Exposition of 1 Timothy

A. Introduction of the Epistle 1:1-2

This introduction reveals the truth that we all make choices in life and these choices influence others. We may never even know how we have helped others in living a life that honours God. As we begin this letter, we note the identification of the writer and the recipient. –

1. Identification.

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;

a. The writer – Paul identified himself and then his position presenting –

1). His appointment – an Apostle

Refer to Acts 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

Chosen by the Lord and making his choice to obey the Lord. He could have refused!! His life was not going to be easy!

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:

2). His authority – God…

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?

His appointment and authority were from the Lord, which brought forth –

3). His admission. – “…which is our hope.” Our expected end, our hope is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

2 Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Paul was absolutely confident in the promises of God –

John 6:37-40 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

We, along with Paul, can believe the promises of God –

John 10:27-30 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.

And so we serve Him faithfully in confidence!

We also see faithful service in the life of –

b. The recipient is Timothy

1 Timothy 1:2a “Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith…”

1). The partner in ministry – “…my own son in the faith…”

a). Introduced to the Lord through the Gospel preached by Paul and Silas
b). Influenced by their dedication and service to the Lord.

2 Timothy 3:10-11 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

c). Included in the ministry, preaching the Word of God to the world.

Timothy had come to a time of decision in his life: which path would he follow? Would he stay in Lystra working and ministering or would he step out by faith to do more in the service of the Lord. We know that he was a faithful servant at the time Paul and Silas came through on the second missionary journey.

Acts 16:2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.

He had to ask himself this question – “what is truly important”. Does God want me to do more?
William Carey, the British missionary to India – While still in England, he used to go about from village to village proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people. One day a friend reportedly came to him and said, “I want to speak to you very seriously :”Well,” said Carey, “What is it?” His friend said, “By your going about talking to people as you do you’re neglecting your business. If you only attended to making shoes more than you do, you would have a better business and could prosper far better than you are. But as it is you are simply neglecting your business.”
To which Carey replied, “Neglecting my business? My business is to extend the Kingdom of God. I only cobble shoes to pay expenses!”

William Carey was convinced, as was Timothy about 1,800 years before him, that he must give his life to do more and give himself wholly to the preaching of the Gospel.

They were in the same position as were Peter, Andrew, James, and John who were disciples of Jesus already when he called them at the seashore to do more than they were able to do as they were –

Matthew 4:18-22 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

Not every believer will be called of God to go to a far country and share the gospel, but every believer is called to do more than they are doing right now! We are to increase.

Now Paul acknowledged the Lord’s particular calling in Timothy’s life and we see –

Acts 16:3 “Him would Paul have to go forth with him …”

Timothy had grown in the Lord through the ministry with the missionaries, working along side of Paul, Silas, Luke, Titus, and others, ministering with them and also sent out individually to fulfil the commission –
1 Thessalonians 3:2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:

This is how God works –

Convicted by the Word of God,
Converted by the Word of God,
Consecrated by the Word of God,
Commissioned by the Word of God,
Convinced by the Word of God –

Timothy was now –

2). The pastor at Ephesus – refer to 1:3 Placed in authority –

“…abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some…”

He was doing more in the service of the Lord than he had been doing and now, Paul is writing to him and telling him how to increase his service – do more. We will see that Timothy was still young in age and in the ministry. He had told Paul how he had some problems which made the ministry difficult and it may have been that he thought that some of the work seemed unreasonable. Paul had answered him and all of us in a very familiar passage from the letter to the Romans:

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Where are you in this plan today? Are you in the plan at all – are you saved?
Are you doing more today than your were this time last year?
Are you using your talents to encourage and build up others?
What is our reasonable service? We must work together to accomplish the will of God.