New Testament survey (15): 1 Timothy

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 shew 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 honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:15-17)

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5)

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory (1 Timothy 3:16)

Overview

[1] 1 Timothy, from Thru The Bible Radio with Dr. J. Vernon McGee ©, with free downloads Notes & Outlines (PDF), Complete 5-Year Study (MP3), Women's Place in the Local Church (PDF)

The First Epistle to Timothy introduces us to a new set of epistles which were written by Paul. There are three of them that belong together (1 and 2 Timothy and Titus), and they are called “The Pastoral Epistles,” because they have to do with local churches.

Paul deals with these two topics in each of the three epistles. For instance, in 1 Timothy, chapter 1, is faith, the faith of the church—its doctrine. In chapter 2 is the order of the church. Chapter 3 concerns the officers of the church. Chapter 4 describes the apostasy that was coming, and chapters 5 and 6 tell of the duties of the officers. (Read the complete article)

[2] Book of 1 Timothy, from gotquestions.org (this website is also available in Afrikaans, Arabic, Bengali, Burmese-Myanmar, Cebuano, Chinese - Simplified, Chinese – Traditional, Hausa, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Malaysian, Persian-Farsi, Portuguese, Quechua, Sesotho, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog, Tamil, Thai, Urdu, Vietnamese, Zulu, and 70 other languages)

Paul wrote to Timothy to encourage him in his responsibility for overseeing the work of the Ephesian church and possibly the other churches in the province of Asia (1 Timothy 1:3). This letter lays the foundation for ordaining elders (1 Timothy 3:1-7), and provides guidance for ordaining people into offices of the church (1 Timothy 3:8-13). In essence, 1 Timothy is a leadership manual for church organization and administration. (Read the complete article)

[3] 1 Timothy, from Scofield Reference Notes (1917 Edition)

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: (See Scofield “Acts 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 Timothy 1:1-20
II. Prayer and the divine order of the sexes enjoined, 1 Timothy 2:1-15
III. The qualifications of elders and deacons, 1 Timothy 3:1-16
IV. The walk of the “good minister,” 1 Timothy 4:1-16
V. The work of the “good minister,” 1 Timothy 5:1-6:21

Discussion

[1] Key verses: 1 Timothy 1:15-17; 2:5, 12; 3:1-2, 16; 4:9-10; 6:12

[2] Sound doctrine and correct conduct identify the local church:

• The word “doctrine occurs 8 times in this epistle (1 Timothy 1:3, 10; 4:6, 13, 16; 5:17; 6:1, 3).
• The word “godliness” occurs 9 times (1 Timothy 2:2, 10; 3:16; 4:7-8; 6:3, 5-6, 10).
• The words “teach” and “teacher” occur 7 times (1 Timothy 1:3; 2:12; 3:2; 4:11; 6:2; 2:7).
• The word “good” occurs 22 times (1 Timothy 1:5, 8, 18-19; 2:3, 10; 3:1-2, 7, 13; 4:4, 6; 5:4, 10, 25; 6:12-13, 18-19).

[3] Requirements for elders, 1 Timothy 3:1-7

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

[4] Requirements for deacons, 1 Timothy 3:8-13

Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

[5] Apostasy in the churches: how to recognize the apostates (1 Timothy 4:1-5)

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Further study (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)

[1] 1 Timothy: Introduction, Argument, Outline, by Daniel B. Wallace , Th.M., Ph.D

[2] Studies in 1 Timothy, various authors, from bible.org

[3] 1 Timothy: Believing and Behaving in the Household of God, by Bob Deffinbaugh, Th.M.

[4] Local Church Primer: Proper Leadership and Conduct in the Household of God, A Devotional Commentary on the Book of 1Timothy, by Paul G. Apple

Sermons on 1 Timothy (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)

[1] Sermon illustrations on 1 Timothy, from bible.org

[2] Sermons by Jeffrey A. Brown, GracePointe Baptist Church

• Office of Elder
• Office of Deacon I

[3] Am I Called to Ministry, by Jacob Vanhorn

[4] The steward's lifestyle, by Michael d'Offay

[5] Truth Defenders, by Charles Leman Eldred

[6] The Maintainer of Doctrinal Purity – Part2, by Robert Cote

[7] What is Nouthetic Counseling answers, by Jim Freed

[8] Conduct in the Household of Faith, by Joseph Holloway

[9] Sermons by Terry Lange Jr.

• What does it mean to be blameless?
• Church Leadership
• The Mystery of Godliness

[10] Learning To Let God, by Thomas C. Black

[11] These Truths We Proclaim, by David Harp

[12] The Need for Godly Character in the Pulpit, by Steven Masters

[13] The Inerrancy of Scripture, by Jerry Canupp

For other available sermons, please surf to Sermon / Preaching resources. Sermons are also available from South McGehee Baptist Church, McGehee, Arizona; Central Baptist Church, Lowesville; First Baptist Church, Mountain View, Missouri; Swift Creek Baptist Church; Word of Life Baptist Church, Pottsville, Philadelphia; Palm Springs Baptist Church, California; South Woods Baptist Church; Grove Baptist Church, Ulster; Dudley Baptist Church, United Kingdom; Independent Fundamental Baptist Sermons, Fundamental Christian Radio Broadcasts, Off-Site Audio Page and The Christian Radio Tuner

Notes: (1) This ministry does not necessarily endorse or share all the views and opinions expressed in the materials, resources or links mentioned in these posts. Please always refer to the Articles of Faith and Biblical distinctives of Baptists when you study these materials. (2) This lesson is part of the projected 300 plus lessons. From time to time, the lessons will be updated, revised, combined, formatted, and edited to comply with the VOA Simplified English word list. Later on, these lessons will be categorized, numbered sequentially, and made available as PDF downloads.