Introduction: Have you ever read of one great deed done by Timothy? Have you ever read of one great sermon he preached, one book or letter from his pen? No, you hardly know more than that he was a young preacher, a co-laborer with Paul, who had been taught the Scriptures from his early youth by his grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice (II Tim. 1:5), ". . . from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (II Tim. 3:15). Timothy’s only claim to fame was that he was rightly related to the Apostle Paul which insured he was rightly related to the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you have a right relationship with the Apostle Paul? Do you “magnify his office”? (Rom. 11:13) Do you put Paul’s ministry and teachings under the microscope and examine them, study them, compare them and embrace them? Three times in Scripture we are instructed to “follow Paul” (I Cor. 4:16; I Cor. 11:1; Phil. 3:17); In what ways are we supposed to “follow Paul”? II Timothy 3:10-11… But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, [11] Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
The religious leaders of Jesus day, rather than helping the people to understand the Word of God rightly divided, had "taken away the key of knowledge” (Luke 11:52), and had left them spiritually starved. They desperately needed to be fed with knowledge and understanding of the truth. This is the chief responsibility of an elder/bishop. Therefore Paul urged the elders in the very city (Ephesus) where Timothy was ministering…"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to FEED the Church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). Paul assures Timothy and the fellow-elders that this would not be easy and then commends them to God’s care… “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. [30] Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. [31] Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.[32] And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified”
When was the book written? Around 63-64 AD. Assuming that Paul suffered two imprisonments, his first epistle to Timothy was probably written during the interval between or shortly after he was imprisoned for the second time. There seems to be no clear indication where Paul was at the time: Troas? Macedonia? In prison at Rome?
Vs. 1-4… Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; [2] Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. [3] As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, [4] Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
In verse 1 Paul introduces himself as "an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God......” In four of his letters to the churches he writes as "an apostle by the will of God," but here it is "by the commandment of God." Maybe he does this to emphasize to Timothy the fact that he is more than just an assistant of a powerful apostle; he also has authority from God as a co-laborer of Paul to minister to God’s people. This is particularly important in that Paul is approaching death. Therefore, Paul reminds him that he too has been commissioned by God to minister the program of grace among the people with authority. As Paul charges him (vs. 18), he is to charge his hearers (vs. 3) to be sound in the faith, and is to rebuke those who are not, that together they might "stand" their ground against "the wiles of the devil."
In verse 1 Paul also refers to God as "our Savior," and to the Lord Jesus Christ as "our hope”. So in the first verse he sets forth the very foundation of this present dispensation of grace---Jesus is God; He took a human body and manifested on earth as our Savior.
The term "God our Savior" is used again in 2:1-4, and with the same meaning. Here we are instructed to pray for "all men," especially for those in authority, that we may go about our lives in peace. "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, Who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
Once again it is found in 4:10-11, where the Apostle says: ". . . we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe. These things command and teach.” This means that salvation is available to all men but it is only applied to those who believe.
There is no promise, however, as to how long God's present attitude toward man will continue. "Now is the accepted time.... Now is the day of salvation” (II Cor. 6:2), For the present, every day is a day of grace. And while in this dispensation God assumes the position of a Savior, in the next He will be a Judge - also through Christ (John 5:22,27).
And what has been the response to “the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man”? One would think that the newspapers would carry headlines every day such as: “ANOTHER DAY OF GRACE” and “JUDGMENT STILL DELAYED,” but not so. Instead he goes on in his troubles and his pleasure seeking, not caring that God the Son died in agony and disgrace for his sins. Man who committed the sins, who caused the enmity, now holds a grudge against God! (Rom. 8:7; Col. 1:21). What unbelieveable grace, then, that God should still “beseech” men through us to be reconciled, and that Christ should send us “in His stead” to “pray” them (to beg them)... “Be ye reconciled to God” (II Cor. 5:20)! No wonder Paul called this dispensation the “riches of His grace”. (Eph. 2:7)
“Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith”… It appears from Acts 16:1-3 that Timothy had already been saved when Paul expressed an interest in taking him along with him in his ministry. Timothy was already “well reported of” by brethren in two cities. Paul had led him to the Lord in salvation while ministering in the area where Timothy grew up. Remember that Paul had some co-laborers join him in ministry who had been saved under the “Kingdom Gospel”. (Barnabus, Apollos, etc.) Timothy could truly be called “my son in the faith” in that he had been saved as a result of Paul’s preaching of the “Gospel of the Grace of God”.
