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Scholarly verse by verse commentaries on the Bible.
GENESIS ---EXODUS--- LEVITICUS 1.1-7.38 --- 8.1-11.47 --- 12.1-16.34--- 17.1-27.34--- NUMBERS 1-10--- 11-19--- 20-36--- DEUTERONOMY 1.1-4.44 --- 4.45-11.32 --- 12.1-29.1--- 29.2-34.12 --- THE BOOK OF JOSHUA --- THE BOOK OF JUDGES --- PSALMS 1-17--- ECCLESIASTES --- ISAIAH 1-5 --- 6-12 --- 13-23 --- 24-27 --- 28-35 --- 36-39 --- 40-48 --- 49-55--- 56-66--- EZEKIEL --- DANIEL 1-7 ---DANIEL 8-12 ---
NAHUM--- HABAKKUK---ZEPHANIAH ---ZECHARIAH --- THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW ---THE GOSPEL OF MARK--- THE GOSPEL OF LUKE --- THE GOSPEL OF JOHN --- THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES --- 1 CORINTHIANS 1-7 --- 8-16 --- 2 CORINTHIANS 1-7 --- 8-13 -- -GALATIANS --- EPHESIANS --- COLOSSIANS --- 1 THESSALONIANS --- 2 THESSALONIANS --- 1 TIMOTHY --- 2 TIMOTHY --- TITUS --- HEBREWS 1-6 --- 7-10 --- 11-13 --- JAMES --- JOHN'S LETTERS --- REVELATION
--- THE GOSPELS
If so please EMail us with your question to jonpartin@tiscali.co.uk and we will do our best to give you a satisfactory answer. EMailus.
Timothy was born of a mixed marriage. His mother was a Jewess and taught him the Old Testament Scriptures, and his father was a Greek (Acts 16.1; 2 Tim 1.5). He was a native of Lystra, and was highly regarded both there and in Iconium (Acts 16.1-2). It is probable that he was a convert of Paul’s first missionary journey and witnessed some of the tribulations (and triumphs) that Paul experienced (2 Tim 3.10-11). His mother also became a Christian later.
He clearly had close contact with Paul in his early days as a Christian, and when Paul wanted a replacement for Mark it is probable that he chose Timothy for that purpose (Acts 15.36 following), a choice confirmed by prophetic utterance (1 Timothy 1.18; 4.14) and accompanied by the laying on of hands (1 Tim 4.14; 2 Tim 1.6), which was a symbol of identification with the work. Whatever the situation he certainly accompanied Paul on his next missionary journey.
Although brought up by a Jewish mother he had not been circumcised, something which Paul saw fit to remedy, presumably because of his Jewish background, so as to make him more acceptable to Jews (he would later refuse to have the non-Jew Titus circumcised when the matter became an issue as a test of orthodoxy).
He accompanied Paul continually and was used by Paul as an emissary to various churches, although clearly somewhat timid, being with Paul during his imprisonment and acting again as his emissary (2 Cor. 1.19; 1 Cor. 4.17; 16.10,11; Rom 16.21; Acts 20.4-5).
When Paul was released from prison and continued his ministry in the East, he apparently left Timothy at Ephesus to supervise the churches (1 Tim 1.3), commissioning him to deal with false teachers, to supervise public worship and to appoint church officials. When Paul was unable to rejoin him, he sent him the pastoral epistles to direct him in these tasks, and possibly in order to strengthen his authority. Timothy himself would later be imprisoned for his faith (Heb 13.23).
Letters to Timothy
1 Timothy
Chapter 1 - Paul greets Timothy and advises him to avoid extreme speculations (v4) and to concentrate on the importance of ‘Christian love out of a pure heart, a good conscience and a genuine faith’, as against those who rigidly sought to apply the Jewish law in an extreme form. Paul stresses that that law is good when rightly used (v.8) but that its main purpose is to make men aware of their sinfulness (vv. 9-10), not to act as a burden and restraint on godly men. Such men should live in accordance with Christ’s teaching on love. This is the glorious good news from God (v.11). So this freedom from the law and legalism must result in an even more Christ-like life of love.
