343 - Paul’s First Letter to Timothy (Part 1)
- Gwen Diaz
- Dec 9, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 3
December 9 - Nº 343 1 Timothy 1:1 – 3:13
There is no record of Paul’s release from prison in Rome. However, we know from the book of Acts that he spent two years chained to a Roman guard. And in this letter that he wrote to Timothy, Paul indicates that after those two years, he was set free.
It is possible that Paul’s Jewish accusers never showed up for his trial before Caesar. In that case, after waiting the mandatory time, the charges would have been dropped and Paul would have been released.
We know that Paul began traveling again. In a letter to Timothy, he instructed his young apprentice to stay in Ephesus while he traveled to Macedonia to revisit the churches he had started in Asia Minor. This is sometimes referred to as Paul’s fourth missionary journey.
Paul had first met Timothy during his second missionary journey as he traveled through Galatia (see #305 - November 1). He had heard great reports about the young man and invited him to join the missionary team. From then on Paul and Timothy worked closely together. Paul called Timothy his “true son in the faith,” and he quickly became Timothy’s mentor. Later, when he wrote to the church in Philippi, Paul used Timothy as an example of a true servant (see #340 - December 6).
At some point, Paul left Timothy in Ephesus as his representative and the pastor of the church he had established there. Unfortunately, the previous leaders in that church had woven false teachings into the Gospel message. It was Timothy’s role to confront the corrupt teachers and guide the Ephesians back to the truth.
Paul’s letter was written to give Timothy personal advice on how to do this and to instruct him in some of the organizational issues he needed to address. The letter became a leadership manual for the Ephesian church (as well as all others).
The first and most vital instruction Paul gave was for the church to pray together. This would focus the congregation on God instead of on their own desires and differences, and it would remind them of what Jesus had done for them on the cross.
They were to pray for everyone, including those who ruled over them. (That’s because Paul knew that it was easier to live godly lives and share the Gospel message in a politically peaceful setting.) Paul also realized that as they learned to pray together, the men would no longer want to engage in the angry theological disputes that were now dividing the church. And the wealthy women would stop treating their meeting times as fashion shows. They would understand that their purpose was to worship God—not to impress other people.
Timothy was also instructed to confront these same women about their desires to take over the leadership of the church. Paul knew that they weren’t mature enough in their faith to do that. Just as Eve had led Adam into Satan’s deception, these women were evidently leading the Ephesian men to believe the false teachers who had infiltrated the church.
Paul gave Timothy a list of qualifications for church leaders. Both the elders and the deacons were to be known for their godly character qualities and integrity. They also needed to have healthy family relationships. After all, if they couldn’t manage their own families well, how could they be expected to lead God’s family—the Church?
Stop and think for a moment: what is the primary reason you attend church? or youth group? or Bible study?
Are you there to worship God and learn about Him?
Do you enjoy praying with other believers?
Or are you there for other reasons--like many of the believers in
Timothy's church were?
How would Paul evaluate the time you spend with other believers?
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