3-NT 16 1 Timothy

q N. T. SURVEY 2019 1 TIMOTHY Lesson #16 PREPARATION FOR LESSON: Read 1 Timothy 1 - 6 BACKGROUND When Paul visited Lystra on his first missionary journey, c. 47 AD, a young teenager named Timothy listened to Paul’s message. Altho his father was Greek, his Jewish mother and grandmother had trained him in the Old Testament. With this background, he believed and put his faith in Jesus. Some 3 years later, when Paul and Silas went thru Lystra on the 2nd trip, Paul asked Timothy to join them. Timothy was about 20 years old. For the last 13 years, Timothy has worked with Paul, helping him, delivering messages or letters and encouraging churches that Paul was not able to visit. He also helped Paul when he was in Rome under house arrest. Paul’s letters and early church writers tell us that after 2 years under house arrest, Paul was set free. Over the next 3 years he revisited the churches he started and began a new work on the island of Crete. When he hears the Ephesian church is in chaos, he leaves Titus in Crete and travels north to Ephesus. Paul spends some 10 months dealing with the problem of false teaching. He removes the church leaders and some of the teachers. When a church in Macedonia needs help, Paul leaves Timothy in charge and travels west. Timothy knows what he should do; Paul has already instructed him verbally. But he is comparatively young - around 35. Paul knows he is timid by nature and has never been a church leader. Older people in the church, as well as the false teachers, are going to challenge his authority. Paul writes this letter from Macedonia in the fall of 63 AD. He wants to encourage him, to give him written authority and let him know what is expected of church members and leaders. It is one of 3 books known as the “Pastoral Letters,” (1st, 2nd Timothy and Titus). THEME Teaching for Timothy, a church leader OUTLINE Conduct of church members 1 - 3 • Men teachers 1 • Men and women prayer leaders; women teachers 2 • Church leaders 3 Conduct of Timothy 4-6 • Faithful in his message • Faithful in his personal life • Faithful in his leadership of… …older and younger people, widows, church leaders, servants …those who want money, those who have money EXPLANATIONS Chapter 1 Conduct of men teachers ◆ Several false teachers had been handed over to Satan by Paul. This was church discipline. ◆ They had no further leadership or authority, no participation in meals, or Holy Communion. Satan was allowed to bring suffering thru either problems, illness, or loss. The purpose was to correct. When they repented of their false teaching, they could be restored. Other false teachers are now to be stopped by Timothy. cf. 2 Tim. 2:17-18; 2 Tim. 4:14 Chapter 2 Conduct of church members in … ◆ Public prayer For government, so they have freedom to practice their faith. In one year, Rome will burn and persecution will start. Led by men and women with right motives and attitudes. When a woman has a life of godliness, a godly church will respect her and seek her leadership. ◆ This is instruction for a local church with a local problem. Paul restricts women only in the churches of Corinth and Ephesus, cities dominated by goddess worship. Women in these cities thought they could set the rules and be in charge; they were the final authority. In Ephesus, women have been deceived by wrong teaching and are now giving wrong teaching. 1 Tim. 5:11-17 Hellenist Jewish men of Ephesus have a conflict with strict Jewish men from Jerusalem about the role of women. Strict Jewish men believe all women are inferior and should never be taught. The majority of Paul’s statements are aimed at Jewish men who want to stop all teaching ministry of women. Teaching q 1 TIMOTHY Page 2 Chapter 2 Teaching continued Paul commands… • to learn and be taught in the church • women to learn in silence, a phrase used for Jewish rabbis in training This meant they showed wisdom and maturity by learning with an open mind and not resisting instruction. Women can learn and be considered like rabbis who are learning. • women to learn in submission - they are not to resist instruction or try to have authority over Timothy • women not to teach until they get adequate and correct instruction Paul repeats 1st century Jewish beliefs about Adam and Eve and then corrects them. • Adam was formed first, then Eve. Jewish men used this phrase to prove Adam had more power/influence. If that were true, Adam should have used his influence when Eve gave him the forbidden fruit. He should have told her she was deceived and had disobeyed God. Instead, it was Eve who influenced Adam. Since women have power to influence, they should be taught so they can benefit others. Paul points out that it was Eve who was deceived; Adam was not deceived. This means Adam understood what he was doing; his sin was intentional. Eve did not fully understand; her sin was not intentional. • Since Eve was deceived, it means all women are gullible. They cannot learn; they should not learn. Paul’s logic: if Adam sinned and had a right to learn, then Eve who sinned had a right to learn. • God knew women were inferior; that is why He created Eve as a sinner. Paul says, Eve was not created a sinner, but became a sinner; both started out innocent. Paul describes how women are respected by society vs. 15 she will be saved … if they continue … (Greek) Eve’s reputation was saved by her ability to bear children and be the mother of the human race. Thru her descendants Jesus would come to deal with sin and its effects. Ephesian women’s reputation will be saved if they continue in faith, love, holiness with self-control. Chapters 1 and 2 Timothy is to stop everyone from giving false teaching. • Men are to be stopped: like Adam they know what they are doing and therefore are more guilty. Chpt. 1 If they refuse to listen, they are to be handed over to Satan so they will learn not to blaspheme. If/when they learn, they can be restored to leadership and teaching. • Women are to be stopped: like Eve they have been deceived. Chpt. 2 They are not to be handed to Satan but to accept instruction from Timothy so they can learn. If/when they learn, they can be restored to leadership and teaching. Chapter 3 Choosing church leaders • Pastor/elder from the congregation is responsible for the spiritual welfare of the local church. Today the role of pastor and elders are separated. In small churches, if there are not enough or no older men, qualified to be elders and God has placed qualified older, godly women in a congregation, they should be temporarily used and seen as God’s gift to the local church. Gender is important. But Scripture shows that spiritual giftedness, spiritual maturity and humility are even more important. • Deacons, including men and women, are responsible for the administration of the local church. cf. Acts 6:1-6 Chapter 4-5 The source of false teaching is deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. 4:1 We are only to provide for family members who act responsibly and use their resources wisely. 5:8 Chapter 6 Instruction about money • Those who want money should not let money become their driving, consuming passion. 6:8-10 • Those who have money should enjoy it, use it wisely, and not lose sight of God’s priorities. 6:17-19 APPLICATION Men and Women of God We can only lead others as far as we have gone ourselves. This means, before we try to fix anyone else’s life, we first need to let God fix our life. When people think of us, would they give us the title “man of God; woman of God”? It is possible if we are willing to let God work in our lives; if we are willing to let Him change us. p