Bible Notes on 1 Timothy – Light To My Path Book Distribution

Introduction to 1 Timothy

The epistle of 1 Timothy was written to Timothy, a close coworker of the apostle Paul. Paul had urged him to remain in Ephesus to correct some practical matters in the church and address false doctrines circulating in the region (1 Timothy 1:3-4).

In the letter, the apostle encourages Timothy to be faithful in teaching and living out the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 1:18-19). He charged him to teach men not to get caught up in “irreverent babble (1 Timothy 6:20),” “teachings of demons (1 Timothy 4:1),” and “silly myths (1 Timothy 4:7).” He instructs him to warn women about falling prey to worldly standard (1 Timothy 2:9-10), and to teach them the importance of living in submission to the authorities in their lives ( 1 Timothy 2:11-15).
Paul instructs Timothy also on the qualifications for elders (1 Timothy 3:1-7), and deacons (1 Timothy 3:8-13). He challenges him to organize the ministry of the church toward widows ( 1 Timothy 5:1-15), and teaches him about the proper relationship between believing slaves and masters (1 Timothy 6:1-2).
There were a number of wealthy believers in the city of Ephesus. Paul advises Timothy on how to encourage them in a life of godliness and generosity (1 Timothy 6:17-19).

The letter has a number of oractical things to teach us about the importance of defending the truth, walking in the truth and the role of the church in society.

Chapter 1

Select Verse:

1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15
16	17	18	19	20

Verse 1

As he begins his letter, Paul lays out his qualifications. He was an apostle of Christ Jesus. Note that this was not a personal choice he made. It was a command of God.

God chose Paul for this role. It was His purpose that Paul be His apostle. This is important as it shows us where Paul’s authority lay. God gave him this responsibility, and with it came the authority to carry out his responsibility. This would not have been the case if he had chosen this role for himself.

Note how Paul calls God his Saviour. The phrase “God our Saviour” shows us the connection between the Father and the Son in our salvation. Salvation is not only the work of Jesus Christ but also the work of the Father. They are one in this great work.

The apostle also describes Christ Jesus as our hope. While the Father was very much involved in our salvation, the work of Jesus Christ on the cross gives us hope. The word hope used here is ἐλπίς (elpís). It speaks of an expectation. We often use the word hope with a certain measure of doubt, but this is not the case here. The word hope used here conveys assurance and certainty. We can be confident of our salvation and eternal life because of the purpose of God the Father, made possible by God the Son and applied to our lives by God the Spirit.

Verse 2

The letter is addressed to Timothy. The apostle met Timothy in the region of Lystra (see Acts 16:1-3). He had a good reputation in the community, and Paul decided to have him join him on his missionary journey. Over the years, the relationship between the two grew, and Paul considered Timothy a son.

Note how Paul calls Timothy his “true child in the faith.” Timothy was certainly a brother in that they both knew and loved the Lord Jesus, but in this case, Paul had invested so much into Timothy that he saw him as his child in the faith. Paul nurtured Timothy’s spiritual growth. Mentored by the apostle, Timothy saw Paul as a spiritual father.

Paul’s prayer for Timothy was that the grace, mercy and peace of God the Father and Jesus the Lord be his portion. Grace (χάρις, cháris) refers to the unmerited favour of God. Mercy (ἐˊλεος, éleos) speaks of His compassion and kindness in our misery and pain. Peace (εἰρήνη, eirḗnē) refers to the blessing of God for our emotional and physical well-being.

Verse 3

We discover here that Paul sent Timothy to the church in Ephesus to encourage them in their faith. In particular, Paul was concerned about false teaching in this region and asked Timothy to remain there to instruct the Ephesian church in the truth of the gospel.

The verse notes that Timothy’s role was to “charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine.” The sense here is that there was false teaching already in the church. Timothy’s role was to stand against these false teachers, expose their errors and reveal the truth. The verse shows us Paul’s confidence in Timothy to defend the faith and stand up against false teachers in Ephesus.

Verse 4

Not only was Timothy to stand up against false doctrines in Ephesus, but Paul also charged him to speak out against two other matters evident in the church of Ephesus.

First, there was the matter of myths. The word used here is μυ̃θος (múthos) and refers to tales, fables or other fabricated stories or ideas that are not based on verifiable truth. One of the great truths I learned in Bible School was that I also needed to be silent when the Bible was silent about an issue. In other words, I can imagine what the truth might be, but I have no authoritative proof for what I imagine. I can give people false hope through my imaginary concepts. We must be content with the truth revealed in Scripture and accept that we do not have answers for what is not shown by those Scriptures. I have seen concepts without Scriptural support accepted as truth by believers. We must be cautious about lifting our human reason and imagination to the level of Scripture.

The second matter Paul wanted Timothy to address was “endless genealogies.” The word genealogy here is γενεαλογία (genealogía). The word genealogy refers to the names of people and ancestors and their history, culture, and traditions. The AMB Complete Word Study Dictionary says this about these genealogies:

The expression in 1Ti 1:4 denotes busying oneself with traditions of the past based upon the slightest historical hints which diverted the heart from God’s truth. This, as it appears from Tit 1:10, was a practice of Jewish false teachers though this is not implied in the expression itself (see also Tit 3:9). These Jews were turning the entire historical substance into mere myth. The genealogies were not treated primarily as historical documents but instead were subjected to a highly symbolic interpretive scheme. Names, dates and places supposedly contained hidden meanings which became the basis for esoteric doctrines.

(AMG Complete Word Study Dictionary, New Testament, General Editor: Spiros Zodhiates, Th.D., Managing Editor: Warren Baker, D.R.E., Associate Editor: Rev. George Hadjiantoniou, Ph.D., L A R I D I A N, Cedar Rapids, Iowa)

What seems to be clear here is that the study of history and past generations, while important, is not a reliable and authoritative guide for our spiritual lives and cannot replace Scripture. I have met believers who are more concerned about the teachings of historical figures than they are about Scripture. I have met people who are more concerned about their denominational heritage than they are about the truth taught in Scripture.

These myths and genealogical debates over matters not revealed in Scripture promote speculations. At best, these speculations are human ideas that cannot be proven or verified. Paul instead encourages a godly stewardship that is by faith.

The word stewardship is οἰκονομία (oikonomía) and refers to the responsible management of a home. What happens when we get wrapped up in myths, genealogies, and speculations? This creates divisions in the church. Instead, Paul called Timothy to address these divisive issues and bring the church back to the basics of their faith, as revealed by the clear teaching of Scripture.

Verse 5

Paul has urged Timothy to deal with false teachers and those caught up with myths and genealogies. Notice here why this was important to the apostle. Paul’s desire for the church in Ephesus, where Timothy was ministering, was for it to flourish in love from a pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith.

Consider what Paul is saying here. The great desire of Paul was that the church abound in love. The word ἀγάπη (agápē) used here is a love best demonstrated by a holy God toward a sinful creation. It is a love that moved Him to send His Son to die for the forgiveness of our sins. Agape love is a sacrificial love showered upon those who do not deserve it. It is a love demonstrated in action.

Paul wanted the church of Ephesus to be a church that loved God, its brothers and sisters and its community with a sacrificial love. Listen to the command of the Lord Jesus in the Gospel of John:

(34) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. (35) By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:34-35 ESV

Love for one another is a testimony to the power and presence of God among us. When you see a church caught up in and divided over what Paul calls myths, speculations and genealogical arguments about traditions and practices, you know it is on the wrong track. Such a church must be corrected and returned to the basic principles of learning to love and accept each other as Jesus commanded.

Note that Paul wanted this love to be from a pure heart. That is to say, a heart untainted with ulterior motivations of sinful passions.

The church was also to love with a good conscience. The conscience is the part of us that distinguishes right from wrong. Paul’s desire here is that the Ephesian church have a conscience that is right before God and that its love for one another be from a clean and pure conscience before Him in its dealings with each other.

Finally, the love demonstrated toward each other was to be from a sincere faith. That is to say, the love they showed toward each other was the fruit of the Spirit of God working in them. It was a love not motivated by personal gain or human effort but by the inner work of the Spirit motivating and stimulating them to walk and live as Jesus Christ.

Verse 6

The apostle reminds Timothy that certain people in the church had lost sight of the great commandment of Jesus Christ (see Matthew 22:36-40). Instead of making it their priority to love God with all their heart, soul and mind and their neighbour as themselves, they were getting caught up in “vain discussions.” These vain discussions did not promote love for God and their brothers and sisters. Instead they divided believers with speculations, obligations and practices.

Notice the phrase, “wandered away into vain discussion.” According to Paul these believers had “wandered away.” They had been distracted from the goal of loving one another. They had wandered off the path God had set for them in His Word. They lost sight of the “aim of love” (verse 5) and were getting caught up in divisiveness.

I have been in churches divided over doctrinal issues and practices. I have also seen how these churches can have little tolerance for any brother or sister who does not agree with them. I have seen believers turn against each other over secondary issues. This is not the purpose of God. Paul reminded Timothy that his aim in sending him to the church in Ephesus was to teach the church to love from a pure heart, good conscience and sincere faith (see verse 5). In order for that to take place, those were divisive needed to be corrected.

Verse 7

Those engaged in “vain discussions” (see verse 6) wanted to be teachers of the law. Note several details about these individuals here.

First, they “desired to be teachers.” The implication here is that they loved to be in such a position. They loved the authority and recognition that came from being a teacher in the church. To want to be a teacher and to be called by God to that role are two different matters. These individuals took this role on themselves.

Second, though these individuals wanted to be teachers, they were “without understanding.” True understanding comes from the Spirit of God. He must lead and guide us into the truth. You can teach doctrines and ideas but miss the whole point of Scripture. Even an unbeliever can teach the historical and doctrinal details of Scripture but never experience the salvation and infilling of God’s Spirit or His fruit in their lives. Such were these individuals. They taught facts and figures but never experienced the life of Christ in its power and fullness.

Finally, these individuals taught with “confident assertions.” That is to say, they appeared to be certain in what they taught. They were very convincing in their instruction. In the New Testament, some people taught that New Testament believers were to follow the Jewish Laws and celebrations. They taught with great assurance but led many astray into Judaism and away from the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Verse 8

It appears that one of the things being taught by those who desired to be teachers in Ephesus was the Jewish law. The role of the Jewish law in the Christian life was often debated in those days. Some believed the Christian was obligated to follow the law in its entirety. Others felt that believers in Jesus Christ were free from the law. Note Paul’s opinion: “The law is good if one uses it lawfully.” In other words, the law was held to a higher standard, to which it needed to submit. What was that standard? Paul gives us the answer in verse 11 when he tells us that the law needs to be submitted to “the gospel of the glory of the blessed God.” Where the law agreed with the Gospel and did not compromise its truth and purpose, it was good. For the believer, the work of Jesus Christ was the measure upon which all other practices were to be gaged. Where the law diminished the gospel’s truth, it was to be shunned. When it elevated its truth, it was good. The law was held in subjection to the truth of the gospel of Jesus crucified and risen for our 0.

Verse 9

The apostle Paul continues to share his view on the Jewish Law. He has just told us it was good if used lawfully in verse 8. He goes on now to give a second point.

According to Paul, the law is not for the just but for the lawless and disobedient. The word just is translated from δίκαιος (díkaios), which refers to a righteous person. Who is righteous? Paul makes it quite clear that righteousness is not the fruit of obedience to the law but a new life through the work of Jesus Christ.

(21) But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— (22) the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: – Romans 3:21-22 ESV

True righteousness is a right standing with God through the forgiveness offered by the cross of Jesus Christ. This righteousness is not a result of our obedience to the law of God but rather a consequence of our forgiveness through Jesus Christ and His work.

Paul goes on in Romans 10 to tell us that Christ brings an end to the law for those who believe and have obtained a right standing through his pardon:

(4) For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. – Romans 10:4 ESV

Our hope as believers is not based on how well we can live our lives or how much we obey the Jewish law. It is solely on the pardon we have received through the cross of Jesus Christ.

Note, however, that not only do we receive pardon through Jesus Christ when we come to Him, but also those who know that Lord and have received new life have been changed. Speaking of the Gentiles who had come to Jesus Christ, Paul says:

(14) For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature, do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. (15) They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them – Romans 2:14-15 ESV

These Gentile converts “do by nature what the law requires,” said Paul. They do this because they have received a new nature through the salvation of Jesus Christ. The prophet Jeremiah prophesied of this day when he wrote:

(33) For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. – Jeremiah 31:33 ESV

According to Jeremiah, God would put His law in the hearts of His people. They would not need an external law to guide them. The Spirit of God would be their guide. He would convict them of sin and direct them to the purpose of God. Jesus made this clear when he said:

(7) Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. (8) And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: (9) concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; (10) concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; (11) concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. – John 16:7-11 ESV

Those in whom the Holy Spirit dwells are convicted of sin. He is our guide and counsellor. He leads us into the purpose of God and transforms our hearts into the image of Christ. The righteous person has been forgiven by Christ and indwelt by His Spirit. These individuals do not require an external law to direct them, for they have the very Spirit of God in them to direct them to truth.

Understand here that this does not mean that we do not benefit from reading the law. Scriptures reveal the purpose of God to us, but we have the benefit as believers of the law also being written on our hearts and the conviction of the Spirit who is transforming us into the image of Jesus Christ.

Paul’s understanding of the Jewish law is that it was primarily written for the lawless, disobedient, unholy and profane person. These individuals did not have any sense of God or His purpose. They needed the law written down on paper because what was natural to them was contrary to the purpose of God. Their hearts and minds rebelled against God and His plan. Their conscience was twisted and affected by sin.

Paul describes here the natural tendency of the unrighteous person. These are people who would strike their fathers and mothers or murder anyone who got in their way. When angered, there was no telling where these individuals would go. If they gave way to their anger, they would willingly strike even a parent or murder another human being to get their way. The law was written to restrain or punish those who gave full freedom to their evil nature.

Verse 10

Paul continues to describe the heart of the unbeliever without Christ and His Spirit’s inner work. These individuals practice sexual immorality, whether that be with individuals of the opposite sex or the same sex.

Among these individuals are enslavers. The word translated enslavers in the English Standard Version is ἀνδραποδιστής (andrapodistḗs), which means to enslave, kidnap or sell into slavery. Those who do this have no respect for human life and take advantage of another for profit or personal gain.

The apostle also lists liars and perjurers among those who do not know the transforming work of Christ. These individuals devalue the truth and will say whatever is to their benefit, even if false. Their word cannot be trusted.

All of these things, according to Paul, are contrary to sound doctrine. The word doctrine here is διδασκαλία (didaskalía), which refers to teaching and instruction. In other words, the lives of these individuals do not conform to the sound teaching of Scripture or the purpose of God. They need that law written out to show them the truth, for that truth is not something that they have ever fully understood or accepted.

Verse 11

The sound doctrine Paul speaks about in verse 10 is “the gospel of the glory of the blessed God.” What is the message of that gospel? It is that we are sinners in need of a Saviour. The Lord Jesus Christ came as a sacrificial lamb to take our sins on Himself and died for our pardon. Through the work of Jesus Christ, we can know forgiveness and the indwelling presence of His Spirit, who can transform our lives. We can have victory over sin and hope for eternal life through His pardon and sanctifying work. This was the message entrusted to Paul and the message he preached wherever he went. His goal was to instruct believers to live “in accordance with this gospel.”

Verse 12

Paul was passionate about communicating the truth of the gospel, which he spoke about in verse 11. He thanks God here for the strength He had given him to preach this message wherever he went. He recognized that the strength to do this was not in himself alone. He knew the wind of the Spirit in his sail, pushing and enabling Him into this ministry. He thanked God for the ability and strength he experienced to do what he had been called to do. God gives us the strength to accomplish what He has called us to do.

Notice second here that Paul was also thankful that the Lord Jesus had judged him faithful. Understand that Paul was a former persecutor of the church. He never forgot how he had watched Christians being stoned to death for preaching Christ. Before he came to Christ, he had rounded up Christians and had them imprisoned for their belief in Jesus as the Messiah. He did not take for granted the fact that this same Jesus, whom he had persecuted, now entrusted him with the message of the gospel by appointing him to His service. In his mind, this was an undeserved privilege, and he took it very seriously.

Verse 13

Paul humbly reminds Timothy here of his past blasphemy and persecution of the church. As a spiritual father, Paul shared his failures with his spiritual son. He confessed he was an “insolent opponent” to the gospel but had received mercy from Jesus Christ, His Saviour. He does not pretend that he was anything more than a forgiven sinner, pardoned by the grace of God.

Note here that Paul received pardon because he acted in unbelief. Unbelief is a sin for which there is forgiveness. Paul did not believe in Jesus as the Messiah at that point. He persecuted the church because he thought that Jesus could not possibly be the Messiah. However, when he met the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus, he came to see the error of his ways. He confessed his sin and was pardoned by the grace of Jesus Christ. If you don’t believe today, that same pardon is available if you open your eyes to what His Spirit reveals.

Verse 14

Paul testifies here that the grace of God overflowed for him. Remember that grace is an undeserved favour. Paul was aware of the fact that as a blasphemer and persecutor of the church, he did not deserve this favour of God in his life. God, however, demonstrated His kindness in two ways.

