1 Timothy
Chapter 1
(What you will find here are my notes from a Bible Study I am attending on 1 Timothy. I hope they will prove helpful. AMP – Amplified Bible. MSG – Message Bible. BBE – Bible in Basic English. The main text I am using is the New American Standard Version.)
GREETING
1Ti 1:1 – Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope,
1Ti 1:2 – To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Here we have the sender (Paul) and to whom the letter is being sent (Timothy).
Paul is an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative – AMP; an apostle on special assignment – MSG) of Christ Jesus according to the commandment (Under God our Savior's command) – MSG; by the order of God – BBE) our savior.
Three things we need to live a godly life:
Grace
Mercy
Peace
Grace – Mercy – Peace come from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Some have rightly side – “There can be no peace without grace.” Here we have mercy thrown in for good measure.
Grace is the Greek greeting – Peace is the Hebrew greeting.
WARNING AGAINST FALSE TEACHERS
1Ti 1:3 – As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines,
1Ti 1:4 – nor 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.
Three things to stay away from:
Strange Doctrines – different doctrines
Myths – legends, fables, fantasy stories
Endless Genealogies – fanciful family trees
These three things can get people off track. “Stay right there on top of things so that the teaching stays on track.” MSG
“mere speculation” – ventures into the world of unknown and unanswerable – questionings and doubts – majoring on minor matters.
It is easy to speculate – but it is better to stick with the things that are known.
“Strange Doctrines” – (Gr. heterodidaskalein) is a general term that contrasts their novel teaching with what is edifying.
“Myths” – Certain myths about what Jesus did are an example of this ear-tickling entertainment, though these specific myths were not the subject of these false teachers. One of these was that when Jesus was a child he formed a bird out of clay, blew on it, it came to life and flew away. This myth appears in the Koran, which was written several centuries after this epistle. The story can also be found in the Gospel of Thomas – a book NOT in the canon – and for good reason.
“Endless Genealogies” – The lists of bare names in Old Testament genealogies were easily expanded into fictitious histories.
John Bunyan reportedly said, "Some love the meat; some love to pick the bones."
1Ti 1:5 – But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
The ultimate aim of a Bible teacher should not be to generate debate and controversy. It should be to cultivate the lives of their students so they manifest love in their daily living.
The goal of our instruction: IS LOVE
Three things that promote love:
A Pure Heart
A Good Conscience
A Sincere Faith
Love springs from – a pure heart – a good conscience – a sincere faith
“The whole point of what we're urging is simply love--love uncontaminated by self-interest and counterfeit faith, a life open to God.” MSG
1Ti 1:6 – For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion,
1Ti 1:7 – wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.
“some men” – individuals – but not all men
“straying” – swerving – wandering – turning away
“fruitless discussion” – vain jangling – foolish talking – “wander off into cul-de-sacs of gossip” MSG
Their desire was to be teachers of the law – but…
The "Law" is the Mosaic Code but also the Scriptures of Paul's day, the Old Testament, particularly the legal parts of it.
“confident assertions” – confident declarations – stubbornness with a refusal to be denied – dogmatic – it may be presented with confidence – but that does not mean that it is true.
1Ti 1:8 – But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully,
1Ti 1:9 – realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers
1Ti 1:10 – and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching,
1Ti 1:11 – according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.
The Law does not make us righteous – but it does teach us. The Law is profitable if one uses it properly, according to its original intention. In the Greek there is a play on words (“law” – a Gr. Nomos, "lawfully" Gr. nomimos).
The teaching of the Law usually goes in two directions – legalism or license. People usually say “keep all of it” or “throw it all out”.
“The Law is GOOD”
The Law is not our source of righteousness.
The Law shows one that they are law breakers…. All have sinned.
Paul arranged his first six epithets in pairs
The Disobedient
"Lawless" people refuse to recognize law.
"Rebellious" individuals refuse to obey laws.
The Irreverent
"Ungodly" men and women have no regard for God.
"Sinners" live in opposition to God.
The Impure
"Unholy" people are those whose lives are impure.
"Profane" persons treat sacred things as common.
The Violent
"Those who kill their fathers or mothers." Such people have no respect or affection for their own parents
"Murderers" – kill people deliberately.
The Immoral
"Immoral men" deal perversely with people of the opposite sex.
"Homosexuals" abuse people of their own sex.
