1 TIMOTHY 1
OPENS WITH...PAUL TELLING TIMOTHY TO FIGHT FOR THE FAITH
Verse 1 tells us the identity of the author, Paul.
"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope."
Paul, in his self-description, emphasized his credentials (apostle) and authority (by the commandment of God). He did this both as a personal encouragement to Timothy and so the letter could be used as a letter of reference before any erring Ephesian Christians.
JOHN MACARTHUR tells us what QUALIFIED MEN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT TO BE CALLED AND CONSIDERED "APOSTLES".
"Apostles in the restrictest sense, refers to the 12 original disciples, excluding Judas and including Matthias, and Paul who were apostles of Jesus Christ. These men were chosen and commissioned by Jesus Christ himself, told to us in Luke 6:13 & Acts 9:15. They were called so because: they were witnesses of His words, deeds, and especially His resurrection, told to us in Acts 1:21-22). The Bible tells us that Paul qualified as an Apostle of Jesus Christ because he met the risen Christ first on the road to Damascus, and on three other occasions, told to us in (Acts 18:9-10, Acts 22:17-18, and Acts 23:11). The other "apostles" such as, Barnabas (Acts 14:14), Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25), Andronicus and Junius (Romans 16:7) and James, Jesus half brother (Galatians 1:9) all bore the "title" apostle, though they were NOT among the twelve. They were what 2 Corinthians 8:23 calls, "messengers/apostles" of the churches."
Apparently, 1 Timothy was written by Paul to Timothy sometime after his release from Roman imprisonment as described at the end of Acts, and written from Macedonia (1 Timothy 1:3).
AND WE KNOW, after Paul's release (hoped for in Philemon 22 and Philippians 1:25-26 and 2:24), Paul returned to the city of Ephesus. There he discovered that during his absence Ephesus had become a storm center of false teaching (a sad fulfillment of the prediction he had made to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:29-30.
Paul probably dealt with the leaders of the heresy within the church of Ephesus personally, but soon found it necessary to leave for Macedonia. He then left Timothy in charge of affairs at Ephesus, as his own personal representative. He knew that Timothy had a tough job to carry out, so he hoped that this letter would both equip and encourage him in the task.
The Pastoral Epistles of Paul, are called so, because they were the ONLY personal letters Paul wrote to individual persons, the rest of the Epistles were written to churches. These letters were written to Timothy and Titus.
Our Savior...Our hope
Did you know, at that very time, the title Savior was used in the worship of the Roman Emperor. People called, and were forced to call Caesar Nero "savior." Paul made the identity of THE REAL Savior clear.
Verse 2 tells us the identity of the recipient, Timothy.
"To Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord."
Paul could consider Timothy a true son in the faith because he probably led him and his mother to the Lord on Paul's first missionary journey (Acts 14:8-20 and 16:1).
THE GOSPELS TELL US...
Timothy was a resident of Lystra, a city in the province of Galatia (Acts 16:1-3). He was the son of a Greek father (Acts 16:2) and a Jewish mother named Eunice (2 Timothy 2:5). From his youth he was taught in the Scriptures by his mother and grandmother (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:15).
Grace, mercy, and peace...
This is a familiar greeting of Paul in his letters to congregations. Here, he also applied it to individuals. God grants His grace, mercy, and peace not only to churches, but also to the individuals who make up the churches.
Yet, do you notice the difference. When Paul wrote to churches, he just greeted them with grace and peace. To both Timothy and Titus he added mercy to the greeting.
Verses 3-4 tells us Paul says STAY in Ephesus and STAY with the Scriptures.
"As I urged you when I went into Macedonia; remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith."
Though Paul KNEW Timothy had a tough job, Paul wanted him to REMAIN in Ephesus and continue the work. Paul urged Timothy to do this when he left Ephesus.
WHY?
Paul told Timothy to remain in Ephesus because it seemed that Timothy wanted to give up and run away. Everyone in ministry deals with this some times; for some it is a constant affliction. There was probably both external pressure and internal pressure for him to leave.
