1 Timothy

I was flipping through the channels with my 2 youngest boys the other day when I came across one of the Christian channels. There was a poorly drawn cartoon rat on the screen eating cheese boldly in front of a family who was looking on in terror. It caught my attention so I stopped to see what was being said. The host of the show, a very well-known TV Evangelist, had a guest who was explaining what happens when people…

In the book of 1 Timothy, Paul is writing in a fatherly way to his young protégé Timothy.  He has reminded him of the importance of watching out for false teachers and holding fast to the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He also reiterates the value of prayer and the qualifications for those who would be leaders in the household of God. In chapter 4, Paul calls Timothy to live an exemplary Christian life so that those in his care…

“Train yourself for godliness” I Tim. 4:7 Most people, when they think of living the Christian life, would not compare it to a rigorous program like that which athletes follow in order to achieve mastery in athletic prowess. Yet that is exactly what Paul does when writing to his young son in the faith, Timothy. Paul’s use of the word ‘train’ in the text is derived from the Greek word gymnazo from which we get our word gymnasium or gymnastics.…

“An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach” (I Timothy 3:2, CSV). A good friend of mine, a brilliant Bible teacher, once made the statement, “What a man builds with his gift he destroys with his character.” That was uttered during a time when many well-known television evangelists and preachers were exposed for sexual misconduct, financial misgivings, and ill-treatment of staff. His point was that while many of these ministers were powerfully gifted individuals who built their entire ministries on their…

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, or kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (I Timothy 2:1-2). One thing revealed in the apostle Paul’s writings is how broadly he desires believers to pray with respect to the various aspects of life in which they find themselves. Here in this text, Paul instructs his…

As we make the switch from Revelation to First Timothy, we really have to switch our brains and our way of understanding these books. Revelation was written in an apocalyptic style with its strange references, visions and symbolism. The epistles are simply letters, written from real people to other real people – friends to friends, you could say.  They are generally much more down to earth, relational and instructional. That is exactly what we find as Paul writes to his spiritual son, Timothy.…