The Recap of 1 Timothy

A recap is a brief recapitulation or short summary of material previously covered.  We will attempt to keep this brief.  At the same time, this is a summary of more than 113 hours of discussion.  The more pithy [concise, short or compact] the recap, the more effective it will be.  Interestingly, the word, “effective” is a synonym for, “pithy.”

There is no single way to offer a recap of so vast an amount of material.  It runs the gamut of me giving you a couple of summarizing paragraphs to me keeping you for 113 hours as I read everything we have covered.  What I have put together is the result of an assiduity request of God.  I merely read through the entire book of First Timothy and highlighted any phrase that I felt most important and/or which captured the primary thrust or message of the letter to Timothy.  Let us get started.

1 Timothy
The letters to Timothy and Titus are known as the Pastoral Letters.  He is writing letters to the new pastors who were following him in the Work of God.  He is leaving them with his thoughts and feelings about the church and what it is they could expect in months and years ahead as he would be gone.  Paul was writing to Timothy to instruct him on how to deal with the growing problems of false teachers in the church.

The Easton Bible dictionary states that Paul wrote this letter A. D. 66 or 67.

The epistle consists mainly of:

1] of counsels to Timothy regarding the worship and organization of the Church, and the responsibilities resting on its several members; and
2] of exhortations to faithfulness in maintaining the truth amid surrounding errors.

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

Key point:  Jesus Christ is our hope.

Which is Christ in you, the hope of glory - Or, Christ among you. Margin. The meaning is, that the whole of that truth, so full of glory, and so rich and elevated in its effect, is summed up in this - that Christ is revealed among you as the source of the hope of glory in a better world.

1 Timothy 1
Verse 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,

Key Point: Teach, learn and hold onto doctrines that come from the Bible.

Than I have taught. Let them put nothing in the place of it, add nothing to it. ~John Wesley Notes

1 Timothy 1
Verse 4
Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

Key Point: Religious argument and debate do nothing to promote true religion.  The true gospel edifies.  Exercise the stewardship of God.

1 Timothy 1
Verse 5
Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

Key Point: Our hearts must be purified by faith…the same faith God has.

There is neither love without a good conscience, nor a good conscience without faith, nor faith without the word of God. ~Geneva Bible Notes

1 Timothy 1
Verse 6
From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;

Key Point: Never allow yourself to swerve from the truth.

Turned aside unto vain jangling - The original term, ματαιολογιαν, signifies empty or vain talking; discourses that turn to no profit; a great many words and little sense; and that sense not worth the pains of hearing. Such, indeed, is all preaching where Jesus Christ is not held forth. ~Adam Clarke

Note: See sermons: 1] One Verse  2] Chatter  3] Pack Your Bags  4] Raising Cain,  Parts 1 and 2

1 Timothy 1
Verse 8
But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;

Key Point: The Law requires the right use and practice of it.

The law is good, if a man use it lawfully. Its object was not, however, to teach fables, and genealogies, and foolish fancies. The men he opposes asserted that the law was good, but made a wrong use of it. ~People’s New Testament

1 Timothy 1
Verse 13
Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

Key Point: God looks on our heart and gives out abundant mercy.  Without His mercy, we cannot proceed.  We see this in the next verse [verse 14].

1 Timothy 1:14
And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 1
Verse 17
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever.  Amen

Key Point: God is the only God.

John 17:3 
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

1 Timothy 1
Verse 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;

Key Point: Stay in the Salvation Process to the end.

Warfare — not the mere “fight” (2 Timothy 4:7), but the whole campaign; the military service.

2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

1 Timothy 1
Verse 19
Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

Key Point: [supporting verse 5 above] Hold on to the Salvation Process.  Repent continually.

