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Walking Thru The Bible
1 TIMOTHY
AUTHOR:
In addition to all the letters in the New Testament that Paul
wrote to various churches he wrote four to individuals. Two of these
were written to Timothy, one to Titus, and one to Philemon.
First and Second Timothy and Titus are often referred to
by denominational scholars as the Pastoral Epistles due to a
common misconception of what a Pastor is. The denominational
concept is that a Pastor is the preacher "in charge of the affairs
of the local church." The New Testament does not teach this.
In Acts 20:17-28 we learn that bishops, elders, and pastors are
three different terms referring to the same group of men in the
local church doing the same work. The preacher is not the pastor
or shepherd of the flock, but the bishops (or elders) are. In New
Testament days that was no distinction between bishops, elders
and pastors.
Timothy and Titus were fellow-laborers with Paul in the
work of preaching. Paul is now an aged, mature, experienced,
apostle of Jesus Christ and he writes to these two young preachers
to encourage and instruct them for the work they would need to
continue to do.
DATE:
First Timothy was written after the events recorded in Acts
took place. Following Paul's two year imprisonment at Rome
mentioned in the last chapter of Acts it is believed that Paul was set
free and enjoyed liberty for two or three years before being reimprisoned
and finally executed about 66 or 67 AD.
The facts of these personal epistles of Paul indicate that Paul
traveled to Crete and left Titus there (Titus 1:3), and left Timothy in
Ephesus to carry on the work there. Paul traveled on to Miletus and
Troas and into Macedonia.
In the course of this travel Paul wrote First Timothy from
some place in Macedonia. He is subsequently arrested again,
probably in Nicopolis. Conditions were changing rapidly. The
Jews in Palestine were rebelling against Rome; Nero was laying
the blame for the burning of Rome on the Christians; and persecution
under Nero grew more sever each day.
During his imprisonment Paul was not allowed the freedom
of a "house arrest" like his first imprisonment described in Acts 28.
This time he was confined to the Maritime dungeon, according to tradition,
and after spending a lonely winter suffering from the cold he was
beheaded upon the order of Nero. It was during this imprisonment he
wrote 2 Timothy.
TIMOTHY:
Timothy was born in Lystra of a Greek father and a Jewish
mother. He was reared in the Jewish faith and was taught the Scriptures
by his mother and grandmother from early childhood (2 Tim. 3:15;
2 Tim. 1:5). Paul discovered him at Lystra (Acts 16:1-3). At this point
in Paul's second missionary journey Timothy joined Paul and shared
in his labors throughout the rest of his life.
Timothy was with Paul in his first imprisonment at Rome
(Col. 1:1; Philemon 1). After Paul's release he evidently traveled
with Paul as far as Ephesus and was left there to administer to the
needs of the Church. While there, he received these two epistles
from Paul that bear his name. Although Timothy is referred to as
a young men, he is probably about 30 years old at the time he
receives this epistle.
Whether Timothy was able to reach Rome in time to
see Paul before his death is unknown. But in Paul's second
letter to him he requests him to come and to bring his cloak
and parchments (2 Timothy 4:11-21).
THE LETTER:
Paul had left Timothy at Ephesus. The church
was faced with threat from various false doctrines. Paul
had warned the elders of Ephesus of coming problems in
Acts 20 several years earlier.
1. Paul warns Timothy and the church
of a failure of faith and charges the young preacher to
instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines (1:3).
Some had made shipwreck of the faith, such as "Hymenaeus
and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan" says
Paul (1:18-20).
2. How Christians ought to conduct
themselves in the work and worship of the church is
a second underlying thought in Second Timothy. He
deals with congregational prayer and worship and how
Christian women are to dress and behave themselves.
3. The earliest elders and deacons in
the church had been appointed directly by men inspired
by the Holy Spirit (Acts 14:23; 6:3,6; Acts 20:28) but
now by inspiration of the Holy Spirit Paul gives written
guidelines for the appointment of elders and deacons
in chapter three.
