1 Timothy 1:1-11

1 Timothy 1:1-11 … Here, we begin a new book and a new section of the New Testament. We’ve just finished what are called the “Prison Epistles” because Paul wrote them during his first imprisonment in Rome (60-62 A.D.) while awaiting his appeal to Caesar and from whom he ultimately received clemency. According to Church history, Paul then resumed his ministry for several important years. In fact, it was during this time that he wrote this group of letters (1  & 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon), which are called the “Pastoral Epistles” because they are addressed to pastors or, in the case of Philemon, to a church leader. We begin with Timothy who was a young pastor, who Paul first met in Lystra (central Turkey … Acts 16:1). Paul selected Timothy to accompany him as he founded churches in Asia and Europe. We learn here in 1 Timothy that, after the first Rome imprisonment, Paul had assigned Timothy to shepherd the large church at Ephesus, an important crossroads of the day. The principal concern as the letter opens is to guard the Gospel from encroachment of various and local cultural biases, which others would try to import into the church. Motivated by love (1 Timothy 1:5), Timothy was instructed to preach the true and sincere Gospel. It’s very apparent from 1:6 that this is timeless instruction. Too many of our churches today do turn aside to fruitless discussion in sermons and classes when there is so much in Scripture that is never taught and never mentioned. Paul also points out in this passage that the Law, which is superseded in Christ, still performs an important function, that of revealing sinful behavior (1 Timothy 1:8-11), revealing and exposing sin. That’s a point that Paul also made in his great doctrinal letter to the Romans (Romans 3:20) … through the law we become conscious of sin.