First, He gave Paul faith. That faith opened his eyes to the truth he had not understood previously. It revealed Jesus to Him and transformed his life, giving him forgiveness of sin and a hope of eternal life.

Second, God’s grace also revealed Christ’s love for Him. The Christ that he persecuted had died for him to secure his pardon. This Christ was willing to forgive and call him into his service. Jesus became Paul’s passion and greatest delight.

The grace of God in Jesus Christ transformed Paul. He was never the same after coming to faith and experiencing the love of Christ for Him.

Verse 15

The apostle seems to refer here to a saying that is not directly found in Scripture but is in complete agreement with its teaching. We don’t know its source, but Paul affirms it as trustworthy.

The saying declared that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. He was born for this purpose, and His death accomplished that plan.

Note here that Paul goes on to say that he was the foremost of sinners. He speaks in the present tense here. He still saw himself as a sinner. He never forgot his past and what he did against the church of Jesus Christ. He knew that he would likely fall short of God’s standard in the future. While Paul saw himself as a sinner, this must be taken in the context of the entire verse. Jesus came into the world to save great sinners like Paul. The apostle still identified as a sinner but also knew that none of the sins he committed in the past, present or future would keep him from eternal life. The pardon of Christ covered them all.

Verse 16

The apostle shares with Timothy how he received the mercy of Christ through the forgiveness of his great sins against the church. Note how Paul declared that God had a purpose in saving him as the greatest sinner and persecutor of Christians.

God saved Paul as the foremost sinner and persecutor of the church to demonstrate His patience. God used Paul as an example of grace and lovingkindness. If God could save a vile sinner such as Paul, then He could save anyone who believed in His Son and accepted His work on their behalf. Eternal life was possible for even the vilest offender. God used Paul’s violent past to accomplish good.

Verse 17

As he reflects on the grace and lovingkindness of God toward him, the apostle breaks out in praise. Notice what he tells us here.

First, God was the “King of the ages.” This is to say, He is an eternal king from age to age. His reign will never end, nor will the expression of kindness and grace to those who love Him.

Second, God is immortal. He will always be God. Unlike earthly kings who weaken and die, our God will never grow weary, weak or die. He is life and sustains all life. Death has no power over Him.

Third, God is invisible. He cannot be seen with the human eye, but His existence is not questioned. Listen to the words of John 1:18:

(18) No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known. – John 1:18 ESV

While we have seen Jesus in the flesh, and He is God, no one has seen the Father. Certainly, people have seen manifestations of His presence, but no one has ever been able to look at His face or see Him as He is.

Fourth, He is the only God. Other entities have been considered gods by many, but there is only one true God who created the universe and sent His Son to die for our sins. All other gods are the creation of humankind.

This God, King of the ages, immortal, invisible and only God, deserves all honour and glory forever. No other god was worthy of such praise and glory.

Verse 18

As he concludes the chapter, Paul speaks directly to Timothy. He reminds him that he had entrusted him with a charge when he sent him to Ephesus. Notice that this charge was in accordance with a prophetic word spoken to Timothy. We do not have that prophetic word, but Paul seems to refer to this again in 1 Timothy 4:14 when he said:

(14) Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. – 1 Timothy 4:14 ESV

It appears that one or more of the elders had a prophetic word for Timothy from the Lord. Paul expected Timothy to take this word seriously and walk faithfully in it.

Paul recognized that walking faithfully following that prophetic word would not be easy. Timothy, however, was to wage a good warfare. He was to fight and persevere to the end without giving up. He was to push through the obstacles and move on to victory.

Verse 19

In verse 18 Paul challenged Timothy to wage a good warfare. He tells him how he was to do this here in verse 19.

First, he was to hold onto his faith. The word πίστις (pístis) used here refers to a conviction of the truth and a faithfulness to that truth. Timothy would wage a good warfare if he remained true to the Word of God and the truth that had been passed on to Him.

Second, Timothy was to hold onto a good conscience. The conscience is the part of us that distinguishes right from wrong. Not only was Timothy to hold fast to the truth, but he was also to live a life that honoured God and demonstrated the truth he believed in. He was to live with a good conscience before God and his fellow human beings.

Paul reminds Timothy that some people had made a shipwreck of their faith by rejecting these principles of holding fast to the truth and a good conscience. We must grasp what Paul is telling Timothy here.

While the truth never changes, we can impair our faith, testimony and fellowship with God in one of two ways.

First, by turning from the truth of the Word of God. I have met believers who struggled to accept certain principles in the Word of God. They cannot seem to accept the God of the Bible or understand His ways. This will always create a barrier between that believer and his God. God is who He is, and we must accept Him as He is. We cannot change Him or His purpose but must submit to His ways. Only in full surrender can we know true fellowship and blessing. Rejecting anything the Bible teaches us about Him or compromising what it tells us will only harm our faith.

Second, we will damage our faith and fellowship by not walking with a good conscience before God. Any disobedience or compromise in our walk with God may make our lives easier but will always drive a wedge between us and our God. Only in full surrender to God and His purpose can we know true fellowship and victory. Any compromise in our daily walk will hinder our faith and fellowship with God.

Notice the word shipwreck here. This is a strong word. Paul, however, wants to show us what can happen to believers if they are not diligent in holding the truth and a good conscience. Maybe you have met believers who fell into sin. In some cases, they have destroyed their families, damaged the testimony of the church, and wandered into a life of misery and sin. They struggle with God and seem to resist fellowship with His people. I am not saying that these believers have lost their salvation. What I am saying, however, is that they will have much to answer for at the judgement.

Verse 20

Having told Timothy that some people had made shipwreck of their faith in verse 19, the apostle now gives an example of what he meant by citing the names of Hymenaeus and Alexander.

Paul speaks of Hymenaeus in 2 Timothy 2:16-18:

(16) But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, (17) and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus (18), who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. – 2 Timothy 2:16-18 ESV

We discover that Hymenaeus “swerved from the truth” and was teaching that the resurrection had already happened.

Paul also speaks of Alexander in 2 Timothy 4:14-15 where he wrote:

(14) Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. (15) Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. – 2 Timothy 4:14-15 ESV

Alexander did great harm to the apostle though we are not told exactly what he did. We see, however, that he “strongly opposed” Paul’s message.

Both of these men rejected Paul and what he taught. They were somehow connected with the church in Ephesus but rejected the apostolic teaching. Both of these men were a detriment to the church in Ephesus. Paul accused them of blasphemy against the Lord Jesus.

Note Paul’s response to them — “I have handed them over to Satan.” There is much debate about what Paul meant by handing someone over to Satan. The closest example of this is what happened to Job in the Old Testament. God allowed Satan to afflict him. Satan took his family, his friends and his health from him. God allowed this to happen, all the while keeping Satan on a leash so that he could not kill him. The result was that Job was refined and purified through the process. He came to see God through his trials in a new way. When everything was stripped from him by Satan, he had nowhere else to go but to God.

It appears that this is what is happening here in this verse. Paul, like God, has handed these two individuals over to Satan to buffet them with the understanding that if they were truly God’s children, Satan’s efforts to afflict them would only drive them into God’s arms in the end. They would be crushed, battered and beaten, but this discipline would transform their lives and bring them back into fellowship with God and His people.

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Chapter 2

Select Verse:

1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15

Verse 1

Paul begins the chapter by urging Timothy to bring “all people” before the Lord. I have been in ministry long enough to know that unless the Lord breaks through, nothing of any lasting significance will happen in the lives of those to whom we minister. The work of changing lives belongs to the Holy Spirit. Prayer is not an option in the work of the Kingdom. God has given us a responsibility to minister in His name, but the power to change lives belongs to Him. We are as dependent on Him as the branches are on the vine. The advance of the kingdom depends on God. To know God’s life-changing and powerful work, we must remain in communion with Him. Here, Paul uses different words to describe the type of communion we need to maintain with God on behalf of “all people.”

First, we are to bring supplications to the Lord. The word δέησις (déēsis) refers to making one’s need known. It is a prayer for a particular blessing or need for ourselves or others. Believers are to have open eyes to see the needs around them and a heart that cries out to God on behalf of those experiencing those needs.

Second, we are to offer prayers for “all people.” The word προσευχή (proseuchḗ) comes from the word proseúchomai. It is derived from prós, meaning to and eúchomai, meaning to wish. The idea is to bring our wishes to God for those around us. To pray is to express our heartfelt desires for the people we meet daily.

Third, believers are to intercede on behalf of all people. The word used here is ἐˊντευξις (énteuxis), which speaks of meeting with God to petition Him on behalf of ourselves or others boldly.

Finally, we are to offer thanksgiving for “all people.” Not everyone blessed by God recognizes that these blessings are from Him. Not everyone returns thanks and praise to God for His goodness. As believers, we are to have open eyes to see God’s kindness and compassion and grateful hearts that come to Him with thanksgiving for His goodness.

What is important for us to see here is not the difference between these words but rather that believers are to be people of prayer and communion with God. We are to see the goodness of God and give Him thanks. We are to be aware of the needs around us and commit them to the Lord. We are to petition God on behalf of others and recognize that our God is the source of all blessing and support.

Verse 2

Note that Paul urged Timothy to offer supplication, prayer, intercession, and thanksgiving not only for “all people” but also for “kings and all who are in high positions.” These leaders had a very particular responsibility for the welfare of their nation. They made important decisions that affected the well-being of their society. They needed people to stand with them, calling down the wisdom of God and His blessing. Understand that many of these kings and rulers did not know the Lord. The intercession of God’s people, however, was still necessary, for God would respond from heaven and direct these unbelieving rulers as His people prayed.

Why is it important that believers pray for kings and rulers in high positions? Paul tells Timothy that it was so that they could “lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”

What would it take for Satan to rile up kings and rulers against Christians? The world as we know it is not directed by Biblical principles. We stand against the immoral standards of an unbelieving world. We reject ungodliness in any form. This angers an ungodly world. Left to itself, this world would wander farther and farther from the principles of righteousness. Believers would quickly be seen as enemies of their way of life. We are in the midst of a great spiritual battle. Kings and rulers play an important role in how that battle unfolds. Their decisions and policies can make the difference between a believer living a quiet and godly life in peace and being persecuted for our faith. We are called to petition God to live this peaceful life as believers in Jesus Christ.

Verse 3

Paul has been telling Timothy to pray for kings and those in authority so believers could live a quiet and peaceful life in godliness. According to the apostle, it was good and pleasing to God that believers should live such a life. There are many places on this earth where Christians are persecuted for their faith. There are regions where evil abounds, chaos reigns, and godliness is rare. This is not the heart of God. It is His purpose that believers be able to live in quiet and godliness at peace with each other and their society. This is why Paul challenged Timothy to pray to this end.

Verse 4

According to Paul, God desires that all people be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Understand that just because God desires something does not mean it will happen. Sin exists. God has given us free will, and with that free will comes the possibility of rebelling against God and His purpose for our lives. This grieves that heart of a God who wants all people to know His grace and forgiveness and to walk in His purpose. God takes no delight in wickedness and rebellion:

(4) For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. – Psalms 5:4 ESV

He finds no delight in punishing the wicked:

(23) Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? – Ezekiel 18:23 ESV

Knowing that God desires all people to come to the knowledge of the truth ought to drive us to pray for God to enable us to be a people who demonstrate that truth in word and deed before our friends and neighbours.

Verse 5

What is the truth God wants all people to know? Paul answers this here in verse 5 when he says that “there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

First, there is a mediator between God and men. The word μεσίτης (mesítēs) refers to someone who arbitrates between two parties. The mediator’s purpose is to bring peace and agreement between these two people. In this case, sin was the barrier between God and men. It needed to be addressed before we could have peace with God.

Second, Jesus came to be the mediator between God and men. He was the solution that would bring both parties together. He did this by paying the penalty for our sins. The penalty for sin was death.

(23) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 6:23 ESV

(4) Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die. – Ezekiel 18:4 ESV

Jesus took our place and died on the cross to pay our penalty. With this penalty paid, reconciliation with God was now possible.

Note how Paul speaks of Christ Jesus as “the man.” For Jesus to take our place, He needed to be one of us. God could not ignore sin. The penalty needed to be paid by a man. The problem was that no man was worthy of paying this penalty because God demanded a perfect sacrifice. No blemished lamb was allowed as a sin offering. This is where Jesus came into the picture. He took on flesh, became a man, lived a perfect life, and died on our behalf.

(5) Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, (6) who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, (7) but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. (8) And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. – Philippians 2:5-8 ESV

The death of this perfect man paid the penalty for sin and opened the door for peace between God and men.

Paul reminds Timothy here that there is only one God. This means there is no other god with whom we must be reconciled. He also tells Timothy that there is also only one mediator. There is no other way to this one God but through the “man Christ Jesus.” He alone is the means of forgiveness and peace with God.

Verse 6

The “man Christ Jesus” gave Himself as a “ransom for all.” According to Paul, this was “the testimony given at the proper time.

First, Jesus gave Himself as a ransom. The word ransom is ἀντίλυτρον (antílutron), which refers to a price paid to redeem or restore someone or something to its proper place or condition. In this case, we had fallen away from God and were bound by sin and rebellion. Jesus paid the penalty so we could be restored to fellowship with God.

That ransom was paid for “all.” That is to say, no one can say that the death of Jesus Christ was insufficient to redeem and restore them to fellowship with God.

According to Paul, this act of Jesus Christ was a “testimony given.” The word testimony is μαρτύριον (martúrion). It refers to a statement from personal experience and knowledge that declares a truth. What did Jesus declare by His death on the cross? He showed us that fellowship and peace with God was possible. He declared the grace and favour of God toward sinners.

This testimony of the grace and favour of God toward sinners was declared “at the proper time.” Prophets spoke about the Messiah who was to come. They longed to see this day. He came in God’s perfect time. He came in fulfillment of all these Old Testament prophesies exactly when God determined it should take place.

Verse 7

Paul declares to Timothy that he had been appointed a preacher, apostle and teacher to the Gentiles.

His choice of the word “appointed” implies that this was not a personal decision the apostle made. It was a responsibility placed on him by Jesus Christ, who called and anointed him for this task. Many choose to be full-time servants of Jesus Christ. They have various reasons and motivations for this choice. Paul, however, did not choose this responsibility. He was selected for it by God.

Paul tells us that this calling on his life involved being a preacher. The word used here is κήρυξ (kḗrux) and refers to someone who rallies people to proclaim a message. That message, of course, is centred on the truth of the Gospel. The preacher gathers people and declares the truth of Jesus Christ and His work.

Paul’s calling also involved being an apostle. The word ἀπόστολος (apóstolos) comes from the word apostéllō meaning to send. The apostle was sent as an ambassador to represent the Lord Jesus and His purpose on the earth. The Lord Jesus chose twelve apostles to be His representatives in the early church. He empowered them as His representatives to establish the church in its practices and teaching.

Note how, after declaring that he had been chosen as an apostle, Paul assures Timothy that he was telling him the truth. The impression we have here is that Paul felt unworthy of his calling as an apostle. He was always reminded of his past persecution of Christians and felt he did not deserve such a privilege. While unworthy of an apostle’s calling, Paul accepted his appointment and became one of the church’s most important and influential apostles. We dare not let our unworthiness keep us from proving worthy of God’s calling on our lives.

Paul’s appointment also involved being a teacher. The word διδάσκαλος (didáskalos) involves instructing people in the truth. This can be done in many ways that do not necessarily include gathering a crowd. Paul was a teacher to Timothy, his son in the faith. He did this through his one-on-one interaction with Timothy.

Note finally that Paul’s appointment was to the Gentiles. Other apostles were called to minister to the Jews of the day. Paul had a specific calling to minister to the Gentiles. Observe here that he was to preach, be an apostle and teach these Gentiles in faith and truth. In other words, it was his obligation to strengthen the faith of Gentile converts and instruct them in the truth of the Gospel.

Paul understood not only his calling but also its limits. He focused his attention on the Gentile community.

Verse 8

Verse 8 comes in the context of Paul’s declaration that it was God’s will that believers live a peaceful and godly life and that all come to the knowledge of the truth. If that were going to happen, it would require men to pray.

The word men here is ἀνήρ (anḗr) and refers specifically to a male. It is not that Paul did not value women’s prayers, but he called for males everywhere to pray in this particular case.

Note how Paul wanted these men to pray. They were first to lift their hands. The concept of lifting one’s hands is a reference to the common practice of the day of stretching out one’s hands to God, as a beggar would stretch out his hands for support.

The hands to be lifted to God were to be holy. That is to say, they were not to be defiled by sin and evil. Those men who cried out to God were to be in fellowship with Him and walk in tune with His purpose so that nothing hindered their prayers.

Observe how Paul mentions that the hands lifted to God were to be undefiled by anger and quarrelling. If we are to expect blessings from God, we must have a proper relationship with each other. We must address any bitterness or division between us as Christians. We cannot expect God’s blessing if we are not willing to be a blessing to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Verse 9

Paul speaks now to women in the church. In verse 8, he tells Timothy that men are to lift holy hands. That is to say, if they were going to pray to God for blessings, they were to live lives honouring Him and submit to His purpose. They were to be in control of their natural tendency to defend their territory, rights and beliefs. Similarly, women were also to live in a way that pleased God and demonstrated their submission to His will and purpose.