Holding — Keeping hold of “faith” and “good conscience” (1 Timothy 1:5...above); not “putting the latter away” as “some.” Faith is like a very precious liquor; a good conscience is the clean, pure glass that contains it. The loss of good conscience entails the shipwreck of faith. Consciousness of sin (unrepented of and forgiven) kills the germ of faith in man. ~Jamieson, Fausset, Brown

1 Timothy 2
Verse 2  …following the admonition that prayers and giving thanks be made for all men
For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

Key Point: Follow God.  The result is a quiet and peaceable life.

quiet — not troubled from without.

peaceable — “tranquil”; not troubled from within. “He is peaceable (Greek) who makes no disturbance; he is quiet (Greek) who is himself free from disturbance”. ~Jamieson, Fausset, Brown

1 Timothy 2
Verse 4
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Key Point: God want everyone to experience the Salvation Process

Who will have all men to be saved. The Scriptures uniformly represent it as the divine will that all should come to life. But he does not will to save men irrespective of the conditions of salvation. They must, in order to be saved, come to a knowledge of the truth. In other words, must hear, receive, and obey the gospel. ~People’s New Testament

1 Timothy 2
Verse 8
I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

Key Point: In addition to private prayers, prayers should be made for all men in all public places of prayer, such as church services.  We must pray in full faith, without anger, malice or doubting.

A direction how to pray:  Now, under the gospel, prayer is not to be confined to any one particular house of prayer, but men must pray everywhere: no place is amiss for prayer, no place more acceptable to God than another.  Pray everywhere. We must pray in our closets, pray in our families, pray at our meals, pray when we are on journeys, and pray in the solemn assemblies, whether more public or private. ~Matthew Henry Main

We must pray in charity: Without wrath, or malice, or anger at any person. We must pray in faith without doubting, or, as some read it, without disputing, and then it falls under the head of charity.

James 1:6 
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

1 Timothy 3
Verse 4 …speaking to those chosen for the ministry
One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

Key Point: Ministers [members glean from this admonition] show spiritual maturity in the physical, mental and emotional elements.

Notice how often those words grave, sober-minded, temperate occur in this chapter. The effect of a good sermon will be spoiled if a man yields to foolish levity or intemperate habits. Moderation, serenity of temper, freedom from love of money, a well-ordered household, an obedient and reverent family-these are signs that a man may aspire to the sacred work of the ministry; and these are the qualities which people should look for in candidates for pulpits, more than those of rhetoric, brilliance, or outward attractiveness. ~ E. F. Meyer commentary

1 Timothy 3
Verse 9
Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

Key Point: Firstfruits hold true beliefs in good theology AND are moving forward in the Salvation Process, addressing all the element therein.

Holding the mystery of the faith - On the word “mystery, It means that which had been concealed, or hidden, but which was now revealed. The word “faith” here, is synonymous with “the gospel;” and the sense is, that he should hold firmly the great doctrines of the Christian religion which had been so long concealed from people, but which were now revealed. The reason is obvious. Though not a preacher, yet his influence and example would be great, and a man who held material error ought not to be in office.

In a pure conscience - A mere orthodox faith was not all that was necessary, for it was possible that a man might be professedly firm in the belief of the truths of revelation, and yet be corrupt at heart. ~Barnes Notes

1 Timothy 4
Verse 1
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

Key Point: At points in your life in the Salvation Process you will see firstfruit confused by false doctrine and some will fall away.

In the latter times - This does not necessarily imply the last ages of the world, but any times consequent to those in which the Church then lived.

Depart from the faith - Αποστησονται - της πιστεως· They will apostatize from the faith, i.e. from Christianity; renouncing the whole system in effect, by bringing in doctrines which render its essential truths null and void, or denying and renouncing such doctrines as are essential to Christianity as a system of salvation. A man may hold all the truths of Christianity, and yet render them of none effect by holding other doctrines which counteract their influence; or he may apostatize by denying some essential doctrine, though he bring in nothing heterodox. ~Adam Clarke

1 Timothy 4
Verse 2
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

Key Point: Those confused by holding false doctrine will act as if they are the true firstfruits.

