1 Timothy. General Introduction to the book.

Transcription

1 1 Timothy General Introduction to the book.

2 GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK 1 Timothy AIMS OF THIS LECTURE: 1. Importance of knowing the background. 2. Importance of having an overview. 3. Some general comments about 1 Timothy. 4.The specific background of 1 Timothy. 5. An overview of 1 Timothy. 6. Applying the book. 7. Some books to read. 8. Our lecture programme for 1 Timothy. 2

3 A. IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING BACKGROUND. We use our imagination rather than the actual background We can draw entirely the wrong conclusions. B. IMPORTANCE OF HAVING AN OVERVIEW. Do your read the Bible as an unfolding story or as a book of unrelated recipes? C. SOME GENERAL COMMENTS. 1. It is a personal letter. 1.2 Of Paul s 13 letters in the N.T., 9 are to churches and 4 to individuals: 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon 2.It is a plural letter. 3

4 a. The beginning of the letter. i. Its authority. 1.1 Sent, surrendered & secure ii. Its abruptness. 1.3 I urged you.. to command b. The middle of the letter His writing has the authority of O.T. Scripure c. The end of the letter you is plural! 3. It is a purposeful letter. a. To oppose false teaching. 1.3 b. To insist on right conduct. 3.14ff 4. It is a pastoral letter. It is one of the pastoral epistles - 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus. 4

5 D. THE SPECIFIC BACKGROUND. 1.The writer 1.1,3 Paul is on the road and writing between AD The recipient. 1.2 a. What was the city of Ephesus like? i. Historically proud. ii. Architecturally prominent. Main road 10 metres wide of pure marble. Temple of Diana: 200 years to build. 142 metres by 73 metres by 20 metres high. 127 marble pi#ars, 36 studded with jewels and overlaid with gold. One of the 7 ancient wonders of the world. 5

6 iii. Economically prosperous. Major port Every May, Pan Ionian games. Bank of Asia Minor iv. Morally promiscuous. v. Spiritually polluted. Emperor Worship. Artemis / Diana Acts Polluted Judaism Acts Magic centre Ephesians

7 b. What was the church in Ephesus like? i. It originated dramatically. Acts ii. It was opposed dangerously. Acts The reason. a. Who were these false teachers? 1 Tim i. Some influenced by Jewish thinking.1 Tim 1.3,7 ii. Some influenced by Greek thinking.1 Tim 1.4; 4.3; 4.7; 6.20 Falsely ca#ed GNOSIS Gnosticism is a broad term embracing various pagan, Jewish and semi Christian religions in late C1st and C2nd. iii. Some were influencing women. 2 Tim 3.6 7

8 b. Where were these false teachers? They are leaders INSIDE the church in Ephesus!! i. They have wandered away. 1 Tim 1.6,7; ii. They are high profile leaders. 1 Tim ; 2 Tim 1.15; c. Why were these false teachers around? i. Because of their past. ii. Because of their present. E. AN OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK. Ch 1. Communicating the apostles teaching. Ch 2. Clarifying church worship & the role of women. 8

9 Ch 3. Categorising the qualities of elders and deacons. Ch 4. Correcting false teaching. Ch 5. Caring for one another. Ch 6. Challenging our view and use of material possessions. 9

10 F. APPLYING THIS BOOK. 1. Introducing you to HERMAN WHO? Hermeneutics is the discipline of understanding, interpreting and applying the Scriptures. I have heard and read much about correct understanding and interpreting..but hardly anything on applying Scripture a. Box One: This is immediately, directly applicable to everyone today. John 3.16; Matthew b. Box Two: This is immediately, directly applicable to no one today. Luke 5.4; Acts 8.26 C. Box Three: This contains principles that, expressed differently in different cultural settings, are applicable to everyone today. 1 Thess 5.26; John

11 2. So how do you objectively decide which box??? a. Many Christians are in to pick and mix. b. The Lord Jesus is central. Luke 24.27, John 5.39 c. The Holy Spirit is essential. John d. Objectivity is vital. i. Something important will occur > once! Only once or twice is probably Box Two. ii. Where Bible says same thing in different cultures at different times... that is Box One. iii. Where Bible says different things in different cultures or at different time.. probably Box Three. Eg Acts and 1 Corinthians

12 G. SOME BOOKS TO READ. The message of 1 Timothy & Titus John Stott. IVP Timothy & Titus M Griffiths. Crossway. 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus Gordon Fee. Paternoster Press H. OUR LECTURE PROGRAMME. 1. Background and overview. 1 Timothy False Teaching misses the mark. 1 Timothy Wrong Attitudes and activities. 1 Timothy Teaching on the role of women. 1 Timothy Church Leadership (if time!!) 1 Timothy