The Epistle of 1st Timothy
Chapter 1-The Church & Its Message
1 Timothy 1:1-20
Introduction
The Apostle Paul wrote three epistles, 1st & 2nd Timothy and Titus, which collectively are referred to as the "Pastoral Epistles". This is an appropriate name for these three letters because they were written to young pastors involved in the leadership of churches. These three epistles constitute a kind of "handbook for pastors".
Paul had led both Timothy and Titus to the Lord Jesus Christ, and they had shared many hardships and blessings with Paul on his missionary journeys in the Roman Empire. The Apostle Paul had left Timothy in charge of pastoring the church in Ephesus. In this first epistle to Timothy, Paul both encourages and instructs the young pastor by providing counsel and guidance concerning how to conduct himself as the spiritual leader of the church.
We can read in the book of Acts that Paul was under "house arrest" in Rome, where he spent two years. Most scholars believe that after his release from this first imprisonment, Paul traveled with both Titus and Timothy around the Roman Empire before turning to the East. We know that Paul left Titus on the Isle of Crete in order that he might serve as pastor there. Paul then brought Timothy to Ephesus where he left him in charge of the difficult task of pastoring a church in the midst of an ungodly, idolatrous people. Paul himself continued on his journey to the area of Macedonia. Some believe that Paul may have continued his journey to Spain, and possibly even on the British Isles, but there is no concrete evidence to support either of these claims. After Paul left Timothy, the apostle was subsequently arrested a second time and again imprisoned in Rome. It was from this cold, dark prison that the Apostle Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy, shortly before the Romans beheaded Paul for his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Purpose of the Epistle
Timothy was the son of a Jewish mother and Greek father. As a child, young Timothy was greatly influenced by his mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois (2 Tim. 1:5; 3:15). Thank God for mothers and grandmothers who are willing and faithful to rear their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Timothy became the first "second-generation Christian" mentioned in the New Testament. As Timothy grew older, he was influenced by another godly believer, the Apostle Paul. There are three major divisions in 1st Timothy:
Teaching Sound Doctrine (1 Timothy 1:1-11) 
Proclaiming the Gospel (1 Timothy 1:12-17) 
Defending the Faith (1 Timothy 1:18-20) 
These three divisions teach us valuable lessons concerning "The Church & Its Message". There is a great need for all believers to review what the message of the church should be in light of God’s Word. One must agree that in this day in which we live the church is being influenced by the world, more than the world is being influenced by the church. Let’s examine the instruction Paul gave to young Timothy, pastor of the church of Ephesus.
Teaching Sound Doctrine (1:1-11)
vs. 1-2 Paul begins his epistle in a rather formal manner, but as always, Paul was not one to waste words. In Acts 20:17-32 Paul had warned the elders of the church of Ephesus of grievous wolves that would attack the church. He even suggested that after his departure, some of these wolves would come from among the church’s elders themselves. 
The purpose of Paul’s formal introduction in this epistle was to remind the Ephesians that he had been commissioned by God, not man. There is no higher authority by whom one may be called. So often members of churches fail to realize that ministers are ordained by God, not by committees or deacon boards. God calls, commissions, and ordains these ministers to shepherd the flocks within the local church. 
Paul identified Timothy’s as pastor as being two-fold. The first aspect of his ministry involved "stopping the false teaching that was taking place within the church." The second aspect of Timothy’s ministry involved "correcting their misconceptions of the law." Both of these problems still exist in the New Testament church today, and constitute a real need for pastors to take measures to correct them. Unfortunately, many rely more on traditions than "Thus saith the Lord…."
vs. 3-6 Paul begins by giving Timothy instruction concerning how to stop false teaching within the church of Ephesus. He admonishes him to "challenge (charge) certain teachers!" It is the responsibility of pastors to guard and ward off any and all attacks from Satan within the church. The devil would desire nothing more than to infiltrate the teaching programs of churches and cause heresy rather than truth to be taught. Many in teaching positions are not qualified nor gifted to teach the Word of God, but for various reasons, they have been thrust into the positions within the local church. It is a tragedy when men, women, and sometimes even young teenagers are thrust into the position of "teacher" when there is no evidence that they have been gifted in the area of teaching. It has become commonplace in many churches today for these people to "fill" positions simply because no one else will do the job. God have mercy upon us if we consider such an awesome responsibility as teaching with such low regard! The gift of teaching is given by the Holy Spirit of God, and churches are blessed whose teachers are capable and responsible in their obligations to teach with reverence to God and compassion for classes. Teachers should never be chosen on the basis of popularity. As a matter of fact, we see concrete evidence in this passage that the pastor of the church has the responsibility guarding against the such teachers being placed in such positions. Teachers should not be selected by the congregations, but we learn that it is the pastor that has the responsibility of choosing teachers.