Paul then exults in the fact that Jesus Christ came into the world ‘to save sinners’, and rejoices in the mercy shown to himself as a result through the abundant grace of Christ (vv 12-15), a mercy which illustrates Christ’s goodness to all who are His (v.16).
He then reveals something more of the fulness of Christ declaring Him as ‘the eternal King, immortal, invisible, the only wise God’ (v 17).
Chapter 2 - Christians are to be exhorted to pray and give thanks for all men (v.1), without anger or doubting (v. 8), for God would have all saved and come to a knowlege of the truth (v.4). They must also pray for those in authority that they may rule well enabling Christians to live quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty, assisting the spread of the good news.
This is important because there is only one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus Who gave Himself as a ransom for all, and now is the time when testimony concerning Him must be given (vv. 5-6).
So prayer is to be concentrated on enabling the spread of the good news of salvation.
The women also are to have their part by avoiding ostentation and dressing soberly, being clothed rather in ‘good works’. They are to avoid ‘taking over’ in matters of doctrine, and seeking to make themselves prominent. (It is probable that some prominent and wealthy women in Ephesus were causing real problems in the church, seeking to take over and being responsible for some of the excessive teaching described in 1.4). Chapter 3 - Paul outlines the requirements for selection of those who will have authority in the churches. Those who ‘oversee’ the church (bishops = overseers) are to be selected on the basis of their manner of life, their ability to teach, their self-control, their freedom from the love of money, their success in controlling their own families, their maturity and the fact that they are ‘well-reported of’ by those who know them (vv 2-7).
Even those who serve in the church in lesser functions (deacons = servants) must be of proven worth, honest and reliable, free from excesses and the love of money, and doctrinally reliable, as must their wives.
Paul then quotes a primitive creed, which he may well have put together himself, namely that God was (in Christ) ‘revealed in the flesh, shown as fully acceptable and righteous by the Spirit (by the resurrection?), witnessed to in this by angels, proclaimed to all men (not just Jews), believed on in the world, and received up to glory’ (v.16). This is the great mystery of what is of God.
Chapter 4 - Paul warns that the Spirit has declared that the rise of false teachers, misled by evil spirits, is to be expected, men without conscience and putting on an act, who place unnecessary restrictions on men. This will include forbidding to marry and commanding abstention from certain foods. But all these foods have been provided by God for our sustenance and are to be received with gratitude by those who believe and know the truth.
There will be an emphasis on looking after the body rather than the spirit, but Christians are to place first emphasis on godliness, being nourished in the word and in sound teaching, for their message is of One Who offers Himself as the Saviour of all men, and is so to those who ‘believe’. So Timothy is to counteract charges of his ‘youthfulness’ by behaviour, by what he says, in demonstrating love, and in faith and purity. He is to be known by his fruit, and to give himself to studying the word, proclaiming it, meditation on it, and careful exegesis of it.
Chapter 5 - Timothy is to show discretion when seeking to put people right, pleading rather than rebuking, and treating others as members of the family to be given due respect. Elder widows without ties are to engage in lives of prayer and supplication, not in living for pleasure, but younger widows and those who have family ties are to give themselves to family responsibilities.
For widows over 60 there is a special ministry of prayer, good works and visitation, as long as they have already proved themselves in these things, but this is not for younger women as it would open them to too much temptation. They should give themselves to responsibilities to their families or even to beginning new families.
Elders are to be treated with great respect, although to be rebuked as long as evidence against them is sound. All are to be treated with impartiality. Appointments are to be made carefully after considerable thought and testing, and not too speedily. Men will be revealed by their fruits
Chapter 6 - Christians should stand out in the way they behave to their employers, especially not taking advantage if their employers are Christians. They should not be consumed by a desire to ‘gain’ from them, but rather with performing good service. For godliness with contentment is the greater gain.
They are to be content with having sufficient, for in seeking more they may well lose their spirituality, and they can’t ‘take it with them’ when they die. Ambition must be subsumed to spiritual worth, and money is not of first importance.