Having their conscience seared with a hot iron - which exactly describes the above mentioned persons, whose consciences are cauterized and hardened, and past feeling; and have no regard to what they say or do, make no conscience of anything, but under a cloak of sanctity [acting as if from holiness or being holy] commit the most shocking impieties; and are men of the most infamous characters, and of the most enormous and scandalous lives and conversations; so that the metaphor may be taken either from the searing of flesh with an iron, or cauterizing it, whereby it grows callous and hard; or from the stigmas or marks which used to be put on malefactors, or such who have been guilty of notorious crimes. ~John Gill

1 Timothy 4
Verse 6
If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

Key Point: Let the Word of God rule your daily life.

1 Timothy 4
Verse 8
For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

Key Point: Godly training has a positive effect in all areas of your life

Godliness is profitable unto all things. - Godly training is profitable in all things. It makes men happier, more prosperous, more healthy here, and in addition it prepares them for the life to come. ~People's New Testament

1 Timothy 4
Verse 10
For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

Key Point: Firstfruits, everyday set their hope on the living God.

We trust in the living God - Better, have set our hope on. ~Vincent’s Word Studies

1 Peter 1:13
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

1 Timothy 4
Verse 13
Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Key Point: Immerse yourself in the Word of God.  Invoke Godly principles. Have discipline.

1 Timothy 4
Verse 15 …admonition to Timothy but clearly to all firstfruits
Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

Key Point: Put your heart and soul and mind into your Godly Calling.

It is worthy of notice that the Apostle’s injunctions do not include a single allusion to priestly or sacramental service, but urge to boldness of character, 1 Timothy 4:12; diligent study, 1 Timothy 4:13; rigorous orthodoxy [belief and practice], 1 Timothy 4:16; and the daily self-watch of the soul, 1 Timothy 4:16.  ~E. F. Meyer commentary

1 Timothy 4
Verse 16
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Key Point: Stay with true doctrine and with the invoking of the Holy Spirit in the form of Godly principles.

Continue in them - That is, in these things which have been specified. He was ever to be found perseveringly engaged in the performance of these duties. ~Barnes Notes

1 Timothy 5
Verse 21
I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

Key Point: Act on fruits [facts] and not emotions.

Partiality - Greek, “inclination,” or “proclivity” - that is, without being inclined to favor one party or person more than another. There should be no purpose to find one guilty and another innocent; no inclination of heart toward one which would lead us to resolve to find him innocent; and no aversion from another which would make us resolve to find him guilty. ~Barnes Notes

1 Timothy 6 …three linked phrases in three consecutive verses
Verse 3-5
3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

Key Point: If anyone in or around the church teaches other than what the Bible teaches and preaches, quietly withdraw thyself from them.  Close your ears and eyes from any false doctrine or subject.

1 Timothy 6 …two phrases
Verse 12
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Key Point: Know and know that you know that you are a wise virgin [Matthew 25].

Fight the good fight of faith - “Agonize the good agony.” Thou hast a contest to sustain in which thy honor, thy life, thy soul, are at stake. Live the Gospel, and defend the cause of God. Unmask hypocrites, expel the profligate, purge and build up the Church, live in the spirit of thy religion, and give thyself wholly to this work.

Lay hold on eternal life - All this is in allusion to the exercises in the public Grecian games: Fight, conquer, and seize upon the prize; carry off the crown of eternal life! ~Adam Clarke

1 Timothy 6
Verse 18
That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

Key Point: Watch for every opportunity to be of service to the brethren, the church and your fellow man.

That they do good - That they relieve the wants of their fellow creatures, according to the abundance which God has given them.

Rich in good works - That their good works may be as abundant as their riches.

Ready to distribute - That they give nothing through partiality or favor, but be guided in their distribution by the necessities of the objects presented to them; and that they confine not their charity at home, but scatter it abroad.

Willing to communicate - Bringing every poor person into a state of fellowship with themselves. ~Adam Clarke

1 Timothy 6
Verse 19
Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Key Point: Your entire human life and all of history are mere shadows of an eternal reality that is surely coming.  Take hold of [possession] of this.

1 Timothy 6
Verse 20  …clearly an admonition to Timothy but for all of us
O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:

Key Point: Endure unto the end

Matthew 24:13 
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.