1 Timothy · chapter 1 of 6
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1 Timothy 1 opens Paul's letter to his coworker Timothy, who had stayed in Ephesus. Paul charges him to stop those who teach myths and endless genealogies, explains that the law is good if used lawfully and testifies that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom he is the foremost. He ends by urging Timothy to wage the good warfare.
Paul writes to Timothy, his child in the faith, after leaving him in Ephesus to care for the church of that city. The errors of some teachers were putting the health of the congregation at risk. The first chapter sets out the purpose of the letter: to protect the gospel and form a church that lives in love, a good conscience and sincere faith.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, greets Timothy, his true child in the faith, with grace, mercy and peace. He reminds him that he urged him to remain in Ephesus, when he was going to Macedonia, to charge certain persons not to teach a different doctrine or devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculation rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of the charge is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have swerved from these into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law without understanding what they say.
The law is good if one uses it lawfully, understanding that it is laid down not for the just but for the lawless and disobedient; Paul lists several sins and relates them to the sound doctrine of the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, with which he was entrusted. He thanks Christ Jesus, who strengthened him and appointed him to his service, though formerly he was a blasphemer, persecutor and insolent opponent. He received mercy because he acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for him with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom Paul is the foremost. For that reason he received mercy, so that in him, the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. Finally Paul charges Timothy, in accordance with the prophecies made about him, to wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. Some have made shipwreck of their faith, among them Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom Paul handed over to Satan so that they may learn not to blaspheme.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
The aim of the charge is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith. Sound doctrine is not an end in itself: it aims to produce a life of love, which is why Paul judges teachings by their fruit.
Paul affirms that it is a trustworthy saying that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and he calls himself the foremost. His testimony shows that no one lies beyond the reach of grace.
Paul closes his testimony with praise to the eternal King, immortal, invisible, the only God, to whom belong honor and glory. Thinking about the mercy he received spontaneously leads him to worship.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: As his true child in the faith. — 1 Timothy 1:2
Answer: To charge certain people not to teach a different doctrine or devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. — 1 Timothy 1:3-4
Answer: Love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith. — 1 Timothy 1:5
Answer: A blasphemer, persecutor and insolent opponent. — 1 Timothy 1:13
Answer: That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. — 1 Timothy 1:15
Answer: Hymenaeus and Alexander. — 1 Timothy 1:19-20
Many think doctrine and love are opposites. Paul teaches that sound doctrine aims at love, and that love without truth gets lost. In a Sunday school class you can review whether the arguments that dominate the group build up or only produce controversy, and return to the purpose of loving God and neighbor.
Paul's testimony encourages anyone who feels their past disqualifies them. Christ came to save sinners, and his patience is an example to others. A simple practice is to write down honestly what God has done for us and share it with someone who doubts that grace is for them.
The chapter sets out Timothy's task: guard the doctrine, practice love and fight faithfully. In chapter 2 Paul turns to the order of the church, beginning with prayer for all people and the worship of the community.
The text does not describe them in detail. They were probably speculations about lineages and stories that some teachers added to the Scriptures, perhaps influenced by Jewish ideas and other traditions of the region. Paul does not stop to refute them: he points out that they produce arguments and do not build up faith.
It seems to refer to church discipline: removing them from the fellowship of the church, where they were protected, so that they would learn not to blaspheme. The purpose is corrective and restorative, not vengeful, and Paul uses a similar expression in 1 Corinthians 5.
He says it because he persecuted the church of God before his conversion. He is not claiming to be the worst in history, but humbly showing that his case displays the patience of Christ and that anyone can receive mercy.