FIRST TIMOTHY
OUTLINE OF CHAPTER ONE:
1. Salutation. (1:1, 2).
2. Purpose for which he had left Timothy in Ephesus. (1:3-4).
3. The use and design of the law. (1:5-11).
4. Thanks to God that he had been entrusted with the gospel.
(1:12-17).
5. This solemn duty of preaching the gospel he commits to
Timothy. (1:18-20).
(vs 1) "Paul, an apostle...." -- Paul immediately declares his
apostleship. The letter has Heaven's approval; Heaven's
authority. Paul is Heaven's mouthpiece. Timothy,
whatever I say is authority from Heaven. Thus, it is
serious business.
NOTE: Early sources in church history attribute this
letter to Paul. Eusebius (300 A.D.); Origen (250 A.D.);
Clement of Alexandria (200 A.D.); Tertullian (200 A.D.);
Irenaeus (200 A.D.). References to the epistle are found
in the writings of Theophilus of Antioch (130 A.D.);
Justin Martyr (160 A.D.); Polycarp (135 A.D.) and
Clement of Rome (90 A.D.).
"of Christ Jesus" -- No higher authority than this.
"God our Saviour" -- Fittingly describes the Father in
reference to his redeeming love as shown through Christ
Jesus, the Son.
"Christ Jesus our hope" -- In fact, the only hope of
mankind. The Gentiles at one time had no hope.
Eph. 2:11-13.
(vs 2) "my true child in faith" -- No fleshly relationship, but a
deeper bond. Timothy was as a son in the gospel. Timothy
had been a close companion since Paul first choose him
to accompany him.
NOTE: Some would teach from this that Paul was a
"father" spiritually. Also, 1 Cor. 4:15.
"Grace" -- God's unmerited favor. cf. Rom. 1:7
"mercy" -- favor
"peace" -- only through Christ Jesus can man find peace.
Freedom from the consequences of sin. Safety.
(vs 3) Paul gives the purpose of the letter:
"not to teach a different doctrine" -- Gal. 1:6-10.
These were doubtless Judaizing teachers who were seeking
to bind circumcision and keeping the Law upon the
Gentiles.
(vs 4) "fables" -- "Jewish fables" (Tit.1:14); wives' fables
(1 Tim. 4:7); "fables" (2 Tim 4:4). Most likely these
were a part of the traditions of the elders handed down
from generation to generation. Idle superstitions.
"endless genealogies" -- The Israelites prided themselves in
being able to trace their ancestry back to Abraham. At
this time this gendered great strife and debate.
"questionings" -- Results of "endless genealogies."
"rather...." -- Much better is the dispensation of faith.
How much better to spend one's time in the study of
God's word than arguing over ancestry.
(vs 5) "love...pure heart" -- Essential ingredient to pleasing God.
1 Cor. 13.
"good conscience" -- A conscience free from guilt.
NOTE: One can have a clear conscience and yet not be
pleasing unto God. Acts 23:1. Also, one cannot please
Jehovah without a clear and good conscience.
"faith unfeigned" -- A "feigned" faith would be insincere;
hypocritical; faked. There can be no veneer or false
front to our faith.
(vs 6) "having swerved" -- missed the mark; about the same as SIN.
These false teachers had once been in the right way, but
had not continued or remained.
"vain talking" -- empty, of no value or good to anyone.
(vs 7) "desiring...teachers of the law" -- They desired the
reputation of understanding and teachers of the Law.
There was a great amount of pride incurred in those who
taught the Law. Yet.....
"they understand neither...." -- They have not understood
that the Law was no longer binding, having been removed
at the death of Christ on the cross.
NOTE: The law had served its purpose. Gal. 3:23-26.
(vs 8) "Law is good" -- Paul was not an enemy of the Law. The Law
served its purpose. Can still be used for examples and
learning. Cf. Rom. 15:4.
"use it lawfully..." -- Make the proper application of it.
Many good lessons contained therein, but are not to be
bound upon the Christian for salvation.
(vs 9) "law not made...." -- One is made righteous by faith in
Christ Jesus, not by law.
"lawless and unruly" -- Those who refuse to be bound by any
law; refuse to submit to higher authority.
"ungodly and sinners" -- Have no reverence for God, thus, do
not care for His commandments.