Paul addressed this problem to the Hebrews when he said, "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Hebrews 5:12-14.) We see in this passage that being a child of God is not enough to qualify one to instruct others in the Word of God. Teachers should be of full age (mature), not novices in the Word. We must first teach new converts to mature before sending them into areas of teaching. Who is better qualified in the church to determine who are qualified to teach doctrine than the pastor, the man ordained and sent of God to shepherd the sheep of the church? (Ephesians 4:11-14)
The word "charge" literally means "to give strict orders from a superior officer." The pastor is the undershepherd whom God Himself has ordained to care for the flock of a church. Paul instructs Timothy, as pastor, to challenge or charge certain teachers within the church who were teaching false doctrines. Once these teachers are identified, they should never be allowed to continue to teach doctrines, fables, traditions, or any other heresies. This is not a pleasant task for any pastor. Many are negligent in fulfilling this important responsibility. The calling of a pastor is not an easy vocation, but God does promise He will give grace. Pray for your pastor that God will give him boldness and confidence to perform the difficult duties of shepherding the flock to which the Lord has appointed him. Pray that God will give him wisdom, understanding, discernment, boldness, and most of all love to serve the Lord faithfully. 

There was a good reason why Paul instructed Timothy to challenge these false teachers. There should always be a good reason when we rebuke others overtaken in a fault (Gal. 6:1). The "aim of the charge" is revealed in verse 5 - to promote a "pure heart, good conscience, and faith unfeigned (sincere faith)." The people of Ephesus needed to be corrected and instructed spiritually. The most difficult task of any pastor is to "rebuke a member of the congregation." Paul uses the words "doctrine, teach, teacher, teaches, and teaching" a total of thirty-two (32) times in the three Pastoral Epistles. 
There is a great need today among churches for qualified teachers who are willing to put the time into "studying to show themselves approved unto God" (2 Tim. 2:15) Many teach traditions, fables, wives’ tales rather than the truth of God’s Word. Paul calls this kind of teaching, "vain jangling" in verse 6. The teaching that is done by those that "swerved and turn aside" from the truth of God’s Word is summarized as "empty; void; vain"! There seems to be a trend today toward "emotionalism" rather than the teaching of doctrinal truth. Doctrine restricts how we live! Emotionalism is preferred because people do not want their live style restricted. The only way we will grow, however, is by learning the sincere, unadulterated Word of God (1 Peter 2:2).
Paul emphatically admonished Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:2, "PREACH the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and DOCTRINE. Many teachers and preachers have compromised their convictions. God had committed the truth of the Word to the Apostle Paul (1 Tim. 1:11), and now Paul is committing the truth of the Word to Timothy (1 Tim. 6:20). It was his responsibility as a "good soldier of Jesus Christ" to guard the faith and to pass it on to other faithful men who would in turn teach others (2 Tim. 2:2).
vs. 7-11 In the closing verses of this section, Paul describes those that desire to be teachers of the Law. He says that they do not understand what they are saying. It has been aptly said, "When there is a midst in the pulpit, there is a cloud in the congregation!" Paul further suggests in verse 8 that those who desire to teach the Law do so with ulterior motives. The Pharisees and religious leaders of Paul’s day had often subjected the Jews to burdensome laws that they themselves were not willing to obey. Jesus rebuked these leaders for such vile treatment of their brethren, and ultimately He was crucified for so doing. Paul suggested the real reason that the Law was given to mankind in verses 9-11. The Law was given to reveal the sinfulness of mankind! It is a measuring device, a schoolmaster show just how far short of God’s glory man has come (Romans 3:23). The Law was given so that man might realize his need of a Savior, and in so realizing, come to Jesus who is the Savior of all men, specially them that believe (1 Tim. 1:15; 4:10)! 
