1 Timothy
Have you ever found an old, old letter from your great grandfather? Isn’t it fascinating to read? Like a personal glimpse into his mind; something you could never get today from relatives that have passed away. In a similar way, this is how we might read and think of the book of 1 Timothy. It’s a letter written from our great grandfather with all of his hopes and dreams for you and your family. All of his wisdom and guidance, the things he thinks are most important for you and your family to hear.
This letter was written to Timothy and the church at Ephesus, but since it’s included in our Bibles we know there is another Author behind these words - the Spirit of God. If that’s true, then it’s not a stretch to think that He has you and I in mind as these words were penned almost 2,000 years ago.
We find Paul’s thesis in 1 Timothy 3:14-15: I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. Through this we notice four things Paul wants us to know:
Our behavior in the church matters.
We are part of one household, a family together here locally in this church.
This family is the church of the living God.
The household of the living God is a pillar and buttress of the truth.
Here are some other key themes in 1 Timothy:
Wisdom from an aging Paul
Wisdom to a young Timothy
The centrality of the gospel (1 Timothy 1:15)
The dangers of false teaching (1 Timothy 1:3, 6:3)
Integrity in the church (1 Timothy 3)
Minor themes:
How the church should pray (1 Timothy 2:1)
How to interact with church fathers, mothers, etc. (1 Timothy 5)
How to mature in the church (1 Timothy 4)
Wisdom for the wealthy (1 Timothy 6:17)
We look forward to walking through this New Testament book with you!
