1 Timothy

Book Outhne

Key theme: How to manage the ministry of the local church

Key verse:

I. The Church and Its Message ()

A. Teaching sound doctrine ()

B. Proclaiming the gospel ()

C. Defending the faith ()

II. The Church and Its Members ()

A. Praying men ()

B. Submitting women ()

C. Qualified pastors ()

D. Qualified deacons ()

E. Behaving believers ()

III. The Church and Its Minister ()

A. A good minister, preaching the Word ()

B. A godly minister, practicing the Word ()

C. A growing minister, progressing in the Word ()

IV. The Church and Its Ministry ()

A. To older members (, )

B. To older widows ()

C. To younger widows ()

D. To church officers ()

E. To slaves (, )

F. To false teachers ()

G. To the pastor (, , )

H. To the rich ()

Book Overview

Timothy was a young man who responded to Christ’s call to help build His church. He was one of the apostle Paul’s special assistants. Along with Titus, Timothy tackled some of the tough assignments in the churches that Paul had founded. Timothy was brought up in a religious home () and had been led to faith in Christ by Paul himself. This explains why Paul called Timothy “a true son in the faith” ().

Timothy was born of mixed parentage: His mother was a Jewish believer, his father a Greek. Timothy was so devoted to Christ that his local church leaders recommended him to Paul, and Paul added him to his “missionary staff” (). Paul often reminded Timothy that he was chosen for this ministry (; ). Timothy was faithful to the Lord () and had a deep concern for God’s people ().

But in spite of his calling, his close association with Paul, and his spiritual gifts, Timothy was easily discouraged. The last time Paul had been with Timothy, he had encouraged him to stay on at Ephesus and finish his work ().

Ephesus would not have been the easiest place to pastor a church. (Are there any “easy places”? I doubt it.) The city was devoted to the worship of Artemis, the patroness of the sexual instinct. Her lascivious images helped promote sexual immorality of all kinds (see ). Paul had done a great work in Ephesus during his three-year ministry, so “all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks” (). It was not easy for Timothy to follow a man like Paul! Of course, Satan had his workers in the city, for wherever there are spiritual opportunities there are also satanic obstacles (, ).

Paul wrote the letter we call 1 Timothy to encourage Timothy, to explain how a local church should be managed, and to enforce his own authority as a servant of God.

“Be Transformed”

One way to think about the sequence of development that we experience in the Christian life is that we begin as “Timothys,” with the goal of growing toward “Paul-like” maturity. God works out His transforming work in our lives on His timetable, but the direction is always toward greater spiritual maturity. Even Paul started out as a “Timothy,” stunned by God’s interruption of his life on the road to Damascus (). He suddenly needed an older, wiser believer to walk him through the first steps in his new life, and God assigned that task to Ananias. It’s difficult to decide who would have been more terrified in their first encounter—Paul or Ananias ()! Paul was waiting in blindness and wondering, “What’s next?” while Ananias was making his way to Straight Street muttering the same question under his breath. Neither man could have known how history would be affected by their meeting. But God knew!

Years later, on yet another journey, Paul met Timothy in Lystra, and the process began again. Encouraging growth toward maturity was a constant theme in Paul’s letters. We note the five-fold emphasis in on how Timothy was to be an example to all believers (in spite of his age): in what he said, in the way he lived, in the way he loved, in his faith, and in his purity. And beyond the challenges that follow, Paul emphasizes in that the desired effect on others of the way we give our attention and throw ourselves into our tasks will be to notice that we’re making progress. We’re growing up. We’re developing into the transformed people God intends for us to be.

Greeting

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,

2To Timothy, a true son in the faith:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

No Other Doctrine

3As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.

5Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,

6from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk,

7desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.

8But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully,

9knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

10for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine,

11according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.

Glory to God for His Grace

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,

13although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

14And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

15This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.

17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Fight the Good Fight

This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,

19having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,

20of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Pray for All Men

1Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,

for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

4who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

6who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,

7for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Men and Women in the Church

8I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;

in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing,

10but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.

11Let a woman learn in silence with all submission.

12And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.

13For Adam was formed first, then Eve.

14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.

Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

Qualifications of Overseers

This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;

3not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;

4one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence

5(for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);

6not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

7Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Qualifications of Deacons

Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money,

9holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.

10But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless.

Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.

12Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

13For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

The Great Mystery

14These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly;

15but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:

God was manifested in the flesh,

Justified in the Spirit,

Seen by angels,

Preached among the Gentiles,

Believed on in the world,

Received up in glory.

The Great Apostasy

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,

speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,

3forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

4For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;

for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

A Good Servant of Jesus Christ

6If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.

7But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.

8For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

9This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.

For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

11These things command and teach.

Take Heed to Your Ministry

12Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.

15Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.

16Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

Treatment of Church Members

Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers,

2older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.

Honor True Widows

Honor widows who are really widows.

4But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God.

5Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.

6But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.

7And these things command, that they may be blameless.

8But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

9Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man,

10well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.

But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry,

12having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith.

13And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.

14Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

15For some have already turned aside after Satan.

16If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.

Honor the Elders

Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

18For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”

19Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses.

Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.

21I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.

22Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.

23No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.

Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later.

25Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.

Honor Masters

Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed.

And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

Error and Greed

3If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness,

4he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,

5useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

6Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

7For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

9But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

The Good Confession

But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

12Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate,

14that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing,

15which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

16who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.

Instructions to the Rich

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.

Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,

19storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Guard the Faith

20O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—

21by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.

Annotations for 1 Timothy

One reason Christian workers must stay on the job is that false teachers are busy trying to capture Christians. There were teachers of false doctrines in Paul’s day just as there are today, and we must take them seriously. These false teachers have no good news for lost sinners. They seek instead to lead Christians astray and capture them for their causes.

The reason for this false doctrine was a misuse of the Old Testament law. These false teachers did not understand the content or the purpose of God’s law. They were leading believers out of the liberty of grace (.) into the bondage of legalism, a tragedy that still occurs today. The flesh (our old nature) loves religious legalism because rules and regulations enable a person to appear holy without really experiencing changes within his or her heart.

The false teachers were using the Old Testament law, and especially the genealogies, to manufacture all kinds of novelties, and these new doctrines were leading people astray. The false teachers were raising questions, not answering them. They were not promoting “godly edification which is in faith,” but were leading people away from the truth. Instead of producing love, purity, a good conscience, and sincere faith, these novel doctrines were causing division, hypocrisy, and all sorts of problems.

How could the holy God ever save and forgive such a self-righteous sinner? The key words are mercy (v. ) and grace (v. ). God in His mercy did not give Paul what he did deserve; instead God in His grace gave Paul what he did not deserve. Grace and mercy are God’s love in action, God’s love paying a price to save lost sinners. It is not God’s love alone that saves us, for God loves the whole world (). It is by grace that we are saved (, ) because God is rich in mercy () and grace ().

God saw that Paul was faithful, and so He entrusted the gospel to him. Even as an unbelieving and gospel-ignorant Jewish leader, Paul had maintained a good conscience and he lived up to the light that he had. So often those who are intensely wrong as lost sinners become intensely right as Christians and are greatly used of God to win souls. God not only entrusted the gospel to Paul, but He enabled Paul to be a minister of that gospel (; ). When someone obeys God’s call to serve, God always equips and enables that person. Paul not only became a minister; he also became an example.

It was not easy to serve God in pagan Ephesus, but Timothy was a man under orders, and he had to obey. The soldier’s task is to “please him who enlisted him as a soldier” (), and not to please himself. Furthermore, Timothy was there by divine appointment: God had chosen him and sent him. It was this fact that could give him assurance in difficult days. If you are God’s servant, called by the Spirit, obeying His will, then you can “stay with it” and finish the work. These assurances enabled Timothy to “fight well in the Lord’s battles.”

Paul urged the church to especially pray for those in authority. The godless emperor Nero was on the throne at that time, and yet the believers were supposed to pray for him! Even when we cannot respect men or women in authority, we must respect their offices and pray for them. In fact, it is for our own good, “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (v. ). The early church was always subject to opposition and persecution, so it was wise to pray for those in authority. “Quiet” refers to circumstances around us, while “peaceable” refers to a calm attitude within us. The results should be lives that are godly and honorable.

