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Introduction:
The letters to Timothy and Titus are known as the Pastoral
Letters. He is writing letters to the new pastors who were
following him in the Work of God. He is leaving them with
his thoughts and feelings about the church and what it is they
could expect in months and years ahead as he would be gone.
Paul was writing to Timothy to instruct him on how to deal with
the growing problems of false teachers in the church.
The Easton Bible dictionary states that Paul wrote this letter
A. D. 66 or 67.
The epistle consists mainly of:
1] of counsels to Timothy regarding the worship and organization
of the Church, and the responsibilities resting on its several
members; and
2] of exhortations to faithfulness in maintaining the truth amid
surrounding errors.
The Key Study Bible states:
"Paul was writing to Timothy to instruct him on how to deal with
the growing problems of false teachers that was evident in the
church at Ephesus. The fact that these false teachers had
infiltrated the church in Ephesus was a sad fulfillment of
Paul's prediction nearly five years earlier (Acts 20:28-30).
Paul urged Timothy to boldly withstand these evil men by
upholding the truth of the Scripture."
Acts 20:28-30
28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock,
over the which the Holy Ghost [Spirit] hath made you overseers,
to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own
blood.
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous
wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse
things, to draw away disciples after them.
Timothy
Honouring God, a young disciple who was Paul's companion in
many of his journeying. His mother, Eunice, and his grandmother,
Lois, are mentioned as eminent for their piety (2
Timothy 1:5). We know nothing of his
father but that he was a Greek (Acts
16:1). He is first brought into notice
at the time of Paul's second visit to Lystra (Act_16:2),
where he probably resided, and where it seems he was converted
during Paul's first visit to that place (1Timothy
1:2;
2Timothy 3:11).
The apostle having formed a high opinion of his “own son in the
faith,” arranged that he should become his companion (Acts
16:3), and took and circumcised him,
so that he might conciliate the Jews. He was designated to the
office of an evangelist (1Timothy
4:14), and went with Paul in his
journey through Phrygia, Galatia, and Mysia; also to Troas and
Philippi and Berea (Act_17:14).
Thence he followed Paul to Athens, and was sent by him with
Silas on a mission to Thessalonica (Acts
17:15;
1 Thessalonians 3:2).
We next find him at Corinth (1
Thessaloians1:1;
2Thessalonians1:1)
with Paul. He passes now out of sight for a few years, and is
again noticed as with the apostle at Ephesus (Acts
19:22), whence he is sent on a mission
into Macedonia. He accompanied Paul afterwards into Asia (Acts
20:4), where he was with him for some
time. When the apostle was a prisoner at Rome, Timothy joined
him (Philemon_1:1),
where it appears he also suffered imprisonment (Hebrews13:23).
During the apostle's second imprisonment he wrote to Timothy,
asking him to rejoin him as soon as possible, and to bring with
him certain things which he had left at Troas, his cloak and
parchments (2
Timothy:13).According to tradition,
after the apostle's death he settled in Ephesus as his sphere of
labour, and there found a martyr's grave.
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| 1 Timothy 1:1 |
| Paul, an apostle of
Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour,
and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
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Note:
before doing a study on any
single verse, read all the verses from the beginning
of the chapter to this point and maybe a verse or
two beyond. Do this so you have the verse in
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Called to be
an apostle - This word called means here
not merely to be invited, but has the sense of
appointed. It indicates that he had not assumed the
office himself, but that he was set apart to it by
the authority of Christ himself. It was important
for Paul to state this,
(1) Because the other apostles had been called or
chosen to this work John 15:16, John 15:19; Matthew
10:1; Luke 6:13; and,
(2) Because Paul was not one of those originally
appointed.
It was of consequence for him therefore, to affirm
that he had not taken this high office to himself,
but that he had been called to it by the authority
of Jesus Christ. His appointment to this office he
not infrequently takes occasion to vindicate; 1
Corinthians 9:1; Galatians 1:12-24; 2 Corinthians
12:12; 1 Timothy 2:7; 2 Timothy 1:11; Romans 11:13.
1 Corinthians 9:1
Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen
Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the
Lord?
Galatians 1:12-24
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I
taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past
in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I
persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my
equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly
zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my
mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him
among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with
flesh and blood:
17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were
apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and
returned again unto Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to
see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James
the Lord's brother.
20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold,
before God, I lie not.
21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and
Cilicia;
22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of
Judaea which were in Christ:
23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted
us in times past now preacheth the faith which once
he destroyed.
24 And they glorified God in me.
2 Corinthians 12:12
Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you
in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty
deeds.
1 Timothy 2:7
Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle,
(I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a
teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
2 Timothy 1:11
Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle,
and a teacher of the Gentiles.
Romans 11:13
For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the
apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
An apostle
- One sent to execute a commission. It is applied
because the apostles were sent out by Jesus Christ
to preach his gospel, and to establish his church;
Matthew 10:2 note; Luke 6:13 note.
Our Saviour
- The name Saviour is as applicable to God the
Father as to the Lord Jesus Christ, since God is the
great Author of salvation; see the notes, Luke 1:47;
compare 1Timothy 4:10; Titus 2:10.
Luke 1:47 And my spirit
hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
In God my Saviour
- God is called “Saviour,” as he saves people from
sin and death. He was “Mary’s” Saviour, as he had
redeemed her soul and given her a title to eternal
life; and she rejoiced for that, and especially for
his mercy in honoring her by her being made the
mother of the Messiah.
1 Timothy 4:10
For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach,
because we trust in the living God, who is the
Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
Titus 2:10
Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that
they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in
all things.
And Lord
Jesus Christ - The apostle Paul
had received his commission directly from him; see
the notes, Galatians 1:11-12.
Galatians 1:11-12
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel
which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I
taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
But I certify you
- I make known to you; or, I declare to you; see 1
Corinthians 15:1. Doubtless this had been known to
them before, but he now assures them of it, and goes
into an extended illustration to show them that he
had not received his authority from man to preach
the gospel To state and prove this is the main
design of this chapter.
Is not after man
- The Greek text: “Not according to man”;
see Galatians 1:1. That is, he was not appointed by
man, nor did he have any human instructor to make
known to him what the gospel was. He had neither
received it from man, nor had it been debased or
adulterated by any human admixtures. He had received
it directly from the Lord Jesus.
1 Corinthians 15:1
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel
which I preached unto you, which also ye have
received, and wherein ye stand;
Galatians 1:1
Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but
by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him
from the dead;)
Which is our hope
- See the notes at Colossians 1:27.
Colossians 1:27
To whom God would make known what is the riches of
the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which
is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Which is Christ in you, the
hope of glory - Or, Christ among you.
Margin. The meaning is, that the whole of that
truth, so full of glory, and so rich and elevated in
its effect, is summed up in this - that Christ is
revealed among you as the source of the hope of
glory in a better world. This was the great truth
which so animated the heart and fired the zeal of
the apostle Paul. The wonderful announcement had
burst on his mind like a flood of day, that the
offer of salvation was not to be confined, as he had
once supposed, to the Jewish people, but that all
men were now placed on a level; that they had a
common Saviour; that the same heaven was now opened
for all, and that there were none so degraded and
vile that they might not have the offer of life as
well as others. This great truth Paul burned to
communicate to the whole world; and for holding it,
and in making it known, he had involved himself in
all the difficulties which he had with his own
countrymen; had suffered from want, and peril, and
toil; and had finally been made a captive, and was
expecting to be put to death. It was just such a
truth as was fitted to fire such a mind as that of
Paul, and to make it; known as worth all the
sacrifices and toils which he endured. Life is well
sacrificed in making known such a doctrine to the
world.
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