The Recap of 1 Timothy
A recap is a brief recapitulation or short summary
of material previously covered. We will attempt to
keep this brief. At the same time, this is a
summary of more than 113 hours of discussion. The
more pithy [concise,
short or compact] the recap, the more
effective it will be. Interestingly, the word,
“effective” is a synonym for, “pithy.”
There is no single way to offer a recap of so vast
an amount of material. It runs the gamut of me
giving you a couple of summarizing paragraphs to me
keeping you for 113 hours as I read everything we
have covered. What I have put together is the
result of an
assiduity request of God. I merely read through
the entire book of First Timothy and highlighted any
phrase that I felt most important and/or which
captured the primary thrust or message of the letter
to Timothy. Let us get started.
1 Timothy
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.
1 Timothy 1
Verse 1
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment
of God our Saviour, and
Lord Jesus Christ,
which is our hope;
Key point: Jesus Christ is our hope.
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.
1 Timothy 1
Verse 3
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,
Key Point: Teach, learn and
hold onto doctrines that come from the Bible.
Than I have taught. Let them put nothing in the
place of it, add nothing to it.
~John Wesley Notes
1 Timothy 1
Verse 4
Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies,
which minister questions, rather than
godly edifying
which is in faith: so do.
Key Point:
Religious
argument and debate do nothing to promote true
religion. The true gospel edifies. Exercise the
stewardship of God.
1 Timothy 1
Verse 5
Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a
pure heart, and of a good conscience,
and of faith
unfeigned:
Key Point:
Our hearts must be purified by faith…the
same faith God has.
There is neither love without a good conscience, nor
a good conscience without faith, nor faith without
the word of God. ~Geneva Bible Notes
1 Timothy 1
Verse 6
From which some
having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
Key Point:
Never allow yourself to swerve from the truth.
Turned aside unto vain jangling -
The original term, ματαιολογιαν, signifies empty or
vain talking; discourses that turn to no profit; a
great many words and little sense; and that sense
not worth the pains of hearing. Such, indeed, is all
preaching where Jesus Christ is not held forth.
~Adam Clarke
Note: See
sermons: 1]
One Verse 2]
Chatter 3]
Pack Your Bags 4]
Raising Cain, Parts 1 and 2
1 Timothy 1
Verse 8
But we know that the
law is good,
if a man use it lawfully;
Key Point:
The Law requires the right use and practice of it.
The law is good, if a man use it lawfully. Its object was not, however, to
teach fables, and genealogies, and foolish fancies.
The men he opposes asserted that the law was good,
but made a wrong use of it.
~People’s New Testament
1 Timothy 1
Verse 13
Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and
injurious: but I
obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly
in unbelief.
Key Point:
God looks on our heart and gives out abundant mercy. Without His
mercy, we cannot proceed. We see this in the next
verse [verse 14].
1 Timothy 1:14
And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant
with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 1
Verse 17
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible,
the only wise God,
be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen
Key Point: God is the only God.
John 17:3
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee
the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast
sent.
1 Timothy 1
Verse 18
This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy,
according to the prophecies which went before on
thee, that thou by them mightest
war a good warfare;
Key Point:
Stay in the Salvation Process to the end.
Warfare
— not the mere “fight” (2 Timothy 4:7), but the
whole campaign; the military service.
2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept
the faith:
1 Timothy 1
Verse 19
Holding faith,
and a good
conscience; which
some having put
away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
Key Point:
[supporting verse 5 above]
Hold on to the Salvation Process. Repent
continually.
Holding —
Keeping hold of “faith” and “good conscience” (1
Timothy 1:5...above);
not “putting the latter away” as “some.” Faith is
like a very precious liquor; a good conscience is
the clean, pure glass that contains it. The loss of
good conscience entails the shipwreck of faith.
Consciousness of sin (unrepented of and forgiven)
kills the germ of faith in man.
~Jamieson, Fausset, Brown
1 Timothy 2
Verse 2
…following the
admonition that prayers and giving thanks be made
for all men
For kings, and for all that are in authority; that
we may lead a quiet
and peaceable life in all godliness and
honesty.
Key Point:
Follow God. The result is a quiet and peaceable life.
quiet
— not troubled from
without.
peaceable
— “tranquil”; not troubled from within. “He is
peaceable (Greek)
who makes no disturbance; he is quiet (Greek) who is himself free from disturbance”.
~Jamieson, Fausset,
Brown
1 Timothy 2
Verse 4
Who will have all men to be saved,
and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Key
Point:
God want everyone to experience the Salvation
Process
Who will have all men to be saved.
