Post by foxjj on Jul 26, 2023 7:15:34 GMT
Instructions To Timothy. 1 Timothy Chapter 1 (NIV)
Timothy was the son of a Gentile father and a Jewish mother. He spent many years as a disciple of Paul as recorded in Acts. Paul wrote this instructional letter to aid Timothy in his responsibility as the overseer of the Church in Ephesus where myths and false doctrines had crept into the church:
“3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk.”
The early Church was mainly Jewish converts who had been brought up with the law as recorded in the Old Testament. In the following verse’s Paul addressed the right understanding of God’s Law:
“7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm. 8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9 We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11 that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.”
Paul then writes how Grace has changed his own life, bringing him from a persecutor of the early Church, to a servant of Jesus Christ:
“12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.”
In verse 15, Paul proclaims The Good News, which is that Jesus Christ took on flesh in order to die for sinners, of whom Paul claimed to be chief because of his background:
“15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners —of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Jesus validated the saving power of His death by rising physically from the dead. His resurrection proved there is life after physical death for all who have faith in His Redemptive Sacrifice. Notwithstanding, our New Spiritual Life begins at the time we accept His Atonement as 1 Peter 1:23 states: “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.”
Today, let us give thanks for Salvation through Jesus.
John Joseph Fox.
Timothy was the son of a Gentile father and a Jewish mother. He spent many years as a disciple of Paul as recorded in Acts. Paul wrote this instructional letter to aid Timothy in his responsibility as the overseer of the Church in Ephesus where myths and false doctrines had crept into the church:
“3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk.”
The early Church was mainly Jewish converts who had been brought up with the law as recorded in the Old Testament. In the following verse’s Paul addressed the right understanding of God’s Law:
“7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm. 8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9 We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11 that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.”
Paul then writes how Grace has changed his own life, bringing him from a persecutor of the early Church, to a servant of Jesus Christ:
“12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.”
In verse 15, Paul proclaims The Good News, which is that Jesus Christ took on flesh in order to die for sinners, of whom Paul claimed to be chief because of his background:
“15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners —of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Jesus validated the saving power of His death by rising physically from the dead. His resurrection proved there is life after physical death for all who have faith in His Redemptive Sacrifice. Notwithstanding, our New Spiritual Life begins at the time we accept His Atonement as 1 Peter 1:23 states: “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.”
Today, let us give thanks for Salvation through Jesus.
John Joseph Fox.
