I Timothy 1

I Timothy 1

We have the portrait of a pastor as we investigate the description of Timothy in other N.T references:
young I Tim. 4:12; timid I Cor 16:10, II Tim 1:6-7; faithful I Cor. 4:17 Phil 2:19-23; spiritually strong I Tim 6:11-12; physically weak I Tim 5:23

Paul, the aged and experienced apostle, writes to young pastor Timothy who is facing a heavy burden of responsibility in the church at Ephesus. The task is challenging: false doctrine must be removed, disorder in public worship corrected, and mature leadership developed. The first three chapters of Paul's "leadership manuel" to his young understudy encourage Timothy to teach the faith by precept and practice in order to show those in the church how they ought to behave in the household of God (3:15)

Timothy was brought up in a religious home, of mixed heritage, his mother a Jewess, his father a Greek. Paul led Timothy to the LORD. He was so devoted to Christ that his local church leaders recommended him (Acts 16:1-5) Timothy was faithful to The Lord and had a deep concern for God's people.

If the LORD had advertised for workers, it might have read something like this:
"Men and women wanted for difficult task of helping to build My church. You will often be misunderstood, even by those working with you. You will face constant attack from an invisible enemy. You may not see the results of your labor, and your full reward will not come till after all your work is completed. It may cost you your home, your ambitions, even your life."

AND Paul's requirements of Timothy and Titus would fall into that category for sure! Timothy, along with Titus tackled some of the touch assignments in the churches that Paul had founded.

Ephesus was not the easiest place to pastor a church.  The city was devoted to the worship of Diana, the patroness of the sexual instinct.  Her lascivious images helped promote sexual immorality of all kinds.  Paul had done a great work in Ephesus during his 3 year ministry.  It was not easy for Timothy to follow a man like Paul.  Paul wrote this letter to Timothy to encourage him…to explain how a local church should be managed, and to enforce his own authority as a servant of God.  Paul dealt primarily with the 3 responsibilities of a pastor and people in a local church:

TEACH SOUND DOCTRINE 1:1-11

Paul affirmed his authority as a servant of Jesus Christ.  Paul wanted the people to remember that Timothy had been placed there in their midst by the King of kings. 

One reason that Christian workers must stay on the job is because false teachers are busy trying to capture Christians.  The teachers of false doctrine were very busy then and NOW. 

Goal of teaching is not knowledge but LOVE!  Sound doctrine = means to a greater end. 

The false teachers were raising questions not answering questions.  They were not promoting “God’s saving plan but were leading people away from the truth. (v. 4) 

(v. 5) "A guilty conscience is hell on earth, and points to one beyond."
"Conscience", said an Indian "is a three-pointed thing in my heart that turns around when I do something wrong, and the points hurt a lot. But if I keep doing bad, the points eventually wear off, and then it doesn't hurt any more."

Paul had much to say to young Timothy on the subject of the conscience. The goal of his exhortation was that Timothy might have a good conscience and thereby avoid the shipwreck of his faith. In fact, Timothy's greatest battles would come with those whose consciences had become seared and senseless.

Conscience is the inner judge that accuses us when we have done wrong and approves when we have done right.  Repeated sinning hardens the conscience so that it become ‘seared’ like scar tissue. 
What is your conscience right now? What inner prodding of God are you feeling to right an old wrong, forgive an old grievance, complete an overdue promise? Take it from Timothy, there is no greater feeling of freedom than to face each day with a clear conscience.

(Paper on Clear Conscience)

The false teachers did not understand the content or the purpose of God’s Law.  They were leading believers out of the liberty of grace into the bondage of legalism. A tragedy that still occurs today.  The flesh loves religious legalism because rules and regulations enable a person to APPEAR holy without really having to change his heart. 

V,9-10 The lawful use of the Law is to expose, restrain, and convict the lawless.  The Law cannot save lost sinners; it can only reveal their need for a Savior.  When a dinner believes on Jesus Christ, he is freed from the curse of the Law, and the righteous demands of the Law are met by the indwelling Holy Spirit as a believer yields to God. 

It is only the Gospel that saves a lost sinner.  And Paul gives his testimony of such power and grace in his life. 

v. 12 – 17 PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL

Paul told what he used to be, how he was saved, and what he had become.  The LORD not only made Paul a minister, but he became a shining example, a pattern.  Paul is proof that the grace of God can change ANY sinner. 

DEFEND THE FAITH v. 18-20

Paul writes some of his expressions in military language to enforce his statements.  The soldier’s task is to ‘please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier’ and not to please himself. Timothy was there by divine appointment.  God had chosen him and sent him. 

Then Paul changed from army to navy…he warned Timothy that the only way to succeed was to hold fast to ‘faith and a good conscience”.  One man said, “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 into the pulpit.”

A good conscience is important to a good warfare and a good ministry.  One man said, “conscience is the inner voice which warns us that somebody may be looking.”  But a man with a good conscience will do the will of God in spite of who is watching or what people may say. 

Professed Christians who “make shipwreck” of their faith do so by sinning against their consciences.  Bad doctrine usually starts with bad conduct, and usually with secret sin.  Hymenaeus and Alexander deliberately rejected their good consciences in order to defend their ungodly lives.  Hymenaeus said that the resurrection was already past (II Tim. 2:16-18) – we have no record of what Alexander said because it was such a popular name…but no doubt it was further false doctrine. 

When a Christian refuses to repent, the local fellowship should exercise discipline…excluding him from the protective fellowship of the saints, making him vulnerable to the attacks of Satan. 

There is always the ongoing battle against the forces of evil…false prophets, false teachers, as well as false christs.  Satan is the originator of false doctrines…liar from the beginning. 

It is not enough for us to teach sound doctrine, to proclaim the Gospel, but we must defend the faith by exposing lies and opposing the doctrines of demons.  We must be teachers of healthy doctrine or believers will not grow.  We must preach the Gospel and keep winning the lost.  We must defend the faith…it is a constant battle. 

Timothy’s job was made clear…He was called, equipped, and put into his place of ministry.  He was to care for the church by winning the lost, teaching the saved, and defending the faith.  Timothy was not to be involved in lots of activities and tasks that God had not called him to do.