It pleases the Father when His children pray as He has commanded them. The Pharisees prayed in order to be praised by others (), even other worshipers (). True Christians pray in order to please God. This suggests that we must pray in the will of God, because it certainly does not please the Father when we pray selfishly (; , ).

Many believers do not realize that prayer is based on the work of Jesus Christ as Savior and Mediator. As the God-Man, Jesus Christ is the perfect Mediator between the holy God and His failing children. One of Job’s complaints had to do with the absence of a mediator who could take his message to the throne of God (). Since there is only one God, there is need for only one Mediator, and that Mediator is Jesus Christ. No other person can qualify.

Because of its oppressive connotations, the word “submission” makes some people see red. Some well-meaning writers have even accused Paul of being a “crusty old bachelor” who was anti-women. Those of us who hold to the inspiration and authority of the Word of God know that Paul’s teachings came from God and not from himself.

Catalyst

The word translated “submissively” in literally means “to rank under” (see , ). Anyone who has served in the armed forces knows that “rank” has to do with order and authority, not with value or ability. A colonel is higher in rank than a private, but that does not necessarily mean that the colonel is a better man than the private. It only means that the colonel has a higher rank and, therefore, more authority.

Submission is not subjugation. Submission is recognizing God’s order in the home and the church, and joyfully obeying it. When a Christian wife joyfully submits to the Lord and to her own husband, it should bring out the best in her. (For this to happen, the husband must love his wife and use God’s order as a tool to build with, not a weapon to fight with, .)

Submission is the key to spiritual growth and ministry: Husbands should be submitted to the Lord, Christians should submit to each other (), and wives should be submitted to the Lord and to their husbands.

Go to the

Paul laid down a general principle that encouraged the believing women of that day. Their ministry was not to run the church, but to care for the home and bear children to the glory of God (). Their home congregation would give them abundant opportunities for teaching the Word and ministering to the saints (see ). God used dedicated women to assist Paul in his ministry (; , ; ) just as He uses them in churches today.

Everything rises or falls with leadership, whether it be a family or a local church. The Holy Spirit imparts gifts to believers for ministry in the local church, and among those gifts are “pastors and teachers” (), those who can “help” others, and those who have the gift of “administrations” (). As we noted before, even though the church is an organism, it must be organized or it will die. Leadership is a part of spiritual organization. In this section, Paul described the elder, the deacon, and the church itself. By understanding these three descriptions, we shall be able to give better leadership to the ministry of the church.

“Elder” is the translation of the Greek word episkopos, which means “an overseer.” Paul used the word we transliterate as “presbytery” (presbuteriou) in , referring not to a denomination, but to the “eldership” of the assembly that ordained Timothy. Elders and bishops (two names for the same office) were mature people with spiritual wisdom and experience, who had to be qualified. It was good for a growing believer to aspire to the office of elder, but the best way to achieve it was to develop Christian character and to meet the requirements that follow. To become an elder/bishop was a serious decision, one not treated lightly in the early church.

“The husband of one wife,” means that an elder must not be divorced and remarried. Paul was certainly not referring to polygamy, since no church member, let alone a pastor, would be accepted if he had more than one wife. Nor is he referring to remarriage after the death of the wife; for why would a pastor be prohibited from marrying again, in the light of and ?

The English word “deacon” is a transliteration of the Greek word diakonos, which simply means “servant.” It is likely that the origin of the deacons is recorded in . The first deacons were appointed to be assistants to the apostles. In a local church today deacons relieve the pastors/elders of other tasks so that they may concentrate on the ministry of the Word, prayer, and spiritual oversight ().

Some students do not think that refers to the wives of deacons but to another order of ministers—the deaconesses. Many churches do have deaconesses who assist with the women’s work, in baptisms, in fellowship times, and so forth. Phoebe was a deaconess from the church at Cenchrea (, where the word is diakonon). Perhaps in some of the churches, the wives of the deacons did serve as deaconesses. We thank God for the ministry of godly women in the local church, whether they hold offices or not! It is not necessary to hold an office to have a ministry or exercise a gift.

