Teaching Notes 1 TIMOTHY 1 to 3
& & &
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."
& & &
& & &
Paul saw that the Church at Ephesus was teaching false
doctrine and thus Paul dispatched his pupil Timothy to
the Church at Ephesus
& & &
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
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
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].
[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.
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.
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.
& & &
Overview of the Book of 1 Timothy
From The Bible Project
& & &
& & &
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.
& & &
& & &
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
& & &
Hugh C. Wood, Atlanta, Georgia
END
