Teaching Notes 1 TIMOTHY 1 to 3

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Teaching Notes 1 TIMOTHY 1 to 3

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The first Quarantine in the USA since 1918 rages on.  I have completely lost count of the days at this point.  It is 22 or something.  I really do not know.  It has become much more confining in Georgia.  However, God is using this time to show me amazing miracles and His Amazing Grace.  And for that, I am very thankful.  We must learn to completely rely on him in good times and bad.  For all of the great strengths we rely on from day to day in the world come in one quick moment to be blown away like the grass.  

"The grass withers and the flower [fades],
    but the word of [the Lord] endures forever.”  Isaiah 40:8."

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Paul saw that the Church at Ephesus was teaching false 
doctrine and thus Paul dispatched his pupil Timothy to 

the Church at Ephesus

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l TIMOTHY

Care of the Church at Ephesus

The Pastoral Epistles

I and II Timothy and Titus are commonly called the "Pastoral

Epistles". Prevailing opinion is that they were written between

Paul’s first and second imprisonment, between 64 and 67 AD.

Timothy: A native of Lystra, Acts 16:1. His mother a Jewess, his father

a Greek. Mother's name Eunice, grandmother Lois, II Tim 1:5.

Paul's convert, I Tim 1:2. Joined Paul on his second Journey.

about 51 AD, Acts 16:3. His choice indicated of God, I Tim 1:13.

Set apart by the Elders and Paul, I Tim 4:14; II Tim 1:6. Accom-

panied Paul to Troas, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea. Stopped at

Berea Paul sent for him to “come to Athens, Acts 17:14-15.

Then Paul sent him back to Thessalonica, I Thes 3:1-2. By the

time he returned Paul had gone to Corinth, Acts 18:5; I Thes 3:6.

Joined in writing the Thessalonian Letters, I Thes 1:1; II Thes 1:1.

Later Paul sent him from Ephesus to Corinth, I Cor 4:17. Paul

joined him in Macedonia, and he joined in the writing of II Cor,

Acts 19:22; II Cor 1:1. He part way on Paul’s journey to Jeru-

salem, Acts 20:4. 

Whether Timothy accompanied Paul all the way to

Jerusalem and Rome is not stated, but he appears with Paul in

Rome, Pps 1:1; 2:19—22; Çol 1:1; Pln 1.  Later Timothy is in Ephesus,

where this Epistle is addressed to him. Is urged to come to Rome.

II Tim 4:9. Whether he reached Rome before Paul's death is not

known. Is mentioned in Heb 13:23 as having been released from

prison. He was timid and retiring by nature, not well fitted

as Titus for handling trouble-makers. Was not in the best of

health, I Tim 5:23. He and Luke were Paul’s two most constant

companions. Paul loved him devotedly, and was lonesome without

him. Tradition says that after Paul’s death his work was the care

of the Ephesian church, and that he suffered martyrdom under

Nerva or Domitian. This would make him a co-worker with the

Apostle John.

Ephesus

Ephesus [Western Turkey]
was where Paul had done his greatest Work, about 54-57

AD, Acts 19. Some four years after he had left Ephesus, from

his Roman imprisonment, he had written the Epistle to the

Church at Ephesus, about 62 AD.  A little later, probably

about 65 AD, he addressed this Epistle to Timothy about the

work in Ephesus. Later Ephesus became the home of John, where

he wrote his Gospel, his Epistles, and the book of Revelation.
[Many believe Revelation was written on the Isle of Patmos].

“Occasion” of the Epistle. When Paul bade the Ephesian elders

farewell he told them that they would not see his face again,

Acts 20:25. But, it Seems, his long imprisonment changed his

plans, and, some six or seven years later, after release from the

Roman prison, he did re-visit Ephesus. Passing on to Macedonia,

he left Timothy at Ephesus, expecting himself soon to return,

I Tim 1:3; 3:14. Being detained in Macedonia longer than he had

planned, 3:15, he wrote this Letter of instruction about the work

that Timothy was to do.

The Church at Ephesus.  From the narrative in Acts 19, it

appears that Paul had made a vast multitude of Christian con-

verts. In the intervening years the number of converts had con-

tinued to grow. Within the following fifty years Christians in

Asia Minor had become so numerous that the heathen temples

were almost forsaken. Within the Apostolic generation Ephesus

became the numerical, as well as geographical, center of Christen-

dom, the region where Christianity won its quickest Laurels.

