1 Timothy 1:1-11
Q.1. What did Timothy mean to Paul? How could Timothy hope to successfully advance the Gospel? – (1 Tim.1:1-7)
Paul was well acquainted with Timothy’s family. He led Timothy to the Lord on his second missionary trip. He called him – … my true child in the faith (1 Tim.1:2). He was Paul’s disciple – the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek (c.f. Acts 16:1). Paul knew that Timothy had been introduced and grounded in the Scriptures from both his mother and his grandmother (c.f. 2 Tim.1:5; 3:14-15). He trusted Timothy to correct those who had a faulty understanding of the Gospel – … furthering the administration of God which is by faith (1 Tim.1:4). This would be a difficult assignment for the inexperienced and fearful young leader. Paul advised him to stick to the game-plan – … the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith (1 Tim.1:5). His success would not rely on his personality, but on his steadfastness when there were those – wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions (1 Tim.1:7).
Q.2. Why did God give the Law? What place does the Law have in helping believers to grow? – (1 Tim.1:8-11)
Paul clearly saw a place for the Law and explained that there is a right and wrong way to apply it – … we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully (1 Tim.1:8). How do we apply the Law now that the Gospel has superseded it? (c.f. Heb.8:7-13). Paul declared – realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners … (1 Tim.1:9 c.f. Gal.3:24-25). He then described many different kinds of sinners who are candidates for the Law, in order to lead them to repentance and faith in Christ (c.f. 1 Cor.6:9-11). D.L. Moody, when sharing why he preached the Law at his evangelistic rallies, wrote – ‘God, being a perfect God, had to give a perfect Law; and the Law was given, not to SAVE men, but to MEASURE them. I want you to understand this clearly, because hundreds of thousand stumble at this point. They try to save themselves by trying to keep the Law; but the Law was never meant for men to save themselves by.’ The Law (i) reveals us our sin (Rom.3:20) – (ii) it convinces us that we are without excuse (Rom.3:19) – (iii) it helps us conclude that we are guilty (Heb.9:27-28) – (iv) it is our schoolmaster to show us we need a Saviour (Gal.3:24). Paul summed it up – Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God (Rom.3:19). This inability to excuse our plight before a holy God is the prelude to repentance and faith in God. Having come to Christ, we must stand firm in the freedom that Christ purchased to set us free (Gal.5:1). However, neither should we turn this freedom from ‘salvation by Law-keeping’ into an opportunity to pamper the flesh (Gal.5:13). Jesus greatly simplified the Law this way – 37 … You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it,You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets” (Matt 22:37-40). This is the best guide to help us to grow and know how to please God. Is there a legitimate way to apply the Law? James made it clear that we benefit from being informed about what the Law teaches (Jms.2:8-13 c.f. Rom.15:4; 2 Tim.3:16-17). Good works never saved anyone (Eph.2:8-9).