Paul’s First Letter to Timothy
—Verse by verse studies
These lessons provide a verse by verse study of Paul’s first letter to Timothy. The letter is divided into ten topical sections. Tap any title next to an arrow in the list below.
1Timothy 1:1-11 God’s Provisions for our Minds —God helps people live the Christian life by providing the training, discipline, information, and edification that is needed.
1Timothy 1:5,8-11 The Gospel’s Goal —The gospel is not "fruitless" like the speculations of false teachers. The gospel has a definite aim, and it hits its target.
1Timothy 1:12-20 Paul the Sinner’s Experience of Christ —Imagine that Paul was applying for the job of an apostle of Christ, and Jesus was interviewing him.
1Timothy 2:1-4 God’s Agenda for Humanity —God "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth". The salvation and enlightenment of humanity has always been the will and work of God.
1Timothy 2:5-8 God’s Goal of Oneness —There is but one path to eternal life, the path of faith in Jesus Christ and full obedience to him. This one faith is the center of the gospel.
1Timothy 2:9-15 God’s Will for Women —God does not have a separate agenda and a separate law for the male and female halves of mankind. He has one agenda and one law for all.
1Timothy 3:1-13 Bishops and Deacons —What sort of men makes good elders and deacons?
1Timothy 3:14-16 Paul’s Reason to Write —Paul hopes to see Timothy in person shortly, but in case not, he sends Timothy instruction about problems he may face in Paul’s absence.
1Timothy 3:16 The Common Confession of the Church —Paul wants to remind Timothy of points of doctrine about which there should be no argument or controversy.
1Timothy 4:1-6 The Falling Away and the False Teachers —When a church is established, there is a passion for the truth. In later times, however, there comes a falling away.
1Timothy 4:7-11 Fads and Fables —Fortunately in this confused world, flooded with all kinds of false religious teaching and superstition, there is an anchor, namely the gospel, to which we can fix our hope.
1Timothy 4:12 Excellence in Ministry (1) —Timothy is to set such an excellent example "in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity" (1Timothy 4:12) that nobody could reasonably hold his youth against him.
1Timothy 4:13-16 Principles of Timothy’s Ministry —The worthiness of a man to take up a ministry should be judged primarily on his strength in the word of God. In all his pains, that's what he should major in.
1Timothy 5:1-25 Order in the Church Family —We begin to look at proper order in the church, which is the subject of the last two chapters of the letter.
1Timothy 5:1-25 Order in the Church Ministry —Paul now turns his attention back to Timothy himself, and the order that should characterise Timothy’s own life and ministry in the church.
1Timothy 6:1-21 More Points of Order —The last chapter has some more very sound teaching that will empower any church to keep its order and direction.