4. Another general theme of the book
is especially applicable to all who preach the Gospel
and is found in First Timothy 3:16: "Take heed to
thyself and to thy teaching." Paul exhorts Timothy
concerning his attitude toward his work and his personal
example. He was charged to "rebuke them that sin..."
and flee any desire to be rich and "keep that which
is committed to thy trust" (4:6-16; 5:20-22; 6:6-11,20).
An Outline of First Timothy
Introduction 1:1-2
I. SOUND DOCTRINE 1:3-20
1. Danger to sound doctrine 1:3-11
2. Example of sound doctrine 1:12-17
3. The preacher and sound doctrine 1:18-20
II. PUBLIC WORSHIP 2:1-15
1. Prayer 2:1-7
2. Men and women in worship 2:8-15
III. CHURCH OFFICERS 3:1-16
1. The elder 3:1-7
2. The deacon 3:8-13
3. Importance of instructions 3:14-16
IV. FALSE TEACHERS 4:1-16
1. Their coming 4:1-5
2. The preacher and false teachers 4:6-10
3. The true service of God 4:11-16
V. CARE OF MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH 5:1 - 6:2
1. Care of young and old 5:1-2
2. Care of widows 5:3-16
3. Care of elders 5:17-25
4. Care of slaves 6:1-2
VI. THE MINISTER HIMSELF 6:3-21a
1. Motives 6:3-10
2. Proper walk 6:11-16
3. Faithful ministry 6:17-21a
Conclusion 6:21b
The Christian Widow
1 Timothy 5:3-16
Introduction:
In 1 Timothy is a description of a Christian woman
who might be called the virtuous woman of the New Testament.
Although this is the most complete description of a Christian
woman found in Scriptures, we have overlooked her because
we think of her only as a widow.
1. The Widow's Lot 5:3-4, 7-8, 16
a. Many good works accomplished before she was a widow.
b. Many not now single will probably be one day.
c. Widows in Biblical times faced a great desolation.
d. Caring for widows is a religious and moral duty-- ch.5
2. The Widow's Friend 5:5; Luke 2:36-38; 18:1-8
a. Loss of mate, companionship, security, confidence--
b. Her faith-- "set her hope on God" Alone but not forgotten.
c. Note prayers recorded by people "all alone" in Bible.
d. God made special provisions for widows under the
old covenant -- Ex. 22:22-23; Deut. 14:28-29; 24:17-19.
e. Note New Testament concern: Acts 6:1; James 1:27
3. The Widow's Life 5:9-10; 2 Kings 4:1-7
a. "Added to the list" of those cared for by the church
and who rendered special service for the church.
b. Her reputation had to be spotless, based on her
morality and her good deeds. (2 Kings, Luke 2)
4. The Widow's Love 5:10; Ruth 1-4
a. Commended for having brought up children-- v.10b
b. Motherhood-- 1 Timothy 2:15; Proverbs 29:15
c. Parents don't expect to outlive their children--Gen.37:3
d. Rearing children (foster children -- Matthew 18:5)
5. The Widow's Home 5:10; Luke 4:25-26
a. Known for hospitality-- v.10c; I Peter 4:9
b. To accept and to give-- (Gen.18; Lk 10:1-12; 1 Cor.10:27)
6. The Widow's Hands 5:10; Ruth 1-4
a. Like virtuous woman of Proverbs 31 the Christian
woman has busy hands-- v.10d; Acts 9:36-39
b. Not too proud for a menial task -- humble
(not a religious rite, but done a hospitable service
rendered in the home.)
c. Jesus corrected a Pharisee in this matter-- Luke 7:44.
7. The Widow's Way 5:10; 2 Sam. 21:1-13
a. "Relieved afflicted" --compassionate, caring -- Rom. 12:15;
b. Rizpah's love and action -- 2 Samuel 21
8. The Widow's Walk 5:10; Mark 12:41-44
a. Note her character was formed long before "widowhood."
See: Christian Woman Magazine, Jan / Feb 1988
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