Yucaipa SBE, 2004 Lessons From First and Second Timothy Lesson I First Timothy 1 Max Patterson Introduction 1. Paul. a. He is first mentioned in connection with the death of Stephen in Acts 7, 8. 1). Stephen is stoned in the end of Chapter 7. 2). Saul was consenting to Stephen s death and was making havoc of the church in Acts 8:1-4. b. Next, we learn of his encounter with Christ in Acts 9. 1). An account of this historical event is repeated in Acts 22 and Acts 26. 2). Acts 26:16-18 forms a great sermon outline. c. Paul was converted and became one of the greatest missionary teachers of all time. d. He was the writer of the two books we will be studying in this SBE. 2. Timothy. a. His father was a Greek, and his mother was a Jewess. b. We believe Timothy was converted by Paul. (1:2,18) c. He was a trusted young friend and companion of Paul. (Acts 16) d. He figures prominently in Paul s later work. 3. The letter of First Timothy. a. By writing First Timothy, Paul was trying to help Timothy meet the problems of doctrine against the Gnostics, in church discipline, and the training of the members of the church. b. Naturally there are the personal words about Timothy s own growth and leadership. c. This is a remarkable letter from an old preacher to a young one one whom Paul loved. d. Among the main purposes that characterized this epistle are the following: 1). Paul encourages Timothy in his struggle with false teachers. 1:3-7, 18-20; 6:3-5, 20, 21. 2). By writing this material, Timothy would have Paul s instructions in a more permanent form. 3). Paul instructs Timothy about salvation, the kind of leadership the church must have, the kind of godliness, etc. 4). Paul instructs Timothy how men ought to conduct themselves in the church (3:14, 15), and encourages diligence in carrying out his responsibilities as a preacher (4:6 6:2). The Text. 1. The salutation, 1:1,2
a. Paul describes himself as an apostle, that is, one sent on a mission, or commission. b. His being sent was by the commandment of God (an apostle under orders). c. Since his orders was to preach the gospel, it was their hope (and ours). d. Since he calls Timothy my own son in the faith, he shows his love for him, as well as how much he means to Paul. 2. Paul s charge to Timothy, 1:3-11 a. He writes, charge some that they teach no other doctrine. (3) 1). He exhorts them to teach no other doctrine. E.g., as the Judaizers are doing. 2). Other (heteros) means another of a different kind. b. Do not give heed to fables and endless genealogies. (4) 1). Do not give attention to, or assent to, myths, stories which are false. 2). Today this may mean the talk of people, rumors, reports, stories, etc. 3). This, along with endless genealogies, generates questions, disputes, and strife. c. The end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart, and a good conscience, and of a sincere faith. (5) 1). The end of the commandment means the purpose. This refers back to verses three and four. 2). Love (agape) is to be out of a pure (clean) heart. 3). A good conscience (inner judgment) must not be violated. 4). And faith is to be unfeigned (not hypocritical, genuine, sincere). d. Swerving from the commandment results in vain or empty arguments. (6) 1). Swerved means they missed the mark, strayed, deviated. 2). Turned aside means twisted out, a medical term. 3). In terms of teaching, wrenched from the truth, side-tracked, and wandered away. e. Some desire to be teachers of the law, but do not understand what they are saying or affirming. (7) f. The law is good if it is used lawfully. (8) g. Why it was (is) necessary to have law. (9 11) 1). Lawless (those who act outside the law, and maybe recognize no law), 2). Disobedient (the unruly, and will not come into subjection), 3). Ungodly and for sinners (those who have no reverence toward the sacred, or God), 4). For unholy (those who consider nothing sacred) and profane (non-religious in his acting), 5). For murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, (one who is indeed, depraved in his thinking to commit such an act.) 6). For manslayers, (male slayers). 7). "For harlots (fornicators), 8). For them that defile themselves with mankind (sodomites, one who lies with a male as with a female), is expressly forbidden. (Lev. 18:22; Rom. 1:26-28) 9). For menstealers (those who enslave, or kidnap, a slave dealer). 10). For liars. Those who are loose with the truth. One who breaks faith, and is a false and faithless man. 11). For perjured persons (to swear falsely). 12). Anything that is contrary to sound doctrine;" ( sound is healthy, wholesome teaching, and so correct.)