The apostle encouraged women to demonstrate modesty and respect in how they dressed. According to Paul, Christian women were to adorn themselves “in respectable apparel.” Today, the sale of women’s clothing, cosmetics, and beauty supplies is a big business. Massive advertising campaigns seek to encourage women to invest heavily in their appearance. This is not new. Even in Paul’s day, women were tempted to focus on outward appearance and draw attention to themselves. Paul encouraged Christian women to dress respectfully. He explains this in more detail in the verse.

First, the Christian woman is to dress with modesty. The word κόσμιος (kósmios) comes from the word kósmos, meaning order or proper arrangement. The person who dresses modestly does not stir up confusion or strife. They are not trying to make a statement or draw attention to themselves.

Second, women who dress respectfully exercise self-control. Paul uses the word σωφροσύνη (sōphrosúnē) here. It speaks of moderation in one’s passions and conduct. The idea seems to be that the Christian woman is not to flaunt or parade her beauty. Instead, she was to control her impulses and desire to be noticed. Paul gives some examples of self-control here.

He speaks of the natural desire of women to braid or style their hair, wear gold jewellery, pearls or expensive designer clothes. The apostle is not saying these things are wrong in and of themselves, but they can become an obsession. According to Paul, the Christian woman has more important things to consider than her external beauty, jewellery, and clothes—all of these things need to be viewed from the perspective of God’s priorities for her life.

Verse 10

For Paul, Christian women were to dress in a way that was appropriate for one who professed godliness. He explains what he means here by adding the phrase “with good works.” In other words, for a Christian woman, it was more important to do good than to look good. A godly woman demonstrated godliness by how she lived her life and ministered to those around her. This was to be a greater priority than what she wore and the style of her hair.

Verse 11

Paul begins a section here about the different roles of men and women in the church. The question we must address in this regard is whether this was a specific teaching of Paul for that time and culture or whether it continues to apply to the church of our day. Some see what Paul says to apply only to a culture where women were not traditionally educated and prone to theological error or misunderstanding of the Scriptures. Others feel that Paul was trying to avoid controversy in a male-dominated society. Putting these controversies aside for the moment, let’s examine the text to see Paul’s counsel to Timothy about the role of women in the church of Ephesus.

Paul begins by telling Timothy that women were to learn. This in itself is an important statement. The IVP Bible Background Commentary on the Old Testament has this to say about women in the days of Paul:

Although exceptions were made for elite women (for example, Philo praised the empress as “almost male” in her intellectual capacity; Embassy to Gaius 320), and some intellectuals praised the ability of women (or particular women) to learn, most men considered intellectual activity a predominantly male exercise. Women were less likely to be literate than men (sometimes estimated at ten percent as often as men of the same social class), were trained in philosophy far less often than men, were trained in rhetoric almost never, and, more importantly here, in Judaism were far less likely to be educated in the law. Boys were raised to recite the Torah; girls were not, although they could listen in synagogues and remember what they heard at home.

(Walton, John H., Matthews, Victor H., Chavalas, Mark W., Comments on 1 Timothy 2:11, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament: Marion, Iowa, Laridian)

With this as the predominant cultural idea, Paul’s statement that women should learn is somewhat radical for the time. Paul wanted women to understand the gospel’s truth and challenged Timothy here to teach them.

While Paul wanted women to learn the truth, he had two requirements.

First, they were to learn in quietness. The word quiet is ἡσυχία (hēsuchía) and speaks of silence or stillness. This stillness and silence implied that they would have an open heart to receive what was taught and that there would be no public arguments, debates or challenges to the teaching they received.

Second, Paul told Timothy that women were also to learn in submission. This submission implied respect for those who taught and obedience to their instruction.

Verse 12

Next, Paul tells Timothy that he did not permit a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man. Paul’s statement shows us that he believed there were different roles in the church for men and women. In his mind, men were to be leaders and teachers of truth.

Note Paul’s words: “teach or to exercise authority over a man.” Paul seems to connect teaching and exercising authority here. The teaching Paul forbids is a teaching that takes authority over a man. In Paul’s mind, God gave man a specific role. He was to be a leader and teacher in both his family and church. He was to guide his children and his fellow church members into the truth of God’s Word. This was his God-given obligation and duty. The woman was not to take this role from him but rather encourage him to be the leader God called him to be. The quietness Paul speaks about here is a willing submission to the purpose of God. The woman’s role is not just not talking but a quiet submission to God’s purpose that stands strongly behind those God has called to be leaders and instructors of His people.

Verse 13

The question we must ask here is this: Where did Paul get the idea that men were to be leaders and teachers in the church? He answers this question in this verse. Paul takes us back to creation to back up his view. He reminds us that Adam was created before Eve.

What we need to understand here is that the firstborn of every family was dedicated to the Lord and belonged to Him:

(2) “Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine.”- Exodus 13:2 ESV

While the firstborn of every animal needed to be redeemed, God set apart the Levites in the place of every firstborn child in the nation of Israel to be devoted to Him:

(40) And the LORD said to Moses, “List all the firstborn males of the people of Israel, from a month old and upward, taking the number of their names. (41) And you shall take the Levites for me—I am the LORD—instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the cattle of the people of Israel.” – Numbers 3:40-41 ESV

In everyday life, the firstborn male was the head of the home when the father passed away and would inherit a double portion of the father’s estate (see Deuteronomy 21:15-17).

The fact that Adam was the firstborn was significant in Paul’s mind. As the firstborn, he was specifically devoted to God and had a God-given obligation to be a spiritual leader.

Verse 14

Paul lists a second reason women were not to teach or have authority over men. He again goes back to the book of Genesis, but this time to the fall of humankind into sin.

In Genesis 3, Satan came to Eve in the garden and tempted her to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. While Eve understood the command of God not to eat from this tree, Satan persuaded her that what God said about it was untrue. He convinced her she would not die if she disobeyed God’s command, but her eyes would be opened to know both good and evil (see Genesis 3:1-5). Deceived by Satan, Eve took the forbidden fruit and ate it. Genesis 3:6 tells us that she also gave some to her husband, who ate as well.

Consider what took place in the Garden. Satan appeared to Eve to tempt her. His lies deceived her. Now, I understand that Satan could have deceived Adam, but he approached Eve instead. She was the one deceived by his lies. She committed the first act of disobedience.

Note something else about this story. What was Eve’s first act after eating the forbidden fruit? Genesis 3:6 says, “She also gave some to her husband who was with her.” Not only did she disobey the command of God, but she also tempted Adam by offering him that same fruit. There is a double sin here—first, the sin of disobedience and second, the sin of causing her husband to sin with her.

There is a lot of speculation around these verses. Did Adam know the fruit was from the forbidden tree when he ate it? Was he standing with her during the temptation? Was he aware of how Eve was tempted and the arguments of Satan? Did she tell him what had happened and share why she ate of the tree? We have no way of knowing the answers to these questions. All we know is that it was not Adam who was deceived by Satan that day but Eve. She picked the fruit off that tree, ate it and gave it to her husband. Just as Adam was the first to be created, Eve was the first transgressor of God’s law, bringing sin into this world.

What was God’s response toward Eve because of what she did that day? Genesis 3:16 tells us:

(16) To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.” – Genesis 3:16 ESV

God tells Eve two things here. First, she would bring forth children with great difficulty and pain. Second, her husband would rule over her. In the next verse, Paul speaks about childbearing. What is of particular concern for us here is that second statement of God to Eve.

God told Eve that her husband would rule over her because she had disobeyed His command. In other words, God commanded to her that she was to live in submission to her husband. Man, the firstborn, is given here the responsibility by God to be the head of his wife and leader in the family. Paul uses this to demonstrate theologically that it was wrong, therefore, for a woman to take authority over a man.

Verse 15

We have seen how Paul refers to Genesis 3 and the fall of humankind into sin in his argument about women not taking authority over men. After Satan deceived Eve, God said to her:

We examined the second statement of God in Genesis 3:16 in the comments on 1 Timothy 2:14. Of concern for us now is God’s words about Eve’s pain in childbearing. God told Eve that He would multiply her pain in childbearing. Paul tells women here that they would be “saved through childbearing.” The word saved is σώζω (sṓzō). Christians have used this word to speak of the salvation offered through Jesus Christ, but this is not its only use in the New Testament. It means to be delivered, preserved or safe from danger. Let’s consider what Paul is saying to women here.

The context of the apostle’s statement is the curse of God and His declaration that He would multiply women’s pain in childbearing. Paul is telling women, however, that while their pain would be increased, God would preserve them in it. He would keep them safe and deliver them in their time of giving birth. While childbearing is a painful experience, it is relatively safe. God delights in bringing new life into this world, and His hand is upon women who give birth. If you have ever been at the birth of a baby, the whole experience is quite overwhelming. To see a life being born is nothing short of a miracle. Through the pain and suffering, new life is brought into this world, and there is great joy and rejoicing in the end. Women have a unique ability, given to them by God, to bring new life into this world. God’s blessing is upon them in this.

Even though Eve brought sin and death into this world by her sin, the blessing of God was still upon her. She would become the mother of the human race, a title of great honour. Her daughters would also have this wonderful privilege. While the blessing of God is on women in childbirth, Paul challenges them not to take this blessing for granted. Women were to continue in faith, love and holiness. They were to live self-controlled lives and learn to walk in God’s holy purpose. God did not give up on women. He challenges them, however, not to repeat the error of their mother, Eve, but instead to exercise self-control in the face of temptation and walk in faith, love and holiness.

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Chapter 3

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Verse 1

Paul begins the chapter with a “saying.” The Greek word used here is λόγος (lógos), which is translated as word –not just a spoken word, however, but more specifically, the expression of wisdom and intelligence. The λόγος (lógos) Paul was about to impart, was trustworthy. What is this wisdom? Paul tells us that if a person aspired to the office of an overseer, he desired a noble task. The word translated noble is καλός (kalós) and speaks of something beautiful and good.

The responsibility of an overseer (ἐπισκοπή episkopḗ) involved the care and oversight of the church. It is a general term encompassing the roles of elders and pastors.

Verse 2

Because the role of overseer was a noble and respectable function in the church, not just anyone could serve in this capacity—the man who aspired to this position needed to meet certain qualifications. Over the course of the next few verses, Paul lists sixteen requirements for anyone serving as an overseer in the church.

Above Reproach

The first quality of an overseer is that he is to be above reproach. The Greek word us here is ἀνεπίληπτος (anepílēptos). It is derived from the word “a,” meaning without and “epilambánō” meaning to seize. The idea here is that this man has nothing an enemy could seize upon to accuse him of wrongdoing.

The Husband of One Wife

Paul tells Timothy that an overseer should be the husband of one wife. There are various interpretations of this second requirement.

Paul may be saying that in light of the temptation in the world to immorality, an overseer should be married. This is in line with his teaching in 1 Corinthians 7:32-40. The problem, however, is that Paul was never married and was an overseer in the church. He also taught that celibacy was a legitimate lifestyle:

(7) I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. (8) To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am. (9) But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. – 1 Corinthians 7:7-9 ESV

While marriage is good for an overseer, we should not see it as a requirement.

Others see Paul telling Timothy that an overseer should only be married once in his lifetime. The problem with this interpretation is that Paul taught that a person could marry a second time if their first partner died, and marriage vows were only binding as long as the partner was alive:

(39) A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. – 1 Corinthians 7:39 ESV

If Paul is saying that an overseer should be the husband of one wife and his wife has died, would it be wrong for him to marry a second wife?

This leads us to the next interpretation, which states that an overseer was to be the husband of only one wife at a time. This meant that in a time when polygamy was accepted in society, the overseer was only to have one wife and be faithful to that one wife. He was to be an example of a true Christian marriage –one man and one woman united under Christ for life.

Sober-minded

Next, the overseer was to be sober-minded. The word νηφάλιος (nēphálios) speaks of a mind free from excesses. These excesses might be through the influences of alcohol or drugs or possibly uncontrolled sexual passions and appetites.

Self-controlled

Closely related to the matter of sober-mindedness is the next quality of self-control. The word σώφρων (sṓphrōn) speaks of restraint and discipline in one’s life. This self-control may be in regards to outside influences or even of one’s emotions and passions.

Respectable

The word κόσμιος (kósmios) speaks of order and proper arrangement of things in one’s life. Paul uses this word to talk about how women were to dress in 1 Timothy 2:9. In that verse the word is translated as modest. The sense here is that the overseer is not to behave in a disorderly way. His behaviour is to be orderly and dignified.

Hospitable

The word φιλόξενος (philóxenos) is derived from the words phílos meaning love and xénos meaning stranger. The overseer is to be a lover of strangers. In this sense, hospitality shows compassion and kindness to those not in the immediate flock. It reaches out to the lost and wanderer. The Lord Jesus told a parable about the lost sheep and the shepherd’s compassion to leave the ninety-nine in the fold to reach out to one sheep that had wandered away. The overseer is one who sees that one sheep that has left that fold and demonstrates compassion and kindness toward it.

Able to Teach

One of the requirements for the position of an elder is the ability to teach. For this to occur, that overseer needed to be teachable, but the word used here seems to carry with it the sense that the overseer was to be a teacher. It was his responsibility to feed the flock he oversaw. He was tasked with passing on and guarding sound doctrine as an overseer. This did not necessarily mean that he had to be a gifted public speaker, but he did have to know the truth and be able to communicate and defend that truth in some capacity.

Verse 3

Paul continues his list of qualifications for an overseer.

Not a Drunkard

The word used by Paul here is πάροινος (pároinos). It is derived from the word “pará,” meaning near and “oínos” meaning wine. The sense here is that he was not to be attached to or dependent on wine. What is true for wine is also true for any other addictive substance. The overseer was to be free from addictions.

Not Violent

The word translated as violent here is πλήκτης (plḗktēs), which means to strike. The overseer does not get angry and unleash his anger in physical or verbal assaults.

Gentle

Instead of getting angry, the overseer is gentle. The word ἐπιεικής (epieikḗs) refers to someone who does not push himself on another or demand his way. Instead, he accepts others, is tolerant, and patient with differences.

Not Quarrelsome

The word ἀˊμαχος (ámachos), translated as not quarrelsome, is derived from the word “a” meaning without and “máchē” meaning battle. The one who is not quarrelsome is a person who is not always looking for a fight. That fight might be over matters of Christian liberty or secondary doctrines. It might also be the result of a lack of self-control. The quarrelsome person does not demonstrate compassion or permit liberty or difference of opinion in secondary matters of the church. They want things to be their way and do not easily recognize that they could be wrong.

Not a Lover of Money

A lover of money is one whose motivation is about enriching themselves. They love money and what they can buy for themselves. There is nothing wrong with paying a servant of God for their service, but when money becomes a motivating factor in ministry, we are on the wrong track. I have met pastors who have determined where to serve the Lord based on how much money they will receive from that church. Our motivation must be the love of God in our hearts and His call upon our lives. The overseer must be willing to serve whether there is money involved or not. Financial gain should never be a primary motivation.

Verse 4

When selecting an overseer, it is important to look at his family. How an overseer manages his household will be how he manages the church. Paul tells Timothy that an overseer must manage his household well. He defines what he means by “well” in two ways here in the verse.

First, the overseer must manage his household with dignity. The word σεμνότης (semnótēs) speaks of decency and seriousness. That is to say, he must demonstrate that he takes his responsibility seriously and exercise that responsibility with care, concern and diligence.

Second, the overseer must also keep his children in submission. To be in submission here carries the sense of walking in obedience and respect. He is not to let his family get out of control. He will correct and discipline his children when they lack respect or turn from the path of righteousness. He will do this with dignity.

This does not mean that the overseer’s children need to be perfect. The question is how does the overseer deal with his children who wander from the path of righteousness. Does he pursue them and seek to restore them to faith, or does he abandon them in their need? How he treats his children will be how he treats people in the church. If you want to know what kind of overseer an individual will be, look at how he leads his family.

Understand here also that Paul is showing us that an overseer should not ignore his family. His primary responsibility is ministering to his wife and the children God has given him. An overseer who ignores his family is not qualified to serve in the church.

Verse 5

Paul shows us why it is important for the church to look at the family life of an overseer. He tells us that if he cannot care for the family God has given him, he will not be able to care for the spiritual family. He must first demonstrate his ability and seriousness in his own family before being given responsibility for the church.

Verse 6

Another qualification for the overseer is that he is not to be a recent convert to Christ. According to Paul, the reason for this is that “he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.”

Some qualities must be learned over time. One of those qualities involves learning how to depend on the Lord. How many godly saints have fallen flat on their faces because they had an inflated view of what they could do with their strength? How many have forged ahead in the service of the Lord, running ahead of God’s purpose? The idealism of the new convert often has to be toned down to reflect the real world. Learning how to face disappointments and failures is vital to maturity in Christ.

