Lessons

Timothy Study – Part 4. The lesson on February 4, 2007 continues the series on Timothy with part 4 which takes us to the end of chapter one. Timothy is a pastoral letter written by the Apostle Paul to Timothy which was the church leader in Ephesus so there is a good connection with the Ephesians letter and 1 Timothy. Beginning in verse 12, Paul specifies he has been enabled by the love of Christ. It always begins with Christ. We see that Paul was accounted faithful to be responsible for the calling that Christ gave him which was “to be a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Christ to life everlasting.” (1 Tim. 1:16). Paul charges Timothy in verse 19 to hold THE faith, which is the specific body of truth that Paul was empowered to propagate among Christians. Paul was a recovered individual as he declared in verse 16 by His mercy (mercy meaning not getting what you do deserve) because Paul was a chief sinner (as he said in verse 13). The most important doctrine that the Christian needs to know is the love of God. The love of God is what is wrapped up in this dispensation of grace. God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world. Even in Romans 5:17-19, Paul tells us “… even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” Wide is the road to hell and narrow is the path to heaven. Some choose not to take the narrow path and accept the gift of eternal life from God. We read in verse 17, that Christ is the King eternal, who is immortal, and the only wise God. This correlates with 1 Tim 6:15 where Paul again says Christ “is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords”. Israel understands him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, but in this dispensation of the Mystery, we know Christ as the only Potentate because Christ came to save creation which includes the entire universe!