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    I TIMOTHY

Background: Written after Paul's first imprisonment between 6l-64 A.D.,
from Macedonia to Timothy who was located at Ephesus. This was between Paul's first
and second imprisonments.

    The purpose was to instruct Timothy on his pastoral duties. Acts 16:1--
Timothy was a native of Lystra; half Jew and half Greek. He was circumcised by Paul
earlier. He traveled a great deal with Paul. II Tim. 4:9. He was told to come to
Rome just prior to Paul's death. Tradition says he was martyred under Nero.

    Evidently Paul returned to Ephesus later in variance to his instruction to
the Ephesian elders in Acts 20.

    Ephesus was one of the largest Churches of God, and Paul evidently dropped
Timothy off there and went on into Macedonia after his first imprisonment.

CHAPTER 1.
V.1 -    Paul giving instruction and orders shows his apostolic authority.
2 -        Timothy -- son in the faith, not physical son.
3 -        Paul was in Macedonia most likely.
            Evidently Jewish influence on genealogies, etc., came in.
5          Result or purpose of the commandment is love (Rom. 10:4); not human love,
            but God's (I John 5:3, Acts 5:32, Rom. 5:5).
6 -        Some have fallen away and were all mixed up.
7 -        Apparently they were Jews.
8 -        Rom. 7:12,14. Using it legally according to God3s now spiritual dispensation.
9 -        There are none righteous (Rom. 3:11-13,23) so the law applies to all men.
12 -      Paul thanked God for calling him to this trust.
15        Paul realized that during his past life he had been chief sinner. Paul had
            persecuted the true Church. He was a killer. Principle is that of those
            sinners who had been saved Paul felt he was first to be saved as an example
            of God's mercy. Paul's past didn't merit it. This is a good example of God's
            mercy regardless of past sins.
17 -      II Cor. 4:4. Satan is the god of this age, but here Christ is called the
            king of the ages.
18 -     Notice the personal feeling Paul showed toward Timothy. Apparently some of
            the prophets may have showed Timothy his part in the work of God.
20 -     Satan, god of this world, has control over those without the Church (Acts
           26:18, II Tim. 2:17, Rom. 6:16). They were doing contrary to what they knew
           was right. They were no longer under God's protection and Satan had full
           charge to tempt them. If they would repent during this time they could be
           brought back into the Church.

CHAPTER 2.
V.1 -    We are to pray for all men, but specifically for leaders and rulers so that
            God's work can be carried out in peace and order.
4 -        All are to be given their chance in accordance with God's plan. Implies a
            knowledge of the truth may be sufficient for salvation (II Pet. 3:9). God
            wills (desires) all to be saved.
5 -        Christ was a man during His earthly life.
7 -        Paul shows he was called, he didn't decide himself. He realized he had been
            called as an apostle.
8 -        Lift up your hands when you pray, look up toward God, and it will help you
            to be more alert. You can't pray as you should when you are bitter and
            jealous.
9 -        Shamefacedness should be modesty. It is the use these things are put to --
            don't be overdoing it -- be modest.
10        Their outward adornment is to be good works.
12 -      Women are not to preach in church or elsewhere.
15 -      Note three things: (1) Through a woman the Messiah was born, thus she can
            have salvation, (2) She will also be saved from death in the midst of child-
            bearing, (3) Other commentaries show it may mean if she fulfills her duty
            as a mother she shall receive salvation, but this is not a logical supposition
            because many righteous women can be saved without bearing children. This
            implies they won't be saved unless they bear children, which is absurd.

CHAPTER 3. (Qualifications of an Elder.)

V.1 -    It is a good thing to desire to be an elder.
2          Polygamy definitely forbidden. Temperate, sober, the ability to teach.
3 -        Not argumentative all the time.
4-         Not that they are to be squelched, but they are to be disciplined.
6 -        Novice -- a new convert, that of a few months. In Acts when Paul ordained
            the elders on his first mission, they evidently were Jewish proselytes who
            understood the Old Testament well. Condemnation of the devil -- puffed up
            in pride and vanity.
7 -        Not a matter of agreeing with your religion, but respected for the abilities
            you do possess.
ll. -       Rom. 16:1. Diakoneos. Women deaconesses.
15 -      Living church -- living God in contrast with idols. The true church will
            always be the pillar of truth. God reveals the truth through the church as
            a whole.
16 -      The mystery of Christ being born into flesh. Justified in (in union with)
             the Spirit and/or justified by being changed into spirit, the actua1 change
             itself.

'CHAPTER 4.