3. Paul s appreciation for being entrusted with the gospel. (12 17) 4. The charge to wage a good warfare. (18 20)
Lesson II First Timothy 6 Max Patterson Various Teaching: 1. Instructions to slaves and masters. a. Christian slaves (1) b. Christian masters (2) c. The emphasis on the words of Jesus as being healthy (sound) words, and which is according to godliness. (3) 2. Any other teaching is not sound (wholesome). (4,5) If one does not consent to the words of Christ, and to the teaching which is according to godliness, he is: a. Proud. Conceited, puffed up with pride. b. Knowing nothing. He is woefully ignorant (some use the word fool ). c. But doting about questions and strifes of words. Make a hobby, to harp upon, to have an unhealthy interest in controversy. d. Envy. Jealousy, the result of quarreling. e. Strife. Rivalry, or dissension. Sometimes contentions. f. Railings. Harsh and abusive language. g. Evil surmisings. Evil or base suspicions. (4) h. Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds. Constant friction and wrangling, conflicts. i. Destitute of the truth. 1). Some suppose that gain is godliness. 2). We are to withdraw ourselves from such. (5) 3. Contentment. (6-8) 4. The trouble riches bring. (9-10) a. Riches often traps, causes foolish and hurtful lusts, and drown men in destruction and perdition. (9) b. The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil: 1). It causes men to covet after it. 2). It causes them to err from the faith. 3). It pierces them through with many sorrows. 5. What the Christian should pursue. (11-16) a. Flee what is in verses 9 and 10. b. Follow (eagerly seek): 1). Righteousness (Psa. 119:172; I John 3:7) 2). Godliness (a loving fear and respect that cause one to be like God). 3). Faith (Romans 10:17)
4). Love (Agape love is a function of the will, and is always obedient to God.) 5). Patience (endurance) 6). Meekness (mildness, gentleness) (11) 7). Fight the good fight of faith (many scriptures portray the Christian and the church as being in a war. (Eph. 6:10ff; Rev. 17:14; 19:20) 8). Lay hold on eternal life (this is the reason we are called by the gospel). There is a definite article before faith and eternal life. 9). Confess the good confession (12) c. The charge to keep the commandment (13-14) d. The position of the one we serve (15,16) e. Commands to the rich (17-19) f. Paul s final charge to Timothy (20, 21)
Lesson three II Timothy 3 Max Patterson 1. Grievous or perilous times shall come. (1-17) a. Specific causes of these perilous times. (2-9) 1). Lovers of their own selves. 2). Covetous 3). Boasters 4). Proud 5). Blasphemers 6). Disobedient to parents 7). Unthankful 8). Unholy (2) 9). Without natural affection 10). Trucebreakers 11). False accusers 12). Incontinent 13). Fierce 14). Despisers of those that are good (3) 15). Traitors 16). Heady 17). Highminded 18). Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God (4) 19). Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: From such turn away (5) 20). They creep into houses and lead captive silly women laden with sins. 21). They are led away with divers lusts (6) 22). Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (7) An example: Jannes and Jambres 23). They resist the truth 24). They are men of corrupt minds 25). They are reprobate concerning the faith (8) 26). They shall proceed no further (9) b. Timothy has faithfully stood with Paul (10-12) Timothy has known Paul s: 1). Teaching 2). Manner of life 3). Purpose 4). Faith 5). Longsuffering 6). Love 7). Patience (10) 8). Persecution 9). Afflictions (11) 10). Yes, all faithful must endure these trials (12)
c. Evil men will wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived (13) d. Continue in what Paul and his mother and grandmother taught him. (14,15) 2. The inspiration of the scriptures. (16,17)