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1 TIMOTHY

CHAPTERS

1 Timothy 1:1-4

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope,to Timothy, my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”Just as I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, to remain on at Ephesus so that you would instruct certain people not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to useless speculation rather than advance the plan of God, which is by faith, so I urge you now.”


Paul, an apostle: Paul begins by defending himself. He wants believers to know that he has authority from God to speak authoritatively about Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. 

Who is our hope: For Paul, hope is not a message. Hope is a person, and doctrine is a doorway to understand the person of Jesus Christ. The New Covenant is a doorway to enjoying Him, but it is not Jesus Himself. Once we know our salvation in Christ through the New Covenant, we can move through the doorway and enjoy relationship with the triune God.  

My true son in the faith: Paul’s words express his intimate connection to Timothy. Timothy is more than just an acquaintance to Paul but a spiritual son. This signifies the high value that Paul places on the family of God. 

Grace, mercy, and peace: In Christ is a completed salvation in which any person can believe. When we believe we become beneficiaries of God’s grace, mercy, and peace. He gives us grace and mercy in Christ, and the result is a peaceful relationship with Him.

Strange doctrines: Paul was not interested in doctrine that deviated from the simplicity of the Gospel. In the context of this letter, Paul is addressing a strange doctrine in which people are trying to connect people to Moses and Abraham. This was strange for Paul because Jesus is greater than any figure in the Old Testament. There is no room for blending law and grace. This is useless speculation because it adds to the person and work of Christ.

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1 TIMOTHY

CHAPTERS