Proclaiming the Gospel (1:12-17)
vs. 12 - Paul first thanks Jesus Christ for "enabling" him to preach the Gospel. It is important to notice it was Paul’s "faithfulness" that qualified him for the ministry. Any believer who desires to be used in the service of the Lord should realize that "Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful" (1 Cor. 4:2).
This can be seen clearly in the lives of the twelve disciples that followed Jesus Christ in His earthly ministry. There were three members of that group of men who made up the "inner circle" of disciples, Peter, James, and John. These three men were privileged on several occasions to experience opportunities of blessings that far exceeded the others. It was these three men who ascended the mountain and witnessed the transfiguration of our Lord. It was these three men whom the Lord took into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, while leaving the others on the outskirts of the garden. It would seem that these men were so blessed because of there faithfulness. So it is in the ministry of our Lord today. If one truly desires to be placed into the service of God, one must be found faithful. Paul clearly states that the reason that Jesus Christ chose him for the ministry is because the Lord counted him "faithful".

vs. 13-14- In these verses Paul expounds upon the mercy and grace of God who took sinner Saul and made preacher Paul. Before Paul became a preacher, he was Saul the sinner who blasphemed and persecuted the Church of Jesus Christ. How loving and kind is our Lord to look upon such vile sinners and see the end result of His exceeding abundant grace! Oh, let us never forget what wretched sinners we were before Jesus reached down in His tender love and mercy and grace and brought us out of that horrible pit of iniquity! Praise His Holy Name!
vs. 15 - In this verse we have one of greatest, most dynamic verses of the entire Word of God. This verse presents the complete Gospel for the salvation of lost souls. If the lost could comprehend just a portion of this wonderful verse of Scripture, there would far less who would go to hell, and there would no doubt be countless thousands, perhaps millions of people saved.
Within the Pastoral Epistles we find "5 Faithful Sayings". This is the first of those five sayings - "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." There are many important lessons to be learned in this particular verse. 
First, we see a "Word of Description- Jesus came to save SINNERS". 
Jesus did not come into the world to save good, moral people. Jesus did not come into the world to save those that were wealthy and self-sufficient. Jesus did not come into the world to save those who thought that they save themselves. No! No! A thousand times, No! Jesus came into the world to save SINNERS! My friend, before a person will ever come to the Lord Jesus Christ, he must first realize he or she is a sinner in need of salvation. People who are lost today are lost for one reason - They do not BELIEVE they are lost! If a person truly believed that they were hell-bound sinners who can not save themselves, then they no doubt would turn to the only one who could help them - The Lord Jesus Christ who came to save Sinners!
Secondly, we see a "Word of Definition - Salvation". 
Jesus did not come to show us "how to save ourselves." Jesus did not come to "HELP us save ourselves." Jesus did not come to "get us started on the road to salvation" and then expect us to finish the job. Jesus came to SAVE sinners! Whatever we might say about salvation, we must conclude that salvation is of God, not man. Ephesians 2:8-9 clearly states, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Romans 3:21-31 gives us everything that we need to know concerning the salvation of the soul in Christ Jesus. In Romans 3:24-26 we read, "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." It is God who justifieth, and He only justifies those that exercise faith in the finished work of Christ. In Romans 3:27-28 Paul concludes his argument by stating, "Where is the boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay; but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."
Thirdly, we see a "Word of Designation - CHRIST JESUS CAME". 
If there had been any other way to secure mankind’s salvation, no doubt God would have chosen it rather than send His only begotten Son to die on a cruel cross. However, as we read the writer of Hebrews we find that there was no other way. "…looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2). John 14:6 clearly teaches, "Jesus Christ is THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Life, and no man can come unto the Father but by HIM."
