1 Timothy by Dennis McCallum (2014)

In 62 AD, Paul writes to his ?true son in the faith? Timothy, whom he left in Ephesus. Paul left Timothy there to correct false teaching that was spreading throughout the church. He encourages Timothy to remain faithful to the Word out of love, a good conscience and a sincere faith. The value of the church being firmly rooted in the Word is vitally important.

Paul instructs Timothy about how to approach false teachers who are inaccurately using the law. Paul reviews for Timothy the purpose of the law: to show humanity how they fall short of God's perfect standard and that they need a savior. Humans can only gain righteousness through grace, not by following the law. The law also defines what is sin.

Paul instructs Timothy on how men and women should behave within the church. Traditionally, this passage is interpreted that women cannot teach or lead meetings. Through the guiding principles of hermeneutics and learning Ephesian culture, we see that Paul is actually correcting a common false teaching that was gaining popularity. Therefore, Paul is not expressing that women should not teach or lead the church. Teaching refers frequently to Kroeger and Kroeger's book "I Suffer Not a Woman: Rethinking 1 Timothy 2:11-15 in Light of Ancient Evidence" as an important work in helping to understanding this passage.

Paul gives Timothy guidelines on how to wisely choose elders (leaders) in the Ephesian church. These guidelines are character qualifications of potential leaders ranging from reputation to stability. The importance of having elders is explained and a brief history given on how, over time, Christianity has strayed away from the model described in 1 Timothy.

Paul continues to describe to Timothy godly traits of a potential overseer (elder). He also describes another office of leadership within the church: a deacon. Paul outlines character qualities of deacons for both men and women. According to this passage, deacons can be either male or female.

Paul warns Timothy about the end times and the false teaching that will infiltrate the church. He encourages Timothy to be in the Word and to avoid myths propagated by older women. Being diligent in the Word is the safeguard against false teaching. Teaching refers to Kroeger and Kroeger's book "I Suffer Not a Woman".

Paul encourages Timothy to continue to lead the church with humility and service. The main instruction he gives Timothy is to dedicate to preaching and teaching of the Word. Through Timothy's commitment to spiritual character and undying effort to the New Testament church, others will see his progress in the faith.

Paul engages in the practical needs of the church, specifically in the financial ways that the church can help widows. This example helps us today to understand how we as Christians can help the poor, which is important to God's own heart. Teaching refers to Robert Lupton's book Toxic Charity, supplying facts for some of the ineffectiveness of the church's financial attempts to help the poor. Overall, how the church uses its money and resources are a critical and important witness to the world.

Paul instructs Timothy to teach the wealthy how to be wise with their money. Instead of investing in temporal things, Paul encourages the wealthy to invest in eternal things that will not be destroyed. In doing so, godly character becomes a more worthy possession than anything else a person could ever own.