Bible Study 1 Timothy 1: 1-20

 

A Commentary of the Book of 1 Timothy

By Dr. Barry L. Jenkins

Text Used: Legacy Standard Bible

Bible Study 1 Timothy 1: 1-20

1917 Scofield Reference Bible Notes

1 Timothy 1:1

Book Introduction
The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Timothy

WRITER The Apostle Paul

DATE The date of this Epistle turns upon the question of the two imprisonments of Paul. If there were two (see: Cmt. on Ac 28:30 then it is clear that First Timothy was written during the interval. If Paul endured but one Roman imprisonment, the Epistle was written shortly before Paul's last journey to Jerusalem.

THEME As the churches of Christ increased in number, the questions of church order, of soundness in the faith, and of discipline became important. At first the apostles regulated these things directly, but the approaching end of the apostolic period made it necessary that a clear revelation should be made for the guidance of the churches. Such a revelation is in First Timothy, and in Titus. The key-phrase of the Epistle is, "That thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God." Well had it been with the churches if they had neither added to nor taken from the divine order.

The divisions are five:

I. Legality and unsound doctrine rebuked, 1.1-20 II. Prayer and the divine order of the sexes enjoined, 2.1-15 III. The qualifications of elders and deacons, 3.1-16 IV. The walk of the "good minister," 4.1-16 V. The work of the "good minister," 5.1-6.21

Text: 

Instructions in Doctrine and Living

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, our hope,

2 To Timothy, my genuine child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

3 As I exhorted you when going to Macedonia, [a]remain on at Ephesus so that you may command certain ones not to teach a different doctrine, 4 nor to [b]pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the stewardship from God which is by faith. 5 But the goal of our command is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and an unhypocritical faith. 6 For some, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, 7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.

8 But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and godless, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for sexually immoral persons, for homosexuals, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, 11 according to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.

12 I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He regarded me faithful, putting me into service, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; 14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 It is a trustworthy saying and deserving full acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost. 16 Yet for this reason I was shown mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Christ Jesus might demonstrate all His patience as an example for those [c]who are going to believe upon Him for eternal life. 17 Now to the King of the [d]ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory [e]forever and ever. Amen.

18 This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may fight the good fight, 19 keeping faith and a good conscience, which some, having rejected, suffered shipwreck in regard to [f]their faith. 20 [g]Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.

Verse by verse commentary:

Verse 1: “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, our hope,”

An Apostle is one sent out as an official representative of Christ. There are no more “Apostles” of the Lord Jesus Christ. We do have “apostles of the church” in that they are sent out for a particular purpose. Apostles of the church do not have the supernatural giftings of the Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ. As Author of the covenant of grace, God is Savior. The Lord Jesus Christ is the basis for all Christian hope, because He is the Mediator of the covenant of grace. Salvation is a result of a covenant made by the Holy Trinity before the foundation of the world. The Father elected His sheep, the Son paid the price for the sheep. And the Holy Spirit applies the message to the sheep’s hearts that they would be justified.

Verse 2: “To Timothy, my genuine child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Paul viewed Timothy as his spiritual son in the Lord. Paul commonly substituted “grace” for the more standard salutation “greetings.” In this verse, he adds mercy and peace. This was a Jewish greeting meaning “nothing broken, nothing missing.” That is God’s peace.

Verse 3: “As I exhorted you when going to Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may command certain ones not to teach a different doctrine,”

“Doctrine” means the teaching of the church. What should be the teaching of the local church? Following the Day of Pentecost it is recorded that “they continued in the apostles’ doctrine.” This was one of the four characteristics of the local church: (1) The apostles’ doctrine; (2) fellowship; (3) prayers; and (4) the breaking of bread, or the Lord’s Supper. These are the four “fingerprints” of the visible church. Paul guarded the churches he oversaw. In his absence, he selected someone he could trust, i.e. Timothy, to speak on his behalf. Churches need to guard the congregation from false teaching. Satan has an army of “ministers” that serve him, not Him.

Verse 4: “nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the stewardship from God which is by faith.”

“Myths” were traditional stories, often legendary. They were prominent in pagan religions. “Endless genealogies” were a list of ancestors. They played an important role among Jewish mystical sects. Undue attention to them resulted in preoccupation with controversies and vain speculations. I see many today in Charismatic churches that want to focus on dreams, prophecies, and “words from the Lord.” Shun all these heretics.  Churches should be advancing God’s work, not quarreling and dreaming. 

Verse 5: “But the goal of our command is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and an unhypocritical faith.”

Paul’s command highlights the close connection between Christian belief and practice. We can have a pure heart in Christ Jesus. As we surrender to Him moment by moment, we can act out of His love for His sheep and the lost. We can represent Him in love. You don’t have to be a hypocrite. When you act in Godly love, you can have a clear conscience. 

Verse 6: “For some, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion,”

Paul moves into the body of the letter. His intention is to instruct Timothy in how to act as Paul’s representative at Ephesus. He begins with the problem of false teaching at Ephesus. “Fruitless discussion” means empty chatter, beautiful words, flowery language. The church focus on its mission to make disciples and not making people feel good by flattery. People need to be sick of their sin before they will seek help in the blood stained cross of Calvary.

Verse 7: “wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.”

The heretical teachers wanted the kind of honor enjoyed by Jewish rabbis; but they were not concerned at all about truly learning the Law and teaching it to others. Instead, they imposed on believers in Ephesus a legalistic heresy that offered salvation by works. People tend to default to a work based righteousness. They need to see something that gives them assurances of their salvation. However, those that have experienced the new birth do not desire any salvation tied to their efforts. They know the difference. They have an experiential salvation and it works.