The Deceitful
"Kidnappers" steal and sell other people.
"Liars and perjurers" bear false witness.
Healthy teaching leads to proper Christian behavior, love and good works; the diseased teaching of the heretics leads to controversies, arrogance, abusiveness, and strife.
Paul's points in this section of scripture can be arranged as:
1. When a person teaches the Scriptures, he or she should distinguish speculation that goes beyond what God has revealed from the teaching of God's Word.
2. Love for others should be the primary motive, not a desire to glorify oneself.
3. A teacher should present scripture with the purpose for which God intended it – not adding to it or taking away from it.
CHRIST JESUS CAME TO SAVE SINNERS
1Ti 1:12 – I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service,
1Ti 1:13 – even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;
1Ti 1:14 – and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.
Three things to remember:
1. Never forget how God is working in your life.
2. Never forget your past sinful behavior.
3. Never forget the grace and mercy of God.
Paul does three things:
1. He does not ignore his sins.
2. He does not focus on his sins – but he tells it like it was.
3. He focuses on the work of God in his life.
“strengthened me” – enabled me – granted me the needed strength – making me adequate – gave me power
God poured out grace, trust, and love on Paul even though Paul had poured out blasphemy, persecution, and violence on God.
1Ti 1:15 – 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.
“It is a trustworthy statement” – it is a fact – It is a true saying BBE – It’s a fact Jack….
Have no doubt about it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”
“I am foremost of all” – part of the salvation process is to realize that you are a sinner. How can there be any repentance if you don’t believe you need saving. Why would you seek a Savior unless you realize that you need saving? The fact is that it is always the characteristic of a true saint to feel himself a real sinner.
Was Paul really the worst sinner of all time? Obviously, many people have lived longer in a more depraved condition than Paul did. But He looks upon himself as a great sinner. John Newton, the author of the song “Amazing Grace” once wrote in a letter:
Dear Sir,
I have been grieved by several letters directed to Doctor Newton. I beg you to inform my friends in Scotland, that if any letters come to me addressed to Doctor Newton--I shall be obliged to send them back unopened. I know no such person--I never shall, and I never will, by the grace of God.
Do not think I am displeased with you, or any of any kind friends, who mean kindness and honor by such an address. I only beg for my peace sake, that it may not be repeated.
I have been informed that a college in America, I think in New Jersey, has given me the honorary degree of Doctor. As to the title itself, I renounce it heartily--nor would I willingly be known by it, if all the universities in Europe conferred it upon me!
My youthful years were spent in slavery (a slave trader) in Africa, and I ought to take my degrees (if I take any) from thence. Shall such a compound of misery and mischief as I then was--be called Doctor? Surely not!
John Newton
I repeat again: The fact is that it is always the characteristic of a true saint to feel himself a real sinner.
1Ti 1:16 – Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
“perfect patience” – longsuffering KJV – endless patience MSG
God must show perfect patience if He is to deal with one like me. May God be patient with all of us – as He has been with the saints who have gone before us.
1Ti 1:17 – Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Paul is glorifying God in this brief doxology. God is the King of the ages (He is sovereign), immortal (He is eternal), invisible (He is spiritual), and the only God (He is unique). To Him belong all honor and glory eternally.
"Amen" means, "So be it." The Christians often uttered this word out loud in their meetings, as did the Jews in their synagogues.
1Ti 1:18 – This 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,
1Ti 1:19 – keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.
“fight the good fight” – war a good warfare KJV – fearless in your struggle MSG
While preoccupation with the enemy can lead to despair, to ignore the enemy can lead to disaster.
1Ti 1:20 – Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.
“I have handed (them) over to Satan” – delivered unto Satan KJV – I let them wander off to Satan MSG – I have given up to Satan BBE
Handing someone over to Satan may mean:
1. that Satan had permission to inflict some illness or disability on the evildoer such as was seen in the story of Job.
2. that these people were cast out of the fellowship of the church into Satan's sphere
It was very rare for Paul to name names when referring to serious sinners. That he did so here indicates that he wanted everyone to know to whom he was referring.
It is certainly a disciplinary act with a purpose behind it – “so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.”
“so that they may say no more evil words against God.” BBE
Paul did this so that two individuals would see their error and repent. The ultimate purpose of this punishment was correction. If the house is on fire – do you stand by and do nothing. Corrective action must take place.
