I Timothy Chapter 1

I Timothy Chapter 1 
Distributed by:  KJV Bible Studies
Website: www.KjvBibleStudies.net
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Introduction: The first epistle from the Apostle Paul to Timothy was written in the interval between Paul’s first and final imprisonment. As the apostolic age was nearing the fulfilling of its purpose, the Scriptures were to be completed and passed on to succeeding generations of pastors for guidance in the churches. What we know to be the pastoral epistles included specific guidelines for church order, and instructions for its leadership. Paul wrote to Timothy as a young pastor with such instruction.
 
I Timothy is organized largely along its chapter divisions.
 
Chapter 1 rebukes unsound doctrine.
Chapter 2 regards prayer as well as the role of women in the church.
Chapter 3 deals with the qualifications for leadership.
Chapter 4 deals with the example of church leadership.
Chapters 5 and 6 both deal with guidance for church leadership.
 
In chapter 1, Paul writes to Timothy, initially dealing with the purpose of the Old Testament Scriptures. He then presents the mercy of God in placing himself into the ministry. He also touches upon the purpose of his ministry. The chapter ends with the beginning of Paul’s charge to Timothy.
 
 
I. The Salutation 
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; 2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul begins the epistle by announcing his authorship in the first sentence. Paul acknowledges that his apostleship was by the commandment of God. He was placed into the ministry at the direct command of God.  The word translated as apostle (apostolov apostolos) has the sense of a ‘sent one.’ Each of the twelve apostles were specifically called and sent by Jesus Christ.
 
Notice the Apostle also uses the full title, the “Lord Jesus Christ.” Not only is the Lord Jesus our Savior, He also is our hope. Note: God still calls the sent ones. We know them today as missionaries.
 
Paul makes clear to whom the epistle was written: “Unto Timothy my own son in the faith.”  It may be a reference to how Paul had likely led Timothy to Christ. He certainly had been the one who had discipled and trained him.  Luke records that Paul went to Derbe and Lystra in Acts 13 and 14. He then returned some years later as noted in Acts 16.
 
Timothy was from Lystra. He apparently had received Christ on Paul’s first visit, or perhaps a result of that visit. Timothy evidently grew rapidly in grace. It is possible that Timothy may have been a witness to the stoning that Paul received there.
Upon Paul’s return, Timothy had matured as a Christian young man to such an extent, he was “well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium” (Acts 16:2).
 
Paul enlisted young Timothy to travel with him as his assistant. That he did for most of what remained of Paul’s ministry.  Later as Paul was held in detention, Timothy evidently became a pastor. Timothy likely became the pastor of the church at Ephesus though there is no scriptural record thereof. As is typical in so many epistles, Paul invokes grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.  We need be careful that we never take these spiritual virtues for granted. God’s grace, His mercy, and His peace are riches indeed. The Apostle invoked them to his readers in virtually every one of his epistles, usually at the beginning or end thereof.
 
For the first time in his writings, Paul refers to God as “our Saviour”. This is so true, since Christ is the Savior and He is one of the three of the Godhead or Trinity.  Paul also in his letter to Titus used the term of “God our Saviour”. Christ is referred to as our hope. And what a hope Jesus is.  

Without Christ, we are nothing and can not approach God. But by having Him as our Savior, we can and are the joint-heirs with God. Not because of anything good on our part, but because we have accepted what Jesus did for us when He paid the sin sacrifice on Mount Calvary. 

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: 

Paul refers to Timothy as his own son in the faith. Some have mistaken this to mean Timothy was the son of Paul, but that is not true. We believe Timothy was saved under the ministry of Paul, thereby the term of ‘son in the faith.’ These men were close friends and Paul was a very good and powerful influence on this young man. In the latter part of verse 2, Paul wishes him grace, mercy, and peace.  I think here he is not speaking of the grace that first saved us, but is speaking of the grace that sustains and keeps us.

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Probably the mercy is similar in that it is not speaking of the mercy we received when we were first forgiven of our sins, but is the mercy we receive day after day as we become conscious of our failures and sins.  We have to confess our sins daily, and when we do, God forgives us of our failures.

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