Verse 8: “But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully,”

The Greek word for “good” can be translated as “useful.” The law is good or useful because it reflects God’s holy will and righteous standard. The Law tells us how God wants us to live. In ancient times, people believed that the “gods” were arbitrary and capricious. You never knew what the gods wanted from you. If you did something the god didn’t want, you were punished. However, Israel serving the true God, had the Law which removed any doubts about how you should live.

Verse 9: “knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and godless, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers,”

The purpose of the Law included showing people their lost condition. Only those who are sick seek a physician. Those who think they are righteous will never be saved because they do not see their true condition. The false teachers, with their work-based righteousness which was nothing more than self-righteousness (in their own minds), had shown clearly that they misunderstood the law completely. It was not a means to self-righteousness, but a means to self-condemnation, sin, conviction, repentance, and pleading to God for mercy.

Verse 10: “for sexually immoral persons, for homosexuals, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching,”

The theme of “sound teaching” runs all through the Pastoral epistles. Notice the list of people that are disobedient to the Law: sexually immoral, homosexuals, kidnappers, all liars, and then a general category that covers everything else that is opposed to the sound doctrine being taught by Paul. The Law reveals that the list of people are evil and lost. The Law exposes sin, and grace unites the sinner with our Lord when acted on in faith and repentance.

Verse 11: “according to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.”

The good news of what God has done for His elect in Christ is the standard by which doctrine, as well as one’s understanding of the law, is judged to be sound. The Holy Spirit applies the gospel message to the sinner’s heart. God’s glory is seen in His person and His attributes, including His holiness (hatred of all sin) and justice (demand of punishment for violations of His law) and grace (forgiveness of sin). Those particular attributes are foundational to any effective gospel presentation. That is the measuring stick of good Bible teaching.

Verse 12: “I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He regarded me faithful, putting me into service,”

Paul emphasizes the Lordship of Christ. Paul is grateful to God that He has put him into His service as a missionary. Every believer has some service to perform for the Lord. While not all will be elders in the church, everyone has a mission to do for the body of Christ. All are called to some type of evangelistic activity. If you are born again, you have been put into service.

Verse 13: “even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;”

This is the testimony of every born again believer. Before the Holy Spirit convicts a soul of their sin, the lost person acts in ignorance of the truth. After the Holy Spirit implants grace in the heart, the lost person can see their need for a substitute for their sins. Paul was a blasphemer because he denied the Lord Jesus Christ and His Divinity. He was a persecutor and murderer because of his attacks against followers of Christ. He did all these things in ignorance. I have counseled people seeking Christ and oftentimes they will say that they are too evil to be saved. I ask, “Have you murdered anyone?” “Have you actively tried to persecute the church?” They say, “Of course not.” I respond by saying that there is hope for them because the Apostle Paul did both of these things.

Verse 14: “and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.”

God’s loving forgiveness, by which He grants salvation apart from any merit, will of the lost or their works on the part of those He saves. Salvation is 100% of the Lord. You don’t get saved by “accepting Jesus”, saying the “sinner’s prayer”, or “receiving Jesus.” You are saved when through God;s grace you are granted spiritual life and you respond in repentance of your sins and you place faith in Christ.

Verse 15: “It is a trustworthy saying and deserving full acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost.”

A “trustworthy saying” is a common expression in the Pastoral Epistles. Our Lord Jesus Christ came to save sinners. If you are a sinner, He came for you. Hear this truth: Christ Jesus came to the world to save sinners. Paul was “foremost” which means first in rank. He was a murdering blasphemer and that is about as lost as you can be. There is hope for you lost sinner. Come to Christ and plead, “Lord, save me.”

Verse 16: “Yet for this reason I was shown mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Christ Jesus might demonstrate all His patience as an example for those who are going to believe upon Him for eternal life.”

God grants to all who believe in Christ not just “eternal” life, but life in all its fullness. This is not a promise of material blessings or money, but rather the guarantee of a life surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ will be blessed. It may include material wealth, but it definitely includes His Sovereign Providential rule over your life.

Verse 17: “Now to the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Since all salvation is of the Lord, God receives all the praise for sovereignly saving Paul. Paul was looking to persecute the church, not join it. This is one of the many doxologies Paul wrote.

Verse 18: “This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may fight the good fight,”

Although his letter to Timothy is practical and has to do with instructions for the local church and Timothy’s responsibilities, it also reveals something of the personal relationship that must have existed between the Apostle Paul and Timothy. Paul considers Timothy his son in the Lord. This is Paul’s personal charge to Timothy as a young man in the ministry. One should never fight a war unless your heart is in it, unless you are fighting for a real cause and intend to get the victory. As a Christian, Timothy had a real enemy. He was involved in spiritual warfare. Paul wanted him to fight a good fight. We have the same charge. We are in a fight and we need to be prepared to engage at any moment.

Verse 19: “keeping faith and a good conscience, which some, having rejected, suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.”

The first (faith) is subjective and means continuing to believe the truth. The second (conscience) is objective, referring to the content of the Christian gospel.  A good conscience serves as the rudder that steers the believer through the rocks and reefs of sin and error. Paul referenced some shipwrecking their faith which means the tragic loss that comes to an apostate. This does not imply loss of salvation of a true believer, but rather a person that was participating in church activities and playing the role of the hypocrite. Their “faith” was shipwrecked which was not a genuine faith but a pretend faith.

Verse 20: “Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.”

“Handed over to Satan” is probably a reference to putting these two individuals outside the fellowship of the church and, hence, back into the world, i.e. the domain of Satan. The purpose of this excommunication is to help the erring one; that the two would recognize their errors and repent.