Introduction to I Timothy
I am excited to start off this week and this book with you. This is the first time that I have had the privilege to introduce a book this year and I am excited to introduce I Timothy which is the beginning of the Pastoral Letters of Paul. The assumed time period that I Timothy was written about AD 64 or 65, around the time after Paul’s first Roman imprisonment and during a time that he and Timothy revisited the church in Ephesus. This is a letter of encouragement and instruction to Timothy as he beings to pastor of the Church in Ephesus. The main blueprint that Paul lays out is: instructions on the right belief, instructions for the church, and instruction for elders. The main themes can be further broken down to: Sound Doctrine, Public Worship, Church Leadership, Personal Discipline, and a Caring Church. (NIV Life Application study bible)
As I prayed and prepared for this introduction I found out some interesting facts of Timothy:
- Was from Lystra and Derbe. This is the same place that in Acts Chapter 14 the people of the city actually stoned Paul and left him for dead. God has a plan for you and sometimes the place he sends you, you might not want to return.
- Acts 16: Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. 2 The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.
- Was prepared for his role. Sometimes the preparation is necessary for the journey and allows others to see God’s work in you.
- Act 16: 3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey; so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
- Was raised and nurtured by his mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois. (II Timothy 1:5)
- This strikes a note with me because I was mainly raised by my mother and grandmother and they had and continually have an impact on my adult life, especially my Spiritual life. I am often reminded of the gentle and loving way that my grandmother would: sing hymns and read the bible and pray daily. I pray that I would have a portion of her dying devotion to the practice of spiritual living and giving.
As we prepare to enter into this lesson to Timothy, let us reflect on the words of Paul to Timothy :
The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. I Timothy 1:5
Lord, as we continue our journey in the letters of Paul, allow us to remember that the purpose of this journey in faith is to recognize your LOVE for us and how we can share your love with others and listen for your direction in our lives. Amen