"unholy and profane" -- Those who treat the things of God as
trash, openly hostile to Him. Hold God in derision.
Counts holy things as common. Esau (Heb. 12:16).
"murderers...." -- A smiter of mother or father.
"manslayers" -- Those who take a life. The sanctity of human
life has been honored by most societies.
(vs 10) "fornicators" -- Illicit intercourse.
"abusers of themselves" -- Homosexual, sodomites.
"menstealers" -- those who traffic in slavery.
"liars" -- Speakers of false. Rev. 21:8.
"false swearers" -- deliberately affirming a falsehood.
"any other...." -- takes in the rest of sinful practices.
"sound doctrine" -- healthful teaching.
(vs 11) "gospel" -- good news; the standard by which all things must
be tested.
"to my trust" -- Paul had been entrusted with the gospel. As
an apostle of Christ Jesus, Paul was committed to
proclaiming that message.
(vs 12) Paul now expresses his gratitude to Christ for having chosen
him to be an apostle. Jehovah saw in this persecutor a
man of deep convictions, honesty, willing to do what he
thought was right.
"to his service" -- to take the gospel to the Gentiles.
(vs 13) "blasphemer" -- to speak against; to revile. He sought to
destroy the church.
Cf. Acts 9:1-2; 26:11.
"I obtained mercy" -- vs. 14 "grace"-- unmerited favor.
Surely, Paul did not merit the favor of God. This is why
the apostle regarded it so high. He was so unworthy
of the favor of God.
"did it ignorantly" -- He thought he was right. Acts 23:1.
NOTE: Ignorance does not make one right. Paul was not
justified in his ignorance. That comes only by an
obedience to the gospel, which Paul did.
(vs 14) Paul again expresses his deep gratitude for the mercy
extended to him.
"faith and love" -- faith essential to salvation. Heb.11:6
Love shown in obedience. 1 Jn. 5:3.
"in Christ Jesus" -- No other solution to sin.
(vs 15) "Faithful...." -- There are five times that Paul uses this
statement: 1 Tim. 3:l; 4:9; 2 Tim. 2:11; Titus 3:8 and
here in 1 Tim. 1:15.
"came to save sinners" -- the heart of the gospel; His
purpose. 1 Cor 15:1-4.
"I am chief" -- Paul makes no attempt to cover up his sinful
past. He had been most active in attempting to destroy
God's family, the church.
(vs 16) Paul was an example of God's "longsuffering." Paul is saying
that no one is too vile to obtain mercy, if he/she will
willingly obey Christ.
"eternal life" -- the desired conclusion to an obedient life
(vs 17) "King" -- Ruler of the universe. On the throne. Authority.
"eternal" -- No end to his reign.
"immortal" -- Not subject to corruption or decay.
"invisible" -- Mortal eye cannot see Him. Contrasted with
the kings of this earth.
"God" -- Deity. Rom. 16:27.
PAUL RESTATES HIS CHARGE TO TIMOTHY
(VS 18) The charge is to correct the false teachers.
"prophecies" -- It is thought that this occurred when the
prebytery laid their hands on Timothy (4:16) and he
received some gift of the Holy Spirit. Paul seemed to be
a part of that occasion (2 Tim.1:6). Perhaps it was
predicted that Timothy would accomplish great things.
"war" -- we are in a battle against sin and the workers of
darkness.
"good warfare" -- We are on the right (good) side of the
battle. Eph. 6:10-20.
(vs 19) "holding faith" -- "faith" and a "good conscience" must go
together.
"conscience" -- Doing that which one believes to be right.
One's conscience may be clear, yet he/she may be wrong
in God's sight. Acts 23:1.
"thrust from them" -- knowingly and willing cast aside.
"shipwrecked" -- loss of ship and cargo.
"their faith" -- their confidence in Christ Jesus and His
word. They doubted, then denyied. Faith must be followed
with obedience. Jas. 2:20.
(vs 20) "Hymenaeus" -- 2 Tim. 2:17-18.
"Alexander" -- 2 Tim. 4:14-15.
"delivered to Satan" -- Turned over to Satan, put back in
Satan's realm. No longer to be respected and depended
upon as pleasing to God.
"taught not to blaspheme" -- that their false teachings
would be exposed.
Cf. 1 Cor. 5:1-13. Corinth had been instructed what
to do to the sinful brother.
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