THE CHARGE CONCERNING SOUND DOCTRINE
I TIMOTHY LESSON 1
By E. L. Bynum
Lesson: I Timothy 1:1-20
Memory Verse: I Timothy 1:15
Introduction:
The books of Titus, I & II Timothy have come to be known as Pastoral Epistles; because they were written to pastors and give advice concerning their duties in the church. However, they are rich in truth that may be used by all Christians.
The Pauline authorship is accepted by all fundamental believers. “The unbroken tradition of the Church until the nineteenth century was to regard the Pastorals as the work of Paul and therefore authentic.” Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, vol. 14, p. 15. Of course they were inspired by God as in the case of all of the Scripture.
The date of this Epistle: This is not easy to decide, since the book of Acts does not pretend to give the complete life of Paul. Acts closes with Paul in Rome, where it is believed he died. Before going to Rome he expressed a plan to go to Spain (Romans 15:24). No record of that journey is found in the Bible. Many conservative scholars have accepted the strong tradition that Paul was imprisoned twice in Rome. If this be true, then I Timothy was probably written some time between the two terms in prison. A conservative date, if this was the case, would be about 65 A.D. However, the important thing about the Epistle is the message it contains.
Timothy was assigned to the Church at Ephesus by the Apostle Paul. Ephesus was devoted to the worship of Diana, the patroness of sexual instinct. The lascivious images of Diana helped to promote sexual immorality of all kinds (Acts 19). It was not an easy thing to pastor in the midst of such wickedness. It is much the same in our nation today.
I. THE SALUTATION. vs. 1-2
A. Paul The Writer. v. 1
1. His office — “an apostle of Jesus Christ.”
2. His authority — “by the commandment of God.”
3. His hope — the “Lord Jesus Christ.”
B. Timothy The Receiver. v. 2
1. His relationship — “my son in the faith.” See Acts 16:1-3; and II Timothy 1:5.
2. His blessing — “Grace, mercy, and peace.”
3. Its source — The Father and the Son.
II. THE CHARGE FOR SOUND DOCTRINE. vs. 3-11
A. The Pastor and Unsound Teachers. vs. 3-4
1. He is responsible to serve where placed. v. 3
2. He is responsible to enforce sound doctrine. v. 3. “Charge” is a military term, to give strict orders from superior officer. Sound doctrine is a necessity in the church. Doctrine that is sound is simply teaching what the scriptures teach. v. 10; 4:6; 11 Timothy 3:16
3. Sound doctrine is the only permissible doctrine. v. 3
a. There are 32 references to “doctrine,” “teach,” “teacher ” “teaches,” and “teaching” in I & II Timothy and Titus.
b. The only true doctrine is that found in the Bible.
(1) It is sound doctrine. v. 10; II Timothy 4:3; Titus 1:9; 2:1.
(2) It is godly doctrine. I Timothy 6:3.
(3) It is sound words. II Timothy 1:13.
(4) It is sound in the faith. Titus 1:13; 2:2.
(5) It is sound speech. Titus 2:8. Unfortunately many prefer vain jangling. I Timothy 1:6. This is true in teaching, preaching, and in music. Many songs teach no doctrine, and many even teach false doctrine.
4. Note Paul’s usage of “some.” v. 3; 1:6; 1:19; 4:1; 5:15.
5. What was to be avoided? v. 4. Myths and endless genealogies which result in questions and useless controversy. Cults and many others are thus engaged today. “Some love the meat; some love to pick the bones.”–John Bunyan
6. Give heed to that which builds up and is of faith. v. 4
B. The Pastor And Unsound Legalists. vs. 5-7
1. The end of the commandment is charity. v. 5. See John 13:34; 15:12; and Galatians 6:2. Note its 3-fold source.
a. Out of a pure heart. Purity a necessity.
b. Out of a good conscience. One that is self judged.
(1) Please note “good conscience.” The conscience should tell us when we have done right or wrong. Romans 2:14-15.
(2) However, the conscience may be defiled. Titus 1:15.
(3) Sin can harden the conscience so that it becomes seared as with a hot iron. I Timothy 4:2
c. Out of faith that is without pretense.
2. Some have turned aside to idle and useless talk. v. 6
3. These are more interested in the law than the gospel. v. 7
4. They were ignorant, which is terrible for a teacher. v. 7
C. The Pastor and Unsound Use of the Law. vs. 8-11
1. The law is good if used rightly. v. 8
2. Who the law is made for. vs. 9-10. “Defile themselves with mankind” is the Greek word “arsenokoites” which is homosexuals. Please note 14 kinds of people the law is made for in vs. 9-10. He points out the violation of five of the commandments. Exodus 20:12-16
3. The purpose of the gospel. v. 11. The law cannot save. Only the gospel saves. Romans 1:16, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
4. It was committed to Paul as a trust. v. 11
III. THE CHALLENGE FOR SOUND CONVERSION. vs. 12-17
A. Paul The Sinner Saved And Commissioned. vs. 12-15
1. Paul put into the ministry by the Lord. v. 12. Christ enabled him, by saving him by the gospel (v. 11), and equipping him. Christ counted him faithful.
2. Paul’s pre-Christian state, and what God did for him. v. 13
3. All blessings have their fountainhead in the grace of our Lord. v. 14. Notice that grace was “exceeding abundant.”
4. The reason for Christ’s coming. v. 15
5. Paul’s confession of his past sin. v. 15
B. Paul’s Salvation an Example For Others. vs. 16-17
1. His former condition and conversion an example to all. v. 15
2. Paul’s experience a pattern for others. v. 16
3. Paul’s doxology. v. 17
IV. THE CHARGE TO THE PASTOR/SOLDIER. vs. 18-20
A. The Charge To Timothy. vs. 18-19a
1. He is to war a good warfare. v. 18. II Timothy 2:4
2. He is to hold faith and good conscience. v. 19a. See 3:9; and Ephesians 6:10-17. The ministry is no easy game, but is serious business.
B. The Warning About Bad Examples. vs. 19b-20
1. Some have not held faith and good conscience. v.19b
2. These have shipwrecked faith. v. l9b
3. Some are named. v. 20; II Timothy 2:17-18. Most people today do not want you to name the apostates. See II Timothy 2:16-18
4. These have been turned over to Satan for education. v. 20. See I Corinthians 5:5; I Corinthians 11:30-32; and I John 5:16. This was church discipline. The disciplined ones lose the protection of the church. They are to learn from this. The church is to proclaim the truth, and it is also to defend the church from false doctrine. I Timothy 4:1
STUDY QUESTIONS
1. Name the Pastoral Epistles and tell why they are thus named.
2. Give the approximate date of I Timothy.
3. Why had Paul instructed Timothy to remain at Ephesus?
4. What is the main theme of chapter 1?
5. What was Timothy to demand or charge of the teachers?
6. Some had disobeyed the charge and done what?
7. When is the law good?
8. Who is the law not made for, and who is it not made for?
9. How did Paul get into the ministry?
10. What was he like before his salvation?
11. What is the faithful saying of this chapter?
12. Why did Christ come into the world?