THIS SHOWS US THAT GOD WILL ALLOW us to be in difficult situations. We must set our minds to meet the challenge, or we will surely give up.
DAVID GUZIK gives a great example. "Many years ago a famous Arctic explorer put this ad in a London newspaper: "Men wanted for hazardous journey, small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success." Thousands of men responded to the appeal because they were WILLING to embrace a difficult job when called to do so by a GREAT AND TRUSTED leader.
That you may charge some that they teach NO OTHER DOCTRINE:
Paul left Timothy with an important job to do, making it all the more important that he remain in Ephesus. The job was to make sure that correct doctrine was taught in Ephesus.
Paul left the Ephesian Christians with a particular set of teachings (which he had received from Jesus and the Old Testament). He was concerned that Timothy did everything he could to make sure the Ephesians continue in that doctrine.
Paul did this because doctrine is vitally important to God.
Today, what one believes - that is, their doctrine - is staggeringly unimportant to most people. This spirit of the modern age has also heavily influenced Christians. We live in a day where Pilate's question What is truth? (John 18:38) is answered today, "Whatever it means to you." But truth is important to God, and should be important to us.
That you may charge some:
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Paul's concern was not primarily that Timothy himself would begin to teach wrong doctrine. His concern was that Timothy, because of his youth (1 Timothy 4:2) , his natural timidity (2 Timothy 1:7) , would allow others who were older, respected, and iconic in the church to spread these other doctrines. Timothy had to stand firm against difficult people and charge some that they teach no other doctrine. No wonder he felt like leaving Ephesus.
Timothy WAS NOT to present the option of correct doctrine to these some in Ephesus. He was to COMMAND it like a military officer.
Nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies:
It seems that the GREAT DANGER of these teachings (fables and endless genealogies) was that they were silly distractions. Timothy had to remain in Ephesus so that he could command others to ignore these speculative and silly distractions.
It WAS NOT, AS SOME TEACH, that there was an elaborate anti-Jesus theology rising in Ephesus. It was more that they tended to get carried away by emphasizing the wrong things. Paul wanted to prevent the corruption that comes when people grant authority to fables and endless genealogies instead of TRUE doctrine. Silly distractions are also dangerous, because they take the place of godly edification which is in faith.
WHAT DOES ENDLESS GENEALOGIES MEAN?
Paul refers to the Gnostic-type theories of "emanations" from God. Perhaps they were connected with Jewish-type legalism that sought righteousness by virtue of one's ancestry. Or perhaps he had in mind doctrinal systems based on mystic readings of Old Testament genealogies.
AND WE KNOW, Ancient Jewish writings have been discovered, which delve into the most complex genealogies, connecting them with WILD speculations about spiritual mysteries. A consuming interest in these kinds of things will crowd out godly edification which is in faith.
Cause disputes rather than godly edification:
The eventual fruit of these man-made diversions is evident. Though they may be popular and fascinating in the short term, in the long run they do NOT build up the body of Christ in faith.
Verses 5-7 tells us the PURPOSE of the commandment.
"Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm."
The purpose of the law is found in its inward work upon the heart, not in mere outward observance. Without this understanding, it is easy to become shallow legalists, who are only concerned with how things look on the outside.
Love from a pure heart:
This suggests the idea that the problem in Ephesus was along Jewish-type legalistic lines. They misunderstood the commandment and the law.
If spending time in God's word is NOT producing love from a pure heart, a good conscience, or sincere faith in us, something is wrong. Legalism may make us twist God's word, so that instead of showing love we are harsh and judgmental; instead of having a good conscience we always feel condemned knowing we do NOT measure up; and instead of sincere faith we practically trust in our own ability to please God.
Idle talk:
This has in mind vain speculations, MEANINGLESS BABBLE about the Scriptures, which may have analytical and entertainment value but were NEVER meant to be our spiritual diet.
An example of this is the constant meaningless idle babble by Bible criticis and commentators who debate about whether God covered Adam and Eve's nakedness with "aprons" or "animal skins". What does it matter? The point is that Almighty God himself PROVIDED cover for their nakedness and atonement for their great sin, by the shedding of animal blood.
