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Bible Study Notes on 1 Timothy


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Mathew Henry Commentary

1 Timothy


Author - Paul

1 Timothy is called a PASTORAL LETTER, for instructing the pastoral care of churches.

Webster's Dictionary!

What are other pastoral letters?

Recipient - Timothy

Timothy was in Ephesus at the time he received the letter. He was in LEADERSHIP over the CHURCH AT EPHESUS.

Timothy's Background

Timothy was from Lystra, down the road from the metropolis, Ephesus,

(both towns are now in modern Turkey) Acts 16:1-3, and 2 Tim. 1:5

-- FATHER WAS A GREEK, not a believer(?)

MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER BELIEVERS What were their names?

See, 2 Tim. 1:3-7

-- INSTRUCTED IN SCRIPTURE FROM CHILDHOOD, 2 Tim.

1:5; and 3:14-16.

-- ASSISTED PAUL IN EVANGELISM in Macedonia and Achaia Ac. 17:14-15, 18:5 Look at Map.

-- Was with Paul during Paul's 1st Roman imprisonment. Php. 1:1 Col. 1:1, Phm. 1

-- Named as CO-SENDER OF 6 OF PAUL'S LETTERS

-- May have been with Paul in Rome when Paul was executed 2 Tim. 4:9, 21

-- Himself IMPRISONED Heb. 13:23

-- Was never called in Scripture an overseer, but may be seen as a type of apostolic representative.

What is an apostle? Webster's Dictionary!

Chapter 1


Warning against false teachers v.3-11

Heresy 3-7

purpose of law 8-11

Paul an example of God's grace 12-17

PURPOSE OF LETTER - TO ENCOURAGE TIMOTHY 18-20

Heretics (false teacher) at Ephesus:

-- Teach false doctrines What are doctrines? Webster's Dictionary!

-- Apparently, developed teachings using Jewish myths over genealogies, etc. as the source of the teachings.

Geneaologies, themselves, were not new to the Jews, but the problem was how these teachers used them. The Jews and other peoples have records of genealogies. They are in the OT and in the NT, as well.

-- encouraged ascetic practices, or denial of the body, cf. 4:3

-- a false teaching appears to be GNOSTIC in nature. Webster's Dictionary!

Gnosticism has a dualism between the Spiritual realm (good) vs. material realm, flesh (evil), therefore, salvation could only be attained by an ESCAPE from the evil body.

Salvation was on the basis of some 'knowledge' (Gk.: gnosis), cf. with 1 John's heresy

-- sought financial gain 6:5

-- thought of themselves as teachers of the law

16 God's UNLIMITED PATIENCE toward Paul, an example to us all.

18 Prophecies about Timothy, giving a plan for his life and ministry

19 "HOLD ON to the faith" Timothy

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