THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST
SPREADING THE SOUL-SAVING MESSAGE OF JESUs
(Chapters 1-2)
Introduction by narrator accompanied by a cappella singing:
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. Spreading the soul-saving message of Jesus. And now, Timothy Sparks and Ben Bailey.
Ben Bailey:
“This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of who I am chief” (1 Tim. 1:15). I’m Ben Bailey.
Timothy Sparks:
And I’m Timothy Sparks. Welcome to our study of the Book of 1 Timothy. This lesson is being brought to you by individual members and congregations of the churches of Christ. We invite you to visit the church of Christ in your area. Let them know how much you appreciate this broadcast, and ask them to study the Bible with you. You will find people who love God supremely, and who are interested in going to Heaven. We are making these lessons available on CD, or DVD. If you would like a complimentary copy, log onto our website at www.thegospelofchrist.com, fill out the request form you will find there, and we will be happy to send to you whatever you need. We will not even charge you for the postage.
Ben Bailey:
Timothy was a convert of Paul from somewhere around the area of Philippi (Acts 16-17). Timothy apparently was a man of strong faith. Although a young man, he faced several important challenges to his faith during his lifetime. Paul is going to write him with one main purpose in mind. The text of 1 Timothy 3:14-15 is the key section to the book. Paul says, “These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly, but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth.” Although Paul hoped to be with Timothy soon, he was writing in case he could not, so Timothy would know how to conduct himself in the church. Thus, this is a book about Christian conduct—conduct in our homes, in our everyday lives, and even in our worship to God.
Timothy Sparks:
Paul addresses this epistle to “Timothy, a true son in the faith.” Keep in mind that the name Timothy means “dear to God” or “an honor to God.” As Paul begins, he discusses how it was that God had saved him. God, notes Paul, was abundant in mercy, and very gracious to him, in extending to him the opportunity to be saved. We learn from 1 Timothy 1:15, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” Then Paul says, “…of whom I am chief.” Paul recognized that it was because he had done things ignorantly and in unbelief that God had shown him abundant mercy. Whenever he finally obeyed the Gospel, however, then the grace of God abounded. Paul acknowledges that Jesus Christ came to the world to save sinners. And Paul says, “Of all sinners, I am the chief.” Paul is in the latter years of his life. He is an humble servant who recognizes that it is by the grace of God that he was saved, through his obedience to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He realizes that, just as our Lord Jesus Himself said, “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost” (Lk.19:10). Paul recognizes that Jesus came to save sinners. So Paul is spending his entire life in spreading the Gospel (the good news, the soul-saving message of Jesus Christ), so that people can be delivered from the wrath of God to come, and so that they can be saved from sin and Hell.
Ben Bailey:
Paul says in 1 Timothy 1:3-5,
“As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.”
Paul tells Timothy of some who “understand neither what they teach, nor what they tell other people.” Thus, Paul is urging Timothy to stress to these people that they should “teach no other doctrine” than the pure Gospel. As members of the church of the living God, we must teach the one true Gospel that we find in the New Testament. God tells us in Jude 3, “Contend earnestly for the faith, which was once for all delivered to the saints.” Paul offered a stern warning in Galatians 1:6-9 when he wrote,
“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”
Paul is telling those people that there is just one Gospel. The Gospel—the “good news”—is that Jesus died, was buried, and was raised from the grave. Paul is telling Timothy not to engage in endless genealogies (about Christ, or even all the way back to Adam), fables, idle thoughts, or any other such things. Fables are something that cannot be proved. They may make for a good story, but you really cannot prove them. So, Paul says, “Do not get caught up in such things.” Maybe you have been in a Bible class where there was not much biblical content, or where, for example, the participants tried to figure out what Jesus wrote in the sand (Jn. 8:6). We cannot know those types of things in the here and now. So, Paul says that we ought not to get caught up in such unimportant pursuits that are little more than “idle thoughts.” Instead, we ought to focus on the Gospel of Christ and other things of that nature that are important. Why? Paul says that the things we do should issue from “a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.” Unfortunately, as Paul observes, some had strayed from that. Paul encourages Timothy to preach the one and only Gospel, and to stay away from needless genealogies, fables, and idle thoughts. James 3:1 says, “My brethren, let not many of you be teachers, knowing we shall receive a stricter judgment.” Matthew 12:36-36 teaches that we will be judged by our words. We therefore need to make sure that our words are not idle, but that they instead are beneficial to everyone who hears them.
