Healthy Churches

Session 1 | “Healthy Churches”

1 Timothy 1:1-11

Jim Dalrymple | Ozark Christian College

1 Timothy 3:14–15 — I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.

1:3 Charge (also in 1:5) [military connotations in Gk. lit.]

● 1:5 The aim of our charge is love

● 1:18 This charge I entrust to you

● 4:11 Command and teach

● 5:7 Command these things as well

● 6:13 I charge you

● 6:17 Charge them not to be haughty

1:3 Not to teach any different doctrine [see Gal. 1:6]

*Notice how Paul qualifies "teaching/doctrine” here. When “teaching” is not qualified with a negative description it is likely referring to “teaching” in the positive sense.

1:4 Nor to devote themselves

● 3:8 Addicted to wine...

● 4:1 Devoting themselves to deceitful spirits & teachings of demons.

● 4:13 Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture.

1:4 Myths and endless genealogies

Option #1: Myths about spiritual beings (angels/demons/etc.)?

Option #2: Myths about human ancestry?

Conclusion: We don’t know enough to make a definitive claim.

1:4 Which promote speculations rather than stewardship from God...

1:5 The aim of our charge is love out of a...

● pure heart [contrasts “deceitful” in 4:1, 5:24]

● good conscience [contrasts “seared conscience” in 4:2]

● sincere (non-hypocritical) faith [contrasts “shipwrecked faith” in 1:19]

1:6 Swerving (cf. 6:21; 2 Tim 2:18) / Wandered away (cf. 5:15; 2 Tim 4:4)

● In contrast to the “aim” or “goal” of 1:5.

● Trace this theme: swerve, wander, wreck, reject, abandon, turn away.

1:6 Vain discussion – useless conversations/debates/arguments.

● Notice this in contrast with Scripture which is useful (2 Tim 3:16-17).

1:8 The law is good if one uses it lawfully (cf. Rom 1-8; Gal 3-4)

Lawless

Disobedient

Ungodly (opposite of the theme “godliness”)

Sinners

Unholy

Profane

Strike their fathers and mothers (5)

Murderers (6)

Sexually immoral (7)

Those who practice homosexuality (7)

Those who enslave others (8)

Liars (9)

Perjures (9)

Whatever else is contrary to sound/healthy doctrine

1:11 ...in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

1. It had Jewish elements.

● Law (1 Tim 1:7; Tit 3:9)

● Circumcision party (Tit 1:10)

● Myths (1 Tim 1:4; 4:7; Tit 1:14; 2 Tim 4:4)

● Genealogies (1 Tim 1:4; Tit 3:9)

2. It emphasized special knowledge (1 Tim 6:20).

● Similar emphasis by the Gnostics at a later period or at Qumran.

● It had an esoteric element.

3. It had elements of speculation/empty talk and controversy (1 Tim 1:4, 1:6; 6:4, 20; Tit 1:10; 3:9; 2 Tim 2:14, 16; 2:23).

4. It held that the resurrection had already occurred - “over-realized eschatology”

(2 Tim 2:18; cf. 2 Thess 2:2; 1 Cor 15:12; Acts 17:32)

5. It had ascetic elements [forbidding marriage and certain foods] (1 Tim 4:3-5; Tit

1:15; cf. 1 Cor 8:1). [Eschatological views melded with Judaism and Greek Dualism?]

6. It led to lies and a faulty moral conscience (1 Tim 4:2; Tit 1:15-16; 2 Tim 2:16; 3:1-6; 3:13).

7. It was motivated by :money: (1 Tim 6:5; Tit 1:11; 2 Tim 3:2).

8. It was demonically influenced (1 Tim 4:1; 2 Tim 2:26; 3:13).

Conclusion:

● A syncretistic movement (Judaism, Christianity, Greek Philosophy)

● What are the motivations of the false teachers in 1 Timothy?

− Desire for position (1:7)

− Desires of pride (6:4)

− Craving for controversy (6:4)

− Desire for money (6:5)