Day 343: 1 Timothy 1-3

(The first epistle to Timothy was the tenth book of the Section of the New Testament known as the Pauline Epistles. Paul wrote this letter around 67 AD from Macedonia, making this letter, chronologically, later than all the previously covered of Paul's epistles. This was also the first letter of the section known as the Pastoral Epistles. Remember, Paul's letter to the Corinthians was to the entire church. The purpose of this letter was to specifically give one person (Timothy) direction in pastoring and leading a church. The overarching theme covered teaching the believers an understanding of God's Word and God's Doctrine so that they would not be deceived into forfeiting their Salvation.)

1 Timothy 1
¹ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Saviour, and Christ Jesus our hope;
² unto Timothy, my true child in faith: Grace, mercy, peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

(Paul wrote a letter to Timothy. Paul referred to Timothy as his "true child in faith." Paul was Timothy's spiritual father.)

³ As I exhorted thee to tarry at Ephesus, when I was going into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge certain men not to teach a different doctrine,
⁴ neither to give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questionings, rather than a dispensation of God which is in faith; so do I now.

(Timothy was in Ephesus. Paul commanded that doctrine other than Godly edifying in faith would not be taught.)

⁵ But the end of the charge is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfeigned:
⁶ from which things some having swerved have turned aside unto vain talking;
⁷ desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say, nor whereof they confidently affirm.

(The people desiring to be teachers of the Law did not understand their words: they had no why.)

⁸ But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully,

(The Law is good if man uses it lawfully: a right how. So far, Paul explained how these false teachers had a wrong or no how/why: they were deceivers.)

⁹ as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and unruly, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
¹⁰ for fornicators, for abusers of themselves with men, for menstealers, for liars, for false swearers, and if there be any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine;
¹¹ according to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

(The Law only applied to unrighteous people. The purposes of the Law were to make people aware of sin and prevent chaos. It was meant to stop people from sinning. Our current dispensation no longer focuses on the Law but on grace. Grace is meant to result in Righteousness. Grace is "the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life.")

¹² I thank him that enabled me, even Christ Jesus our Lord, for that he counted me faithful, appointing me to his service;
¹³ though I was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: howbeit I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief;

(Paul obtained mercy because he did the above things "ignorantly in unbelief." Paul was unaware that he was acting in unbelief. Paul believed what he was doing (persecuting the church, etc.) was what God wanted him to do. Paul went hot or cold and found out that he was going cold. However, because Paul was acting and moving towards what he believed was God's Will, Christ was able to knock him on the ground on his way to Damascus, in response to Justice.)

¹⁴ and the grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

(Paul was grateful that regardless of all the bad things he did, Christ counted him faithful and put him into ministry.)

¹⁵ Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief:

(Paul was humble. He considered himself the chief sinner.)

¹⁶ howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me as chief might Jesus Christ show forth all his longsuffering, for an ensample of them that should thereafter believe on him unto eternal life.

(Because of Paul's background, he was an example of Christ's mercy and longsuffering.)

¹⁷ Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

(Paul gave honor and glory to God.)

¹⁸ This charge I commit unto thee, my child Timothy, according to the prophecies which led the way to thee, that by them thou mayest war the good warfare;
¹⁹ holding faith and a good conscience; which some having thrust from them made shipwreck concerning the faith:
²⁰ of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I delivered unto Satan, that they might be taught not to blaspheme.

(Paul delivered Hymenaeus and Alexander to Satan. However, it was for their benefit. It was so they would be taught not to blaspheme.)

(Theme of Chapter 1: Paul covered his destructive background and the effects of his conversion.)




1 Timothy 2
¹ I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men;

(Paul established four different communications with God. Notice, prayer was listed separately which proved that not all communication with God was called prayer.)

² for kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity.

(Supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings should be made for all men and for all that are in authority. The reason: so that we can live a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity.)

³ This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
⁴ who would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.

(Doctrine: It is God's Will that all men are saved. This meant that God's Will is for everyone who has ever lived, is living, and will live to be saved.)

⁵ For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, himself man, Christ Jesus,

(Christ is the mediator between man and God. Christ made this possible by His sacrificial death on the cross.)

⁶ who gave himself a ransom for all; the testimony to be borne in its own times;

(Here again, we see that Salvation is for all. Christ gave Himself a ransom for all. He paid the debt of sin for everyone who has ever lived, is living, and will live.)

⁷ whereunto I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I speak the truth, I lie not), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

(Paul was appointed (ordained) a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher. Paul knew who he was in Christ and knew who he was specifically supposed to help (Gentiles). The more we know who we are the more God can reveal what we are supposed to do.)

⁸ I desire therefore that the men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and disputing.
⁹ In like manner, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefastness and sobriety; not with braided hair, and gold or pearls or costly raiment;
¹⁰ but (which becometh women professing godliness) through good works.
¹¹ Let a woman learn in quietness with all subjection.
¹² But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness.

(The word quietness in verse 12 meant "a tranquil spirit." Also, verse 12 began with the qualifier that this was what Paul permitted. This was not necessarily what God stated. In other letters, Paul used these opportunities to facilitate Marriage the way God designed it to be, the way it ought to be (see Ephesians 5). This verse cannot mean quietness like "mute" because in 1 Corinthians 12 Paul believed women could prophesy during church. Again, in 1 Corinthians 14:34-35, Paul believed women ought to be taught the Word of God by their husbands. Paul supported his belief that husbands (men) taught wives (women) the Word of God by referencing Genesis 2.)

