Bible Commentaries
1 Timothy 1

Verse 1

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Savior, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;

1. Commandment - Are there commands for us to obey? Is there a danger to those who choose not to obey a command from God?

2. Hope - What is hope? How many people have true hope as the Bible describes the term?

Verse 2

2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

1. "Son in the faith" - In the Catholic Church, the priest is called "Father" as a religious title - Is this biblical? What is the difference in a priest and Paul?

2. Timothy - Who is Timothy? What nationality is he? How old is he? How does Paul feel about this man? Can he be trusted?

Verse 3

3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

1. Charge - What is a charge as used in this verse? Can we "charge" people today?

2. No other doctrine - How many doctrines are there? How can you tell if a teaching is true or false? Can there be false doctrine within the church?

Verse 4

4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

1. Fables - What are fables? Do we have to deal with fables today? When you hear the word "fable" what stories come to mind?

2. Genealogies - Should we be interested in our heritage, lineage and genealogy? Why was Paul speaking against such here? What was wrong with discussing their blood line and ancestors?

3. Godly edifying - What is edifying? How many kinds of edifying are there? What would make an edification godly or ungodly?

Verse 5

5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

1. Conscience - What is our conscience? Can we trust our conscience? Is it a reliable guide for our behavior? Should we ever violate or go against our conscience?

2. Unfeigned - What does this word mean? How can our faith be feigned? Can you think of some areas of religion that are often feigned?

Verse 6

6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;

1. Vain - What is the meaning of this word? List some things in our life, worship and service to God that could be vain.

2. Jangling - What does this refer to? Have you ever known of one in the church who jangled?

Verse 7

7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

1. Teachers - What are the duties of a teacher? What are the Biblical qualifications required?

2. Affirm - Is our faith affirmed? How is it affirmed? Where would you need to look for affirmation of our faith?

Verse 8

8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;

1. The law - What is "the law" mentioned in this verse? It this law binding on us today? Does this law include the Ten Commandments?

2. Use it - How can we "use" the law? Can you think of a time when Paul used the law? Should Christians use the law?

Verse 9

9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

1. Righteous man - What is "righteous" as used in the New Testament? Is any one here today - righteous? What qualities would you look for to find a righteous man?

2. Disobedient - What is required to be disobedient? How many people are disobedient to God? Are there people who are not disobedient to God?

3. Ungodly - What would one do to be called ungodly? What does this term describe?

4. Unholy - How is unholy different from ungodly? List some actions that are unholy.

5. Profane - What does this word mean? Name some profane people in the Bible. What made them profane?

6. Murderers, manslayers - What is included in the prohibition not to kill? Does this include: abortion, euthanasia, war, accident, "living will", suicide?

Verse 10

10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

1. Whoremongers - Who are whoremongers? Are there any of these people in the church today?

2. Defile themselves with mankind - To what sins does this phrase have reference? Are there people in our world who defile themselves?

3. Menstealers - Does this word prohibit kidnapping? Dose this only deal with the stealing of slaves from another's plantation? Are there other ways that we could be menstealers?

4. Liars - What is a lie? Are there times when it is OK to lie? Are there degrees to lying? Does God accepts some forms of lying? It is a lie to "just not tell the whole truth"? It is a lie to tell a half-truth?

5. Perjured persons - Who are perjured persons? How does one become a perjured person?

6. Any other thing - What else could Paul have put here? Compare to the list of "works of the flesh" ( Gal_5:1-26 ) and the phrase - and such like.

7. Contrary - Name some things that can be contrary. Can people be contrary?

8. Sound Doctrine - What makes a doctrine sound? What does "sound" mean in this passage? What would make a teaching, or a teacher, unsound?

Verse 11

11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

1. Gospel - What is the meaning of this word? What is the good news about Jesus that we need to preach?

2. Committed - Should Christians be committed to Christ? List some others areas of our life that demand commitment. Does the Bible require "total commitment" as practiced in the Boston Movement?

3. Trust - Who can you trust? How do you get trust? Is trust to be earned? How can trust be regained after it is lost? List some things we should not trust. Then list some things that we should trust.

