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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadVernon McGee Thru The Bible: 54 - 1 TIMOTHY
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PASTORAL EPISTLES
The two letters to Timothy and the one to Titus are labeled Pastoral Epistles. The contents of the letters reveal the obvious reason for this. They were written by Paul to two of his young converts (1Ti_1:2; Tit_1:4) who had followed him on many of his missionary journeys and whom he had established as pastors of churches at the time of the writing of these epistles. Although they were addressed by Paul to his young friends in the ministry, the message is for churches. He gave instructions for the orderly procedure of local and visible churches. These letters have a particular message to young pastors, and they have pertinent instructions for the present-day church.
WRITER: Paul
DATE: About A.D. 64
Probably Paul was released from prison at Rome between A.D. 64 and 67. If this is accurate, it was during this interval that he wrote this first letter to Timothy. He wrote to Titus at this same time. Some authorities think that Paul wrote from Macedonia. Apparently he had left Timothy in Ephesus (1Ti_1:3), and he wrote this letter to encourage and assist him (1Ti_6:20).
THEME: Government and order in the local church. This is in contrast to the Epistle to the Ephesians where the church is the body of Christ, the invisible church. Here it is a local assembly of believers organized for a common purpose.
KEY VERSES:
As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine. (1Ti_1:3)
But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1Ti_3:15)
Sound doctrine and correct conduct identify the local church.
Doctrine occurs 8 times;
Godliness occurs 8 times;
Teach and teacher occur 7 times;
Good occurs 22 times.
OUTLINE:
I. Faith of the church, Chapter 1
A. Introduction, 1Ti_1:1-2
B. Warning against unsound doctrine, 1Ti_1:3-10
C. Personal testimony of Paul, 1Ti_1:11-17
D. Charge to Timothy, 1Ti_1:18-20
II. Public prayer and woman’s place in the churches, Chapter 2
A. Public prayer for the public and public officials, 1Ti_2:1-7
B. How men are to pray, 1Ti_2:8
C. How women are to pray, 1Ti_2:9-15
III. Officers in the churches, Chapter 3
A. Requirements for elders, 1Ti_3:1-7
B. Requirements for deacons, 1Ti_3:8-13
C. Report of Paul to Timothy, 1Ti_3:14-16
IV. Apostasy in the churches, Chapter 4
A. How to recognize the apostates, 1Ti_4:1-5
B. What the “good minister” can do in times of apostasy, 1Ti_4:6-16
V. Duties of officers of the churches, Chapters 5, 6
A. Relationship of ministers to different groups in the local church, Chapter 5
B. Relationship of believers to others, Chapter 6
COMMENT:
I. Faith of the church, Chapter 1
This is not a doctrinal statement but is a warning against false teachers. The gospel of the grace of God is central in doctrine. It concerns the person of Christ.
A. Introduction, 1Ti_1:1-2
1Ti_1:1 — Paul declares that he is an apostle of Jesus Christ by commandment of God. “Our Savior” occurs six times in the Pastoral Epistles — used of both God and Christ. (Will of God and the work of Christ — it is the will of God to save sinners; it is the work of Christ that saves sinners.) “Our hope” looks to the future.
1Ti_1:2 — “My own son” would be better translated “my true child.” Both Timothy and Titus were brought to Christ through the ministry of Paul. “Mercy” occurs in 2 Timothy and Titus and is peculiar to the Pastoral Epistles.
B. Warning against unsound doctrine, 1Ti_1:3-10
1Ti_1:3 — “Teach no other doctrine” should be “not to teach a different doctrine.”
v. 4 — “Fables” are myths. “Endless genealogies” refer to the demiurge basic to Gnosticism, which believed in emanations from the divine center. It could also refer to Old Testament genealogies.
1Ti_1:5 — The purpose of sound doctrine is to produce love in Christian living.
1Ti_1:6 — “Vain jangling” is empty chatter.
1Ti_1:7 — “About which they affirm” means that they teach error with assurance.
1Ti_1:8 — “The law is good” means that it is morally excellent. It is good for moral conduct but not for salvation. Law cannot save a sinner — it should correct a sinner.
1Ti_1:9 — “Disobedient” is to be unruly.
1Ti_1:10 — The local church should teach sound doctrine to insure correct conduct. Man must think right to act right.
C. Personal testimony of Paul, 1Ti_1:11-17
1Ti_1:11 — “Glorious gospel” is the gospel of glory. “Was committed to my trust” means with which I was entrusted.
1Ti_1:12 — “He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry” should read “He counted me faithful in that He appointed me to His service.”
1Ti_1:13 — This is Paul’s statement of his life before the Damascus road experience. “Mercy” is what a sinner needs — not justice.
1Ti_1:14 — Faith, love, grace, and mercy are the great realities of the Christian faith.
1Ti_1:15 — Paul is not being academic or forensic when he states that he was the chief of sinners. He was just that. This is not hyperbole.
1Ti_1:16 — Paul would be an example and encouragement to sinners of how God saved him and of the fact that He does save sinners. “Pattern” is an example.
1Ti_1:17 — “King eternal” means King of the ages. Christ is Lord of the church, not King. This is a doxology.
D. Charge to Timothy, 1Ti_1:18-20
1Ti_1:18 — This is Paul’s personal charge to Timothy.
1Ti_1:19 — Apostates had already appeared among the believers in the local churches.
