1 Timothy 1:1-11 (NKJV) Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,
2 To Timothy, a true son in the faith:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
No Other Doctrine
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. 5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 6 from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.
8 But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.
(Through the Bible Day by Day: A Devotional Commentary (7 Vols.)) OUTLINE OF THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY
SALUTATION (1:1, 2).
THE CHARGE CONCERNING THE CHURCH (1:3-3:16).)
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- The Need of Love, Faith and a Good Conscience (1:3-20).
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- The Conduct of Public Prayer (2:1-8).
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- The Place of Women in the Church (2:9-15).
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- The Appointment of Bishops (3:1-7).
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- The Appointment of Deacons (3:8-13).
EXHORTATION (3:14-16).
“A GOOD MINISTER OF JESUS CHRIST” (4-6).)
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- His Ministry and Teaching (4).
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- His Bearing toward Elders and Widows (5).
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- His Attitude toward Slavery (6:1, 2).
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- Characteristics of False Teachers (6:1-10).
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- The Minister’s Personal Life (6:11-16).
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- His Charge to the Rich (6:17-19).
CONCLUSION (6:20, 21).
Paul the Apostle about A.D. 62–63 from Macedonia
V1 “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope…” 1 and 2 Timothy along with Titus are the Pastoral Epistles. These are letters to two young pastors to further their understanding of being a pastor, to warn, to encourage and bless them. It is the Apostle’s instructions for all pastors, church leaders, and church workers. It should be read and studied. Paul, as usual, writes his greeting referring to his commissioning to be an Apostle. Paul did not choose apostleship; God chose Paul for apostleship.
V2 “…To Timothy, a true son in the faith Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.” True = genuine. Son in the faith = a young believer that Paul had preached the Gospel to.
V3 “…As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine…” One of the responsibilities of a pastor is warn them not to do something. The warning here is to not teach any other doctrine that what the Jesus or the Apostles have taught (Ephesians 2:20).
V4 “…nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.” These fables and genealogies are Jewish concerns. But, to heed, follow, or even discuss might lead to arguments. These things do not build a person’s faith. The best godly education is the Bible itself plus a concordance and themes book as Thompson Chain Reference, Torrey, and Dictionary of Bible Themes by Manser.
V5 “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith…” This commandment refers to anything law that a sovereign king would order. Obedience to the law, if done from the heart, is love and loyalty. A pure heart = sincere motives and desire rather than slavish fear. We are to keep a good conscience by obeying the Law of Christ and reveals our sincerity. The Greek word for “purpose” is (G5056) τέλος télos, which the end of a project, purpose, game, goal, end, conclusion, termination, and suggests a completion. It does not mean the end of a time period (τελευτή G5054). What the commandments of God and in particular the Law of Christ, is the goal, end result, etc. is love. Obeying Jesus’s law results in love. See John 14:15. A pure heart is one that is born again (Ezekiel 36:26, John 3:16, and 2 Corinthians 5:17) resulting in justification (Romans 8:1), resulting in the process of sanctification that happens to all believers (2 Thessalonians 2:13).
V6 “…from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk…” Sadly, some have drifted from the faith. They no longer have much interest in Jesus, His kingdom, His laws, His worldview, or lifestyle. Drifting into idle taught = studying, discussing, teaching doctrines other than what the Apostles taught. These people who have drifted listened to lies–perhaps clever arguments, philosophy, or force of personality. There is idle talk instead of faith building talking.
V7 “…desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.” They have a desire to teach, but they teach wrong things. In fact, they don’t even know what they are talking about. Many times people slip into philosophy to explain Scriptures and doctrine and even elevating their philosophical ideas to the level of Scriptures.
V8 “But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully…” The law = Mosaic law. It has a purpose that of conviction of sin, not to live by anymore (Romans 7:6 and Hebrews 10:1-10).
V9 “…knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers…” See Galatians 3:21-29, Romans 7:7, Romans3:19-20, etc. Mosaic Law is no longer a valid religious goal. There is no salvation by keeping the Law. No one can keep the law. See Romans 10:4, Romans 9:31, and Ephesians 2:15. God has always chosen faith (believing God) as the method of salvation (John 3:14-15 and Galatians 3:24). Someone who obeys the law does not have to worry about the punishments of breaking a law (as long as they obey). The law was given to convict people of their sins–lawless (obey no law except themselves), insubordinate (sassy and do not and will not obey), ungodly (do not care about pleasing God, knowing His will, doing His will, or obeying His will), sinners (a general term for breaking God’s law), unholy (doing those things which God condemns), profane (doing things willingly against God as blasphemy), murders, etc.
V10 “…for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine…” Fornicators (those who commit sexual sins before marriage), sodomites, kidnappers, liars, perjurers (in court room testimony, etc.), and all other sins. We teach these things to learn God’s ways, but we are not to obey them for salvation or to improve our holiness.
V11 “…according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.” Reason? The Gospel of Jesus Christ has revealed more clearly that it is believing, having faith, that justifies.