JOHN MACARTHUR says, "False teachers are NOT to be taken lightly but are to be COMMANDED TO cease their IDLE MEANINGLESS BABBLE AND FALSE TEACHINGS. Paul began the confrontation and expulsion of Hymenaeus and Alexander, the ringleaders of it in the church of Ephesus. Paul also told Titus, in Titus 1:11, "that false doctrines and false teachers of strange doctrines, their mouths must be silenced."
Understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm:
The problem people in Ephesus did not even understand the implications of their own babble, meaningless, mystical, and strange teaching.
Verses 8-11 tells us Paul's condemnation of legalists is NOT a condemnation of the law itself.
"But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust."
The purpose of the law is to show us our sin, not to lead us to righteousness (as in Galatians 3:24-25). It was NOT made for the righteous person (who walks by faith according to Galatians 3:11) but for the lawless and insubordinate, to show them their sin.
THEN AND NOW, there was SUBJECTIVE MORALITY present. Subjective morality says, you have your beliefs, needs, rules, and laws, and I have mine. I will do and say and obey what pleases me.
GOD'S 10 LAWS show His perfect standard, and that perfect standard shows us and tells us WHERE WE FALL SHORT IN THOUGHT, WORD, AND ACTION, SO THAT WE REALIZE WE ARE SINNERS, DOOMED TO ETERNAL DAMNATION, AND THAT WE NEED A SAVIOR. THE LAW HAS ALWAYS POINTED TO THE CROSS, THE SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.
The idea is NOT that the law has nothing to say to the righteous person, but that it especially speaks to the ungodly.
For the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners:
In Paul's mind sound doctrine and right conduct are vitally connected. These sinful actions are contrary to sound doctrine.
Many people will condemn anyone with standards - especially higher standards - as being a legalist. Having standards and keeping them does not make us legalists and obedience does NOT make us legalists. We are legalists when we think what we do is what makes us right before God.
If there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine:
The implication is that in Ephesus, the church existed in a culture marked by these sins here listed and the those teaching false doctrine in some way allowed or promoted this sinful lifestyle.
The apparently sinful environment of Ephesus shows us another reason why it was important for Timothy to remain in Ephesus. He should remain there because it was a difficult place to serve God and further the kingdom. He had to break up the fallow ground there, instead of running to an easier place to plow.
How many times have we seen those who seek to minister for Jesus and think that is all they are required to do. Show up, preach the word, and then all will be sweetness and light. The church membership will be instantly convicted, repent, be saved and then the minister has only to spend his week preparing his next Bible study or sermon. When in fact, they run up against members in the church and in the community who challenge them, dispute them, mock them, ignore them, cause drama, are divisive, are deaf to their message and cause the pastor headaches and he starts thinking, maybe Jesus does not want me to reach out, to minister.
PAUL is telling Timothy and us...ministering and leading a church is back-breaking, long, hot and sweaty time spent breaking up hard as brick ground, so that the soil is then ready to receive the word of God.
According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God:
Though the law can NOT bring righteousness, the glorious gospel of the blessed God can - a gospel that, in the words of Paul, was committed to his trust. He sensed his responsibility to preserve and guard the gospel with his very life.
Verses 12-14 tells us WHY was Paul entrusted with the gospel?
"And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus."
Paul was entrusted with the gospel because Jesus enabled Paul, and Paul thanked Jesus for that enabling. Paul was enabled for this ministry because he was counted … faithful for the ministry. Faithfulness made Paul "usable" by God.
We often see our Christian service as a matter of volunteering. Yet as Christians, in regard to Jesus and His church, we are NOT volunteers. We are SLAVES. We are duty bound servants of Jesus, and faithfulness is expected of such servants.
AND CONTRARY TO THEOLOGICAL HYPERBOLE...You do NOT have to be smart to be faithful; you do NOT have to be talented or gifted. Faithfulness is something very down-to-earth, and every one of us can be faithful in the sphere God has given us.