Note the phrase “fall into the condemnation of the devil.” The word “condemnation” comes from the Greek word κρίμα (kríma), which speaks of a judgement or sentence. In other words, the “condemnation of the devil” refers to his judgment. The book of Revelation recounts the judgement of Satan. We read in Revelation 12:7-9 that he was cast out of heaven:

(7) Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, (8) but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. (9) And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world— he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. – Revelation 12:7-9 ESV

Satan’s ultimate condemnation is to be cast into the lake of fire, where he will be tormented forever:

(10) and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. – Revelation 20:10 ESV

Paul is not saying that new converts to Jesus Christ will be lost forever. What he is showing us, however, is the seriousness of pride. In his pride, Satan stood up against God Himself and suffered serious consequences for his rebellion. Those who do not learn dependence and obedience take the same path as Satan, and you can be sure that they will find themselves, like him, suffering the consequences of their sin.

Verse 7

The final qualification for an overseer is that he must be “well thought of by outsiders.” We need to understand this phrase in the context of what Paul told the Galatians in Galatians 1:10:

(10) For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.- Galatians 1:10 ESV

There is a difference between being well thought of and being a people pleaser. To be a people pleaser often involves compromising our standards to gain the affection and attention of people around us. This is not what Paul is saying here.

When he tells us that the overseer is to be “well thought of,” he means that he must be respected and trusted by the outsider. They must know him to be honest in his dealings, generous and compassionate in his relationships and holy in his walk with God.

The overseer is to have a good testimony before the outsider so that he will not fall into disgrace. The word Paul uses here, translated as “disgrace,” is ὀνειδισμός (oneidismós), meaning to revile. The sense is that his sins will be discovered, and people speak out against him. His testimony in the community would then be destroyed, and the name of the Lord Jesus would be blasphemed.

Note also that if an overseer does not have a good reputation in the community, he will fall into the devil’s snare. His sins will be a means of Satan snaring him and destroying his witness. It will also be a way for Satan to damage the reputation and witness of the church in that community.

Verse 8

Paul goes on here to speak of a second office in the church–the office of deacon. The Greek word for deacon is διάκονος (diákonos), which means servant. Deacons work alongside the overseer, freeing them up to minister in prayer and preaching that word. We see this in Acts 6:2-4 where we read:

(2) And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. (3) Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. (4) But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” – Acts 6:2-4 ESV

These deacons were like the Levites of the Old Testament who worked beside the descendants of Aaron. They assisted them in a variety of ministries, freeing them up to serve in their capacity as priests.

Like the overseer, the deacon must also meet certain qualifications to serve. Paul takes the time here to list these qualifications.

Dignified

First, the deacon was to be dignified. The word σεμνός (semnós) refers to something that is revered and has a good reputation. The deacon is to be well respected in his community.

Not Double Tongued

Next, the deacon was not to be double-tongued. The idea of having two tongues conveys the sense that one of those tongues speaks the truth and the other speaks falsehood. In other words, you cannot trust the words of a double-tongued person. They say what is convenient but are not committed to the absolute truth. The words of a deacon must be trustworthy. He speaks the truth even when it hurts him to do so. You can rely on what he says. He is to be a man of his word.

Not Addicted to Much Wine

Deacons are to be free from addictions. Paul speaks particularly here about wine, but this is not the only type of addiction in our day. Drugs and other kinds of drinks can also be addictive. The deacon is not to be controlled by any of these substances.

Not Greedy for Dishonest Gain

Deacons are not to be greedy for dishonest gain. Note here that there is such a thing as honest gain for work well done. This is not the issue. Paul speaks here about two sins in particular.

First, there is the sin of greed. Greed tends to degrade moral principles. It is an imbalanced passion for something that willingly compromises moral standards to obtain the object of its passion. The deacon must never allow anything to keep him from walking in absolute integrity. He will suffer loss rather than compromise godly standards.

Second, there is also the sin of dishonesty. Paul speaks here about “dishonest” gain. Dishonest gain defrauds, steals or compromises God’s standard of righteousness to obtain personal gain. A deacon must be honest in his dealings. His commitment is to the purpose of God first and foremost. He must be known as one who walks upright in his business dealings in the community.

Verse 9

Next deacons were to hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. Note two details here.

First, observe the phrase, “mystery of the faith.” The word used for faith here is πίστις (pístis). It refers to a firm conviction of truth. The word mystery is μυστήριον (mustḗrion) and refers to a secret or something hidden from human understanding. The conviction of the deacon is in something that is often hidden from him or something too great for him to understand.

There is a mystery to the Christian faith. We are called to trust in a God we do not see with our eyes. We are called to put our confidence in a Saviour who lived long before we were born. We cannot possibly understand His ways, but we rely completely on Him for life and breath. He is beyond our ability to comprehend, but we trust him totally. We are convinced of His words. We place our future in His hands and lay our lives down for Him we have never seen with our eyes or heard with our ears. The deacon was to demonstrate this type of faith.

Second, the deacon was to live with a clear conscience. The conscience is the part of us that distinguishes right from wrong. The deacon was to live with a conscience right before God, knowing that he was walking in a way that honoured the God he could not see with his eyes or hear with his ears but knew with his heart and soul to be real.

Verse 10

A deacon was to be tested. The word δοκιμάζω (dokimázō) implies being proven, approved or demonstrating worthiness. Paul explains this in the verse when he says that deacons were to prove themselves to be blameless. The idea here is that the church was not to be quick to elect a deacon. A potential deacon was to demonstrate that he was able to do the work and worthy of the title. When I served overseas, I remember a co-worker telling me he had never elected anyone to a church office who was not already doing the work. I found great wisdom in that advice. Anyone called to serve the Lord as a deacon will do that work without a title. The church will see them demonstrate their calling by how they live their lives. These individuals will have a passion for ministering and will do so without needing recognition. They will live godly lives well before they are recognized as deacons. We test a potential deacon by watching their lives. We see their passion and walk with God before we elect them to a position in the church. We do not elect to the role of deacon anyone who has not already demonstrated by life and service that they are faithfully doing the work.

Verse 11

Paul goes on to speak of the deacon’s wives. The word γυνή (gunḗ) used here can be translated as woman or wife. Whether Paul refers to a woman in general or a wife when using this word depends on the context. The vast majority of translations see the word γυνή (gunḗ) in this context to refer to the wives of deacons.

We need to understand that the deacon’s wife could harm his ministry. For this reason, Paul required that the church also examine the deacon’s wife before electing him to office.

The deacon’s wife was to be dignified. The word σεμνός (semnós) speaks of someone who has a good reputation and is revered in the community.

Next, she was not to be a slanderer. The Greek word διάβολος (diábolos) is a word used to speak of the devil, but it refers in this case to a false accuser. A slanderer is a person who spreads falsehoods and insinuations about people for their harm. Deacon’s wives were to be careful about speaking the truth. They were not to use their words to harm a brother or sister.

Third, a deacon’s wife was to be sober-minded. The word νηφάλιος (nēphálios) implies self-control and not under the influences of wine or anything else that would impede their judgement. The sober-minded person does not allow their passions or lusts to control their actions or thoughts.

Finally, the deacon’s wife was to be faithful in all things. The word πιστός (pistós) in this sense, implies trustworthiness and reliability. She was to be a loyal wife, friend and believer in Jesus Christ. She was to demonstrate her commitment to the Lord by how she lived and what she said. She was to cling to the gospel’s truth and walk faithfully with her God.

Verse 12

Paul continues here to speak about the deacon’s family. He tells Timothy first that they were to be the husband of one wife. Let me repeat what I have stated in verse 2 regarding the qualifications of an overseer.

Paul may be saying that in light of the temptation in the world to immorality, a deacon should be married. This is in line with his teaching in 1 Corinthians 7:32-40. The problem, however, is that Paul also taught that celibacy was a legitimate lifestyle and even preferable to marriage in some cases:

While marriage was proper for a deacon, it should not be seen as a requirement.

Other Bible commentators see Paul telling Timothy that a deacon should only be married once in his lifetime. The problem with this interpretation is that Paul taught that a person could marry a second time if their first partner died. Marriage vows were only binding as long as the partner was alive:

(39) A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. – 1 Corinthians 7:39 ESV

If Paul is saying that a deacon should be the husband of one wife and his wife has died, would it not be proper for him to marry a second wife?

This leads us to the next interpretation, which states that a deacon was to be the husband of only one wife at a time. This meant that in a time when polygamy was accepted in society, the deacon was only to have one wife and be faithful to that one wife. He was to be an example of a true Christian marriage –one man and one woman united under Christ for life.

Note also that Paul tells Timothy that the deacon was to manage his children and his household well. The proof of whether a deacon would do a good job in the church was in his household. Was he able to pay his bills? Did he provide adequately for his family? Did he maintain discipline and raise respectable children? Did he direct those children into the ways of the Lord? If you want to know how a deacon will act in the church, you need to examine his family life. What he is in his family, he will be for the church.

Verse 13

Paul told Timothy that deacons who served well would experience two particular blessings.

First they would gain a good standing for themselves. The office of a deacon was an noble position in the church. Those deacons who served well, however, were to be particularly honoured. Not only did they exercise an important role in the church, but they did so with diligence and faithfulness.

Second, they would gain great confidence in the faith. Compare what Paul says here with the words of the apostle John in Revelation 20:12:

(12) And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. – Revelation 20:12 ESV

Imagine a deacon who has served well standing before the Lord on that day of judgement. As the books are opened and his works considered, he knows that he has done all he could for the sake of the kingdom. That day he hears the words of the Master saying:

(21) … ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ – Matthew 25:21 ESV

How can we have confidence in our faith? How can we know it is real? The only way to confirm our faith in Jesus Christ is to put it to the test. As we step out in service and obedience, the genuineness of our faith is confirmed. When we stand faithfully up to persecution and opposition, we see God’s preserving power and boldness demonstrated in us. When we face the unknown we experience a trust and assurance that comes from the Spirit of God working in us. We know the presence of Christ in us. We experience the power of His Spirit in our ministry. This gives us great confidence in faith and assurance that we are His.

Verse 14

Paul expresses his desire to see Timothy personally. In the absence of a personal presence, however, the apostle takes the time to write this letter. Not all ministry takes place in person. In our day, there are many ways to communicate encouragement and hope to believers worldwide. It falls on us to discover how to do this. For Paul, he picked up a pen and wrote a letter.

Verse 15

Notice why Paul wrote this letter to Timothy. He was not sure when he would be able to see him personally, so he wrote to show him how “one should behave in the household of God.” This phrase is not only directed to Timothy but also to the church in general. Consider what Paul has been writing about in this letter.

1) Admonition against false teachers — 1 Timothy 1:3-7

2) Charge to Timothy to wage a good warfare – 1 Timothy 1:18-20

3) Exhortation to pray for all people – 1 Timothy 2:1-3

4) Challenge to men to deal with anger – 1 Timothy 2:8

5) Encouragement to women to be submissive and modest in their dress – 1 Timothy 2: 8-15

6) Teaching about the qualifications of elders and deacons – 1 Timothy 3

These teachings were part of Paul’s exhortation on how to behave in the household of God. Christians needed to live lives that honoured the Lord God. The unbelieving world should see the difference coming to Christ makes in the lives of those who profess Him as Saviour and Lord. Paul wrote this letter to teach Timothy and the church of Ephesus what it meant to live as members of the household of faith.

Note also here why believers needed to know how to behave as members of the household of God. According to Paul, this household was the church of the living God. The word ἐκκλησία (ekklēsía), translated as church, literally means “called out.” In other words, the church is a group of people called out by God to be renewed in heart and mind to represent Him on this earth. God has put His hand upon us. He has saved us from sin and given us eternal hope. The Spirit of Christ has transformed to represent the King of kings and Lord of lords. This is nothing to be taken lightly. We are His ambassadors in this world. We are a light shining in the darkness, pointing men and women to eternal life. This is a huge privilege and an awesome responsibility. It also places us under a serious obligation.

Observe also that the church is the pillar and buttress of the truth. The word pillar here is στύλος (stúlos) which refers to a column that supports a building. The church needs to hold up the truth of the gospel. The gospel will be assaulted in many ways. There will be those who mock it. Others will stand in opposition to its message. The enemy will seek to water it down or compromise its truth. The church, however, like a strong pillar, stands strong against the assault of the day, defending and opposing those who seek to belittle, compromise and defy its truth.

According to Paul, the church is also a buttress. The word translated buttress is ἑδραίωμα (hedraíōma). It means to make stable and refers to a support or foundation. A building, for example, is built on a solid foundation that ensures the structure is stable and will not fall.

The church’s foundation is the truth of the gospel. Without this message, we have no foundation upon which to build. A church denying the foundational truth of the gospel is not a gospel church. Jesus Christ and His work is the basis upon which every true church is built, and without this foundation, we have nothing to base our hope upon.

According to Paul, the church’s foundation is the gospel’s truth. It is this truth it preaches and defends. Part of the defence and proclamation of this truth is in our lives and how we demonstrate that truth in our behaviour as members of the household of God.

Verse 16

Paul takes a moment to speak about the truth the church is built upon and defends. This truth, according to Paul, was “great.” There was never a message so life-changing and blessed as the gospel the church of Jesus Christ confesses.

Observe how the apostle speaks of this “great” truth as the “mystery of godliness.” The mystery of how to be in a right relationship with God was hidden from our eyes until Jesus Christ revealed it to us.

According to Paul, the mystery of a right relationship with God was found in flesh. It was revealed in the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who took on human form and became a man.

Next, Paul tells us that the Spirit has vindicated the mystery of truth we proclaim. The word translated vindicated is δικαιόω (dikaióō) and speaks of justice and righteousness. The idea here is that the Spirit applied the work of Jesus Christ to the lives of those God called out, giving them a right relationship with God.

Angels saw this wonderful work of salvation through the man Christ Jesus. Writing about this, the apostle Peter says:

(12) It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. – 1 Peter 1:12 ESV

Peter tells us here that the angels long to look at the work of the Holy Spirit through the gospel.

Revelation 5 recounts how a Lamb (a picture of Jesus Christ) was found worthy to open the scroll and unfold God’s purpose of ransoming a people from every language and nation (see Revelation 5:9). Note the response of the angels on that occasion:

(11) Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, (12) saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing!” – Revelation 5:11-12 ESV

The angels of heaven rejoiced and sang for joy at the work of the Lamb of God who ransomed a people from every nation.

The apostles declared the message of salvation to both Jews and Gentiles. The truth of salvation through Jesus Christ has been declared now throughout the world, and people from many nations have experienced the power of the gospel to save and restore their relationship with God. That message continues to spread despite persecution and multiple obstacles. People worldwide are coming to know the Lord Jesus and experience the power of the cross every single day. They are believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and experiencing the gospel’s transforming work.

Finally, this Jesus, who was revealed in the flesh and whose work has been applied to men and women worldwide, was taken up into glory. His ascension reveals that He conquered death and that the Father was pleased with His sacrifice, guaranteeing our salvation.

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Chapter 4

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Verse 1

Paul takes a moment here to speak about future events. He tells Timothy that people will depart from the faith in the coming days. Note a few details here.

First, note the phrase, “the Spirit expressly says.” Paul tells Timothy that the idea that people would abandon their faith in days to come was not new. He understood this when he told the Thessalonians to expect a man of lawlessness who would bring rebellion against the faith:

(3) Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, – 2 Thessalonians 2:3 ESV

Consider also the words of Jesus about the days to come:

(18), and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. (19) When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. (20) For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. (21) Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, (22) and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. – Matthew 10:18-22 ESV

Scripture is clear that as the day of the Lord approaches, there will be great rebellion and a turning away from God and the faith.

Second, note what Paul says will be the souce of this great turning away. People will devote themselves to deceitful spirits and the teaching of demons. The work of Satan will become more and more evident as the day of the Lord’s return approaches. Satan and his demons will increase their influence and distort the truth and principles of godliness. They will promote a way of life contrary to God’s purpose. Many will fall prey to this influence and accept it as normal. By accepting this teaching of demons, many will wander from the purpose of God into an ungodly lifestyle.

Verse 2

Paul told Timothy that people in the last days would turn from the faith and devote themselves to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons. How will people hear these deceitful spirits and demonic teachings? Paul answers this here.

The deceit and false teachings of demonic spirits will be promoted by “the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared.” Consider what Paul is saying here.

First, demonic teachings would be promoted by insincere liars. These liars would be men and women with flesh and blood like you and me. It is not surprising that Satan would seek out men and women of questionable character who were willing to lie and deceive. Jesus described the Pharisees as children of the devil because of their willingness to lie and deceive:

(44) You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. – John 8:44 ESV

Satan will use men and women who are willing to compromise the truth of God’s Word to deceive and promote his lies. These individuals are insincere in that they speak about what is right and godly, but it is not in line with the purpose of God as found in His Word.

Note also that the consciences of those Satan uses are seared. The King James Version of the Bible says that their conscience is seared with a hot iron. The word seared in the Greek language is καυτηριάζω (kautēriázō). We get the English word to cauterize from this. When you apply a hot iron to the end of a tube, you melt the end and seal it so that nothing can pass through it again.

The conscience is that part of us that distinguishes right from wrong. When you sear or cauterize the conscience, you harden it to such an extent that it can no longer discern right from wrong. A seared conscience is one that no longer warns a person of wrong. It no longer bothers someone who is sinning or walking away from God and His purpose. By hardening the conscience of these insincere liars, Satan can use them more effectively in promoting his ungodly lifestyle and teachings. To prevent this searing of our conscience, we must accept the truth of God’s Word as the standard by which we live our lives and commit to walk in obedience.