Timothy Sparks:
Paul continues in verse 12 as he says, “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.” Paul thanks the Lord because He had enabled him to preach the Gospel. This is the same Paul who wrote in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.” Paul was enabled, and Christ was the One Who enabled him. Christ had put Paul into the ministry. In essence, Paul is saying, “I have the great privilege and opportunity to preach the Gospel!” In Ephesians 3:8, Paul reitereated what a privilege it was for him to be able to preach when he said, “To me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” It is the greatest of all privileges to be able to become a Christian, and to be able to serve the God of Heaven. Have you ever thought about it from that perspective? What an opportunity, what a privilege, and what an honor it is to be able to serve God! When you say that you are a servant of God (if indeed you are a faithful child of God), that is an incredible privilege. In a very real sense, we as Christians can say that our Father owns the whole world! God is the One Who can enable us and use us. But we have to be willing to let Him do that. The prophet Jeremiah spoke of how clay is pliable and can be molded. In the same way, God can use us if we will be like clay that is pliable and can be molded. We can choose to yield our will to God’s will, or we can choose to stubborn, just as Pharaoh, who resisted the Word and will of God, was stubborn. If we act in such a manner, then when God tries to mold us, we will not bend to his will, and all of God’s efforts will have been for nought. We learn from Jeremiah 22:29 that people should hear the Word of the Lord: “O earth, earth, earth. Hear the Word of the Lord.” When people don’t hear the Word of the Lord, then the Word of the Lord will be like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces. God can enable us. He can use all of us in His service. Paul wants to drive this message home to Timothy, as well as to all Christians. I believe Paul is saying how grateful and thankful he was to be able to encourage and to inspire this young Gospel preacher, and to help Timothy see what a wonderful opportunity and privilege it is to be a Gospel preacher.
Ben Bailey:
In this same context where Paul says that he is “the chief of sinners,” he then goes on to say in verse 16, “ I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all long suffering, as a pattern for those who will believe on Him for eternal life.” Paul says, “I was chief of sinners, yet look at me. I obtained mercy. I am a pattern for all those who want to obtain eternal life.” Paul says, “I was a blasphemer, I was a persecutor, I was an insolent man, I was a violent man in many ways.” Think about the life of Paul. In Acts 7, he served as an accessory to the murder of Stephen. In Acts 8, he was dragging Christians to prison—no doubt to be put to death. Paul says, “As you think about sin and how bad you are, look at me. I am a pattern for those who can believe on Jesus for eternal life.” You may say to yourself, “I’ve never become a Christian because I’m just too bad. I’m too evil. I’ve done ungodly things for which God could never forgive me.” Have you ever killed a Christian? Have you ever stood by and watched Christians being killed? Have you ever dragged Christians to court in the hope they would be put to death? If not, then you are not as bad as Paul. Paul had had some really terrible sins in his life. But he said, “As you look at my life, chief of sinners that I am, realize that I am a pattern for salvation.” Know this; there is no sinner so sinful that God cannot forgive him. There is no sin so bad that God cannot erase it from the Book of Life. But God will erase those sins only with the blood of Jesus, as a result of the supreme sacrifice that He made. Hebrews 10:12 says,” This man Jesus Christ, after He offered one sacrifice for sins, forever, sat down at the right hand of God.” Jesus offered the sacrifice of His life to pay for our sins. If you are waiting until you are perfect to obey the Gospel, it is not going to happen. You need to become a Christian now, and strive to live a faithful life. Paul was a great example of this very thing. After discussing this, Paul then goes into a great exaltation of God. “Now to the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, to God alone Who is wise, be glory and honor forever and ever” (vs. 17). What a great statement—“to God alone Who is wise.” As Paul stops and ponders how he once was “the chief of sinners,” and as he looks at how God has used him as a pattern of salvation, what is he constrained to do? He offers the greatest honor and praise to God that you can imagine. The same should be true for every child of God. If you are a Christian—if you have obeyed the Gospel and have been saved from your sins—you ought to live your life praising, honoring, and magnifying the name of God. You should be doing everything you can to uplift the name of the Savior. The life of Paul is a message that applies to each of us as sinners. We are all patterns of how God’s love and grace can save even the worst sinner.