Many people wait to be faithful. We tell ourselves, "I'll be faithful when I'm in such and such a position." That's nonsense. We should be faithful right where we are at - our faithfulness is shown in the small things FIRST.
Putting me into the ministry:
Ministry simply means "service." In the original language of the New Testament, there is nothing "high" or "spiritual" about the word. It just means to work hard and serve. Yet for this former blasphemer and persecutor of God's people, this was a great honor.
Although I was formerly:
Paul's past did NOT disqualify him from serving God. God's mercy and grace were ENOUGH to cover his past and enable him to serve God. We should never feel that our past makes us unable to be used by God.
With these words, Paul gave Timothy another reason to remain in Ephesus. It is likely that Timothy wanted to leave Ephesus and his ministry there because he felt unworthy or incapable of the work. These words from Paul assured Timothy, "If there is anyone unworthy of disqualified, it should be me. Yet God found a way to use me, and He will use you also as you remain in Ephesus."
Because I did it ignorantly in unbelief:
Ignorance and unbelief NEVER excuse our sin, but they DO INVITE God's mercy, because sin in ignorance and unbelief makes one less guilty than the believer who sins knowingly.
Yet it was not Paul's ignorance that saved him; it was the exceeding abundant grace of God (God's unmerited favor).
Verse 15 tells us Paul summarizes his personal experience of the gospel.
"This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief."
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance:
This unusual phrase introduces a statement of SPECIAL importance. Paul used this phrase 5 times - ALL in the Pastoral Epistles.
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners:
Jesus came to save sinners, not those living under the illusion of their own righteousness. It is the sick who need a physician (Mark 2:17).
Since Jesus came into the world to save sinners, this is the first necessary qualification for being a child of God - being a sinner. Sinners are not disqualified from coming to God, because Jesus came to save them.
We also see the great danger in taking the terms sin and sinner out of our vocabulary. Many preachers deliberately do this today, because they do NOT want to offend anyone from the pulpit. But if Jesus came to save sinners, should NOT we identify who those sinners are? How else will they come to salvation?
Of whom I am chief:
Paul's claim to be the chief of sinners was NOT an expression of some super-pious false humility. He genuinely felt his sins made him more accountable before God than others.
Paul felt - rightly so - his sins were worse because he was responsible for the death, imprisonment, and suffering of Christians, whom he persecuted before his life was changed by Jesus (Acts 8:3; 9:1-2, 1 Corinthians 15:9, Galatians 1:13, Philippians 3:6).
In Acts 26:11, Paul explained to Agrippa what might have been his WORST sin: "And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities."
SPURGEON says, "He compelled others to blaspheme Jesus. "This, indeed, was a very horrible part of Saul's sinfulness. To destroy their bodies was bad enough, but to destroy their souls too-to compel them to blaspheme, to speak evil of that name which they confessed to be their joy and their hope, surely that was the worst form that even persecution could assume. He forced them under torture to abjure the Christ whom their hearts loved. As it were he was not content to kill them, but he must **** them too."
AS I READ THIS, I THOUGHT OF WHAT HITLER, STALIN, POLPOT, AND TODAY ISIS DOES TO CHRISTIANS WHO LOVE JESUS, AND THROUGH HORRIFIC TORTURE, BLOOD LUST, SEXUAL DEPRAVITY DONE TO THEIR BABIES, THEIR CHILDREN, AND THEIR SPOUSES, SOME HAVE BROKEN AND BLASPHEMED JESUS. HOW MUCH FAR WORSE WILL THEIR JUDGMENT BE, THE FULL WRATH OF GOD BE, BEFORE THE GREAT I AM, JESUS CHRIST FOR SUCH DEPRAVED EVIL AND WICKEDNESS.
Verse 16 tells us Paul saved as a pattern of mercy to others.
"However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life."
However, for this reason I obtained mercy:
A man as bad as Paul obtained mercy. This means that the door is open to others who are not as bad sinners as Paul was.