¹³ For Adam was first formed, then Eve;
¹⁴ and Adam was not beguiled, but the woman being beguiled hath fallen into transgression:
¹⁵ but she shall be saved through her child-bearing, if they continue in faith and love and sanctification with sobriety.

(Theme of Chapter 2: Paul stated that it was God's Will that all were saved. Paul explained why he did not permit a woman to teach in church.)




1 Timothy 3

(This chapter covered the offices of bishop and deacon. These were not spiritual gifts. These were leadership roles within the church that believers could qualify for.)

¹ Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

(Desiring the office of a bishop was desiring a good work. A bishop was an overseer.)

(Verses 2-7: the qualifications of a bishop/overseer.)

² The bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

(The husband of one wife meant "one wife at a time." To interpret this verse to also mean "never having been divorced" contradicted the Bible's view of Marriage. If a man was a bishop and had more than one wife he would not have time to put forth what was needed to be a bishop. His time would be put into leading his wives, which was something Paul referenced in 1 Corinthians 7. Notice, "given to hospitality" was an attribute. This meant "generous to guests," which meant reaching out to unbelievers. Also, "apt to teach" was an attribute.)

³ no brawler, no striker; but gentle, not contentious, no lover of money;
⁴ one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
⁵ (but if a man knoweth not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
⁶ not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

(Notice, this ought to be a person who administrated his own house well, his children in subjection. The home of this potential bishop would be the proving ground of whether or not they were qualified to help lead a church. Also, not a novice (beginner, newly planted, a new convert) so that he was not lifted with pride and fell into condemnation of the devil.)

⁷ Moreover he must have good testimony from them that are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

(Bishops must have a good testimony from them that were not in the church. Bishops interacted with non-believers.)

(Verses 8-12: the qualifications of a deacon. A deacon was a minister/servant. Bishops would oversee deacons.)

⁸ Deacons in like manner must be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

(The word grave meant "humble." In this verse, double-tongued meant that what the person said did not match with what they did. We can see these requirements dealt with having a good thought process, for instance grave meant the person lacked pride, so they were teachable. Their thought process wasn't flawed in that they did what they said. They didn't lose their good thought process from the outside by drinking too much wine or focusing on effects (money) instead of the causes.)

⁹ holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

(A mystery is different than a puzzle. A puzzle becomes easier to fully understand with each additional piece of information. A mystery becomes harder to understand with each piece of information and is only able to be understood when it is explained in its entirety.

Paul explained the mystery of the faith in his letter to the Ephesians: "Jesus will be married to the Church in an Eternal Marriage. His Bride will be made up of all believers who will be in the part of the Body we were designed for, so that we speak the truth in love to the other parts we are joined to, with the overall result being the building up of the Body for eternity."

Knowing this long term result ought to guide all Doctrinal and behavioral questions and concerns. Finally, all of this needs to be known in a pure conscience. Notice, this final requirement of a deacon would prove the person has a good thought process. Basically, a deacon needs to fully grasp the mystery of the faith so they are able to help others with their issues.)

¹⁰ And let these also first be proved; then let them serve as deacons, if they be blameless.

(This did not mean the deacon had to never have done wrong. In this verse proved meant "tested," while blameless meant "repaired." This meant it should be found out if the candidate for deacon has repaired all of the wrong they have done.)

¹¹ Women in like manner must be grave, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.

(Notice, women could be deacons. Some translations begin verse 11 with "Wives."

Romans 16 began with this verse: "I commend unto you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church that is at Cenchreae:"

In that verse, servant was the same word as used in this chapter that was translated as deacon. Notice the rest of the requirements:
-The first (grave) was the same as for males.
-The second (slanderers) was a more specific requirement that was like double-tongued, however, it dealt with people, instead of within a person like for the males.
-The third (temperate) was a much bigger responsibility that covered both not given to much wine and not greedy of filthy lucre.
-Finally, faithful in all things was a much bigger requirement than holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

As we can see, not only could women be deacons, their requirements were much tougher than the requirements that men had to uphold! These tougher requirements were given to women because they were able to meet them, not because the men "naturally" met these requirements, unless you think that men are naturally "faithful in all things." As we have seen since the beginning of this commentary (Genesis 1-3), God's Word consistently stated women were more excellent than men.)

¹² Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

(Deacons also could not have more than one wife and also were required to have a well administrated home. Notice, Deacons do not minister to people outside the church. Anyone could try to qualify for these roles. Anyone could qualify to serve the church or qualify further to oversee the church and its activities with those beyond the church. This was different than those who were gifted from God with one of the five fold ministry (apostle, prophet, evangelist, teacher, pastor). However, deacons (unlike bishops) were not apt to teach, were not given to hospitality, and were not required to have a good testimony from unbelievers. Deacons dealt with people within the church. Paul stated the bishops ought to be reaching out to unbelievers. We can look at this another way, Jesus was the ultimate Bishop. The Disciples were deacons. Who reached out to sinners? Was it the Disciples or Jesus? Jesus, the Bishop, reached out to sinners. Is your pastor the one from your church reaching out to sinners the most?)

¹³ For they that have served well as deacons gain to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
¹⁴ These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly;
¹⁵ but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

(Paul wanted to come to Timothy soon but in case he could not, he wanted Timothy to know how a church ought to behave.)

¹⁶ And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; He who was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the spirit, Seen of angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

(Theme of Chapter 3: Paul explained to Timothy the roles of bishops and deacons in the church.)

Day 344