1 Timothy 1:1-2 – Paul and Timothy

For the next few weeks we will be looking at the book of 1 Timothy using notes written by Rev. Daniel Hemken, minister of Hebron RPCNA. The Book of Acts ends with the Apostle Paul imprisoned in Rome. Piecing together evidence from his letters and from the testimony of the early Church fathers, we learn that Paul was released from this imprisonment and went on another missionary journey which included visits to many of the churches he had founded in Asia Minor, Macedonia and Greece. It was during this journey that he preached the Gospel in Crete, where he left Titus to organize churches. He also visited the church in Ephesus (in modern-day Turkey), where he left Timothy to serve as pastor while he went on to Macedonia. It is from Macedonia that he writes this first letter to Timothy.

I Timothy is (along with II Timothy and Titus) one of Paul’s “Pastoral Epistles” – letters written to pastors whom the Apostle had trained for ministry. As he begins the letter, Paul identifies himself as “an Apostle of Christ Jesus, by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,” demonstrating that God – particularly in the Person of Christ – has commissioned him to be His Apostle – a messenger (literally “sent one”) who speaks with the authority of the King who sent him. It is with that authority that Paul can greet Timothy with “grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”

He addresses the letter to “Timothy my true child in the faith.” Timothy can be called Paul’s true child for several reasons, including: 1) He came to faith in Christ as a result of Paul’s having preached the Gospel in his home region of Galatia, 2) He has faithfully followed and obeyed Paul’s teachings, 3) He has humbly served Christ by following Paul’s example.

Are you a true child of the Apostles in the faith? Have you heard and believed the Good News of salvation by God’s grace, alone, working through faith, alone, in Jesus Christ, alone? Have you obeyed the teachings of Scripture? Do you humbly follow the example of Christ’s faithful servants who have gone before you?

Questions
1. What does it mean that Paul is an Apostle of Jesus Christ?
2. What are some ways in which Timothy was Paul’s “true child in the faith”?
3. How might you know if you are a “true child” like Timothy?

Prayer Points
1. Pray for assurance that you are a true child in the faith.
2. Use prayer points from your congregation.
3. Pray for family matters.