1 Timothy

Overview

This is a working letter from an old minister to a young one: how to handle false teaching, how public prayer should go, what kind of men to appoint as elders and deacons, how to treat widows, the old, the young, and the rich.

Underneath the practical instruction is a reason for all of it: the church is the house of God, the pillar and ground of the truth. Order matters because what it holds up matters.

Background

Timothy was from Lystra, son of a Jewish mother and a Greek father, and had traveled with Paul for years. He was young, by the standards of the role, and evidently not a naturally commanding personality.

Ephesus had a strong church and a growing problem: teachers pushing myths and endless genealogies, and others forbidding marriage and certain foods. Paul had warned the elders years earlier that this would come from among themselves.

Key themes

• Sound doctrine, and the damage done by teaching that is not.
• The gospel in one sentence: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
• Qualifications for leadership are mostly about character, not ability.
• Godliness with contentment is great gain; the love of money is a root of evil.
• Behave rightly in the house of God, because of what the church is.

Outline

1. Charge to TimothyChapter 1

   Stop the false teachers, and Paul’s own testimony as chief of sinners.

2. Prayer and order in worshipChapter 2

   Pray for all men, one mediator, and instruction on men and women in the assembly.

3. Elders and deaconsChapter 3

   What kind of men, and why: the church is the pillar and ground of the truth.

4. A good ministerChapter 4

   Depart from fables, exercise thyself unto godliness, let no man despise thy youth.

5. Widows, elders and othersChapter 5

   Honor the aged, provide for widows, and do nothing by partiality.

6. Contentment and a final chargeChapter 6

   Godliness with contentment, the love of money, and keep that which is committed to thee.

Key passages

• 1 Timothy 1:15 Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
• 1 Timothy 2:5 One God, and one mediator between God and men.
• 1 Timothy 3:1-7 The qualifications of an elder.
• 1 Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example.
• 1 Timothy 5:8 If any provide not for his own, he hath denied the faith.
• 1 Timothy 6:6-10 Godliness with contentment is great gain — the love of money is the root of all evil.
• 1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith.

Christ in 1 Timothy

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — the saying Paul calls faithful and worthy of all acceptation, with himself as exhibit A. He is the one mediator between God and men, who gave Himself a ransom for all, and the mystery of godliness: God manifest in the flesh.

Reading it

• Read chapter 3 as a description of character, not a job advert.
• Note the "faithful sayings" scattered through the Pastorals; they were early church summaries.
• Read 6:6-12 whenever money is on your mind.