by those outside 3. Deacons and wives: dignified, not slanderers 4. Deacons: holding fast to mystery of faith with clear conscience 5. Their wives: faithful in all things 6. Elders who rule well to receive double honor; many labor in preaching and teaching; elders can receive payment for work; elders who persist in sin to be rebuked so all may fear (1 Timothy 5:17-20) F. Church as household of God, pillar and support of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15) G. Marriage not to be forbidden to those who can marry; no compulsion to avoid certain foods (1 Timothy 4:3-4) H. Believers to toil and strive for godliness, which has gain in present and future lives; hope set on Christ (1 Timothy 4:7-10) I. Believers to provide for relatives, especially of their household (1 Timothy 5:8) J. Widows 1. Their support should come from children, grandchildren, or other relative (1 Timothy 5:4, 8, 16) 2. If they are younger than 60, they should remarry, have children, manage households, not give Satan opportunity for slander (1 Timothy 5:11-15) 3. If older than 60, was wife of one husband, brought up children, been hospitable, served the saints, cared for afflicted, devoted herself to every good work, widow indeed to be enrolled, provided for by congregation 4. In conduct, widows to be above reproach, not self-indulgent, in prayer and supplication, not idlers, gossips, busybodies (1 Timothy 5:5-7, 11-13) K. All sin will be made evident by the time of judgment; good works, no matter how conspicuous, cannot be hidden (1 Timothy 5:24-25) L. Christian slaves (employees) to honor masters (employer) regardless of their belief or unbelief; slaves (employees) of believers not to take advantage of spiritual relationship, but be all the better servants because of it (1 Timothy 6:1-2) M. Wealth and its pursuit 1. Desire to be rich leads to all kinds of problems, evils, difficulties-- many fall away because of it (1 Timothy 6:9-10) 2. Believers to be content with food and clothing; godliness with contentment leads to great gain; we brought nothing into world, will not take anything out (1 Timothy 6:6-8) 3. Wealthy believers are not to trust in riches but in God: be generous, rich in good works, laying foundation for future, obtaining treasure in heaven, holding fast to what is really life (1 Timothy 6:17-19) VII. 1 Timothy: The Work of the Evangelist A. Warn people away from myths, genealogies, vain discussions (1 Timothy 1:3-4, 6-7) B. The aim of charge: love issuing from pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith (1 Timothy 1:5) C. Substance of material regarding prayers, men and women, elders, deacons, and wives all part of knowing how to conduct self in midst of household of God, the church (1 Timothy 2-3) D. Command and teach Christians regarding functions, the mystery of godliness in Christ, warnings about false teachers and their attributes; trained in words of faith and good doctrine; godliness and its present and future value (1 Timothy 3:14-4:11) E. Avoid irreverent and silly myths; instead, train for godliness; set forth the proper example in speech, conduct, faith, love, purity, to make sure that youth not despised; be devoted to public reading of Scripture; use gifts given by God; keep watch on self, teaching, to save self and hearers (1 Timothy 4:7-16) F. Conduct Among Christians 1. Not to rebuke older man, encourage him as father; encourage older women as mothers, younger men as brothers, younger women as sisters; maintain pure conduct with women (1 Timothy 5:1-2) 2. Honor widows: family should take care of widows if present; if widow indeed, meets qualifications, to be supported by congregation; command widows to act in godly ways, not self-indulgent, to be above reproach; younger widows to marry again; church only to be burdened with widows indeed (1 Timothy 5:3-16) 3. Honor elders, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching; receive accusation against elder only with evidence of two or three witnesses; those who persist in sin are to be rebuked publicly so all will fear (1 Timothy 5:17-20) 4. Apply rules without prejudice or partiality; do not hastily approve what people are doing; do not participate in unrighteousness but remain pure (1 Timothy 5:21-22) 5. Teach and urge instructions about elders, widows, prejudice, slaves (1 Timothy 5:1-6:2) G. Flee from love of money, false teaching; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness; fight good fight of faith; take hold of eternal life; make good the good confession, hold to commandment unstained and free from reproach; guard deposit of faith; avoid irreverent babble and gnosis by which many have swerved from truth (1 Timothy 6:11-14, 20-21) H. Charge materially rich to not trust in wealth but in God, be full of good works and generosity so as to lay up treasure in heaven, lay good foundation for future, take hold of life indeed (1 Timothy 6:17-19) VIII. Conclusion A. Thus we have seen Paul's first letter to Timothy 1. Exhortations to believers to avoid error, cling to God and His truth, live it 2. Proper conduct of believers in the church, arrangement of men and women, elders and deacons 3. Instructions for Timothy, evangelists for personal lives, work in ministry B. Let us also guard what has been entrusted to us, serve God ourselves, and exhort others to do the same! C. Invitation/songbook