A look At Paul’s First Letter To Timothy

A Look At Paul’s First Letter To Timothy

Timothy’s Background
Timothy grew up in a home where both his mother and grandmother revered the Old Testament and taught it to him (2 Tim. 1:5; 3:14-17). We don’t know when Timothy accepted Jesus as his Savior, but it seems to have been on Paul’s first missionary journey, about 46-48 AD. Together with Barnabas, Paul preached in Iconium and Lystra (Acts 14:1-23). While Timothy’s name isn’t mentioned at that time, on Paul’s second visit he is mentioned as a disciple, and the believers in these cities spoke well of his testimony as a follower of Jesus (Acts 16:2). Paul referred to Timothy as “my true son in the faith,” because Paul was used by God to bring Timothy to faith (1 Tim. 1:2 NIV ). Timothy also witnessed when Paul was stoned and dragged out of the city as dead (Acts 14:19; 2 Tim. 3:10-11).

Timothy’s Training
The Ephesian believers saw Timothy as a faithful brother and laid hands on him commending him to the work for which the Lord had gifted and prepared him (1 Tim. 1:18; 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6). As a young man, Timothy traveled with Paul for 15 years as his companion and co-worker. From Acts 16, where Timothy joined Paul, we can only imagine how he grew as he saw the Holy Spirit use Paul in preaching the gospel under severe opposition, and saw churches being established in each place they visited. As we see the apostle and disciple together, we see the importance of older believers preparing and training younger ones for service.

A part of Timothy’s training was to help churches by teaching, and then reporting to Paul for further assignment (1 Th. 3:1-6). One such assignment was to visit Corinth where problems abounded: “For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church ... see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am” (1 Cor. 4:17; 16:10). Timothy’s name appears often with Paul’s in his epistles written from a Roman prison.

Prior to his first imprisonment, Paul spent two years in Ephesus teaching the way of the Lord and establishing leaders there. Later he felt the need to address the elders concerning wrong teaching, and “wolves” that would come from their own group and not “spare the flock” but cause strife and destruction (Acts 20:17, 25-30). It happened, and after Paul’s first imprisonment he returned to Ephesus, dealt with at least two of the offenders (1:20) and left Timothy there to lead, teach and help them recognize additional elders (1:3,10,11; 3:1-16).

Timothy’s years of training with Paul made him an ideal leader to help the church get back on track. This was not easy for Timothy because he was still considered a young man by the elders. He was in his mid-thirties, but had more experience and spiritual maturity than the others. He had to show by example that he was one who could be respected (4:12), and Paul’s apostolic letter also gave authority to Timothy’s teaching.

Paul’s Opening Remarks
When Paul wrote to his young disciple, he addressed a number of matters. First, he wanted to remind Timothy why he was left in Ephesus to help the church. Paul began the letter with his customary greeting of “grace, mercy and peace.” He also used his commission and title as “an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus our hope,” to give authority to what he was saying. Timothy probably used this letter to reinforce the teaching needed to establish church order, which was one of the main reasons why he remained in Ephesus after traveling with Paul for so many years (1:3,10).

Paul immediately addressed the problems facing the church, pointing out that false teachers were causing confusion, controversy, and discouragement among believers (1:3-10). Timothy was to command these men to stop teaching false doctrine and to be occupied with practical teaching that would build up the local believers. The Gnostics were forming as a religious sect and their false doctrines were a mixture of the mystery religions, Greek philosophy, Old Testament laws and the newer Christian faith. Their teachings sounded good to new believers who related to the false part they had known prior to being saved. But these false doctrines only caused confusion.

God’s work is based on faith which expresses itself through love and a good conscience. Nothing should be taught that was deceitful, underhanded or of human origin. The Gnostics taught that they had new knowledge which their followers could come to know. Paul rejected this, saying that they didn’t know what they were talking about (1:7). He then said “we know” using the Greek word for “perfect knowledge” and summarized the purpose of God’s “laws” (1:8-11).

A personal testimony carries a lot of weight when guided by the Spirit, and Paul summarized his life prior to conversion to show how grace completely changed him into an obedient servant of the Lord. He had complete confidence in the Gospel he preached: “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst.”

In view of all this, Paul exhorted Timothy to “fight the good fight holding on to faith and a good conscience” (1:18-19). Hymenaeus and Alexander had rejected “sound teaching” and had shipwrecked their faith and that of others, causing major controversy in the church and resulting in their disfellowship (1:20).

