The Chapters – Quick Access

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Basics

BOOK: 1 Timothy

Description: A letter from the apostle Paul to his young protégé, Timothy, encouraging and instructing on countering false teachers, administering the church and caring for the vulnerable.

Author: The apostle Paul

Date written: Probably somewhere between AD63 and AD65

Chapters:  6

Brief Synopsis

Having left Timothy in Ephesus (1:3), and been unable to return (3:14,15)

• Paul encourages Timothy be a good leader by:
• Refuting false teaching and
  • Teaching on prayer, worship, and leadership/serving ministries (corporate life)
  • Teaching and caring for the elderly, widows, slaves & the affluent, i.e. those having special needs (individual lives)
  • As well as attending to his own needs as well.

Why Read 1 Timothy

1 Timothy is unique in the biblical canon in that it is one senior leader instructing a junior leader in respect of important points of leading a local church. A number of things perhaps stand out to us:

• First that Timothy has his ministry because God called him to it through prophecy. Such a beginning adds security to each of us.
• Second, teaching sound doctrine and therefore ensuring that the church sticks to the truths of the gospel, is vital.
• Third, understanding people is also vital, recognizing that wolves come in sheep’s clothing and therefore a) we need to see below the surface and b) we need to watch carefully what others are purporting to bring in Jesus’ name. This includes being wise and careful about accepting into spiritual leadership and service only those who conform to God’s criteria.
• Finally, we are what we are, and we continue to serve God, entirely by His grace. When we have this, we can aim for godliness and contentment in the confidence that those are God’s goals for us.

Outline

• 1:1-20 Paul & Timothy
  • 1:1-2 Salutation
  • 1:3-7 Paul’s instruction for Timothy to refute false teachers
  • 1:8-11 The right use of the Law
  • 1:12-17 The Lord’s Grace to Paul
  • 1:18-20 The Purpose of Paul’s Instructions to Timothy
• Ch.2 & 3 Administration of the Church
  • 2:1-15 Public Worship
  • 2:1-8 Prayer in public worship
  • 2:9-15 Women in public worship
  • 3:1-13 Qualifications for Church Officers
  • 3:1-7 Overseers
  • 3:8-13 Deacons
  • 3:14-16 Purpose of These Instructions
• Ch.4 Countering False Teaching
  • 4:1-5 False Teaching Described
  • 4:6-16 Methods of Dealing with It Explained
• 5:1-6:2 Caring for Different Groups in the Church
  • 5:1-2 The Older and Younger
  • 5:3-16 Widows
  • 5:17-25 Elders
  • 6:1-2 Slaves
• 6:2c-21 Additional Directions for Timothy
  • 6:3-5 Beware False Teaching
  • 6:6-10 Aim for godly contentment
  • 6:11-16 Look to yourself
  • 6:17-19 Instruct the affluent
  • 6:20-21 Care for what God has given you

‘Sayings’ used in teaching in the early church

There appear to have been a number of doctrinal ‘sayings’ used by the early church to teach new converts. Some of those appear in this letter. We also include the 2 from 2 Tim and Titus

• 1:15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–of whom I am the worst.
• 3:1 Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.
• 3:16 Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.
• 4:8-10 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come . This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.

(NB. It is unclear whether Paul refers to the verse before or after. Both could be such sayings. We tend to feel it is more likely to be the words after.)

• 2 Tim 2:11-13 Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself .
• Titus 3:5-8 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying.

(Again it is unclear where this ‘saying’ starts.)

Concluding Comments

As a series of instructions to a church leader, this is a fascinating letter because it reveals

• the problems of the spiritual warfare of the day (false teaching)
• the needs of direction in worship, prayer, leadership etc. for a new church
• the needs of the vulnerable (including the rich) in the church, and
• the personal needs of the leader himself.