V. 2 -   "Conscience seared" -- even their own consciences know better.
3 -        "Forbidding to marry" -- a doctrine of demons which leads to all manner of
            perversions. Abstaining from meats -- this doctrine was even in Rome at
            Paul's time, and Adventism has it today. Abstaining from those meats God
            created to be received listed in Lev. ll., Deut. l4. John 17:17-- "thy
            word is truth".
5 -        It has been set apart (sanctified) by God and therefore we are to pray for
            God's blessing upon it (I John 5:l4).
8 -        Implies that physical exercise is good for building up your body in good
            shape to serve God. Profits for little (that is during this life). Devel--
            oping godliness (spiritual character) profits for all things plus eternal life.
9 -        That godliness is profitable for all things.
10 -      Not a dead idol but a living God. Savior in the sense that He has made
            salvation possible.
12 -      Teach respect for the office God has given you. Paul had known Timothy since
            about 49-50 A.D. This letter was written thirteen years later, so Timothy
            must have been about fifteen or sixteen years old when he first traveled
            with Paul, so now he must have been at least 28 or 29 years old. Even at this
            age people tend to look upon one's youth. He could be an example in his
            works though.
13 -      Keep busy in teaching and preaching.
14-       Through the laying on of hands the Spirit was given.
15 -      Work hard--have zeal. This applies to us also, that our progress may command
            the respect of others.
16 -      Be concerned with your own spiritual growth, for if you are slipping, how
            can you help others?

CHAPTER 5.

V. 1 -   Do not jump on an older man with big-cheese authority, respect his age.
            Do not exhort an older man over little things that come up, unless it is
            an outright sin.
2 -        This applies to women as well. Notice it doesn't say beseech, it says exhort
            them with respect if necessary. Never speak harshly to any superior. Be
            pure toward the women, as Timothy was unmiarried.
3 -        A widow with no one to support her.
if -        This is your Christian duty to help your parents.
6 -        A widow who lives wantonly is dead while she lives.
8 -        His own widows, and those of his own house. If a man can't support his
            family, he is worse than a heathen.
9 -        A special class of widows consecrated to Church service. Supported by the
            work. Widows old enough to go with the ministers to care for the sick, take
            care of the needy, do things the ministers did not have time to do. See
            Acts 9:36-42. These women had already proven themselves and were probably
            deaconesses.
11 -      Do not take the young ones in, because they will want to get married.
12 -      Condemnation-- forsaking their vow or calling.
13 -      Tendencies of younger women.
14 -      Paul was not against marriage; once a widow remembers her past life, there
            is the tendency to get mixed up in affairs with "Romeos".
15        Some of these younger widows.
16 -      The Church was not to be burdened with widows if members in the Church are
            living and able to take care of them.
17 -      The ministers who have an active part in the work are to be counted worthy
            of double honor. This honor is physical recompense. Verse 18 explains it.
            God evidently put this scripture in the Bible to show people that God's
            ministers should live well.
18 -      Paul says here that Luke's Gospel is scripture because this quote is taken
            from Luke 10:7.
19 -      Now Paul turns to the ministers not doing so well.
20 -      Sinning elders to be reproved before the other elders to make them realize
            what is going on and hear and fear; the Church need only be told.
21 -      Angels are watching over us even now. Do not fail to rebuke or correct the
            sinning elders.
22 -      Do not ordain any man that is not proven.
23 -      Fermented juice of the grape -- not grape juice. Wine would probably build
            us up more. Perhaps this was put in because he knew Timothy needed more
            strength or because Timothy had been fasting due to his many ordaining of
            elders.
24 -      Get to know a man before you ordain him, because the outward appearance
            deceives.
25 -      Look at the works for proof, not the personality.

CHAPTER 6.
V. 1 -   It was legal to own slaves, and they were not to despise their unconverted
            masters.
2          They should serve converted brethren all the more. God does not condemn
            slavery at all, but rather condones it.
3-         An arguer who says "Here is the way I look at it." This is the result of
            vanity and wanting to be the big cheese.
6 -        The peace of mind that comes with serving God with the things you have,
            not trying to gain material possessions.
9 -        One who just wants to gain material wealth.
10 -      The love of (over-desire, craving, lusting), not money itself, is a root of
            all evils. Basically, evil can be traced to almost any root stemming from
            this wrongful lust.
11 -      Don't just walk, run from it! Qualities of God, not fruits mentioned, so
            righteousness is mentioned first.
12 -      The Christian life is a battle.
14 -      Commandment God' s will. Second coming mentioned again.
16 -      Of all who was ever in human flesh. He dwells in God's presence.
18 -      Give financial help to those that need it.
20 -      That which God has given us toward eternal life.