1 Timothy Introduction
In the coming months, I’ll have (Lord willing) the opportunity to preach through the book of 1st Timothy. Today I’d like to share a few notes about the book of 1st Timothy with you that are both a preview of the upcoming preaching series and hopefully an encouragement to you in God’s faithfulness. These notes are somewhat scattered, so to attempt to organize them, they are each in bullet point form:
Who wrote this letter to Timothy?
The Apostle Paul wrote 1st and 2nd Timothy (See 1 Timothy 1:1, and 2 Timothy 1:1).
How did Paul come to know Timothy?
Paul became familiar with Timothy during one of his journeys through Asia Minor (Acts 16:1). When Paul came to Derbe and Lystra he met a young believer who was of good reputation among the believers (Acts 16:2). The immediately preceding paragraph of Acts tells how Paul and Barnabas had separated over a dispute about Mark. Paul and Silas remained a traveling team, while Barnabas and Mark remained a distinct traveling team (Acts 15:36-41)
What was Timothy’s background?
Growing up Timothy was the son of a believing Jewish mother and a Greek father (Acts 16:1). While scripture is clear that both Timothy’s mother and grandmother were believers, scripture doesn’t speak of the beliefs of his father (2 Timothy 1:5). Growing up with a Greek father Timothy was uncircumcised and therefore may have been subject to ridicule by 1st century Jews. Because of this, when Timothy joined the missionary team of Paul, he underwent circumcision for the sake of bringing the gospel to the Jews (Acts 16:3). While I had to learn new languages and underwent many things in my time in seminary and training for ministry, I did not have to undergo a physical surgery! From this, we can say without a doubt Timothy took not only his faith in Christ seriously, but he also took great measures to ensure that he would be granted an audience among those who may otherwise have a reason to ignore his message. Early on in his time of serving the Lord as a part of missions endeavors, Timothy demonstrated a humble life that was willing to sacrifice so that the gospel might be shared.
What was the extent of Timothy’s gospel work?
We know from Acts that Timothy traveled alongside Paul on multiple journeys (see Acts 16:1-17:14). When Paul was traveling Asia Minor and Greece, Timothy was often alongside him (Acts 18:5). On more than one occasion Timothy was sent to locations for gospel work (Acts 19:22, Acts 20:4). Timothy worked alongside many throughout his gospel service. In addition to Paul, Timothy is known to have worked alongside:
Sopater, son of Pyrrhus from Berea, (Acts 20:4)
Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, (Acts 20:4)
Gaius from Derbe (near where Timothy grew up) (Acts 20:4)
Tychicus and Trophimus from the Roman province of Asia (Acts 20:4)
Silas of Jerusalem (See Acts 15:22, Acts 18:5)
Erastus, another of Paul’s missionary disciples (Acts 19:22 and 2 Timothy 4:20)
Where did Timothy operate?
It may be easier to say in the early church where Timothy did NOT operate. He was active in the provinces of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), and Greece, and may have been active in other regions of western Italy or northern Judea. We know for certain he spent much time in the church at Ephesus and served there for some time as elder/pastor, instructing God’s people in the Word and evangelizing the lost (1 Timothy 1:3, 2 Timothy 2:15; 4:1-5).
Why did Paul write his first letter to Timothy?
From the numerous instructions and commands given from Paul to Timothy in 1st Timothy, it is glaringly apparent that Paul held Timothy in high regard, and trusted him with an immense workload. Within 1st Timothy, there are instructions for establishing churches, correcting abuses, false doctrine, worship practices, discipleship habits, family life, responding to persecution, and more. In summary, we can say that Paul wrote to Timothy because of his immense love for Timothy, and appreciation for the work Timothy had been called to in service to the Lord Jesus.
Why does 1st Timothy matter for us today?
While Timothy was the original recipient of the letter of 1st Timothy, it is clear that the instructions were for the building up of the faith of the community Timothy was called to serve. In this way, we are privileged by the Holy Spirit, to peek into the early church’s practices by way of this very personal and instructive letter. We learn much about how the earliest churches were instructed and ordered and also learn much about what opposition and temptations they faced in their lives of faith. For us today it would be the absolute epitome of arrogant presumption to assume the inspired word of God given through the apostle Paul would be anything but of paramount importance to the life of the Christian community in our time. We sometimes bemoan that we don’t have more information about the early church. Questions and doubts sometimes arise along the lines of...“Oh if only we knew how the apostles handled such and such problem” or “if only we knew what Jesus would say to a church experiencing such and such conflict”. Yet, we do have inspired examples, principles, doctrine, and applications of exactly how the apostles handled a bevy of problems within the church. We do have inspired examples, principles, doctrine, and applications of Jesus’ teaching and how that teaching shapes and forms churches in the midst of conflict. On this topic, we ought to do less bemoaning about what we supposedly don’t have, and we ought to do more earnest reading, committing ourselves to the diligent study of the provision and wisdom to be found in the Word of God that we do have.
How is 1st Timothy useful in the church?
With a broad range of instructions ranging from doctrine to discipline, 1st Timothy provides a Holy Spirit-given guide to living life in the community of Jesus Christ. If you are a believer who has no contact with any other human being, then perhaps 1st Timothy wouldn’t be the most useful book of the Bible to study. However, if you are a believer, who has contact with many other human beings, 1st Timothy has much to say to inform you, instruct you, and inspire you as you live out your life committed to the Lord Jesus Christ.
I’ll close today by sharing some things that personally excite me about preaching through the book of 1st Timothy. There are many things that are controversial within 1st Timothy. Many things that, quite frankly, are a source of division, and dissension within the contemporary Western church. I’m excited to submit myself, and humbly walk through these portions of scripture that in very clear terms provide guidance for living a life pleasing to the Lord Jesus. Many of the challenges and areas of concern within 1st Timothy (frankly that are reasons why many pastors avoid 1st Timothy like it was a plague) are at their root, challenges to the very authority and clarity of the Word of God. When we go through difficult passages of scripture that press hard into our own convictions, beliefs, and understandings, we are in a moment of incredible potential for growth in faith. Those are the moments when the idols of our hearts are broken down, and we see clearly the Lordship of Jesus Christ within our lives. The rubber of the Christian life hits the road solidly when we read 1st Timothy. It is exciting to me that through God’s Word, the Lord continues to shape a people for Himself. I love to see the Lord working that miracle, of taking old sins, old idols, old pride, and bringing to life new humility in Christ, new allegiance to the Lord, and new trust in God’s Word.
I’m stoked to be studying 1st Timothy, and myself having old sin, old idols, and old pride taken down and out. I’m looking forward to how the Lord will humble me, grow my loyalty to Him, and find enlivened trust in God’s Word. Let me encourage you today to take your excitement, and read 1st Timothy. May you be informed, instructed, and inspired as you read and submit to God’s Word.