“As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia”… What period of time is Paul referring to here when he tells Timothy to “abide still at Ephesus”? Well, we know it would have to be after his visit to Miletus on this third missionary trip when he met with the Ephesian elders in Acts 20. Paul had predicted that "after my departing" serious heresy would infiltrate the assembly in Ephesus both from without and from within (Acts 20:29-30). Paul had dedicated three years of his ministry “warning” them “night and day with tears”(vs. 31) about the dangers of departing from the truth. Despite all Paul's warnings, however, his prediction had come to pass. Heresy and false doctrine were now widespread at Ephesus and the churches of Asia. Paul apparently was released from prison in Rome for a brief time and it is during this release that he traveled to Ephesus and then on to Macedonia before he returned to Rome and was imprisoned again while awaiting his execution. So from Acts 20 to the writing of I Timothy (67 AD) ten to twelve years had elapsed.
“that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine… By the words "no other doctrine," Paul means no other than that which he had taught them. This is emphasized in I Tim. 6:3-5: "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . from such withdraw thyself.”
One of the first things you notice about a person is their clothing; we take note of what they are wearing. Similarly, Paul is concerned that Timothy “charge” some of the Ephesians that they “teach no other doctrine”. He is not instructing Timothy to impose his authority as a “pastor”; he is reminding Timothy that his message is authoritative and it is not to be compromised in order to get along in the assembly. Timothy was not to remain silent when competing “doctrine” was contradicting “Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery”. When a “pastor” imposes his authority on the people of the assembly, it is the beginning of the end for him. The message is authoritative not the man.
Even though God does not have a “dress code” for Christians, there is a sense in which God does have a “dress code” for grace believers. We are to be wearing “the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things”. Are you wearing grace??? That is the appropriate clothing we should have on. I & II Timothy display the “doctrine of God”. He describes what we should be wearing. But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (I Tim. 3:15). And again in Titus 2:10…Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. “Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.” (I Tim. 6:1-2) “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.” (Titus 3:8)Where would we find “his doctrine”? Romans through Philemon. Paul lays a foundation in Romans and the walls in Ephesians---Colossians; then he puts on the roof in Timothy through Philemon. Now a person builds a house in order to live in it. Grace is the house we live in. Have you moved in yet??? This house will not remove all conflicts, but it will provide protection and comfort as we go through difficult circumstances.
“Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.” As to the "endless genealogies", remember that the assembly at Ephesus had begun in a Jewish Synagogue and that the Jews had always attached great importance to their genealogies. But neither the sharing of stories, nor inquiries into genealogies served to produce "godly edifying". Please note that the word “edifying” is the Greek word “oikonomia” from which we get our English word dispensation. Therefore, "fables and endless genealogies" are hinderers not helpers to the grace dispenser.
The following is a list of topics that waste your time as a grace believer and are unprofitable:
"Fables and endless genealogies" (I Tim. 1:4), "vain jangling" (1:6), "Profane and old wives' fables" (4:7), "questions and strifes of words" (6:4), "Profane and vain babblings" (6:20), "strife about words" (II Tim. 2:14), "foolish and unlearned questions" (2:23), "Jewish fables and commandments of men" (Tit. 1:14), "foolish questions, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law" (Tit. 3:9).
And what does the discussion of these trivial considerations produce: more "questions" (I Tim. 1:4), "envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings" (6:45), "no profit, but ... the subverting of the hearers" (II Tim. 2:14), "more ungodliness" (2:16), "strifes" (2:23), "they are unprofitable and vain" (Tit. 3:9).
Vs. 5… Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned… Paul does not refer here to the Law of the Old Testament, but rather to his "charge" or commandment, to "teach no other doctrine” which he just stated in vs. 3.
The "end," or object, of this charge, he says, "is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.” What was Paul's “revelation of the mystery” but a proclamation of what Christ’s death, burial and resurrection meant for whosoever will.
Vs. 6… From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; [7] Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm… Some of the saints at Ephesus had "swerved" from “charity” and had "turned aside" to "vain jangling" (fruitless discussion). Feeling themselves to be quite devout, they "desired" to be teachers of the Law. God's determination of them was, "They don't know what they are talking about." Evidently Titus was encountering the same problem at Crete. (Tit. 1:9-11)
Vs. 8-11…"But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the low is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers; For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine. According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.”
A loving mother needs no law to compel her to care for her child. An honest businessman needs no law to compel him to pay his bills. The very function of the law is to convict and condemn the criminal, the violator of the law. If everyone voluntarily did what was right, there would be no need for law. "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them that are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God.. . . for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Rom. 3:19,20). The Law was given to convict and condemn the sinner and to show him his need of a Savior, but those who are saved are not under the Law, for God has declared them righteous in Christ who died for their sins.
"BUT NOW the righteousness of God without the law is manifested ….” Further, in vs. 24 & 26 he declares that believers stand righteous before God, "Being justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
"[We] declare I say, AT THIS TIME, His righteousness for the remission of sins, that He [God] might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”
This was "the glorious gospel of the blessed God” which had been committed to Paul's trust (vs. 11). There the Law was crucified and taken out of the way for us (Col. 2:14), there Satan and all his hosts were utterly and "openly" defeated (Col. 2:15), that our Lord was no longer to be thought of as an unfortunate victim, but as the mighty Victor over all His foes and ours. This glorious good news was that from which some of the teachers at Ephesus had "swerved".