The Church Situation. There were no church buildings. Houses

for Christian worship did not begin to be built till two hundred

years after the days of Paul, and were not general till Constantine

put an end to the persecutions of Christians. In Paul’s day

churches met, mostly, in the homes of the Christian people. Thus,

the scores of thousands of Christians, in and around Ephesus,

met, not in one, or a few, great central congregations, but in

hundreds of small groups in various homes, each congregation

under its own pastoral leadership.

The Pastors. There must have been hundreds of them. In Acts

20:17 they are called “elders”. In 1 Timothy they are called

“bishops”, 3:1: different names for same office.

Timothy's Work was primarily with these pastors, or congrega-

tional leaders. There were no seminaries to supply Paul with

trained pastors. He had to develop his pastors out of. his converts.

 Sometimes he got brilliant men; but probably most of his pastors

were from the ordinary walks of life. He had to do the best he

he could .with available material. Without seminaries, without church

buildings, and in spite of persecution, the church made more

rapid progress than at any time since, because it had to keep its

mind on the essentials rather than the superficials of. Christianity.

Review of the Book of Timothy 

Chapter I. False Teachers

The False Teachers", 3-11. Paul had forewarned, when he left

Ephesus, seven years. before, that grievous wolves would ravage

the Ephesian flock of Christians, Acts 20:29-30. Now they had
appeared in full force, and constituted Timothy's main problem.

They appear to have been the same brand as those in Crete with

whom Titus had to deal, basing strange teachings on apocryphal

Jewish legends connected with OT genealogies.

Paul's Sinfulness, 12-17. The one man who had done more for

Christ. possibly, than all others combined, yet bowed to the

depths with feelings of unworthiness. The closer the walk with

Christ, the deeper the sense of humility. He regarded his con

version as intended of God to be an everlasting example of

God’s longsuffering to wayward men.

Hymenaeus and Alexander, 19-20, two ring-leaders of the false

teachers, from whom, in his Apostolic authority; Paul had with

drawn church membership “delivered to Satan", 20: probably

‘the same Alexander, I Tim 4:14, who later went to Rome to

 testify against Paul, and possibly the one who earlier had been

Paul’s devoted friend.                                        '

Chapter 2. Prayer. The Place of Women

Prayer for Rulers, 1-8. Nero was at that time ruler of the

Roman Empire, under whom Paul had been imprisoned and was

soon to be executed. This shows that prayers and intercessions

should be made for bad rulers as well as good.

The Place of Women in Church, 9-15. See on I Cor 11:5-15;

14:34-35. The caution here is against the overdoing of display of

dress, especially in Christian worship; and also against becoming

too much like men. In heaven there will be no sex, Matt. 22:30;

but in this world there is a natural difference between the sexes

which it is best not to override. “Saved through her child-bear-

mg", 15, probably refers to the birth of Jesus, who was born of

a woman without the agency of “man. Even if sin did come into

the world through woman, 14, “so am the Savior”.

Chapter 3. Bishops and Deacons

Their Qualifications, 1-16. Probably intended as an ideal, not

a legal enactment. “One wife”, 2, probably meant to exclude, not

single men, but polygamists. Paul was a single man, I Cor 7:8.

“Women", 11, probably meaning deaconesses. “Pillar of the

truth", 15: except for the Church Christ’s name would disappear.

Verse 13 is thought to have been a fragment of a Christian hymn. 

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Overview of the Book of 1 Timothy 

From The Bible Project

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1 Timothy

1 Timothy 1 New International Version (NIV)

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

2 To Timothy my true son in the faith:

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

Timothy Charged to Oppose False Teachers

3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly.

9 We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11 that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.

The Lord’s Grace to Paul

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 

17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The Charge to Timothy Renewed

18 Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, 19 holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith. 20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

1 Timothy 2 New International Version (NIV)

Instructions on Worship

2 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 

5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. 7 And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.

8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. 

9 I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

11 A woman[a] should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man;[b] she must be quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15 But women[c] will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

1 Timothy 3 New International Version (NIV)

Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons

3 Here is a trustworthy saying: 

Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full[a] respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

8 In the same way, deacons[b] are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

11 In the same way, the women[c] are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.

12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. 13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

Reasons for Paul’s Instructions

14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 

16 Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:

He appeared in the flesh,

    was vindicated by the Spirit,[d]

was seen by angels,

    was preached among the nations,

was believed on in the world,

    was taken up in glory.

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New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Some content adapted from Halley, Henry H., Bible Handbook, Grayson Publishing, Minneapolis, MN.  © 1927 - 1959, 1964

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Hugh C. Wood, Atlanta, Georgia

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