One difference between a true church and a religious cult is this: A true church seeks to win converts to Jesus Christ and to build them spiritually; conversely, a cult proselytizes, steals converts from others, and makes them servants of the leaders of the cult. However, not all apostates are in cults; some of them are in churches and pulpits, teaching false doctrine and leading people astray.

In the phrase “having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,” the word translated “seared,” which means “cauterized,” can also be translated “dead.” Just as a person’s flesh can be “branded” so that it becomes hard and without feeling, so a person’s conscience can be deadened. Whenever we affirm with our lips something that we deny with our lives (whether people know it or not), we deaden our consciences just a little more.

, The emphasis in a minister’s life should be on “the word of God and prayer” (v. ). It is tragic when a church keeps its pastors so busy with menial tasks that they have hardly any time for God’s Word and prayer (). Paul reminded young Timothy of his great responsibility to study, teach, and preach the Scriptures, and to spend time in prayer. As a “good minister” he must be “nourished in the words of faith” (v. ).

The words translated “suffer reproach” are an athletic term from which we get our English word “agonize.” It is the picture of an athlete straining and giving his best to win. A Christian who wants to excel must really work at it, by the grace of God and to the glory of God.

Godly living not only helps us and other believers; it also has its influence on the lost. Paul reminded Pastor Timothy that Jesus Christ is the Savior, and it is the believer’s task to share that good news with the lost.

The title “Savior of all men” does not imply that everybody will be saved (universalism), or that God saves people in spite of themselves, for Paul added “especially of those who believe.” It is faith that saves one’s soul. Since God’s will is for all men to be saved, and since Christ gave Himself as a ransom for all, then any lost sinner can trust Christ and be saved (). Christ is “the Savior of all men,” so nobody need despair.

The key thought in this section is “that your progress may be evident to all” (v. ). The word “progress” is a Greek military term; it means “pioneer advance.” It describes the soldiers who go ahead of the troops, clear away the obstacles, and make it possible for others to follow. As a godly pastor, Timothy was to grow spiritually so that the whole church could see his spiritual progress and imitate it.

When God calls a believer into a special place of ministry, He often imparts a spiritual gift for that task. When Timothy was ordained by the elders, he received an enabling gift from God when the elders laid hands on him. But for some reason, Timothy had neglected to cultivate this gift that was so necessary to his spiritual progress and ministry. In fact, Paul had to admonish him in his second letter to “stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands” ().

It is encouraging to know that the God who calls us also equips us to do His work. We have nothing in ourselves that enables us to serve Him; the ministry must all come from God. However, we must not be passive; we must cultivate God’s gifts, use them, and develop them in the ministry of the local church.

, Paul admonished Timothy to minister to the various kinds of people in the church, and not to show favoritism (v. ). Since Timothy was a younger man, he might be tempted to ignore the older members, so Paul urged him to love and serve all of the people, regardless of their ages. The church is a family: Treat the older members like your mother and father, and the younger members like your brothers and sisters.

From the beginning of its ministry, the church had a concern for believing widows (; ). Of course, the nation of Israel had sought to care for widows; and God had given special legislation to protect them (; ; ). God’s special care for the widows is a recurring theme in Scripture (; ; ). It was only right that the local church show compassion to these women who were in need. However, the church must be careful not to waste its resources on people who really are not in need. Whether we like to admit it or not, there are individuals and entire families that “milk” local churches. We must be diligent in the use of resources God gives to the church.

Because of their age, younger widows are naturally attracted to men and want to marry again. What is so bad about that? Paul seemed to imply (v. ) that each of the older widows who were enrolled pledged herself to remain a widow and serve the Lord in the church. There seemed to be an agreement between the widows and the church that they would remain widows and serve the Lord.

The instructions in this section deal primarily with the elders, but the principles also apply to a pastor’s relationship with any officer in his church. It is a wonderful thing when the elders and deacons (and other officers) work together in harmony and love. It is tragic when a pastor tries to become a spiritual dictator (), or when an officer tries to be a preeminent “big shot” (see , ).

The purpose of discipline is restoration, not revenge. Our purpose must be to save the offender, not to drive him away. Our attitude must be one of love and tenderness (). In fact, the verb “restore” that Paul used in means “to set a broken bone.”