The Scriptures uniformly represent it as the divine
will that all should come to life. But he does not
will to save men irrespective of the conditions of
salvation. They must, in order to be saved, come
to a knowledge of the truth. In other words,
must hear, receive, and obey the gospel.
~People’s New Testament
1 Timothy 2
Verse 8
I will therefore that men
pray every where,
lifting up holy hands,
without wrath and
doubting.
Key
Point:
In addition to private prayers, prayers should be
made for all men in all public places of prayer,
such as church services. We must pray in full
faith, without anger, malice or doubting.
A direction how to
pray:
Now, under the gospel, prayer is not to be confined
to any one particular house of prayer, but men must
pray everywhere: no place is amiss for prayer, no
place more acceptable to God than another. Pray
everywhere. We must pray in our closets, pray
in our families, pray at our meals, pray when we are
on journeys, and pray in the solemn assemblies,
whether more public or private.
~Matthew Henry Main
We must pray in charity: Without wrath,
or malice, or anger at any person. We must pray
in faith without doubting, or, as some read
it, without disputing, and then it falls
under the head of charity.
James 1:6
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he
that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with
the wind and tossed.
1 Timothy 3
Verse 4
…speaking to those
chosen for the ministry
One that ruleth well his own house,
having his children in subjection with all gravity;
Key Point:
Ministers [members glean from this admonition] show spiritual
maturity in the physical, mental and emotional
elements.
Notice how often those words grave, sober-minded,
temperate occur in this chapter. The effect of a
good sermon will be spoiled if a man yields to
foolish levity or intemperate habits. Moderation,
serenity of temper, freedom from love of money, a
well-ordered household, an obedient and reverent
family-these are signs that a man may aspire to the
sacred work of the ministry; and these are the
qualities which people should look for in candidates
for pulpits, more than those of rhetoric,
brilliance, or outward attractiveness.
~ E. F. Meyer commentary
1 Timothy 3
Verse 9
Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure
conscience.
Key Point:
Firstfruits hold true
beliefs in good theology AND are moving forward in
the Salvation Process, addressing all the element
therein.
Holding the mystery
of the faith - On the word “mystery, It means
that which had been concealed, or hidden, but which
was now revealed. The word “faith” here, is
synonymous with “the gospel;” and the sense is, that
he should hold firmly the great doctrines of the
Christian religion which had been so long concealed
from people, but which were now revealed. The reason
is obvious. Though not a preacher, yet his influence
and example would be great, and a man who held
material error ought not to be in office.
In a pure conscience
- A mere orthodox faith was not all that was
necessary, for it was possible that a man might be
professedly firm in the belief of the truths of
revelation, and yet be corrupt at heart.
~Barnes Notes
1 Timothy 4
Verse 1
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly,
that in the latter
times some shall depart from the faith,
giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of
devils;
Key Point:
At points in your life in the Salvation Process you will see
firstfruit confused by false doctrine and some will
fall away.
In the latter times - This does not
necessarily imply the last ages of the world, but
any times consequent to those in which the Church
then lived.
Depart from the faith
- Αποστησονται - της πιστεως· They will apostatize
from the faith, i.e. from Christianity; renouncing
the whole system in effect, by bringing in doctrines
which render its essential truths null and void, or
denying and renouncing such doctrines as are
essential to Christianity as a system of salvation.
A man may hold all the truths of Christianity, and
yet render them of none effect by holding other
doctrines which counteract their influence; or he
may apostatize by denying some essential doctrine,
though he bring in nothing heterodox. ~Adam
Clarke
1 Timothy 4
Verse 2
Speaking lies in hypocrisy;
having their
conscience seared with a hot iron;
Key Point:
Those confused by holding false doctrine will act as if they are
the true firstfruits.
Having their conscience seared with a hot iron
- which exactly describes the above mentioned
persons, whose consciences are cauterized and
hardened, and past feeling; and have no regard to
what they say or do, make no conscience of anything,
but under a cloak of sanctity [acting
as if from holiness or being holy] commit
the most shocking impieties; and are men of the most
infamous characters, and of the most enormous and
scandalous lives and conversations; so that the
metaphor may be taken either from the searing of
flesh with an iron, or cauterizing it, whereby it
grows callous and hard; or from the stigmas or marks
which used to be put on malefactors, or such who
have been guilty of notorious crimes.
~John Gill
1 Timothy 4
Verse 6
If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these
things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus
Christ, nourished
up in the words of faith and of good doctrine,
whereunto thou hast attained.
Key Point:
Let the Word of God rule your daily life.
1 Timothy 4
Verse 8
For bodily exercise profiteth little: but
godliness is
profitable unto all things, having promise of
the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
Key Point:
Godly training has a positive effect in all areas of your life
Godliness is profitable unto all things.