Vs. 12-17… "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant, with faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. Howbeit, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen."
The Bible gives the conversion of Saul of Tarsus a very prominent place.The major part of three separate chapters in Acts is taken up with this account, and it forms the main subject of two out of Paul's five recorded extended conversations (Acts 22,26).
No doubt this is because of his rebellion against Jesus Christ.
Acts 8:3: "As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling [dragging] men and women, committed them to prison.”
Acts 9:1,2: "And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest and desired of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.”
Acts 9:13,14: "Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to Thy saints at Jerusalem: and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on Thy name.”
Acts 22:4: "And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women."
Acts 22:19: "I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on Thee.”
Acts 26:10, 11: "And many of the saints did I shut up in prison ... and when they were put to death, I gave my voice [vote] against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them I persecuted them even unto strange cities.”
Gal. 1:13: ". . . beyond measure I persecuted the church of God and wasted it.”
I Cor. 15:9, 10: "For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God, But by the grace of God I am what I am.........”
All this alone would explain why Paul calls himself the chief of sinners, and why he says here in I Timothy 1: "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious... (vs12-13).
The word "counted," here, is the same word of imputation which Paul uses so often in his letter to the Romans. Saul had been anything but faithful to his God, His Messiah, or his nation, but God had saved him by grace and now counted him worthy, appointing him to fulfill a very sacred trust. And with this went the divine enabling. Paul, now fully realizing his own weakness and wickedness, found the grace and help he needed in the Christ he had once hated and persecuted. He never forgave himself for the bloody stain on his past and never ceased to wonder at God's grace in saving and using him. He refers to this again and again in his epistles.
"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. . . .” A "saying," is a statement or expression significant enough to bear frequent repetition. A "faithful saying," is one upon which we may safely rely or act; one that has consistently proved dependable.
But the significance of this passage has been lost to most people because it has not been quoted in its entirety---"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, OF WHOM I AM CHIEF.” But was Paul actually the chief of sinners? The question must be asked whether Paul wrote this to Timothy out of modesty, or whether this passage, like the rest of Scripture, is God inspired.
Some have excused Paul for his past life, on the ground that he persecuted our Lord's followers "ignorantly in unbelief " But this ignorance was no excuse. He was well versed in the Scriptures. He, of all men, could and should have known that Jesus was the Christ, but he did not wish to know. He had convinced himself otherwise. So why did God save His bitterest enemy on earth, the chief of sinners? Why did He show "grace ... exceeding abundant" to him? The answer to this question becomes clear as we read further:
"Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting" (vs.16).
Paul was not a repentant sinner at the time of his conversion. Rather he was "yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord.” His salvation, then, was a dramatic outpouring of the "exceeding abundant" grace of God. The words "me first," in verse 16, has a relation to the word "hereafter" in the same verse and he calls his conversion "a pattern to them which hereafter should believe on Him to life everlasting.” In using the word "pattern" he does not mean the events which occurred at Paul’s conversion will be repeated in all those who truly believe the Gospel, but to the conversion itself by "grace ... exceeding abundant," to the "mercy" and "longsuffering" shown to him. In this he was most definitely a "pattern," for the words "exceeding abundant," in vs.14, appear also in Rom. 5:20. I Tim. 1:15 and its immediate context, then, confirms the fact that our Lord Jesus Christ "came into the world to save sinners,” even the chief of sinners and that Paul was the living demonstration of this fact! They prove that this is "a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation," and that since the chief of sinners is now in heaven with Christ, no sinner should ever question whether he has committed the unpardonable sin! God will save you if you in sincere child-like faith receive the Gospel of the grace of God.
Paul was the first person to whom the Lord had showed such amazing grace -- and in such a dramatic way. Thus this passage provides strong evidence that the present dispensation of grace, and the Body of Christ, began with Paul - at his conversion. And what a fitting representative was Paul of Jews and Gentiles "reconciled ...unto God in one body by the cross” (Eph. 2:16)! He was both a Hebrew and a Roman by birth! And he of all men (a former enemy of God) now reconciled by grace! How appropriate, in the light of all the above, is Paul’s closing words,,,"Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen” (vs.17).
Vs. 18-20…"This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare: Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.”
“This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy”…What charge? The one Paul gave Timothy in vs. 3…that he warned some that they teach no other doctrine.