Timothy Sparks:
Those who fail to continue to accept the grace of God through faithful obedience to the Word of God can see their faith destroyed. Paul mentions two such people by name—Hymenaeus and Alexander. Paul said that these two men had “rejected faith and a good conscience” (1 Tim. 1:19-20). As a result, their faith had “suffered shipwreck.” Thus, Paul said that, concerning Hymenaeus and Alexander, he had “delivered [them] to Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.” Paul did not hesitate to mention these two apostate individuals by name. Sometimes, it is necessary to be specific concerning people who are living lives in opposition to the Word of God. Paul, in his epistles, names quite a few individuals, but here it is Hymenaeus and Alexander. Paul wanted Timothy, and other Christians, to know what these two wicked men had done, so they could beware of them. Why? Paul does not want anyone to follow in their footsteps, because just like a ship that had run afoul, they did not successfully pilot the strait, and as a result, they ended up with a faith that was “shipwrecked.” Paul is trying to make sure that Christians steer their own ship (i.e., their faith) correctly, and that they stay on the straight and narrow. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 7:14-15, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Jesus taught that the way to Heaven is narrow, and that there will not be very many people who make it. Paul says that along this course of life, two people (Hymenaeus and Alexander) failed. Their faith “suffered shipwreck.” As a result, Paul delivered them over to Satan in an effort to get them to repent, hoping that they would come back to their first love. We as Christians need to be aware that the idea of “once saved, always saved” is false! Christians need to be aware that we can lose our salvation.
Ben Bailey:
In chapter 1, Paul teaches us that in order to have proper conduct, we must teach and preach the one true Gospel—that Jesus Christ came to save sinners. In chapter 2, as we are introduced to the idea of church conduct, we learn about the proper scope of public prayer. Paul says, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (vss. 1-4). In the context of public prayer, Paul speaks of supplication and intercession—words that contain the idea of praying for, and interceding on behalf of, others. There is no one in the world for whom we cannot pray—from the worst terrorist to our best friend. If we want to truly help people, we ought to pray for them. Jesus taught in Matthew 6 that we ought to pray for our enemies, for those who hate us, and for those who despitefully use us. We also ought to pray for those who are not saved, that they might be saved. Paul, in 1 Timothy 2, says that we need to pray for all men, especially those who are in authority in government. But for what should we pray? God, according to Paul’s comment in verse 4, “wants all men to be saved, and to come to knowledge of the truth.” Thus, if we keep this in context, Paul is saying that we need to pray that those people will come to a knowledge of the truth and be saved. Can we pray that they will lead their governments correctly? Certainly we can. But if they want them to lead the government correclty, then they need to know what they have to do. They need to be saved, and “come to knowledge of the truth.” That is what Paul is saying. We need to pray for those people to come to knowledge of the truth, and be saved, so that they will live in accordance with God’s will and lead others accordingly. If you want to pray for people, and if you want to help them, then what should you do if they are not Christians? Pray that they will be saved, and that they will live according to God’s will. This is good instruction regarding the proper scope of public prayer.
Timothy Sparks:
Paul gets a little more specific when he says, “For there is one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. Who gave Himself a ransom for all to be testified, in due time” (1 Tim. 2:5-6). What does the word “mediator” mean? It means “one who stands in the middle.” In essence, it is someone who “bridges a gap.” Paul says, in the context of God wanting all Christians to offer up prayers, “there is one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” He is now telling us that we are to go to God the Father through the One Who “stands in the middle” or Who “bridges the gap”—Jesus Christ. How many mediators are there? We learn in 1 Timothy 2:5, that there is only one Mediator. Christians go to God in prayer through the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. There is only one Mediator between God and men. In this passage, we learn that there are supplications and intercessions that can be made by all Christians. How many intercessors are there? There are many. Why? Because each individual Christian can pray. So, while there can be many intercessors, there is only one Mediator between God and men. We also learn how many helpers there are. In 1 John 1 we read of One (Christ) Who is referred to as our “Advocate” (or Helper). We also learn from the Book of John (chapters 14-16), as well as from Romans 8, that the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ both serve as our Advocates or Helpers. In 1 Timothy 2, Paul is putting prayer into its proper sphere. He is saying that it is the responsibility of Christians to pray. We are even to pray for those who are in government, and those in places of authority. Why? We should pray for them because we need to go forward, morally speaking, by going back to the Bible. This country was built upon a sound biblical foundation. And we need to go back to that. We need to pray that there will be leaders in our government who will strive to follow biblical guidelines of morality. “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Prov. 14:34). Paul’s comments in 1 Timothy 2 make it clear that public prayer is important, and that through their prayers Christians can, and should, play an important role in helping improve the world around them.