- Godly training is profitable in all things. It
makes men happier, more prosperous, more healthy
here, and in addition it prepares them for the life
to come. ~People's
New Testament
1 Timothy 4
Verse 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.
Key Point:
Firstfruits, everyday set their hope on the living God.
We trust in the living God -
Better, have set our hope on.
~Vincent’s Word Studies
1 Peter 1:13
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober,
and hope to the end for the grace that is to be
brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1 Timothy 4
Verse 13
Till I come, give attendance to reading, to
exhortation, to doctrine.
Key Point:
Immerse yourself in the Word of God. Invoke Godly principles. Have
discipline.
1 Timothy 4
Verse 15
…admonition to
Timothy but clearly to all firstfruits
Meditate upon these things;
give thyself wholly
to them; that thy profiting may appear to
all.
Key Point:
Put your heart and soul and mind into your Godly Calling.
It is worthy of notice that the Apostle’s
injunctions do not include a single allusion to
priestly or sacramental service, but urge to
boldness of character,
1 Timothy 4:12; diligent study,
1 Timothy 4:13; rigorous orthodoxy [belief
and practice],
1 Timothy 4:16; and the daily self-watch of the
soul,
1 Timothy 4:16. ~E. F. Meyer commentary
1 Timothy 4
Verse 16
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine;
continue in them:
for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself,
and them that hear thee.
Key Point:
Stay with true doctrine and with the invoking of the Holy Spirit in
the form of Godly principles.
Continue in them - That is, in
these things which have been specified. He was ever
to be found perseveringly engaged in the performance
of these duties. ~Barnes Notes
1 Timothy 5
Verse 21
I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the elect angels, that thou observe these things
without preferring one before another,
doing nothing by
partiality.
Key Point:
Act on fruits [facts] and not
emotions.
Partiality -
Greek, “inclination,” or “proclivity” - that is,
without being inclined to favor one party or person
more than another. There should be no purpose to
find one guilty and another innocent; no inclination
of heart toward one which would lead us to resolve
to find him innocent; and no aversion from another
which would make us resolve to find him guilty.
~Barnes Notes
1 Timothy 6
…three linked phrases in three consecutive verses
Verse 3-5
3 If any man teach
otherwise, and consent not to wholesome
words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and
to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4 He is proud,
knowing nothing, but doting about questions
and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife,
railings, evil surmisings,
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and
destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is
godliness: from
such withdraw thyself.
Key Point:
If anyone in or around the church teaches other than what the Bible
teaches and preaches, quietly withdraw thyself from
them. Close your ears and eyes from any false
doctrine or subject.
1 Timothy 6
…two phrases
Verse 12
Fight the good fight of faith,
lay hold on eternal
life, whereunto thou art also called, and
hast professed a good profession before many
witnesses.
Key Point:
Know and know that you know that you are a wise virgin [Matthew
25].
Fight the good fight of
faith - “Agonize the
good agony.” Thou hast a contest to sustain in which
thy honor, thy life, thy soul, are at stake. Live
the Gospel, and defend the cause of God. Unmask
hypocrites, expel the profligate, purge and build up
the Church, live in the spirit of thy religion, and
give thyself wholly to this work.
Lay hold on eternal life
- All this is in allusion to the exercises in the
public Grecian games: Fight, conquer, and seize upon
the prize; carry off the crown of eternal life!
~Adam Clarke
1 Timothy 6
Verse 18
That they do good,
that they be rich in good works, ready to
distribute, willing to communicate;
Key Point:
Watch for every opportunity to be of service to the brethren, the
church and your fellow man.
That they do good
- That they relieve the wants of their fellow
creatures, according to the abundance which God has
given them.
Rich in good works -
That their good works may be as abundant as their
riches.
Ready to distribute -
That they give nothing through partiality or favor,
but be guided in their distribution by the
necessities of the objects presented to them; and
that they confine not their charity at home, but
scatter it abroad.
Willing to communicate
- Bringing every poor person into a state of
fellowship with themselves.
~Adam Clarke
1 Timothy 6
Verse 19
Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation
against the time to come, that they may
lay hold on eternal
life.
Key Point:
Your entire human life and all of history are mere shadows of an
eternal reality that is surely coming. Take hold of
[possession] of
this.
1 Timothy 6
Verse 20
…clearly an
admonition to Timothy but for all of us
O Timothy, keep
that which is committed to thy trust,
avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions
of science falsely so called:
Key Point:
Endure unto the end
Matthew 24:13
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same
shall be saved.
back to the top
back to the main page for this lesson