DO GOD'S WORK BY FAITH

Passage: 1 Timothy 1:1-11

Key verse: 5

NIV

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God(A) our Savior(B) and of Christ Jesus our hope,(C)

2 To Timothy(D) my true son(E) in the faith:

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.(F)

Timothy Charged to Oppose False Teachers

3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia,(G) stay there in Ephesus(H) so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines(I) any longer 4 or to devote themselves to myths(J) and endless genealogies.(K) Such things promote controversial speculations(L) rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart(M) and a good conscience(N) and a sincere faith.(O) 6 Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers(P) of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.(Q)

8 We know that the law is good(R) if one uses it properly. 9 We also know that the law is made not for the righteous(S) but for lawbreakers and rebels,(T) the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine(U) 11 that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.(V)

Read full chapter
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Greeting

1 Paul, (A)an apostle of Christ Jesus (B)by command of (C)God our Savior and of Christ Jesus (D)our hope,

2 To Timothy, (E)my true child in the faith:

(F)Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Warning Against False Teachers

3 (G)As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not (H)to teach any different doctrine, 4 nor (I)to devote themselves to myths and endless (J)genealogies, which promote (K)speculations rather than the stewardship[a] from God that is by faith. 5 The aim of our charge is love (L)that issues from a pure heart and (M)a good conscience and (N)a sincere faith. 6 Certain persons, by (O)swerving from these, have wandered away into (P)vain discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, (Q)without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

8 Now we know that (R)the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 understanding this, that the (S)law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers,[b] liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to (T)sound[c] doctrine, 11 in accordance with (U)the gospel of the glory of (V)the blessed God (W)with which I have been entrusted.

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. 1 Timothy 1:4 Or good order
  2. 1 Timothy 1:10 That is, those who take someone captive in order to sell him into slavery
  3. 1 Timothy 1:10 Or healthy
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

INTRODUCTION TO 1 TIMOTHY

Paul called Timothy 'my true son in the faith.' He led him to Christ during his first missionary journey, when he pioneered the church in Lystra, Timothy's hometown. Timothy's mother and grandmother were Jewish Christians; his father was Greek. When Paul stopped by Lystra on his second evangelistic journey, he invited Timothy to join him as an intern shepherd. Timothy's training in obedience began when Paul circumcised him. Later, Paul wrote the Philippians (2:19-22): 'I hope...to send Timothy to you...I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But...Timothy has proved himself...'

1 Timothy was written to Timothy after Paul went to Macedonia, leaving him to shepherd the church in Ephesus. Some of Timothy's flock were older and more experienced than he. But Paul exhorted him to lead by love, and by setting an example in speech and life, in purity and in faith. A leader must continue to grow in faith and in love. Two times Paul told Timothy to 'fight the good fight of faith' (1Ti 1:18; 6:12).

Paul gave advice about false teachers, and some specific directions about appointing and training leaders.

1. The goal of this command is love (1-7)

Genuine love comes from a pure heart, a good conscience and sincere faith. There were certain men in the church in Ephesus who wanted to show off their 'superior' knowledge by teaching something different from the Bible. Their teaching promoted controversies rather than God's work, so Paul told Timothy to command these men to stop such false teaching. God's work is done by faith and love--not by arguing.

2. The law is for lawbreakers (8-11)

The law is good and necessary, for man has a sinful nature. The law was given to restrain and limit that sinful nature so that people might live together in peace. When men receive the glorious gospel, they are changed within and can live according to the inner leading of the Spirit rather than the outer constraints of the law.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for entrusting me with your glorious gospel. Come and dwell within me and lead in your love. Help me to do your work by faith.

One Word: God's work is done in love