Verse 3

The deceptive and ungodly teaching of demonic spirits can take many different forms. Some of those teachings may even seem godly, but they do not agree with Scripture, or they take the Word of God out of its context to promote their agenda. Paul gives some examples of this here.

First, demonic teaching may forbid marriage and abstinence from certain foods. Now, it is clear that the Old Testament did have food laws, and there were certain foods God did not want His people to eat. Paul taught that there was nothing wrong with abstaining from particular foods and that one could do so to the glory of God:

(31) So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. – 1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV

Similarly, the apostle Paul taught that celibacy was an acceptable choice:

(8) To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am. – 1 Corinthians 7:8 ESV

If abstaining from marriage or certain foods was an acceptable practice, how could it be said that these were the teachings of demons? How can such teachings become tools in the hands of Satan? Note two details in the verse that help us understand what Paul is saying.

First, note the words “forbid marriage” and “require abstinence.” These words speak of control and manipulation. People are judged based on whether they live in compliance or not. Under this system, you are a sinner if you marry or eat certain foods. Your right standing with God is based on whether you comply with these regulations. This diminishes the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. It promotes a religion of works that no longer need the blood of Christ and his sacrificial work for salvation. Satan will do anything he can to distract people from their need for the cross of Jesus Christ.

Secondly, this forbidding marriage and requiring abstinence from foods hinders thanksgiving in the hearts of those who “believe and know the truth.” Paul told Timothy that God “richly provides us with everything to enjoy.”

(17) As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. – 1 Timothy 6:17 ESV

Speaking to the inhabitants of Lystra, Paul said:

(17) Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” – Acts 14:17 ESV

The blessings of God are for us to enjoy. We are to receive them as gifts from His hands with thanksgiving and rejoicing. If there is one thing Satan detests, it is a heart filled with gratitude to God that enjoys His blessings and gives Him praise. The teaching of demons calls these blessings of God sinful and evil. Satan will do all he can to depreciate the goodness and grace of God. He told Eve that His desire to protect her from death was a way to control her and keep her from experiencing greater knowledge. He will tell you that a committed sexual relationship with one marriage partner of the opposite sex is restraining and outdated. Demonic teaching will seek to diminish the blessings of God in our lives in an attempt to make Him seem like an enemy rather than the Gracious Giver of great blessings for us to enjoy.

Verse 4

Paul declares here that everything created by God was good. This is in line with the words of Genesis 1:31 which says:

(31) And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. – Genesis 1:31 ESV

We understand that everything in creation was created by God and declared by Him to be good. What is true of his creation is also true of other things He has established in His Word. In the context of 1 Timothy 4 we know that God also created marriage and declared it also to be good (see Genesis 2:21-25).

Shall we call what God has declared good to be evil? Shall we forbid what He has permitted? Paul tells us that whatever God has declared good should not be rejected as evil.

Notice one more detail here. Paul tells Timothy that nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. In this context, Paul is speaking about food and marriage. To understand what Paul is saying here, consider it in the context of his teaching in 1 Corinthians 8 about food sacrificed to idols. In this passage Paul told the Corinthians that some people had a negative association with meat sacrificed to idols. They could not eat this meat with thanksgiving because of its asscociation with pagan idol worship. In their mind, eating this food would be participating in this evil. For these individuals it was only right to reject this food. They did so to the glory of God.

Paul would go on to teach, however, that there is only one God and all other gods were merely the creation of a corrupt imagination:

(4) Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” (5) For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— (6) yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. – 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 ESV

For those who understood this reality, they could eat all meat with thanksgiving whether it had been sacrificed to an idol or not. On the other hand Paul went on to say:

(7) However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. – 1 Corinthians 8:7 ESV

Those who did not understand that these idols were nothing, could not eat meat sacrificed to them with thanksgiving and would defile their conscience if they did. For these individuals, though all that God created was good, because they could not eat with thanksgiving and a clear conscience, it was better for them to abstain.

Verse 5

Paul tells Timothy that everything in creation is made holy by the word of God and prayer. Let’s break this down.

First, everything God created is good and made holy by the Word of God. In other words, God declares all He has created to be good and holy in His Word. Paul has been speaking to Timothy about food and marriage in this context. Consider what the Word of God has to say about this in the following verses:

(14) I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. – Romans 14:14 ESV

(8) Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. – 1 Corinthians 8:8 ESV

(8) To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am. (9) But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. – 1 Corinthians 7:8-9 ESV

Eating all foods and marrying are condoned by Scripture as acceptable and holy practices.

Second, Paul tells Timothy that prayer also makes these practices holy. What do we do when we pray? When we pray before a meal, we thank God for what we are about to eat. We recognize Him as the source of this food and receive it with thanksgiving. We also devote it to Him and ask Him to use it for the sake of His kingdom in our lives.

The word translated holy here is ἁγιάζω (hagiázō) and refers to consecrating and setting something apart for sacred use. Isn’t this what we do when we commit our food and activities to the Lord? We devote what we eat or do to Him, setting it apart for His glory and expanding His kingdom. God hears those prayers and takes them seriously.

Verse 6

Note Paul’s purpose in writing this letter and his challenge to Timothy here. He encourages his son in the faith to “put these things before the brothers.” The word translated “brothers” here is ἀδελφός (adelphós). It comes from the word (delphús), which means womb. In other words, it is a person who shares the same womb. The meaning of the word would be expanded from this sense to refer to members of the same family or fellowship. It does not refer to any one gender exclusively but can refer to a fellowship of men and women. Paul challenges Timothy to share what he wrote with the church of Ephesus in which he was serving.

The apostle tells Timothy here that if he faithfully shared what he was writing to him in this letter with his brothers and sisters in the faith, he would be a good servant of Jesus Christ. What is Paul’s definition of a good servant? According to this verse it is one who is “trained in the words of the faith,” followed “good doctrine,” and faithfully shares what he has learned and followed with the body of Christ. Good servants, therefore, know and demonstrate the truth through their lives and words, for the edification and building up of the church of Jesus Christ

Verse 7

It appears that people in the early church were getting caught up with what Paul described as “irreverent, silly myths.” The word used here, translated as myths, is γραώδης (graṓdē). It comes from the word “graús” which refers to an old woman. The King James Version translates myths as “old wives fables.” The idea is that these were stories passed on by uneducated people who had nothing to do but share and fabricate stories. These stories and teachings were not based on the Word of God but fabrications of the human mind.

Paul tells Timothy that he was not to get caught up in these myths but rather train himself for godliness. Listen to the words of Moses to the children of Isreal:

(29) “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. – Deuteronomy 29:29 ESV

There are things that God has not revealed to us. I have been in conversations with believers that have speculated about these secret things. Ultimately, we can only truly know and prove what God has made clear. This is to be our focus. What God has made known to us in His Word is for our sanctification and growth in godliness. I have found that seeking to understand and apply what He has made clear requires a lifetime of study and application. I am still learning, and I have certainly not been able to perfectly apply that truth to my daily walk –I still fall short. It is, however, something I continue to strive for. This is profitable for my spiritual walk. However, endless discussions and speculations about what God has not made clear profits me nothing in the end.

Verse 8

Paul compares “‘bodily training to training in godliness here. ” Paul tells Timothy that “bodily training” is of some value. The word training here is γυμνασία (gumnasía) and speaks of disciplining or exercising the body. This may be through physical exercise or disciplined abstinence from certain practices. According to Paul, exercise and control over one’s body are useful and promote good health. He does not diminish the significance of such practices.

As important and useful as bodily training may be, it is only useful as long as we are in this body. The day will come when we will lay it down in death. It did not matter how healthy we were at that point. What will matter, however, is how we live our lives. Did we live a godly life? Did we honour God with our bodies? According to Paul, this will have value in every way, not only in this life but also as we stand before our Saviour to give an account of our lives.

Verse 9

Paul speaks here of a saying. It is unclear if he is referring to verse 8 or verse 10. If the reference is to verse 8, Paul assures Timothy that the practice of godliness is of great value in this world and the life to come. If the reference is to verse 10, he assures him that striving to live a godly life is worthwhile and blessed, for we serve a living God who is the Saviour of all who believe.

Verse 10

The apostle has just told Timothy to train himself for godliness (see verse 7) because it held promise not only for this life but also for the life to come. He goes on here to tell him that this was what they were to strive for as believers in Jesus Christ — a godly life that honoured their Lord.

Note the word “because” here. This shows us that Paul is about to tell Timothy why godliness was to be their goal. It was because they had their “hope set on the living God, who is the Saviour.” What greater motivation for godliness could there be than to know that we have a Saviour who laid his life on the cross to pardon our ungodliness and rebellion? What an insult it would be to the one who died for us if we continued in sin and rebellion when He died to set us free. We serve a living God who is our Saviour. Our only legitimate response to such grace is to live for Him and walk in His purpose for our lives.

Note how Paul tells Timothy that the living God is the Saviour of all people, especially those who believe.

Observe first that the living God is the Saviour of all people. This does not mean that all people are saved but that all people have a Saviour. Many will never turn to this Saviour and, as a result, will perish in their sin. The offer of a Saviour, however, extends to all people.

Second, see how Paul tells Timothy that while the living God is the Saviour of all people, this is especially true for those who believe. In other words, those who believe experience the reality of this salvation. They are forgiven and obtain new life in Jesus Christ. Their destiny is secure, and they enter the family of God.

Verse 11

The apostle challenges Timothy as a teacher in the Ephesian church to teach the things he has been explaining to him in this letter. Specifically, he was to instruct the church on how to live a godly life.

Verse 12

Paul has some personal words for Timothy in this section. He speaks as a spiritual father to his son in the faith. He begins with a word about Timothy’s age.

Timothy was still a young man at this time. As a young man without much experience, it was easy for people to look down on him. Paul tells Timothy not to let anyone despise his youth. The word used here is καταφρονέω (kataphronéō). It comes from two words. First, “katá” means against and second, “phronéō” means to think. The idea is to hold something against someone. In this case, Timothy’s youth was held against him, and he was not respected for His work.

It would be easy for Timothy to take this personally and not exercise the authority God had given him as leader and teacher in the church. Despite his age, Paul challenges Timothy to be the leader God called him to be. He was to be an example to the believers in the church by how he spoke, and how he lived his life. He was to love the church and walk in faith and purity.

What could those who looked down on Timothy’s age say when they saw his godly example among them? Many church leaders with years of experience and authority do not understand what Paul is saying here. The key qualification for any leader is that they walk in love, faith and purity. All good leadership flows from this.

Verse 13

In 1 Timothy 1:3, Paul shared with Timothy the reason he sent him to Ephesus:

(3) As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, – 1 Timothy 1:3 ESV

There were people in Ephesus getting caught up in false teaching. Paul wanted Timothy to instruct the believers there in the truth. Note here how Timothy was to do this.

First, Paul encouraged Timothy to devote himself to the public reading of Scripture. Remember here that copies of the Scripture were very rare in those days. People would only hear the reading of Scripture when they got together. Paul wanted Timothy to read the Scriptures publically so that people would have an opportunity to be exposed to their truth and recognize the error around them.

Second, Timothy was also to devote himself to exhortation. The word exhortation is translated from παράκλησις (paráklēsis), which means to encourage, comfort or admonish. This was done through preaching and applying the truth of the Scriptures. Timothy was to challenge believers in Ephesus in their spiritual walk. He was to comfort them in their pain and suffering. He was to strengthen them in their weakness. The word of Scripture was the basis for this challenge, comfort and strengthening. He was to apply the truth of these Scripture to their life circumstances.

Finally, Timothy was to teach the church in Ephesus. The word teach here is διδασκαλία (didaskalía). It refers to instruction in doctrine and Biblical precepts. The church needed to understand who God was and what He had done for them.

Understand here that Timothy could not truly encourage or comfort the church until he understood the doctrinal truth and precepts of Scripture. The church could not truly receive Timothy’s exhortations until they understood the basis for them. That basis was found in the doctrines and precepts of Scripture. Paul encouraged his son in the faith to teach these doctrines and spiritual concepts. He then challenged him to apply them to life by comforting, encouraging, and challenging the Ephesian church through his exhortations.

Verse 14

The apostle reminds Timothy here about a special gift he had been given. The word gift in the original language is χάρισμα (chárisma). It refers to a special grace given by God to His people. It differs from a natural ability. Paul uses the same word when he speaks of these special gifts in 1 Corinthians 12, where he says:

(7) To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (8) For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, (9) to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, (10) to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. (11) All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. – 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 ESV

What is important to note here is that Paul tells the Corinthians that these gifts were empowered and apportioned by the Holy Spirit as he willed. It appears that the Spirit of God had given Timothy a special gift to assist him in His calling.

This gift was not natural to Timothy, nor was He born with it. It was given to him by prophecy when the council of elders laid hands on him. Note two details here.

First, the gift was given to him by prophecy. Prophecy is a word from the Lord. In this case, a word from the Lord was given to Timothy about his ministry. The proof of that prophecy was found in the fact that along with the word came the empowering of God through a special gift.

Second, that gift was given to Timothy when the church elders laid hands on him, praying and committing him to the ministry God had revealed to them through that prophetic word.

In light of this prophetic word and anointing, Paul now challenges Timothy not to neglect his gift. The word translated neglect here is ἀμελέω (ameléō). It means to be careless or unconcerned. Paul is showing us here that it is quite possible to ignore or neglect a spiritual gift from God. There are many Christians who are unaware of their calling and gifting. Others, through lack of discipline and effort, never reach their potential. Then some hear the call of God but hesitate, through lack of faith, to step out into the purpose of God for their gift. Paul’s challenge to Timothy speaks to all believers, for as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:7:

(7) To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. – 1 Corinthians 12:7 ESV

Verse 15

Timothy is encouraged here to “practice these things.” To what things is Paul referring here? He has just told Timothy to devote himself to the public reading of Scripture, exhortation, and teaching. He also encouraged him not to neglect the spiritual gift given to him. These are likely the “things” Paul refers to in this context. Note what Paul tells Timothy about these matters.

First, he was to practice these things. The word used here is μελετάω (meletáō). It means to meditate or ponder. Timothy was to carefully consider what Paul was saying about his gifts and put those gifts into practice in the church. He was to seek the Lord about preaching and teaching the people in Ephesus. If God has called you to a specific role, you must take the time to seek Him about that role. He has a purpose for you in what He has gifted you to do. Too many people receive their gift and run with it but don’t take the time to seek the heart of God for how to use it. The word μελετάω (meletáō) implies truly seeking God in our ministry.

Second, Paul told Timothy to immerse himself in these things. The word translated immerse is ἰˊσθι (ísthi), which means to be. The idea seems to be that Timothy was to be devoted to the things Paul was teaching in the letter. He was not to be distracted but to dedicate his life and whole being to living out what Paul taught.

The goal of seeking God in these things and devoting his whole being to demonstrating what Paul taught was to progress in his faith and personal walk with God. People would see this progress and be inspired to do likewise.

Verse 16

The apostle concludes the chapter by encouraging Timothy to watch himself and his teaching closely. Note that Timothy’s teaching and lifestyle are important here. I have known pastors to be very diligent in teaching truth but not so careful about their lifestyle. We have all seen ministries destroyed as a result. We also know very moral pastors who have been caught up in error. Paul calls us to watch the truth we teach and our lives closely. Both must walk hand in hand if we are to have a ministry that honours our Lord.

Note how Paul tells Timothy that he would save himself and his hearers by watching his life and ministry. It is important to note that the word save does not necessarily speak of the salvation Jesus came to offer. The word σώζω (sṓzō) means to deliver, preserve or keep from destruction or danger. Timothy’s salvation was based on the finished work of Jesus Christ. That salvation was not dependent on how much he watched his life.

When Paul speaks of Timothy saving himself and his hearers, he is telling Timothy that by teaching the truth and carefully watching his life, he would keep himself and the church from serious harm and danger. Too many churches have been destroyed by false teaching and those who have not walked faithfully with the Lord. Too many believers have made shipwrecks of their faith by falling into error and immorality.

In saying this, I do not want to underestimate the fact that the preaching of truth and the godly lifestyle of sincere believers have brought many to faith in Jesus Christ.

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Chapter 5

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Verse 1

In this chapter, the apostle gives some general instructions to Timothy about relationships and ministries in the local church. He begins with a word about men.

First, Paul tells Timothy that he was not to rebuke an older man. The word ἐπιπλήσσω (epiplḗssō) used here is derived from epí, meaning upon and plḗssō meaning to strike. The idea is to beat someone. Beating someone is not something we do with our fists alone. We can beat someone with our words as well. Paul is calling for patience and respect for older men. He tells Timothy that he was to treat older men as he would treat a father. The commandment of the Old Testament was quite clear about how one was to treat a father:

(12) “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. – Exodus 20:12 ESV

Notice the connection between honouring one’s father and mother and living long in the land the Lord gave them. The idea here is that God would take this land from them if they did not honour their father or mother.

Jesus took this a step further when He said:

(4) For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ – Matthew 15:4 ESV

The death penalty was given to those who reviled a father or mother.

Paul challenges Timothy here to treat every older man with dignity and respect.

