IT’S PERSONAL AND MINISTERIAL
1 Timothy 1:1-3
INTRODUCTION:
A. This morning we will begin a series, covering 1 Timothy, I have entitled “Keeping What God Has Entrusted unto Us.”
1. Our mission will be to see how this short book can help us in our walk with the Savior and the building up of His church.
2. In our world today there are a lot of misconceptions and arguments concerning salvation, who God is and how things ought to be done in the church
3. This book can do a lot to bring knowledge and wisdom in these areas if we will let it speak to us and for itself: they are Personal and Ministerial
4. We must remember this is God’s words to His people.
B. This morning we will begin in the first book of Timothy by Paul the apostle and I would like to accomplish three things – which will make up our outline.
1. First we will look at the Historical Context
2. Secondly I want to look at the Human Factor
3. Thirdly we will look at two Helpful Themes which will show us the purpose for the letter.
C. With that said, let’s pray and get on with God’s message to us this morning!
PRAY
If we want to get a true grasp on what Paul is writing to this young man named Timothy we will have to understand
I. THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT
A. 1 & 2 Timothy along with Titus have become known as the “Pastoral Epistles.”
1. Unlike so many of Paul’s writing these three letters were personal letters written to individuals: Timothy and Titus.
2. In them, the aging apostle, encouraged the two young men to stay true to their calling and make sure the church stayed true to its calling.
3. He spoke to them of faithfulness and church order.
B. Two of the three letters were addressed to the young man named Timothy, pastor of the church in Ephesus.
1. Paul may have crossed path with this young man on his first missionary journey as he passed through Lystra – Timothy’s home town.
2. But it was not until his second missionary journey that he got to know him.
- We read about this in Acts 16:1-3 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
3. Timothy soon became an intimate partner of Paul’s: he is mentioned in the opening greetings to 2 Cor., Phil., Col., Thess. and Philemon.
4. Paul sent him to the Corinthians Church to help get things straightened out there (1 Cor 4:17 & 16:10)
5. And it was Paul who left Timothy in Ephesus 1 Tim. 1:3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia,…
C. Paul probably wrote this letter between his first and last imprisonment.
1. His first imprisonment came about through an incident recorded for us in Acts 25-28 and he had appealed to Caesar
2. It is believed that he was set free in 62 A.D.
3. He wrote the letter between that date and the beginning of his last imprisonment – somewhere around 64 A.D.
D. Finally we need to know, as Paul writes this letter, the wolves had already entered the church with false doctrines, vain questioning and disruptive conduct.
1. And, I must point out, these types of problems still exist today
2. Nothing is new - Almost 3000 years ago Solomon wrote: The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Eccles. 1:9
3. This book of 1 Timothy is relevant for you and I and the church.
With the Historical Context set we move to
II. THE HUMAN FACTOR, 1 Tim. 1:1-2 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
A. The first human being (totally and only) mentioned in our text is Paul
1. We do not have the time to go into a complete rendering of the apostle Paul’s life but one moment must be mention because all else hinges on it – the moment Paul became a believer and apostle of Christ Jesus.
2. Paul’s conversion is written about in Acts 9
a. He was save on the way to Damascus through a direct encounter with the risen Lord.
b. Acts 9:15-16 gives us some important information; they are God’s words spoken to His emissary Ananias concerning Saul, soon to be known as Paul: Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name