, Apparently Timothy was having some problems with the elders of the church at Ephesus. He was a young man and still had much to learn. Ephesus was not an easy place to minister. Furthermore, Timothy had followed Paul as overseer of the church, and Paul would not have been an easy man to follow! Paul’s farewell address to the Ephesian elders () shows how hard he had worked, and how faithful he had been, and how much the elders had loved him (). In spite of the fact that Paul had personally sent Timothy to Ephesus, the young man was having a hard time.

, Some historians have estimated that half of the population of the Roman empire was composed of slaves. Many of these people were educated and cultured, but legally they were not considered persons at all. The gospel message of salvation and freedom in Christ appealed to the slaves, and many of them became believers. Some slaves used their newfound freedom in Christ as an excuse to disobey, if not defy, their masters. They needed to learn that their spiritual freedom in Christ did not alter their social position, even though they were accepted graciously into the fellowship of the church.

The tragedy of all this is that the people have “turned their backs on the truth” (v. ) while they think they are discovering the truth! They think that the weekly arguments in their meetings, during which they exchange their ignorance, are a means of growing in grace; meanwhile the result is a loss of character, not an improvement.

These verses describe a person who has to have more and more material things in order to be happy and feel successful. But riches are a trap; they lead to bondage, not freedom. Instead of giving satisfaction, riches create additional lusts (desires), and these must be satisfied. Instead of providing help and health, an excess of material things hurts and wounds.

, Not all unity is good, and not all division is bad. There are times when a servant of God should take a stand against false doctrine and godless practices, and separate himself from them. He must be sure, however, that he acts on the basis of biblical conviction and not because of a personal prejudice or a carnal party spirit.

Why did Paul write so much about the person and glory of God? Probably as a warning against the “emperor cult” that existed in the Roman empire. It was customary to acknowledge regularly, “Caesar is Lord!” Of course, Christians would say “Jesus Christ is Lord!” Paul exclaims here that only God has “honor and everlasting power” (v. ). If Timothy was going to fight the good fight of faith, he had to decide that Jesus Christ alone was worthy of worship and complete devotion.

If wealth makes a person proud, then he understands neither himself nor his wealth. We are not owners; we are stewards. If we have wealth, it is by the goodness of God and not because of any special merits on our part. The possessing of material wealth ought to humble a person and cause him to glorify God, not himself.

, Employ what God gives you. We should use our wealth to do good to others; we should share; we should put our money to work. When we do, we enrich ourselves spiritually, and we make investments for the future (see ). Riches can lure a person into a make-believe world of shallow pleasure. But riches in God’s will can introduce a person to life that is real and ministry that is lasting.

1 Timothy 1

1:2

1:3 ,

1:4

1:5

1:6 ,

1:8 ,

1:11

1:12

1:13

1:14

1:14 ;

1:15

1:15 ;

1:17

1:17 NU-Text reads to the only God.

1:20 ,

1:20

1 Timothy 2

2:2

2:2 []

2:3

2:4 ,

2:4 []

2:5

2:5 []

2:6

2:7 ,

2:7 [, ]

2:7 NU-Text omits in Christ.

2:8

2:9

2:10

2:12

1 Timothy 3

3:1 Literally overseer

3:3 NU-Text omits not greedy for money.

3:7

3:8

3:13

3:16 []

3:16

3:16 ,

3:16

3:16 NU-Text reads Who.

1 Timothy 4

4:1

4:2

4:6

4:7

4:8

4:10

4:10 NU-Text reads we labor and strive.

4:12

4:12 NU-Text omits in spirit.

4:14

1 Timothy 5

5:4

5:4 NU-Text and M-Text omit good and.

5:5

5:8

5:16 NU-Text omits man or.

5:18

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1 Timothy 6

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6:3

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6:5 NU-Text and M-Text read constant friction.

6:5 NU-Text omits this sentence.

6:6

6:7

6:7 NU-Text omits and it is certain.

6:8 ,

6:13 ,

6:16

6:17 ;

6:17 ,

6:19 [, ; ]

6:20 [, ]

6:20

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