Verse 12

12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

1. Enabled - Are Christians enabled? What are we able to do? What limitations are keeping us from being enabled?

2. Into the ministry - Are preacher to be ordained? How was Paul put into the ministry? Was Timothy put into the ministry? If a man today wanted to be put into the ministry, what would you need to do?

Verse 13

13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

1. Blasphemer - What is the meaning of this word? Is this the "unpardonable sin" Jesus spoke about? Can one be forgiven of this sin? How do people commit this sin today?

2. Persecutor - Have you ever suffered persecution because of your faith? Is there persecution in the world today?

3. Injurious - How does this differ from the persecutor mentioned above? Is this a less serious offense?

4. Ignorantly - Is ignorance a valid excuse for sin? What if one "messes up" their life ignorantly? Can they still obey God and go to heaven?

5. Unbelief - What is unbelief? Is there a difference between unbelief and atheism? Can Christians be guilty of unbelief?

Verse 14

14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

1. Exceeding abundant - How much does God supply of our needs? When it comes to salvation, is there just enough grace to "sneak" into heaven?

2. In Christ Jesus - How does one get into Christ? What are the advantages of being in Christ? How can you tell if one is in Christ or out of Christ?

Verse 15

15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

1. Faithful saying - Did your parents share with you some "faithful sayings" that were helpful to you? What does Paul mean by stating that this is a "faithful saying"? Does he mean that other statements are not faithful?

2. To save sinners - What was the primary mission and purpose of Christ coming to earth?

3. Chief - Does the world have "too many chiefs" and not enough indians? Is this a problem for the church? Are there some areas of life that we should not seek to be chief?

Verse 16

16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

1. Mercy - On the day of judgment do you want Justice, Mercy or Grace? Does God offer mercy to the lost? Is there a time when mercy will end? Will there be mercy shown on the day of judgment?

2. Longsuffering - How long must we suffer? When we have suffered a long, long, long time - what then?

3. Pattern - Is the Bible a pattern, blueprint, for us to follow? Does the New Testament present a pattern for the church to follow in - salvation, worship, organization and work?

4. Life everlasting - How long is eternity? Will hell last any longer than heaven? Will those who are lost be "alive"? What does "life everlasting" promise for Christians?

Verse 17

17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

1. King - Who is our King? Is he now King? Should we pray "Thy Kingdom come"? How would you respond to those who teach that Christ will return to earth and set up an earthly kingdom for 1,000 years?

2. Immortal - Who is immortal? When do we get immortality? Do the wicked get immortality?

3. Invisible - Does faith require us to see the invisible? Name some invisible things.

4. Only wise God - Does this mean: [A] God is the only one with wisdom? [B] That God is only wise and not part of Him is unwise? [C] That He is the only God who is wise and that all other gods are unwise?

5. Honor - List some places and people we should honor. How do we honor our parents? How can we honor our government and elected officials? Must we honor the president when we disagree with his policy?

6. Glory - To whom does glory belong? How can we offer glory?

7. Amen - What does this word mean? How was this word used in the early church? Why do we end our prayers with "Amen"?

Verse 18

18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

1. Charge - What is the difference in a command and a charge?

2. Commit - Must we be committed to the Lord? How can you tell if one is committed to the cause of Christ?

3. Prophecies - What is prophecy? Name some prophets in the New Testament. Are there prophets in the church today?

4. War - In what kind of war are Christians involved? Who is to fight this war - elders, preachers, deacons, every member?

Verse 19

19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away, concerning faith have made shipwreck;

1. Conscience - What is a conscience? Is our conscience a safe guide? Why do many people rely on their conscience?

2. Put away - Can we put away our faith? What causes people to lose their faith in God?

3. Shipwreck - How does this word describe the spiritual condition of these people? What does this word teach about "once saved, always saved"?

Verse 20

20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

1. Delivered - How can we deliver one to Satan? If we deliver one to Satan, are we judging?

2. Satan - What are some other names for Satan? It Satan a real person? Does Satan have power today?

3. Blaspheme - What does this word mean? List some ways that people can blaspheme God. It this sin unpardonable?