By Jay T. Robertson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
ENTRUSTED
1 Timothy 1:3–17
As a Christian you have been entrusted with the gospel of Jesus Christ. In 1 Timothy we are charged to be faithful to the gospel that saves. In order to remain faithful we must know what we believe and why we believe it and be able to explain what we believe to others. May God equip us this quarter to preserve and proclaim the gospel and to persevere in suffering for the gospel.
Accountable (3–7)
The Apostle Paul wrote this urgent letter to Timothy, his true child in the faith, because the church in Ephesus was struggling. Paul wrote this letter to encourage Timothy and to urge him to remain in Ephesus. Paul wanted Timothy to remain faithful to his calling. If churches are going to remain faithful, pastors of churches must remain faithful. Faithful pastors work diligently to equip the saints to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ so they will remain faithful.
Ephesus was a city filled with paganism and rampant immorality and idolatry. Paul charged Timothy first and foremost to guard the gospel. He was to address everything that pulled people away from the gospel.
False teachers had infiltrated the church in Ephesus and were teaching things contrary to the gospel. Evidently Timothy was experiencing a “Monday morning pastor’s pity party.” He wanted to leave Ephesus. Paul told him to stay and hold his ground. Fight for the truth. Timothy was young (probably mid-30s), outnumbered and outgunned.
Many people today, even in churches, are irritated by doctrine and allergic to theology. Many wonder, “Can’t we just believe whatever we want?” No. There is false doctrine and there is sound doctrine. Pastors and teachers do not have the authority to add to or take away from God’s word. We must rightly handle the word God revealed to us.
Timothy was charged to command the false teachers to stop peddling man-made supplements to the word of God. Our goal is love — love for God and love for people. We are to rebuke false teachers because we love Jesus and people. If you major on the minors and minor on the majors you are not qualified to teach the Bible. The key to being a good teacher is to be a good Christian. Pray, read the Bible, worship and humbly learn from other believers.
In Light of the Gospel (8–11)
The law is good if you use it properly. The false teachers were obviously not using it properly. The false teachers wasted their time on all sorts of fanciful tales regarding their ancestors because they had never learned to identify themselves as sinners before God. They were both arrogant and ignorant. They lacked humility and consciousness of guilt. Instead of being convicted by the law they read the law and were unmoved. But when they came to a proper name or a ceremonial detail they became all enthused. Then they would shine with their stories and spiritualizing.
God’s law used properly helps us recognize the boundaries between good and evil so we might avoid sin. The law also reveals our innate sinfulness and our absolute need for righteousness from God that we do not possess and can never earn for ourselves. We are to proclaim the law in order to open the door for the gospel.
In Response to His Grace (12–17)
Although the false teachers were not convicted by the law Paul had been crushed by it. And from under the weight of the law God granted him mercy and grace and new life in Christ. Jesus saves sinners. Paul was acknowledging he is the poster child for hope. He was bad but God was good and gracious. No one ever meets Jesus and stays the same.
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