Second, Paul tells Timothy that he was to treat younger men as brothers. There is a bond between brothers. They stand up for each other. An insult to one insults the other. The bond of brotherhood is such that they support and defend each other in times of need. There is a connection between brothers that does not exist with a stranger or even friends outside the home. Paul encourages Timothy to treat a younger man as a brother for whom he is accountable.

Verse 2

The apostle tells Timothy that every older woman should be treated as a mother. As we saw in the comments in verse 1, death was the penalty for reviling a mother in the Old Testament. Mothers were to be respected and treated with dignity. Like the older men, they were not to be reviled or mistreated by words, actions or attitudes. Timothy was to be careful to show grace and patience with older women, protecting and honouring them like he would his mother.

Younger women were to be treated as sisters. A sister is one we want to protect from harm and abuse. More than this, however, Paul specifically tells Timothy that he was to treat younger women with all purity. The word ἁγνεία (hagneía) refers to one’s moral attitude toward his sister. This implies purity of thought and intention toward every young woman in the community.

Verse 3

Another group mentioned here is widows. Understand that widows had a particular struggle in those days. Many of these women were uneducated and unemployed. When their husband died, their source of income went with him, so they were genuinely needy.

Paul tells Timothy to honour these women. To honour them involves providing for their need. Note here that the apostle expected that the church not only be involved in preaching and teaching the truth but also demonstrating the love of Christ in the community through the care of those who were genuinely in need.

Observe the words “widows who are truly widows.” A genuine widow had no one to care for her. Some widows had family to provide food and shelter. Others had no family support and were genuinely in need. A genuine widow had no support system behind her. Paul will explain this in the next verses.

Verse 4

While all widows were to be treated with dignity and respect, Paul expected that if she had a family, her family would care for her and not leave this up to the church. A widow’s children or grandchildren were to show godliness by caring for a mother or grandmother in need. According to Paul, caring for a mother or grandmother in need was godly and “pleasing in the sight of God.”

God has placed us under an obligation to care for and provide for our own families. This will cost us time, resources and energy, but it is what God expects of us, and it pleases Him when we take this responsibility seriously.

Verse 5

The word widow here is χήρα (chḗra). It refers to a woman who has lost her husband. While Paul understood the general meaning of this word, he made a distinction between widows who had family to care for them and widows who were all alone. He describes women who had lost their husbands and had no family to look after them as “truly widows.”

According to Paul, these women, who had no one to care for them, were forced to trust in God alone. Their hope was in Him to provide and they prayed day and night for His supply, encouragement and support.

Verse 6

In Paul’s mind, there was a second type of widow. He describes this woman as “self-indulgent.” The word he uses here is σπαταλάω (spataláō). It speaks of a person who lives in excess, luxury and pleasure, gratifying the needs of the flesh. Self-indulgent people live to please themselves. According to Paul, this kind of widow was “dead even while she lived.”

Consider this for a moment. In a day when most women stayed at home occupied with household duties, what did this woman do with her day, now that she had no husband? In this case, Paul describes a widow who spent her day endulging in every pleasure this world had to offer. Her concern was not to minister to others, but to fill her life with every pleasure and delight.

For Paul, there is no meaning in a life that seeks only the things of this world. Those whose goal in life is to please themselves will soon find their lives empty of meaning. This kind of life was not the life of a true believer. A widow who lived this way lived an empty life devoid of true purpose.

Verse 7

Note the phrase “command these things.” The word translated as command is παραγγέλλω (paraggéllō). It is derived from pará, meaning to the side of, and aggéllō, which means to tell or to declare. Paul seems to be telling Timothy to go to the self-indulgent widows described in verse 6 and challenge them about their lifestyle. He hoped that by doing this, these widows would correct their ways, repent and live a godly life, beyond reproach.

Verse 8

According to Paul, it was a divine obligation for Christians to care for the members of their family.

Note first that this obligation was toward members of his household. The word household is οἰκει̃ος (oikeíos) which refers to a particular home with its immediate family members. Likely this would speak of mother, father and unmarried brothers or sisters.

Paul does not limit the believer’s responsibility, however, to the immediate family. He speaks here also about “his relatives.” The word he uses is ἰˊδιος (ídios) which speaks of anything that belongs to an individual. The King James Version translates this as “his own.” The idea is that we are to care for everyone who belong to us or our family. This seems to extend our responsibility from the immediate family to the extended family of relatives.

Paul feels so strongly about the need for believers to care for their immediate and extended families that he tells those who refused to do so that they had denied the faith and were worse then an unbeliever. Observe two details here.

First, whoever did not care for his family denied the faith. One of the ten commandments of the Old Tesament states:

(12) “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. – Exodus 20:12 ESV

Consider also the law of the Old Testament about a brother who died without giving his wife a son to carry on the family name:

(5) “If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead man shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her and take her as his wife and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. (6) And the first son whom she bears shall succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel. – Deuteronomy 25:5-6 ESV

This law required a brother to marry and provide a child for his deceased brother’s widow so that she would not bear the shame of being childless and ending her husband’s line.

The Old Testament required that a rebellious son be stoned to death. Consider the law of Deuteronomy 21:

(18) “If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, (19) then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, (20) and they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ (21) Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear. – Deuteronomy 21:18-21 ESV

What is important to note here is that the family unit was very important to God. There were strick punishments for dishonouring or neglecting ones familial responsibilities. Paul underlines this by telling believers that if they neglected their family, they were denying the faith.

Second, Paul tells Timothy that those who did not provide for their family members in need were worse than an unbeliever. The idea seems to be that even unbelievers understood their obligations toward the members of their own family. Consider what the Lord Jesus taught in Matthew 5:

(46) For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? (47) And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? (48) You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. – Matthew 5:46-48 ESV

While the context is different from what Paul is teaching here, what Jesus is saying is that even unbelievers greet their brothers and sisters and love those who love them. If as a believer you don’t love, care for and greet your own family, your attitude and actions are worse than those of an unbeliever who does this naturally.

Verse 9

The apostle Paul speaks about “enrolling” a widow here in the verse. It is unclear what this enrollment was about. There seem to be two opinions here in this regard.

Some commentators believe that the names of these women were put on a list for church support. Others feel they were enrolled as servants of the church, involved in a variety of local ministries. Either way, they would likely have been supported by the church in some way for services rendered.

Note that there were qualifications for being enrolled as a widow. Paul tells Timothy that an “enrolled widow” was to be at least sixty years old. From the context of verse 11, we see that the reason for this was that the passion of younger women might distract them and they might abandon their Christian service to the church and choose to be married instead. Paul’s preference for younger widows was that they be remarried and supported by a Christian husband.

Note a second requirement here for those widows enrolled by the church on this list. They were to be the wife of one husband. There are various opinions about this.

Some see here a reference to being married to only one man in a lifetime. The problem with this is that there would have been women who, through, no fault of their own, lost two husbands, being widowed twice. If the “one husband” rule implied only one husband in a lifetime, these legitimate widows would have been excluded from enrollment, even though they did no wrong.

Others see the “one husband” rule to apply to one husband at a time. In other words, the widow was faithful to her husband as long as he was alive. This may seem to be a more realistic understanding of what Paul is saying here.

Verse 10

Paul goes on to describe the qualifications for a widow to be “enrolled” by the church (likely as a servant).

An enrolled widow was to have a reputation for good works. The apostle gives some examples of “good works” to Timothy here in the verse.

First, an enrolled widow who had children was to have a reputation for bringing up her children well. Note the phrase: “If she had brought up children.” The understanding here is that not all widows would have children. If she did, it was their responsibility to take care of her so that she would not be a burden to the church. Some widows may have had children who died or were unable to care for them. For a widow to be enrolled as a church servant, she needed to prove faithful in the responsibility of raising her family.

The next good work that Timothy was to watch for in a widow to be enrolled for church service was that she had shown hospitality in her life. The word hospitality is φιλόξενος (philóxenos). It comes from the word phílos, meaning love or friendship, and xénos, meaning stranger. In this context, hospitality refers to a love for strangers. The concept of showing kindness to strangers is quite foreign to us in our day. Hospitality is generally relegated to our friends and close associates. This widow, however, was not to limit her acts of compassion and generosity to those who loved her. She was to be willing to love those she didn’t know and show compassion to whomever she encountered in the day.

Next, a widow enrolled as a church servant was to have demonstrated humble servanthood toward the saints. She was to have washed the feet of the saints. The phrase “washed the feet of the saints” is probably best seen in a figurative sense. This widow may never have gotten down on her knees with a basin of water to wash the feet of a saint, but it was not beneath her to do so. She was not so proud that she would not humble herself to minister to the needs of God’s servants. She would willingly sacrifice herself, her resources and her time to care for her brothers and sisters in Christ.

The widow was also to demonstrate care for those who were afflicted. The word translated as “care” here is ἐπαρκέω (eparkéō), which means to hold up or to hold back. Imagine a defenceless soldier in battle being bombarded by a slew of arrows, expecting at any time that one of those arrows will strike a vital organ. Along comes a friend with a shield. That friend stands between him and the arrows, shield in hand, holding back the danger until he can catch his breath and find a safe place to shelter. That friend has held back the force of evil, relieved him, and demonstrated true care and concern. This was to be the attitude that the enrolled widow was to demonstrate.

According to Paul, the widow enrolled by the church for service was to be devoted to every good work. That is to say, her life was to demonstrate a passion for doing good in the community.

Verse 11

Paul uses strong words here in this verse. He tells Timothy to “refuse to enroll younger widows.” The word translated refuse here is παραιτέομαι (paraitéomai). It is derived from pará implying, in this sense, something more than is proper and aitéō meaning to beg. The idea is to beg for something that is not acceptable. Of course, when someone does this, their request will be ignored or rejected.

Younger widows (under 60 years of age according to verse 9) were not to be enrolled in the list of church as widows. Consider this for a moment. If the enrollment spoken of here is simply to receive church support, why would a younger widow be refused the church’s aid if she was legitimately in need? This leads us to assume that the enrollment spoken of here was more than financial or practical support of food and shelter. The widow was being taken into the service of the church and represented the church in practical ministries in the body and community.

The reason a younger widow was not to be enrolled in this full-time service of the church was because she was still of marriageable age and she may abandon her church responsibilities to marry. Younger widows were not to be placed under a vow of faithfulness to church service as long as there was still an opportunity for them to marry and be part of a family. She was to wait until she was at least sixty years of age before committing the rest of her life to full-time church service. This way she would not make a vow to full-time service and break it to be married instead.

Verse 12

Younger widows were not to be enrolled as church servants because they may want to remarry and, in doing so, “incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith.” We need to break down what Paul is saying here to get a sense his meaning.

Understand the purpose of the enrollment as widows. These women were committing themselves to act as full-time servants of Jesus Christ and His church. They were devoting the remainder of their lives to His kingdom. What would happen if a widow determined that she wanted to get married instead of continuing in her commitment to the church? She would be forced to abandon her full-time commitment to the church for her husband.

Notice the phrase “their former faith.” What was the faith these widows were abandoning? The word faith here is πίστις (pístis) and refers to a conviction. It can be a commitment to a belief or way of life. By marrying, the widow was not abandoning her belief in God or even the doctrines of the church. What she was abandoning, however, was her faith conviction that God wanted her to serve as a celibate in full-time ministry. By agreeing to be enrolled, the widow was making this faith commitment. By choosing to abandon this role, she was abandoning her former conviction. To avoid this, Paul determined that it would be better for younger women to delay such a decision in the event that they might want to change their mind, marry and have a family (see verse 14).

Verse 13

Wisdom and discernment come with age. Life teaches us many important lessons. We learn through our failures and successes. We come to see that there are consequences for our words and actions and are more careful, as a result, about what we say and do. Youth is full of enthusiasm, but it is also filled with shortcomings.

Paul addresses the temptations for younger widows here. With no family to care for or full-time occupation, these women had time on their hands. It was easy for them to fritter the day away in meaningless activities and idleness. They had time to go from house to house gossiping and getting involved in other people’s affairs, saying things they should not say.

Admittedly, older women can do the same thing, but they at least have the benefit of greater maturity and experience in life. That should, at least in theory, keep them from falling into the same trap. Paul encouraged younger women, with a full life ahead of them, to marry, have a family and occupy their time in that way (see verse 14).

Verse 14

While Paul did not require Christians to be married, he did encourage younger women, who were tempted to idleness and gossip, to find a husband, bear children and manage their households well.

Understand that the culture of that day did not provide great opportunities for women to be involved in full-time occupations outside the home. This meant that women who did not have a family to manage often had time on their hands. According to Paul, in verse 13, that free time could easily lend itself to idleness and gossip. To avoid this and the problems it would create, younger women were to marry and occupy their time with their families, giving the enemy no opportunity to slander them because of a lifestyle of idleness and gossip.

Verse 15

What Paul says here about younger women is not theoretical. According to verse 15, he had already had experiences with some of these women “straying after Satan.” He is responding to known situations where younger widows, with free time on their hands, had caused problems for the church and were wandering from the faith and falling into the trap of the enemy through idleness, gossip, and getting involved in other people’s affairs.

Satan is looking for those who have nothing to do. He finds great delight in wasting their time on meaningless activities that will ultimately lead them astray and compromise their faith.

Verse 16

Paul repeats what he told Timothy in verse 8. Church widows were to be cared for by their families (immediate or extended). There is some difficulty in the translation of this verse. The King James Version translates:

If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them…

The New International Version excludes the word “man” and reads:

If any woman who is a believer has widows in her family, she should help them…

The English Standard seems to follow in the same line as the NIV and speaks of women only when it says:

If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them…

The phrase τις πιστὴ used here literally means anyone who has faith, or anyone trustworthy. It is unclear if Paul is making a general statement about believing families caring for their widows, or if he is still speaking to women here.

What is clear is that believers were to provide for any widows in their family. Where there were believing relatives to care for a widow, the church was not to be burdened by this responsibility. On the other hand, it was to take on those who were truly widows and did not have anyone to care for them.

Verse 17

Paul moves now from the role of widows in the church and the church’s responsibility toward them, to speak about elders.

The word elder is πρεσβύτερος (presbúteros). It refers to an old man or senior but came also to refer to a senior leader in the early church. It is clear from the words, “elders who rule well” that Paul is speaking here about church leaders when he speaks about these elders.

Note what Paul has to say about “elders who rule well.” They were to be considered worthy of double honour, especially if they laboured in preaching and teaching.

Note first, that the elder who ruled well was worthy of double honour. The word honour in the Greek language is τιμή (timḗ). It refers to respect, esteem, dignity or favour. Some see a reference here to an elder being paid for his services. This seems to fit the context of verse 18. Payment for services may be a means to express gratitude and favour, but not the only way.

Observe also the phrase “especially those who labour in preaching and teaching.” The phrase is interesting in that Paul seems to be telling Timothy that there were elders who focused on preaching and teaching and others who did not. While all elders cared for the spiritual well-being of the flock, it appears that not all were involved primarily in teaching and preaching, at least in a formal capacity.

The care of the flock certainly involved preaching and teaching, but this was not the only obligation of the elder. Visiting and ministering to individuals one-on-one in their homes, counselling and providing pastoral care and spiritual guidance were also of vital significance. While all elders need to know the truth, not all are great public speakers. Some share the truth quietly with individuals in their homes or coffee shops.

Consider finally the word “especially.” Paul uses this word, in conjunction with those who “labour in preaching and teaching.” The word labour is translated from κοπιάω (kopiáō) which speaks about becoming worn out, fatigued or weary through exertion and toil. The individuals Paul speaks about here have worked very hard communicating the truth, instructing and exhorting believers in the faith. Their role was a vital one in the church. Understand here that these were days when you could not go to the internet and download the latest teaching from great saints and teachers. There were no Christian books to buy, podcasts to listen to, or radio broadcasts to tune into. Believers did not even have copies of the Scriptures to read on their own. They were dependent on the teaching of faithful elders who studied the Scriptures and proclaimed them faithfully. These men were vital to the health of the early church, and those who faithfully taught the truth deserved great respect and reward.

Verse 18

While there are many ways of expressing gratitude, honour and respect for elders who instruct us in the Word, Paul challenged believers to consider the Old Testament law of Deuteronomy 25:4 which says:

“You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain”

The Old Testament law required that a hard-working ox be allowed to refresh itself by eating the grain it was treading. The apostle reminded the church that elders who faithfully instructed them in the Word worked hard for their benefit and deserved something in return for their efforts.

Paul also quotes the words: “The labourer deserves his wages.” It is difficult to know where this particular phrase comes from, but the Old Testament was very clear that a labourer needed to be paid for his services. Consider, for example, the law of Deuteronomy 24:14-15 which states:

(14) “You shall not oppress a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brothers or one of the sojourners who are in your land within your towns. (15) You shall give him his wages on the same day before the sun sets (for he is poor and counts on it), lest he cry against you to the LORD, and you be guilty of sin. – Deuteronomy 24:14-15 ESV

If a labourer deserved his wages, certainly the elder who faithfully and diligently instructed them in the truth of Scripture also deserved to be compensated for his efforts on their behalf. While Paul did not personally obligate anyone to pay him for his services, he did teach that it was acceptable to pay an elder for faithful services rendered.

Verse 19

An elder, because of his responsibility, has a greater standard of accountability. He is to be an example to the people of God in holiness, and his life will be closely examined by those he serves. No elder is perfect. Even spiritual leaders fall short of God’s standard. The Bible does not hide the failures of great saints.