Ben Bailey:
In verses 8-10, Paul talks about how Christians have different roles in prayer. He says,
“I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.”
Here, Paul makes a distinction when he says that men are to pray everywhere. The word “men” is gender specific—to males. “Men (males) are to pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands.” By saying that men are to pray everywhere, Paul is saying that there are certain places where a woman cannot pray. A woman should not want to violate the authority of a man. Prayer is one way of teaching, since people hear the prayers that are offered. In Acts 16:25, we learn that Paul and Silas were singing and praying, and that the prisoners were listening to them. It is a matter of authority and a matter of principle. Should women teach and pray when a man is present? This is answered in 1 Timothy 2:11-12 when Paul says, “Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.” In 1 Corinthians 14:34ff., Paul says the same thing. A woman is not to teach in the presence of a man. If she wants to learn something, she is go and ask her husband. This does not mean that a woman cannot teach at all. We know from Titus 2, for example, that women can teach children, and that the older women can teach the younger women. But the principle Paul is expressing in 1 Timothy 2 is that a woman is not to teach, or be in authority over, a man. Some will say, “But that was just a ‘social thing’ that doesn’t really apply to our society.” But we can know from the context that that idea is not true. In verse 13, Paul explains the reasoning behind his command when he says, “For Adam was formed first, and then Eve.” What was the basis for Paul’s prohibition of a woman having authority over a man? Was it merely “a societal thing”? Not at all. Paul takes it all the way back to Creation. God formed man first, and then women. Thus, in keeping with that same idea of authority, women are not to be in a position of authority over men. I wonder why, then, there are so many places in our world today where you can find “women preachers”? The Bible speaks specifically against that. It is something that God’s people should not do. Please do not misunderstand us. It is not that woman are unimportant. Rather, it has to do with the fact that God has given a specific command on this matter. And if we intend to follow His Word, then we will obey His command. Paul here offers valuable lessons about the proper scope of public prayer, about praying for all people (especially those in leadership positions), about how men are to pray everywhere, and about how women are not to violate the authority of prayer or be in a place of teaching authority over a man, but are to be in submission. All of this goes back to God’s original law of Creation.
Timothy Sparks:
And as we look at this passage, we see that this is indeed a matter of creation, Adam was formed first, then Eve. The text of 1 Timothy 2:13 shows us that God has set up a specific order for things. He has established proper roles for men and for women. If a man were to try to change his sexual orientation in order to try to do the things a female does, that, too, would be wrong. This is a valuable lesson for us today. God has a plan for your life and for mine. He has in mind certain roles for all of us.
This lesson is brought to you by individual members and congregations of the churches of Christ. We are making these lessons available on CD or DVD. If you would like a complimentary copy, log on to our website at www.thegospelofchrist.com, fill out the request form you will find there, and we will be happy to send to you whatever you need. We encourage you to visit the church of Christ in your area. We also hope that you will continue to study with us, and that you will conform your will to the Gospel of Christ.
Narrator accompanied by a cappella singing:
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1. Who, according to Acts 16-17, converted Timothy?
2. What is the key text of 1 Timothy?
3. Paul referred to himself as the “chief of sinners.” Why did he do that?
4. Paul told Timothy to help those who “understand neither what they teach, nor what they tell other people.” What did he mean by that statement.
5 According to Paul’s comments in Galatians 1:6-9, how many Gospels are there?
6. Paul was grateful to God for allowing him to do something. According to 1 Timothy 1:12, what was that “something”?
7. Paul referred to himself as the apostle to a certain group of people (Eph. 3:8). What group?
8. Paul stated, “I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern for those who believe on Him for eternal life” (1 Tim. 1:16). Why did Paul consider himself as a “pattern”?
9. Paul named two men whose faith was “made shipwreck.” Who were they?
10. What did Paul say he had done in regard to the two men mentioned in questions #9 above?
11. What were the two reasons that Paul gave for taking the action referred to in question #10 above?
12. Chapter 1 of 1 Timothy teaches that in order to have proper conduct, we must do a specific thing. What is that?
13. What is the main thrust of chapter 2 of 1 Timothy?
14. According to the context of 1 Timothy 2:4, why should we pray for those in government or those in positions of authority?
15. According to 1 Timothy 2:5, how many mediators do Christians have?
16. Explain the difference between a “mediator” and an “intercessor.”
17. According to Proverbs 14:34, how important is righteousness to a nation?
18. What is a “mediator”?
19. Why did Paul command that men should pray publicly, and not women?
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