The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:5
1 Timothy
Shaping the Local Church
Written by Paul near the end of his life (after A.D. 64). Timothy and Titus, each served as an itinerant troubleshooter sent by Paul to believers in various cities or larger areas when guidance was needed. It is clear from these 3 letters that various false teachings and false teachers troubled the congregation. The Pastorals (1, 2 Timothy & Titus) are encouraging letters of guidance for young leaders.
Chapter 1. The Goal of Sound Teaching
Greeting; 1:1-2
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
2 To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Timothy Charged to Oppose False Teachers; 1:3-7
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.
The true issue of Christian faith – love which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Paul’s point is that love overflows when our personal relationship with God, as defined in the doctrines of Scripture, is maintained.
Function of Law; 1:8-11
8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9 We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11 that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
God’s Grace Demonstrated; 1:12-20.
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
The Charge to Timothy Renewed
18 Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, 19 holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith. 20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
To experience transformation, one must hold both to the faith and a good conscience.
Generosity – helpfulness towards someone in need, not in return for anything, nor that the helper may get anything, but for the sake of the person helped. Our ministry to others as Christians does not depend on ourselves or our talents, but on the powerful working of God who acts through us as we trust him.
Grace is the “unmerited favor of God.”