Paul tells Timothy, however, that he was not even to entertain a charge against an elder if it was on the evidence of only one witness. For a charge against an elder to be considered, there would have to be two or three witnesses to his sin. This was nothing new. The law of the Old Testament had the same requirement for the average citizen. We read in Deuteronomy 19:15:

(15) “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offence that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established. – Deuteronomy 19:15 ESV

Understand that elders would sometimes have to make unpopular decisions. It would be easy for someone to falsely accuse an elder of sin, ruining his ministry and testimony in the church and community. For this reason, any charge against such a leader needed to be proven by multiple witnesses.

Verse 20

When a charge against an elder was proven, he was to be corrected. If that elder persisted in his sin, he was to be publically rebuked. According to Paul, the reason for this public rebuke was so that “the rest may stand in fear.”

The words translated “the rest” come from the Greek word λοιπός (loipós) which means the remaining ones. The “remaining ones,” in this case, are the other elders in the church. The elder being publically rebuked was a reminder to the remaining elders of their obligations to live a holy life. According to Paul, these remaining leaders were to see his rebuke and “stand in fear.”

The word translated as fear is φόβος (phóbos). In this case, it could also be translated as reverence, respect or honour. It also has a sense of terror. The idea is that the remaining elders were to stand in deep reverence for God. This implied a turning from sin and anything that would dishonour His holy name. The public rebuke of an elder persisting in sin was a reminder to others of the seriousness of their responsibility in the church.

Verse 21

The apostle challenges Timothy here to follow his instructions carefully. Note several details in the verse.

First, Paul charged Timothy in “the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and the elect angels.” The idea seems to be that while the apostle wrote these rules and regulations to Timothy, they had the approval of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Even the angels of heaven witnessed what Paul wrote and stood in agreement with His instructions. This placed Timothy under a serious obligation to faithfully observe the instructions in Paul’s letter.

Note the phrase “elect angels.” This distinguishes the angels of heaven who minister in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, from the fallen angels who serve the purpose of the devil.

Second, observe that Paul encouraged Timothy to keep the rules he had laid out without prejudging. The word translated as prejudge is πρόκριμα (prókrima). It comes from the word pró, meaning before and krínō, meaning to judge. The idea is that no judgment was to be made until all the evidence had been examined.

Finally, Paul expected that Timothy judge and act in all cases, with impartiality. The word πρόσκλισις (prosklisis) used here is derived from the word prós, meaning to, and klínō, meaning to incline or have a leaning toward. Timothy was not to allow any prejudices, preconceived ideas or preferences to stand in the way of each person in the church receiving a fair and impartial judgement.

Verse 22

Paul lays out three challenges to Timothy in this verse.

First, he was not to be hasty in the laying on of hands. We have an example of the laying on of hands in Acts 6:3-6:

(3) Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. (4) But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” (5) And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. (6) These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. – Acts 6:3-6 ESV

In this case, the apostles laid hands on these individuals to ordain them as deacons. What Paul appears to be telling Timothy here is that he was not to be quick to ordain people to public ministry. Church servants were to prove themselves qualified by their life and ministry before being recognized in any official capacity.

Second, Paul warned Timothy about taking part in the sins of others. If there is one thing the enemy can do to encourage sinful behaviour in the church, it would be to convince people that everyone is doing it. “If everyone is doing it, then it can’t be all that bad.” Paul warned Timothy about this attitude. He was not to fall into this trap. Timothy was to know the truth and the standards of holiness as taught in the Scriptures. He was not to stray from this. He was to be willing to stand alone on the principles of God’s Word.

Finally, Timothy was to keep himself pure. This purity involved keeping himself from anything that would defile his mind, spirit or body. He was to be fully devoted to God in every way, resisting the ungodly influences of the world, the flesh and the devil.

Verse 23

Paul offers a very personal word of advice to Timothy here. We learn that Timothy was not in the best health. It appears that he had “frequent ailments.” In particular, it seems that he had an issue with his stomach. We are left in admiration of a man who had so much sickness but whose influence was still so powerful in the early church.

Note that Timothy was drinking only water. There were not a lot of options in those days for drinks. We are not told why Timothy was avoiding wine and drinking water only. This may have been a personal conviction or preference.

Paul’s advice to Timothy was to use a little wine for the sake of his stomach. The phrase “use a little wine,” may reveal that Paul knew Timothy’s preference to abstain from wine. He also knew, however, that wine had a medicinal value to it that might help ease the troubling symptoms Timothy was experiencing with his stomach. Paul encouraged Timothy to take a “little wine” for medicinal purposes.

It is important to understand that God had not healed Timothy’s stomach. He was living with these frequent ailments in the service of His Lord. Paul, I am sure, prayed for Timothy and these afflictions, but for some reason, God had not healed them. His advice was to take wine for its medicinal value. Paul was not averse to the use of medicine to ease ailments that God had chosen not to heal.

Verse 24

Paul speaks of two types of sin here in this verse.

First, there are “conspicuous” sins. The word used here is πρόδηλος (pródēlos), which comes from the word pró, meaning before and dḗlos, meaning manifest. In other words, the sins of some are manifest before all or known and evident to everyone. Imagine an elder being caught in an open lie or being exposed as unfaithful to his wife. These sins are revealed to the public and he is forced to confess his guilt.

The second type of sin is sins that “appear later.” The word ἐπακολουθέω (epakolouthéō) means to follow after. The idea is that a person passes by without anyone noticing their sin but evidence of it becomes clear at a later point. Paul does not go into detail about how these sins become evident or exposed. In some cases, they are exposed in this world. In every case, they will be exposed in the judgement to come.

Some sins are hidden from our view. Sins of the heart and mind are not easily discerned. Sometimes the sin is only revealed when the individual has died. The words “the sins of others appear later,” however,show us that no sin will be left uncovered. Each of us will give an account of what we have done. We must all stand before the judgment seat of the all-knowing God to whom nothing is hidden.

Verse 25

In verse 24, Paul told Timothy that there were conspicuous sins and hidden sins that would be exposed later. He moves on now to tell him that what is true for sin is also true of good works.

Some good works are conspicuous. In other words, they are seen by everyone and many people benefit from these works. Consider the case of Dorcas who lived in Joppa.

(36) Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. (37) In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. (38) Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” (39) So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. – Acts 9:36-39 ESV

Dorcas is described as a lady “full of good works and acts of charity.” When she died, the widows of that region showed Peter the tunics and garments she had made them. There was clear evidence of her good work in the community. Her good works were “conspicuous.”

Other good works are not so clear. Some believers follow the advice of Jesus in Matthew 6 where He taught:

(2) “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. (3) But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, – Matthew 6:2-3 ESV

These believers give in secret, with no need to be noticed for their good work. Paul is telling Timothy here that no good work will go unrewarded. The Lord God sees every deed done in His name and will reward those who honour Him in this way. The implication is that while we may never be noticed or rewarded for our faithfulness in this life, be assured that God knows your heart and sees your every deed.

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Chapter 6

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Verse 1

Slavery was a reality in the world in which Paul lived. Even believers found themselves in this situation, both as slave owners and as slaves. The apostle Paul takes a moment here to address this matter.

Note Paul’s advice to slaves who had come to Christ. They were to regard their masters as worthy of all honour. The word honour here is τιμή (timḗ) and speaks of showing respect and reverence. Paul expected Christian slaves to obey their masters and work faithfully in their service.

Admittedly, slavery was not ideal. Christians, however, who found themselves in this situation, were to make the best of it. They were to serve as honourable servants so that the name of the Lord was not reviled. They were to persevere in less-than-ideal circumstances for the glory of their heavenly father.

We live in a world cursed by sin. Terrible things happen in life. You may not be a slave, but you might be bound by physical affliction. You might find yourself in a difficult job or marriage. What do you do when you find yourself in such a situation? You choose to live for the glory of God. You choose to honour Him in your pain and affliction. You trust Him for the strength and grace necessary to live for Him in whatever situation you find yourself.

Verse 2

Paul goes on to speak to slaves who had believing masters. Consider what he told the Galatians in Galatians 3:28:

(28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. – Galatians 3:28 ESV

As believers, we understand that we are all sinners saved by the grace of Jesus Christ. Not one of us could save ourselves. We have all fallen short of God’s standard, and were it not for the pardon and forgiveness of Jesus, we would all be lost and eternally separated from God our Father. As believers, we see ourselves on an equal standing as brothers and sisters in Christ and fellow heirs of eternal life.

Imagine a Christian master and his believing servant in the same household. They shared a common relationship with Jesus Christ. They may have worshipped at the same church. Maybe other servants in the household did not know the Lord. These unbelievers did not have the same bond with the master as the believing servant did. It would be possible for believing servants to feel that they should have a special standing with their master because of their common relationship with Jesus Christ. They might feel that their master should treat them with special favour because they were brothers or sisters in Christ. Note, however, what Paul tells these servants.

Believing slaves were to serve their Christian masters with respect. Should believers take advantage of each other simply because they have a common Saviour? Does being a believer give one permission to disrespect a brother or sister? Paul argues that the opposite was the case. If believing slaves had Christian masters, this obligated them even more to respect and honour them because they belonged to the same family.

A truly Christian master had the desire to honour his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. By serving such a master, the slave also advanced the cause of Jesus Christ. This should give them greater motivation to be faithful and diligent in their service.

Paul urged Timothy to teach these things to the members of his church so that the name of Jesus Christ was honoured in their society.

Verse 3

The apostle Paul has been instructing Timothy about how Christian slaves should respect their masters, especially if they were believers. He continues here to show Timothy how strongly he felt about this teaching. Note two details in this verse.

First, observe the phrase: “If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul is telling Timothy here that his teaching about slaves and masters was in agreement with the words of Jesus Christ. He describes his teaching as the “sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The word translated as sound is ὑγιαίνω (hugiaínō) and refers to something healthy, pure and uncorrupted.

Second, Paul goes on to describe his teaching as a “teaching that accords with godliness.” Not only were Paul’s instructions theologically in sync with what Jesus taught, but they also promoted a godly lifestyle that honoured their Saviour.

Verse 4

In verses 4 and 5, the apostle Paul has some strong words for those who taught anything that was not in accord with the sound words of Jesus Christ.

First, such people were puffed up with conceit. Anyone who could deny what the Lord Jesus Christ had to say and claimed to know better than Him was guilty of great pride. They lifted themselves above the Son of God, claiming to know more than Him.

Second, those who denied the truth the Lord Jesus taught, understood nothing. Consider this for a moment. What is life all about? We were created by God for fellowship with Him. That fellowship was broken by sin, resulting in condemnation and death. The Lord Jesus came to this earth to save sinners. Only in him is there any hope of salvation and eternal life. As the apostle Paul himself said:

(21) For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. – Philippians 1:21 ESV

The apostle defined his life by Christ and his relationship with Him. Life was all about Jesus Christ, serving Him, and enjoying Him forever. To deny Jesus and His teaching was to miss the whole point of life.

Third, the one who taught anything other than the sound teaching of Jesus Christ had an unhealthy craving for controversy. The word unhealthy is νοσέω (noséō) and refers to sickness. It comes from the word nósēma meaning disease. The idea is that individuals who promoted another doctrine had a diseased craving for controversy. Their hearts and minds were sick and separated from God. They stirred up strife and dissension among brothers and sisters in Christ by their unhealthy fascination with falsehood.

Fourth, in their sickness of mind, heart and spirit, these people quarrelled about words. Understand that this was the tactic of the devil in the Garden of Eden. Listen to what he told Eve in Genesis 3:1:

(1) Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” – Genesis 3:1 ESV

The devil attempted to twist the words of God to say what he wanted them to say and not what God intended.

Fifth, one of the fruits of this sick and distorted mind, heart and spirit is envy. The word envy is φθόνος (phthónos). It can be defined as jealousy with evil intentions or thoughts toward those who are better, happier or more prosperous than I am in life. The mind that does not submit to Christ and the work of His Spirit is often self-centred and proud. It is a mind that grasps for attention, possessions, and reputation even at the expense of another.

Sixth, another fruit of the sick mind that refuses Jesus Christ and His purpose is dissension. It follows that a conceited and envious spirit will create division among brothers and sisters in the church. Anyone who rejects Jesus Christ and promotes a doctrine that is contrary to His teaching, will create controversy and division in the church.

Seventh, slander is also a fruit of a divisive, conceited and rebellious heart. The word slander is βλασφημία (blasphēmía) from which we get the word blaspheme. To slander is to blaspheme another person. That is to say, it is to speak evil or to use words to hurt someone or their reputation.

Eighth, where slander and dissension reign, there will always be “evil suspicions.” Falsehood will always raise suspicion. There will be those who believe these lies and blasphemies. Sometimes these lies will cause people to question even those whose lives are godly. Casting suspicion on true believers can damage their witness even if what is said is a complete lie.

Paul’s words here are very strong. He took the rejection of Jesus and His teaching very seriously. It is not hard to see the damage such individuals could cause in the church of Jesus Christ.

Verse 5

Paul continues with his description of those who reject the sound teaching of Jesus Christ.

According to the apostle, these individuals were a source of “constant friction” among people. The word used here is παραδιατριβή (paradiatribḗ) which comes from two words. First, the word pará means aside, implying something untrue or wrong. Second, the word diatribḗ can be translated as waste or idleness. Together they carry the sense of wasting one’s time in error or falsehood. The word is translated differently by various Bible translators. The King James Version uses the phrase “perverse disputings.” The idea is that these individuals engaged in senseless controversies. The NIV and the ESV translate the word as “constant friction,” implying that these debates and controversies were divisive.

These endless controversies by those who rejected the sound teaching of Jesus were the fruit of a depraved mind. The word translated depraved is διαφθείρω (diaphtheírō) and refers to something that is defiled or corrupt. This was a mind that rejected the truth of Jesus Christ and promoted another doctrine. It was a mind that could not submit to God and His purpose through His Son Jesus Christ.

Paul tells us that this mind was also a mind deprived of the truth. In other words, the truth of Jesus Christ had not had its impact on these people. These individuals were still living in the darkness of sin and had never seen the light of Jesus Christ.

What is perplexing here is that while these individuals had never seen the light of truth, they still sought to live a religious life. Notice their motivation for such a lifestyle. According to Paul, they believed that “godliness” (or their definition of godliness), was a means of great gain. They believed that there was personal benefit to living a godly or religious life, and anticipated a reward for their efforts. Not understanding that doctrine of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, they sought to obtain their righteousness through their good life.

Verse 6

Those who rejected Christ believed that living a “godly” life was beneficial. Their understanding of this, however, was that their spiritual efforts would bring personal reward and give them a place in heaven. They believed in salvation by good works.

Paul rejects this doctrine but tells Timothy that true godliness is indeed beneficial if it is accompanied by contentment. The word, contentment in the original Greek language is αὐτάρκεια (autárkeia). It speaks of satisfaction in one’s condition.

Contentment implies submission to God and His purpose. It requires satisfaction in the truth and a surrender to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It demands a willing resignation to the purpose of God for my life and a passion to walk faithfully in His plan.

There is no true godliness apart from contentment in God’s purpose and truth. Contentment implies submission to God and His will.

Verse 7

Notice how Paul connects contentment with the fact that we brought nothing into the world and will take nothing out of it. We were born with nothing to claim our own. We will die leaving all we have achieved and procured in life for someone else. What benefit do we ultimately achieve from the accumulation of worldly goods and privileges? The end of a poor man’s life is the same as that of a king, both lie side by side in the grave.

Beyond this, however, is the fact that the accumulation of possessions, pleasures and privileges does not necessarily bring contentment in life. You may have everything this world has to offer and not be content. Consider the words of Solomon in Ecclesiastes 2:

(9) So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also, my wisdom remained with me. (10) And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. (11) Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. – Ecclesiastes 2:9-11 ESV

Solomon saw vanity in the accumulation of possessions, pleasures, and privileges. In the end, he declared:

(24) There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, (25) for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? – Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 ESV

In other words, enjoy what you have, whatever it is. Be content with what God has given you. Find pleasure in God’s blessings and you will find true joy and satisfaction in life. We brought nothing into this world, and we will take nothing out of the world. What is important is that we learn to rejoice in what God gives us for the time we are here.

Verse 8

Paul tells Timothy that he was to learn to be content with food and clothing. These were the necessities of life. Understand here that this does not mean that we should sell everything, and live in poverty. What the apostle is telling us here is that our goal is to serve the Lord, accept His purpose, and honour Him in whatever circumstances He gives us. If God chooses that you live in poverty, learn how to honour Him in that state. If God should bless you with more, then learn how to be content and use what He has given for His glory.

Verse 9

According to Paul, those who refuse to be content with what God has given will fall into temptation. He uses an example of individuals who want to become rich. Having money, possessions and privileges become a passion for these individuals. This passion rapidly becomes a god in their lives. Because of their passion and love for riches, these people may defraud a brother or sister to benefit themselves. They might resort to stealing or dishonesty to achieve their financial goals.

What is true of finances is true of worldly pleasures and privileges. Some people will abandon their marriage vows to satisfy their fleshly passions. Some will lie or slander another person to achieve a higher status in the eyes of their community or church.

