1 Timothy

The first letter of Paul to Timothy provides us with a clear understanding of a church’s confession and conduct. Shortly after his first Roman imprisonment, the apostle Paul wrote this letter to Timothy (ca. AD 62-64). Timothy, the recipient of the letter was viewed as Paul’s “true children in the faith” (1:2). He was a young man (4:12) who struggled with infirmities (5:23), and seemed to be timid by nature (2 Tim. 1:7). He grew up in a godly home and his grandmother Loisand his mother Eunice (2 Tim. 1:5) taught him the Scriptures from childhood (cf. 2 Tim. 3:15). Timothy was a gifted preacher (4:13-14), and he had before him the important task of remaining in Ephesus (1:3) with the purpose of defending the church’s message (1:1-20), providing directions for the church’s members (2:1-3:16), practicing the duties of the church’s minister (4:1-16) and provide understanding on dealing with the varying church members (5:1-6:21).

This was no small task. Infecting this church was false teachers who Paul warned about a few years earlier (cf. Acts 20:28-31). These teacher evidently carried positions of authority in the church. If the Ephesian church is going to glorify God, it is paramount that Timothy stands up with conviction and sorts these things out. The only way for a church to glorify God is to function in accordance with His mandate.

This letter was written so that “you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth” (3:15). Let us all look to the Lord to show us from His word, what His will and intention for every church is and may we by God’s grace strive to be obedient to that. Together, we can study and discuss this great book with the goal of being a godly church.

I trust that it is your desire that the Lord will enable us to be a church that is biblically defined by Paul’s first letter to Timothy.

1. An Overview of 1 Timothy

2. Guarding Sound Doctrine (1 Timothy 1:3-11)

3. Gratitude for the Gospel (1 Timothy 1:12-17)

4. The Good Fight (1 Timothy 1:18-20)

5. Men and Women: Equal yet Different (Various Scriptures)

6. Prayer and Public Worship (1 Timothy 2:1-8)

7. The Importance and Influence of Godly Women (Various Scriptures)

8. The Role of Women in Public Worship (1 Timothy 2:9-15)

9. The Role of Elders (1 Timothy 3:1-7)

10. The Role of Deacons (1 Timothy 3:8-14)

11. The Conduct and Confession of the Church (1 Timothy 3:15-16)