"according to the prophecies which went before on thee,” … Timothy was expected to be true to his charge since many brethren had confirmed with prophetic assurances that he was selected by the Holy Spirit to serve in the ministry to the first generation of the Church, the body of Christ till the completion of the Word of God (Eph. 4:11-13). The temporary gift of prophecy was still in force during Paul's early ministry. The gift of prophecy has since been "done away" (I Cor. 13:8). We don’t need the gift of prophecy today to war a good warfare, because we have the whole Word of God. Timothy needed the direct speaking of the Holy Spirit in order to get the job done. Be careful about saying, “The Lord old me this and that”. There was confusion when these gifts were in operation 2,000 years ago; now that we have the whole Bible there is still confusion about God’s will. Once we have THE BOOK…study it (II Tim. 2:15). Spiritual gifts keep you as children (I Cor. 13: 11-13 & Eph. 4:14)
"that thou by them (the prophecies) mightest war a good warfare,”… Obviously Paul felt that in times of discouragement and temptation the remembrance of the prophecies that had been given Timothy by the “laying on of hands” (I Tim. 4:14) would encourage him in the fight. Notice how often in these “pastoral epistles”, we come upon words like "war," "fight," "conflict," "armor," "weapons," etc. (Eph. 6:14 ; II Cor. 10:3-4).
If you might wage a “good warfare”, obviously you might not wage a “good warfare”. So what is the battle over? I Tim. 1:3 says it is over “sound doctrine”. (I Tim. 1:10;: Titus 2:1) Paul warns Timothy that the church of his day would apostatize and not endure sound doctrine. Paul does not tell Timothy to “endure to the end”; he tells him to endure sound doctrine to the end. (II Tim. 4:2-3). The world has not destroyed God’s plan, purpose and program; the church has destroyed it. Before Paul passed off the scene, the church had already abandoned “sound doctrine”. Now if they shall heap to themselves “teachers” that means there has to be a “heap” of students and a “heap” of false doctrine. There is a battle over the maintenance of sound doctrine.
They shall be turned unto “fables” (stories). Faith based upon personal experiences is feigned faith. “We walk by faith, not by sight” (II Cor. 5:)
Paul goes to the extent of calling the names of those who had “put away concerning faith” made shipwreck--- Hymenaeus and Alexander. These were apparently saved men who had turned from the message of grace and returned to teaching law. He “delivered [them] unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme” (I Cor. 5:5). It does not appear that Paul cast some supernatural judgment on these two men; but they would now have to "learn the hard way" not to take the truth of God lightly.
“Holding faith, and a good conscience”… The importance of keeping the conscience clear before God is evidenced by the fact that Paul, in his epistles, refers to the conscience 26 times. If a man lacks an understanding of God's message and program for the present dispensation, he has not fortified his conscience and he should stay out of the pulpit, for God will surely hold him accountable for what he has taught his hearers (II Tim. 2:15, I Cor. 3:12-15).
“which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck”… The satanic policy of evil is to attack the program of grace committed to Paul and taught to the whole world. Satan wars against the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery. The rest of the spiritual “stuff” we learn at church is of little concern to the devil. He knows that it will not “stablish” or “establish” a person, so he doesn’t sweat the small stuff. Man-made religious teaching does not pose a threat to Satan. The essential weapon in waging a good warfare against Satan is “grace truth, rightly divided”. If you put something away, it means you are no longer using it.
Now the phrase--- “put away concerning faith”, implies that the recipients of this letter were possessors of “the faith”. They had been taught “grace doctrine” but they chose to put it away. You and I know people like this as well. We explain grace truth to them but they “put it away”. Paul calls this process “making shipwreck”. A ship may be safe in a harbor but it was made to sail. Ships are made to carry it occupants and valuable cargo over the oceans---not to sit in the harbor as a thing of beauty. The ocean is a dangerous place; it has claimed many ships and lives over the centuries. The ocean (like life) will overwhelm you if you put away concerning faith. Grace is that vessel that can chart us through the seas of life. We go from harbor to harbor and learn about the riches of grace. We go to the harbor of the mystery; and the harbor of our position; and the harbor of forgiveness, etc.
How does a Christian “put away faith”? They still go to church; they say they love the Lord; they do good deeds. Gal. 3:1… The Galatians were truly saved by grace through faith. But, they were tempted to turn back to the law. Paul says that they had been bewitched that they were not obeying “the truth”. Which one of the two systems (law or grace) is the TRUTH? Christians are inclined to turn to “the law”; to performance based living. They are thinking wrong. They thought performance would complete them in Christ. That is foolish thinking. When you trust Christ for something you can not do for yourself (salvation); why do we then think that we can earn our maturity by performance. Grace is enough. The Galatians came to the conclusion that their position in Christ was not enough to get them to heaven in good shape spiritually. In fact, when you think like the Galatians, you will begin to call grace “cheap grace”. You will attack grace. Don’t devalue the work of Christ on the cross.
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