The book of 1 Timothy

1. The Book of 1 Timothy - 30th
March 2016
“Nowthe overseeristobe above reproach,faithful tohiswife,temperate,self-controlled,respectable,
hospitable,abletoteach, 3
notgiventodrunkenness,notviolentbutgentle,notquarrelsome,nota
loverof money”(1 Timothy3:2-3).
The Book of 1 Timothywaswrittenbythe apostle Paul as we can learnfrom 1 Timothy1:1,” Paul,an
apostleof ChristJesus by the commandof Godour Saviorand ofChrist Jesusour hope”. It was written
inA.D. 62-66.The purpose of Writingby Paul wasto Timothyto encourage himinhisresponsibilityfor
overseeingthe workof the Ephesianchurchand possiblythe otherchurchesinthe province of Asia
where Paul warnsTimothyto warn some othersnotto teach false doctrinesanylonger:“AsIurged you
when I went into Macedonia,staythere in Ephesusso that you maycommandcertain people not to
teach falsedoctrines any longer” (1 Timothy1:3).
Thisis the firstletterPaul wrote toTimothy,a youngpastorwhohad beena helptoPaul in hiswork.
Timothywasa Greek.His motherwasa JewessandhisfatherwasGreek.Paul was more thanjust a
mentorand leadertoTimothy,he waslike afatherto him, and Timothywaslike ason to Paul whichwe
can learnfrom1 Timothy1:2, “To Timothy my true son inthe faith: Grace,mercy andpeace fromGod
the Father and ChristJesus our Lord”.Paul beginsthe letterbyurgingTimothytobe on guard for false
teachersandfalse doctrine.However,muchof the letterdealswithpastoral conduct.Paul instructs
Timothyinworship aswe can learnfrom chapter2, anddevelopingmature leadersforthe churchseen
inchapter 3. Most of the letterdealswithpastoral conduct,warningsaboutfalse teachers,andthe
church’sresponsibilitytowardsingle members,widows,elders,andslaves.Allthroughoutthe letter,
Paul encouragesTimothytostandfirm,to persevere,andtoremaintrue to hiscalling.
Thisletterlaysthe foundationforordainingelders aswe canlearnfrom 1 Timothy 3:1-7, “Here is a
trustworthy saying:Whoeveraspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2
Nowthe overseer is to
be above reproach, faithful tohiswife, temperate, self-controlled,respectable,hospitable,ableto
teach, 3
not givento drunkenness,not violentbut gentle, not quarrelsome,not a lover ofmoney. 4
He
must managehisown familywell and see thathis childrenobey him,and he must do soin a manner
worthy of full[a]
respect. 5
(Ifanyone doesnot know how to managehis ownfamily,how canhe take
care of God’schurch?) 6
He mustnot be a recent convert, or he may become conceitedand fall under
the same judgmentas the devil. 7
He must alsohave a good reputationwithoutsiders,so that he will
not fall intodisgrace andinto the devil’strap”. As Christianswe know of the importance of pastors,
leadersandteachesinourchurchestoday forthe growthof the church.This letteralsoprovides
guidance forordainingpeopleintoofficesof the church in1 Timothy3:8-13). Inessence,1 Timothyisa
leadershipmanual forchurchorganizationandadministration.
We can learn of many key Verses through thisbook. We can beginwhere Paul teachesthatasChristians
our mediatorisJesusChrist.We can readthisin 1 Timothy2:5, "Forthere is one Godand one mediator
between God andmen, the man ChristJesus." He alsotellsthatbeinga leaderforChristisa noble task
as we read in 1 Timothy3:1, "Here is a trustworthysaying:If anyone sets hisheart on being an
overseer, he desires a nobletask”.Paul statesthat theyhave put theirhope inthe livingGod,whoisthe
Saviorof all men…andespeciallyof those whobelieve!We learnthisin 1 Timothy 4:9-10, "Thisis a
trustworthy sayingthat deserves full acceptance (andfor thiswe laborand strive,that we have put
our hope inthe livingGod,whois the Saviorof all men, and especiallyofthose who believe."

2. In thisletterwe canalso readwhere Paul teaches aboutthe good fightoffaith in1 Timothy6:12:
"Fightthe goodfightof the faith. Take holdof the eternal life to whichyou were calledwhen you
made your goodconfessioninthe presence ofmany witnesses."
JesusChristispresentedbyPaul asthe mediatorbetweenGodandman: “Forthere is one God andone
mediatorbetween Godand mankind,theman ChristJesus” (1 Timothy2:5). He statesthatJesusChrist
isthe Saviorto all whobelieveinHim.He isLord of the church,and TimothyservesHimbypastoringHis
church. Thus,we findthe mainapplicationof Paul’sfirstlettertohis“sonin the faith.”Paul instructs
Timothyonmattersof church doctrine,churchleadership,andchurchadministration.
We as Christiansalso canuse those same instructionsingoverningourlocal assemblytoday.Likewise,
the work andministryof a pastor,the qualificationsforanelder,andthe qualificationsof adeaconare
justas importantand pertinenttodayastheywere inTimothy’sday.The instructionsinthisletterapply
to any leaderorprospective leaderof Christ’schurchandare equallyrelevanttodayastheywere in
Paul’sday.For those notcalledintoleadershiprolesintheirchurch,the bookisstill practical.Every
followermustcontendforthe faithandavoidfalse teaching.Everyfollowermuststandfirmand
persevere.
“Nowthe overseeristobe above reproach,faithful tohiswife,temperate,self-controlled, respectable,
hospitable, able to teach, 3
not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a
lover of money” (1 Timothy 3:2-3).