If you know a person who is lost, it is imperative that you help them to realize that they are a sinner. Jesus can not save those that do not see their need of Him. He will not force Himself upon them. However, we do have God’s promise that "as many as received Him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" (John 1:12).
vs. 16-17- Paul speaks of the Sovereignty of God, and he clearly believed that God saved him to be an example of God’s amazing grace. If God could save such a man as he, Paul reasoned that God can save any man. If God’s grace was sufficient to transform the heart of a persecutor into the heart of a loving, compassionate preacher, then God can transform all hearts. If God could melt the coldness of a murderer and mold him into a missionary, then God has the power to transform your life and mine. Paul became an example to all sinners that the grace of God does transform lives no matter how vile and wretched!
Paul is also a great example to the present nation of Israel. Paul had been born a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin. Paul was a religious rabbi who had been instructed by the greatest minds in Judaism during his day, yet he was lost. In his spiritual blindness, Paul thought that he did a great service by persecuting the Church of Jesus Christ. But God, who is rich in mercy and grace, reached down from Heaven that day on the road to Damascus and broke the heart of Saul. God transformed him into the greatest preacher, besides Jesus, that the world has ever known! In Romans 10, we learn that Israel today has a "zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they, being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God" (Romans 10:2-3). Sadly, many people fall into this same category of not understanding God’s righteousness. God’s righteousness can never be satisfied by our good works or zealous actions. God’s righteousness can only be satisfied by the Lord Jesus Christ. We must receive Christ by faith and faith alone in order that we may be justified in God’s sight (Romans 5:1) "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth" (Romans 10:4). 
Defend the Faith (1:18-20)
vs. 18 - Paul has thus stated that two of the ministries of the church is to "Teach Sound Doctrine" (1:1-11) and to "Proclaim the Gospel" (1:12-17). Now Paul teaches a third ministry of the church - "Defending the Faith" (1:18-20). Here Paul uses military terminology to emphasize that we are engaged in a spiritual warfare with the forces and powers of hell. The word "charge" means "to command like an officer to a subordinate". Paul issues a charge to Timothy to "war a good warfare." In 2 Timothy 2:3 Paul instructs Timothy that he should be a "good soldier of Jesus Christ". Too many believers today view the walk of faith as if it were a playground rather than a battleground. As members of a local church we are to be equipped to ward off the attacks of Satan. Ephesians 6:10-18 explains the "armor of God" all Christians wear in order to protect us against Satan’s attempts to cause us to stumble.
vs. 19 - Paul says, "Holding faith, and a good conscience;" This is one the keys to success in the believers daily walk. Colossians 2:6-7 states, "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving." The only way to receive Christ Jesus the Lord "BY FAITH." 
One man said of his pastor, "He is such a good preacher, he should never get out of the pulpit. But he is such a poor Christian, he should never get in it!" It was Paul’s intent to remind Timothy that he had an obligation to remain faithful to the Lord throughout his ministry. Sometimes we get comfortable and complacent with our walk, and we seem to think that we have earned the right to "reward ourselves" for our faithfulness by resting. Paul told both the Galatians (Gal. 6:9) and the Thessalonians (2 Thess. 3:13), "…be not weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." It is said that the conscious is that "inner voice which warns us that someone is watching." We should remember that God sees everything that we do, whether or not anyone else does.
vs. 20 - Paul provides two men who were not faithful for examples. These two men were obviously guilty of blasphemy. In 2 Timothy 2:16-18 we have some insight as to what Hymenaeus did. He evidently taught heresy (false teaching) concerning the resurrection of the saints. In 2 Timothy 4:14 we have a possible reference to Alexander, although it was such a common name during that period of time that it is impossible to know whether this is in reference to the same Alexander mentioned by Paul or not. If it is the same man, then he too was guilty of teaching false doctrine. 
It is interesting to notice that Paul called such false teaching "blasphemy". Today there is a great epidemic of blasphemy infiltrating the New Testament church! Many are teaching doctrines that are contrary to the Word of God. Why are so many false doctrines being taught in the local church today? In 2 Timothy 3 Paul describes the last days. In these last days there will be those "having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:" (2 Timothy 3:5) There will be those who are "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 3:7). And Paul also says of the last days, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (2 Timothy 4:3-4). 
May God help teachers and preachers and all believers to understand the importance of rightly dividing the Word of God; to pray and hold faith and a good conscience; to walk in faith as we have received the Lord Jesus Christ; and to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord.

1Timothy Chapter 2