Timothy is also to follow this example, concentrating on living a full Christian life and putting all his efforts into the ‘fight of faith’, living in the light of the ‘appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ’, and of Who and What He is, ‘the blessed and only Potentate, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords’, Who is the only One who has immortality by right, Who dwells in unapproachable light, Who in His true being cannot be looked at by men.
And finally, those who have wealth and position in the world are to keep humble and be rich in good works, not relying on their riches but on God the rich provider. Their riches indeed are to be used in the light of eternity, that they may receive a full reward.
If so please EMail us with your question to jonpartin@tiscali.co.uk and we will do our best to give you a satisfactory answer. EMailus.
Scholarly verse by verse commentaries on the Bible.
GENESIS ---EXODUS--- LEVITICUS 1.1-7.38 --- 8.1-11.47 --- 12.1-16.34--- 17.1-27.34--- NUMBERS 1-10--- 11-19--- 20-36--- DEUTERONOMY 1.1-4.44 --- 4.45-11.32 --- 12.1-29.1--- 29.2-34.12 --- THE BOOK OF JOSHUA --- THE BOOK OF JUDGES --- PSALMS 1-17--- ECCLESIASTES --- ISAIAH 1-5 --- 6-12 --- 13-23 --- 24-27 --- 28-35 --- 36-39 --- 40-48 --- 49-55--- 56-66--- EZEKIEL --- DANIEL 1-7 ---DANIEL 8-12 ---
NAHUM--- HABAKKUK---ZEPHANIAH ---ZECHARIAH --- THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW ---THE GOSPEL OF MARK--- THE GOSPEL OF LUKE --- THE GOSPEL OF JOHN --- THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES --- 1 CORINTHIANS 1-7 --- 8-16 --- 2 CORINTHIANS 1-7 --- 8-13 -- -GALATIANS --- EPHESIANS --- COLOSSIANS --- 1 THESSALONIANS --- 2 THESSALONIANS --- 1 TIMOTHY --- 2 TIMOTHY --- TITUS --- HEBREWS 1-6 --- 7-10 --- 11-13 --- JAMES --- JOHN'S LETTERS --- REVELATION
--- THE GOSPELS
Get your own Free Home PageIf so please EMail us with your question to jonpartin@tiscali.co.uk and we will do our best to give you a satisfactory nswer. EMailus.
Scholarly verse by verse commentaries on the Bible.
GENESIS ---EXODUS--- LEVITICUS 1.1-7.38 --- 8.1-11.47 --- 12.1-16.34--- 17.1-27.34--- NUMBERS 1-10--- 11-19--- 20-36--- DEUTERONOMY 1.1-4.44 --- 4.45-11.32 --- 12.1-29.1--- 29.2-34.12 --- THE BOOK OF JOSHUA --- THE BOOK OF JUDGES --- PSALMS 1-17--- ECCLESIASTES --- ISAIAH 1-5 --- 6-12 --- 13-23 --- 24-27 --- 28-35 --- 36-39 --- 40-48 --- 49-55--- 56-66--- EZEKIEL --- DANIEL 1-7 ---DANIEL 8-12 ---
NAHUM--- HABAKKUK---ZEPHANIAH ---ZECHARIAH --- THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW ---THE GOSPEL OF MARK--- THE GOSPEL OF LUKE --- THE GOSPEL OF JOHN --- THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES --- 1 CORINTHIANS 1-7 --- 8-16 --- 2 CORINTHIANS 1-7 --- 8-13 -- -GALATIANS --- EPHESIANS --- COLOSSIANS --- 1 THESSALONIANS --- 2 THESSALONIANS --- 1 TIMOTHY --- 2 TIMOTHY --- TITUS --- HEBREWS 1-6 --- 7-10 --- 11-13 --- JAMES --- JOHN'S LETTERS --- REVELATION
--- THE GOSPELS
Timothy,The,Holy,Bible,divorce,faith,facts,repent,believe,
forgive,forgiveness,truth,love,atonement,baptism,Jesus,Christ,
Holy,Spirit,Creation,use,numbers,old,new,testament