1Ti_1:20 — Paul calls by name two of them who had blasphemed (see 2Ti_2:17). “Delivered unto Satan” was evidently an apostolic ministry. “May learn not to blaspheme” means being disciplined not to blaspheme.
II. Public prayer and woman’s place in the churches, Chapter 2
A. Public prayer for the public and public officials, 1Ti_2:1-7
1Ti_2:1 — “Supplications” are petitions. “Intercession” is to intercede on their behalf as if they did not pray.
1Ti_2:2 — “All that are in authority” means those in an office who could affect or influence the spread of the gospel. Pray that there might be freedom to live as believers should and freedom to witness to the lost.
1Ti_2:3 — This is the will of God.
1Ti_2:4 — God’s desire is the salvation of all. Praying for rulers so that the gospel can be preached is in the will of God. Also, He wants all believers to advance to full maturation by studying the Word of God.
1Ti_2:5 — Prayer is made only through Christ, for no man can come immediately into the presence of God — only mediately through Christ. He is the mediator because He is both man (Jesus) and God (Christ).
1Ti_2:6 — Christ is a propitiation (mercy seat) for the whole world. Mercy must be appropriated to be effective (just as a gift must be accepted).
1Ti_2:7 — “I am ordained” is to be appointed.
B. How men are to pray, 1Ti_2:8
“I will” is desire. “Everywhere” means in every place where believers meet. “Lifting up holy hands” was a custom in that day, practiced by the early church. It revealed the dedication and lives of those praying. “Without wrath” means that sins have been confessed. “Without…doubting” (see Heb_11:6).
C. How women are to pray, 1Ti_2:9-15
1Ti_2:9-10 — As in 1Ti_2:8, “I desire” is understood. Women are not to dress with the idea of attracting the opposite sex when they pray to God (see 1Co_11:5).
1Ti_2:11 — Women were leaders in the mystery religions of Paul’s day (see notes on Ephesians), which were largely sex orgies. Here Paul cautions that women are not to speak in tongues publicly (see 1Co_14:34).
1Ti_2:12 — The woman is not to be over the man in spiritual matters — for the sake of order and headship. This should be an incentive to a man to be the spiritual leader rather than asserting authority as a dictator.
1Ti_2:13-15 — It was the sin of Eve that brought sin into the world, and only sinners are produced through the childbearing. It was the birth of Jesus to Mary that brought the Savior into the world. No man provided a Savior — a woman did. However, a woman is saved by faith the same as a man is saved by faith, and she is to grow in love and holiness the same as a man.
III. Officers in the churches, Chapter 3
A. Requirements for elders, 1Ti_3:1-7
1Ti_3:1 — “True saying” is better translated “faithful saying.” “Desire” — a better word is “seeks.” “Bishop” is an overseer or superintendent. Elder and bishop are the same person (some good men disagree with this position). “Elder” (Greek presbuteros) is the word applied to the person; “bishop” (Greek episkopos) is applied to the office.
1Ti_3:2 — Positive qualifications: “one wife” — not guilty of immorality, polygamy, or an un-scriptural divorce; “temperate” (in KJV, “vigilant”) — a better translation would be “cool, calm or not credulous”; “sober-minded” — a better word is “serious”; “of good behavior” — a better word is “orderly”; “apt to teach” means an ability and love of teaching.
1Ti_3:3 — Negative qualifications: “not given to wine” means no drunken conduct; “not violent” (in KJV, “no striker” ) is not pugnacious; “not greedy of filthy lucre, but patient” means “not covetous, but reasonable”; “not a brawler” — a better translation is “not contentious”; “not covetous” means to not be a money lover.
1Ti_3:4 — In his own home, an elder should be the authority without being the dictator.
1Ti_3:5 — He will be the same man in the church that he is in his home. No dictator nor Mr. Milquetoast need apply.
1Ti_3:6 — “Novice” is better translated as “new convert.” “Lifted up with pride” is blinded with pride. “Condemnation” is judgment. Satan will be his accuser.
1Ti_3:7 — “Good report” is a good testimony.
B. Requirements for deacons, 1Ti_3:8-13
1Ti_3:8 — Paul and Apollos are called deacons; in 1Co_3:5 they are called ministers. Others who are called ministers: Christ (Gal_2:17), Government officials (Rom_13:4), and Ministers of Satan (2Co_11:15). “Minister” is a general term for a servant and worker. “Grave” is calm and cool. “Double-tongued” in our idiom is to be two-faced. “Not given to much wine” — the Bible teaches temperance, not total abstinence. “Greedy of filthy lucre” means having an insatiable love of money, obtained by any means.
1Ti_3:9 — “Mystery of the faith” means the revelation of the gospel in Christ. “The faith” is the content of the gospel. “In a pure conscience” is a vessel that holds the gospel.
1Ti_3:10 — A deacon should be tested before he is placed in office. “Blameless” means they are not to be guilty if accused.
1Ti_3:11 — Wives of deacons must measure up to certain standards.
“Slanderers” are gossips.
1Ti_3:12 — Same as elders.
1Ti_3:13 — A deacon who serves well will become a man to be trusted. “Boldness” is confidence and courage in witnessing.
C. Report of Paul to Timothy, 1Ti_3:14-16
1Ti_3:14 — Paul sent this letter ahead to Timothy to guide him until
he himself could come.
1Ti_3:15 — This letter would be the book of church order for the local church in the absence of Paul.
1Ti_3:16 — “Mystery of godliness” — the purpose of God is to make a man with God-likeness (