Order And Conduct In The Church
After his opening remarks, Paul told Timothy, the elders and us the purpose of this letter: “I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15).

• About Prayer: Paul addressed prayer as an important part of church life. From the Church’s beginning, prayer was the norm: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:41-42). Different types of prayer – “requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving” (2:1) – should be part of church life for all situations, and for peace to function as a witness to those without Christ, the one and only Mediator between man and God (2:2-5).

• About Order: Men should lead, pray and teach in the Church, while women submit to God’s order (2:8-12). Some have taught that this role distinction was cultural and not for today’s Church. Paul clearly refuted this idea by relating the role’s origin to creation and the order God established there. The movement to put women into leadership in the Church is contrary to Scripture. It is not a question of inferiority; women have important roles in teaching, using spiritual gifts and praying in various ministries – but not in the formal meetings of the Church.

• About Leaders: The original elders were appointed by Paul (Acts 14:23). Apostolic appointment would eventually cease, so it was important that the Church know what qualities and gifts were needed for those who would be elders and deacons in the future (3:1-15).* The elders and deacons in the church set an example for others. They were not to be autocratic dictators, but leaders whose lives were wholesome examples that others could follow (1 Pet. 5:3). For this reason Paul listed standards of character, gift and family life which should be evident in the lives of those the church would recognize as biblical leaders (3:14-15).

Insights For Practical Ministry
The remaining chapters of First Timothy contain several instructions about some of the dangers in the Church and duties of the Church. They were needed in Timothy’s day and are still needed today.

• About Doctrine: Chapter 4 begins with instruction about demonic teaching. For example, Gnosticism taught against marriage as God ordained it. Satan has the same agenda today with same-sex marriage and abortion (4:1-8). Timothy was told to teach sound doctrine (4:6) in such a way that his example would be seen by all and result in a moral authority based on Scripture. He was told to devote himself to “the public reading of Scripture” and to use his spiritual gifts in preaching and teaching (4:11-16). In this way the Church would be built up, not by a charismatic personality, but on Scriptural practice.

• About Fellow Believers: Timothy was also told to regard older brothers and sisters as fathers and mothers, and younger men and women as brothers and sisters – and especially treat young women “with absolute purity” (5:1-2). Many have ruined their ministry by wrong relationships with women.

• About Widows: Widows needed help as there were no welfare programs. Help was to be based on need. Families had the first responsibility to care for their widows, and younger widows should remarry and care for their homes and families (5:3-16).

• About Elders: An elder who serves in administration, pastoral work and teaching in the church should receive sufficient financial help to function without the burden of secular work. Multiple witnesses are required to verify an accusation against an elder, and the guilty should be publicly rebuked so the church will learn (5:17-21).

• About Covetousness: The love of money was also a problem in Ephesus. Covetousness and greed become a driving force in one’s life, and pride of position because of wealth or power has caused many to fail spiritually. What is the answer? “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (6:6).

Jesus spoke at length about God’s care for His own. The birds of the air are kept by Him, the lilies of the field are beautifully clothed, and God cares so much more for man, especially those who are His. We should not strive to be rich, or worry about things. “Your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Mt. 6:25-34).

Paul’s Conclusion
Paul concluded this letter with a powerful exhortation for his young co-worker to flee all that is evil “and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness” (6:11). A spiritual battle was underway and Timothy needed to “fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called” (6:12). By serving the Lord with right motives, Timothy and all who followed his example, would “take hold of the life that is truly life, and in this way lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age” (6:19).

We would do well to read and respond to this letter the way Paul knew Timothy would. Our life, and our local church, will be better for it.

END NOTE
* Additional Scriptures dealing with the gifts, qualifications and work of an elder are: Acts 20:17-32; Rom. 12:8; 1 Th. 5:12-13; Tit. 1:5-9; Heb. 13:7,17; Jas. 5:14; 1 Pet. 5:1-4. Leadership in the local church is of paramount importance and an in-depth study should be made. Two books are recommended as being both Scripturally sound and positively helpful: Biblical Eldership: An Urgent Call To Restore Biblical Eldership, by Alexander Strauch, Lewis & Roth Publishers; and, Eldership In Action, Through Biblical Governance Of The Church, by Richard H. Swartley, Emmaus College Press.

By Ian Taylor