Paul tells us that those who are not content with God’s purpose for their lives will be tempted to stray from the path of godliness. In straying from that path, they will find themselves on a road that leads to ruin and destruction in the end.

Verse 10

The love of money or riches, according to Paul, is the root of all kinds of evil. What sins have not been committed because of a lust for riches? Murder, theft, or slander have all had their roots in the love of money and a passion to have more of it. Paul tells us that some have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grievous wounds because they lusted for money and possessions.

We have, in our day, seen believers become distracted from the truth because they lusted for worldly goods. The message they preach is no longer the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ but of prosperity and wealth in this life. Such people have wandered from faith in Jesus Christ into worldliness and greed. They have not learned the benefit of godliness with contentment (see verse 6).

Verse 11

Paul speaks directly to Timothy here. Note how he calls him a man of God. This is a reflection of Timothy’s life and passion. God had His hand on Timothy and had chosen and equipped him for service. Timothy was obedient to that call and was living a life that honoured his Creator and Saviour. While Timothy was a man of God, note Paul’s warning.

The apostle commanded Timothy to “flee these things.” Paul has just written about the temptation of riches (see verse 10). This likely is what Paul is warning Timothy about in this context. Instead, he was to be content with what God provided (see verse 6). Instead of pursuing the things of this world, Timothy was to pursue five qualities in life.

First, Timothy was to pursue righteousness. The word δικαιοσύνη (dikaiosúnē), used here refers to doing what is just and right. The measure of what is right is God Himself. To pursue righteousness is to pursue God and His purpose for our lives.

Understand that none of us could ever meet this perfect standard of righteousness. The only righteousness that is truly counted toward our salvation is the righteousness of Christ, who stands as our advocate and redeemer. Having said this, as believers, we are still to pursue a life of righteousness. We are to strive to be like Christ in our actions, thoughts and motives. We do this not to merit salvation but to honour the Lord Jesus, whose righteousness alone counts for our salvation.

Second, the apostle challenged his son Timothy to pursue godliness. The word for godliness is εὐσέβεια (eusébeia). It speaks about devotion and reverence toward God. This devotion and reverence impacts how we live our lives, the decisions we make in life and our attitudes.

Third, Timothy was to pursue faith. The word πίστις (pístis) speaks about a conviction or belief in the truth. The truth referred to here is about Christ and the gospel He came to present. Timothy was not to be distracted from this faith in Christ Jesus. In the context of 1 Timothy 6, Paul has been speaking about individuals who were preaching another gospel. These individuals had been tempted by the world and its riches. As a result, they had “wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (verse 10). Paul encouraged Timothy to be faithful to the truth of Jesus Christ by resisting the many temptations around him.

Fourth, Paul encouraged Timothy to pursue love. Understand here that Paul is not telling Timothy to seek this love for himself but to be one who loved. The word ἀγάπη (agápē) is giving love. It is the love of the Saviour who died for those who were unworthy of His salvation. Timothy was to mature in his ability to love the unlovely and undeserving. He was to learn how to love others just as his Saviour had loved him.

Fifth, the quality of steadfastness was to be Timothy’s next pursuit. The word ὑπομονή (hupomonḗ) is the ability to persevere or to remain under pressure without giving up. The Christian life is not an easy one. There will be persecution and trials ahead for every believer. Many will cave into this pressure and wander from their faith. Paul is telling Timothy that he was to stand fast and hold his ground when the attacks came. He was not to give up but to stand strong in the face of opposition.

Finally, Paul encouraged Timothy to develop the quality of gentleness. The word πραότης (praótēs) speaks of meekness or mildness. It also refers to a submission to God’s purpose. It does not fight against God and His plan. It does not draw its sword quickly when provoked but learns from affliction. It accepts rebuke and grows from it.

Verse 12

Timothy was to “fight the good fight of faith.” Notice that Paul challenges Timothy to fight. The word ἀγωνίζομαι (agōnízomai) speaks of contending or wrestling. The battle before us will not be easy. It will require a great and sometimes agonizing effort on our part if we want to win.

The battle we are to fight is the “good fight of the faith.” Paul understood that every Christian lived amid a battle. That battle is for our devotion and love. Satan bombards us each day with his arrows of temptation. He seeks to distract us from the goal set for us. Many have wandered from that path and strayed from the truth. Others have fallen into the traps set for them and broken their fellowship with God. There are many casualties on the battlefield before us. For this reason, Paul challenges Timothy to fight. This means taking an active stand against the enemy, being vigilant and standing firm in the truth of the gospel.

Paul challenges Timothy to “take hold of eternal life.” The idea here is to sink your teeth into eternal life and don’t let go. Now I believe that when we are saved, we cannot lose that salvation. Having said this, however, I also believe that we are to do what Paul tells us here. We are to take hold of eternal life and not let go. That is to say, we are to hold onto God as tightly as He holds onto us. He is to become our passion and delight. He is to be our goal and our confidence. We must not let anything come between us.

Paul tells Timothy that he had been called to eternal life. This was the purpose of God for him. He was to strive for this. His life was to be dedicated to this eternal life. Note how Paul recognized here that Timothy had been doing just that. He had made a good confession in the presence of many witnesses. His life had declared that he had been called to this eternal life.

Verse 13

Paul has a charge to bring to Timothy here. He brings this charge “in the presence of God.” Because Paul charged Timothy in the name of God, it was something he needed to take seriously.

Note what Paul tells Timothy about this God before whom he brought his charge. This God was the One who “gives life to all things.” In other words, all creation depends on this God. Nothing would exist without Him.

Paul’s charge to Timothy was not just in the presence of the God who gives life to all things, but also before Christ Jesus. While we know that Christ Jesus is also God, Paul makes a distinction here between the Father and the Son. Observe what he told Timothy about the Son Jesus Christ. He made a good confession before Pontius Pilate. Pontius Pilate was the one who sentenced Jesus Christ to death. Jesus, knowing the sentence before Him, did not shrink back, but remained faithful to death. Why did Jesus die? He died for you and me. His faithfulness was not only to the Father and His eternal purpose but also to us as sinners in need of a Saviour.

Verse 14

Paul’s charge to Timothy is that he “keep the commandment.” Observe that the word commandment is singular. The phrase “the commandment.” seems to imply that Paul has something particular in mind. The King James Version translators added the word “this” to the verse so that it reads: “Keep this commandment.” The word “this” is not in the original Greek but the translators felt it was implied by the context. The idea is that Paul is telling Timothy to keep the commandment he had just given him.

Paul told Timothy to fight the good fight, lay hold of eternal life, flee from the love of money and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness and gentleness. It appears then that this is the commandment Timothy was to keep. Note how Timothy was to keep this commandment.

First, he was to do so “unstained.” He was to keep this commandment free from blemish or stain. In other words, nothing was to tarnish his service and faithfulness to this command of God.

Second, Timothy was to be free from reproach. The word Paul uses here is ἀνεπίληπτος (anepílēptos). It is derived from the words “a,” meaning without, and “epilambánō” meaning to seize. The idea is that Timothy was not to give his critics anything to use against him. He was to live such a life that his enemies could never accuse him of error.

Finally, Timothy was to be true and faithful to his charge until the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was to stand guard until he was relieved of duty by the Lord Himself. Until that time, he was not to let down his guard. He was to be faithful to the end.

Verse 15

Timothy was to keep Paul’s charge until the appearance of the Lord Jesus. Note that while no one knows the day of Jesus’ appearance, according to Paul, “He will display at the proper time.”

The phrase “He will display at the proper time,” can be somewhat confusing. Who is the “He” referred to in this verse? The context of verse 13 indicates that Paul has been speaking about both God the Father and Christ Jesus. The question we must address here is this: Who will display the appearance of Christ Jesus at the proper time? Mark 13:32 may be helpful in this. Here Jesus declared that it was only the Father who knew the day and hour of His appearance:

(32) “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. – Mark 13:32 ESV

It appears then that God the Father will display the appearance of His Son at that proper time. Observe what Paul has to tell Timothy about the Lord Jesus who would appear at the proper time.

First, He is blessed. The word μακάριος (makários) implies having the favour of God. Jesus knew the Father’s favour and blessing. He was the perfect Son of God who fully satisfied the requirements of the Father on our behalf. The blessing and favour of God were upon Him.

Second, He is the only Sovereign King of kings and Lord of lords. The word sovereign is translated from the Greek word δυνάστης (dunástēs) meaning to be able. The idea is that He is all-powerful and has full authority. The words “King of kings and Lord of lords,” reveal that Jesus Christ’s power and authority are over every king and lord. There is no power or authority greater than His.

Verse 16

Paul continues his description of God the Father and the Lord Jesus from verse 15.

This God alone has immortality. The word ἀθανασία (athanasía) means without death. The idea is that God will never die. He is the only source of eternal life. There is no eternal life apart from Him and the work of His Son Jesus Christ.

The Father and His Son Jesus dwell in unapproachable light. The light here refers not just to the absence of night but to glory, holiness, and majesty. The triune God is glorious, holy and majestic. These qualities are so overwhelming that no human being could ever approach Him and live. To stand before such holiness in our sinful state would be fatal. Our human frame could not take in such majesty and survive. Writing to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul said:

(50) I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. (51) Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. (53) For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. – 1 Corinthians 15:50-53 ESV

We will indeed one day enter the presence of God, but it will not be in these sin-cursed earthly bodies. We will be given new, imperishable bodies free of sin and its effects. It will also only be those who know the full pardon of Jesus Christ who will approach His throne with confidence:

(15) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. – Hebrews 4:15-16 ESV

Next, Paul tells Timothy that no one has ever seen God nor can they see Him. Consider these words of Paul in the context of the conversation between Philip and Jesus in John 14:

(8) Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” (9) Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? – John 14:8-9 ESV

Jesus told Philip that if he had seen Him, he had also seen the Father. Jesus, as the Son of God took on flesh and became a man. As a man, we saw Jesus, touched Him and heard Him speak. We saw the human form of Christ and, in this sense, saw God, for He is God. Having said this, we need to understand, however, that God the Father and the Spirit do not have a body like we do. They are invisible to our human eye and we cannot see them. We can indeed know their presence. People have also seen manifestations of God’s presence. The people of Moses day saw fire and smoke when God descended upon the mountain but God’s people were not to worship fire or smoke. These were not God but mere manifestations of a much greater presence that could not be seen by the human eye.

This blessed, sovereign, immortal, and invisible God is deserving of all honour and dominion. That is to say, every knee needs to bow to such majesty, holiness and sovereignty. He alone was Lord and King. There was no dominion or authority over His.

Verse 17

Here in verses 17-19, the apostle has a word for wealthy believers in the church of Ephesus.

He begins by telling them that they are not to be haughty. The word haughty is ὑψηλοφρονέω (hupsēlophronéō). It is derived from hupsēlós, meaning high and phronéō meaning to think. Together they carry the sense of thinking highly of oneself. To be haughty is to be arrogant and proud. It is to lift oneself above another person. In this case, the reason the rich lifted themselves above others was because they had more money and possessions. The idea that money and possessions equal greater value and worth is foreign to the Christian faith. Consider what Paul wrote in Galatians 3:

(26) for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. (27) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. – Galatians 3:26-28 ESV

The rich were not to think of themselves as better than anyone else because they had money and possessions. In Christ, the slave had as much value as the rich.

Secondly, Paul challenges the rich not to put their hopes in the uncertainty of riches but on God. How easy it is to trust our money and possessions. The reality of the matter, however, is that riches are uncertain. Consider the words of Jesus in this regard:

(19) “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, (20) but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. – Matthew 6:19-20 ESV.

Not only can our riches be taken from us, but Jesus tells a parable about a rich man who decided to build bigger barns to store this accumulated wealth. Notice what God told him in Luke 12:

(20) But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ – Luke 12:16-20 ESV

Our lives are in the hands of God. He can take everything we have from us in an instant. Our confidence cannot be in the uncertainty of riches. It must be in the Lord God alone.

Notice one final detail here. While riches are uncertain and unworthy of our confidence, they are provided by God for our enjoyment. Understand that those riches don’t have to be expensive homes and fancy cars. The riches of God are often very simple and inexpensive. If you open your eyes you will see these blessings all around you. It might be the sunrise in the morning or the colours of the flower that opens up in the afternoon. All these things are rich blessings from God given to us to enjoy.

Verse 18

Paul encouraged those who had abundant money and possessions to do good, be rich in good works, be generous and be ready to share what they had with others.

It is easy for us to say: “I worked hard for what I have. Why should I give it to someone else? Shouldn’t I have the right to enjoy the fruit of my labours?”

While there is an element of truth to this, what we need to understand is that were it not for the grace of God, we would not have been able to obtain that wealth. We owe our lives, skills and everything to Him. If He is our Lord, then He is the Lord of everything we have. He is Lord of our possessions, money and wealth.

Inspired by the Lord, the apostle Paul tells the wealthy in Ephesus to be rich in good works. He doesn’t tell them specifically what those good works were to be but clarifies what he means by explaining that they were to be generous with what they had and share it with others. The Lord would make it clear to them what they were to do if they were willing to surrender what they had to Him as their Lord.

Verse 19

Paul assured the wealthy who were generous that they would store up treasure in heaven. Jesus spoke about this in Matthew 6 when He taught:

No effort for our Lord will be unrewarded. God sees all we do for Him and takes note of our service. Scripture speaks of rewards and crowns for faithful service. We can live our lives seeking our reward here below or we can live with an eye to a reward above.

Next, Paul challenges the rich to lay a good foundation for the future. Writing to the Corinthians, Paul said:

(12) Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— (13) each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. (14) If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. (15) If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. – 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 ESV

Paul encourages the rich to build on the foundation of Jesus Christ with precious stones, gold and silver. They were to use their wealth to advance the purpose of God’s kingdom. According to Paul, by doing so, they took “hold of that which is truly life.” True purpose in life is not found in expensive homes and clothes. It is not found in luxurious vacations and resorts. Paul tells the rich that to take hold of what was truly lifegiving, they had to be building on the foundation of Jesus Christ. This alone would bring true satisfaction in life.

Verse 20

The apostle concludes with some personal words to Timothy.

First, Paul encourages Timothy to “guard the deposit entrusted” to him. The word deposit is παρακαταθήκη (parakatathḗkē). It is derived from pará, meaning with, and katatíthēmi, meaning to place down. The sense is that something has been placed with someone or given to them to keep securely.

The question we must ask here is this: What was the deposit entrusted to Timothy? Paul seems to give us a hint in the second part of the verse when he challenges Timothy to avoid irreverent babble and false knowledge. If Timothy was to guard the deposit by avoiding irreverent babble and false knowledge, then one might assume that the deposit entrusted to Timothy was the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul began this epistle to Timothy by reminding him why he urged him to remain in Ephesus:

(3) As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, – 1 Timothy 1:3 ESV

Timothy was asked to stay in Ephesus to oppose those who were teaching a different doctrine.

Paul would go on in 1 Timothy 1:18 to charge Timothy to wage good warfare by holding faith and a good conscience.

(18) This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, (19) holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, – 1 Timothy 1:18-19 ESV

The faith spoken of here is the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Later in 1 Timothy 4:16, Paul told Timothy:

(16) Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. – 1 Timothy 4:16 ESV

Once again, Paul encourages Timothy to guard or to “keep a close watch” on his teaching so that it did not stray from the truth he had taught him.

Finally, consider Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 6:13-14:

(13) I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, (14) to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, – 1 Timothy 6:13-14 ESV

Repeatedly, in this epistle, Paul challenged Timothy to guard the truth that had been given him and teach it without compromise. It is reasonable then to assume that the deposit given to Timothy was the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Note that individuals in Ephesus were engaging in irreverent babble. The word used here is κενοφωνία (kenophōnía). It comes from the word kenós, meaning vain, and phōnḗ, meaning voice. The idea is speaking of vain and useless things.

Not only were these words empty and vain, but they were also “contradictions.” The word contradictions is translated from ἀντίθεσις (antíthesis). The word is derived from antí, meaning against, and títhēmi, meaning to place. The sense here is to oppose. In other words, what was being taught by these individuals opposed the truth of the gospel.

Notice how these vain teachings that opposed the gospel were “falsely called knowledge.” The devil is the father of lies. Consider what he told Eve in the Garden of Eden:

(4) But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. (5) For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” – Genesis 3:4-5 ESV

Satan tempted Eve with the knowledge of good and evil. This, however, was not knowledge she was intended to have. Satan continued to push this false knowledge in Ephesus and promoted it in opposition to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Timothy was to stand firm against this demonic effort by guarding the deposit of truth that had been entrusted to him.

Verse 21

Paul encouraged Timothy to guard the deposit of truth that had been entrusted to Him and avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions taught by certain individuals in Ephesus. These individuals, who professed this “false knowledge” (verse 20), had swerved from the faith. In other words, instead of trusting in the gospel of Jesus Christ, they strayed into falsehood and error.

The apostle concludes with a prayer for the grace of God for Timothy. Everything we have is a result of this grace. Timothy needed God’s grace to guard and preach the truth entrusted to Him in a city that promoted falsehood and error. Paul entrusts Timothy, however, to this grace, knowing that the God who had called him to defend the faith, would also equip him for the task.

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