As a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him:
Paul explains another reason why God loves to save sinners. They become a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him. God wants others to see what He can do by working in us.
This truth - the doctrine - that changed Paul's life was the truth he commanded Timothy to guard earlier in the chapter.
Verse 17 tells us Paul's praise to the God who saved him.
"Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen."
Paul could not think of how bad he was, and how great the salvation of God was, and how great the love of God was, without simply breaking into spontaneous praise.
The King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise:
Paul KNEW God to be the King eternal, ruling and reigning in complete power and glory.
Paul KNEW God to be immortal, existing before anything else existed, and being the Creator of all things.
Paul KNEW God to be invisible, not completely knowable by us; we can NOT completely figure out God, or know all His secrets.
Paul KNEW God alone is wise, that He is God - and we are not. We think our plans and insights are so important, but only God really knows and understands all things.
Be honor and glory forever and ever:
Knowing all this about God, Paul could NOT stop praising Him. If we ever have trouble worshipping God, it is because we do NOT know Him very well.
This description of God gave Timothy still another reason to remain in Ephesus. He could and should stay there when he considered the greatness of the God who he served. This great God is worthy of His service and can empower his service in Ephesus.
Verse 18 tells us The charge to fight the good fight.
"This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare."
This charge I commit to you:
Again, the Greek word for "charge (parangelia)" is the same as in 1 Timothy 1:3; it is a military word, referring to an order from a commanding officer.
At the same time the words son Timothy express a note of fatherly love. Paul is serious, but full of love.
According to the prophecies:
Paul wanted Timothy to consider what the Holy Spirit had said to him through others in the past, and receive the courage to remain in Ephesus from those.
Apparently, God had spoken to Timothy through others through the gift of prophecy and the words were an encouragement for Timothy to stay strong in the difficulty right in front of him. It may have been a description of Timothy's future ministry; it may have been a warning against being timid in his work for God. Whatever it was, God wanted Timothy to draw strength from it in his present difficulty.
We must also be on guard against the "extravagant" prophecy; the one that declares that this person or that is going to have "the most powerful ministry the world has seen" or such. These prophecies are extremely manipulative, because they are awkward to speak against.
Today, in some circles, it is NOT unusual to hear someone being declared as greater than Paul, Peter, Moses, or Elijah; declarations like "You will be a prophet like unto Daniel and receive an anointing ten times greater than any of your associates" are obviously extravagant, manipulative (because few will speak against it), and not of God.
Tom Stipe, in the foreword to Counterfeit Revival, speaks powerfully about this phenomenon, having been a leader in it before seeing how wrong it is:
After only a couple of years, the prophets seemed to be speaking to just about everyone on just about everything. Hundreds of … members received the 'gift' of prophecy and began plying their trade among both leaders and parishioners. People began carrying around little notebooks filled with predictions that had been delivered to them by the prophets and seers. They flocked to the prophecy conferences that had begun to spring up everywhere. The notebook crowd would rush forward in hopes of being selected to receive more prophecies to add to their prophetic diaries …
Not long after 'prophecy du jour' became the primary source of direction, a trail of devastated believers began to line up outside our pastoral counseling offices. Young people promised teen success and stardom through prophecy were left picking up the pieces of their shattered hopes because God had apparently gone back on His promises. Leaders were deluged by angry church members who had received prophecies about the great ministries they would have but had been frustrated by local church leaders who failed to recognize and 'facilitate' their 'new anointing.'
After a steady diet of the prophetic, some people were rapidly becoming biblically illiterate, choosing a 'dial-a-prophet' style of Christian living rather than studying God's Word. Many were left to continually live from one prophetic 'fix' to the next, their hope always in danger of failing because God's voice was so specific in pronouncement, yet so elusive in fulfillment. Possessing a prophet's phone number was like having a storehouse of treasured guidance. Little clutched notebooks replaced Bibles as the preferred reading material during church services."
That by them you may wage the good warfare:
WE NOTICE PAUL'S focus is not the prophetic word Timothy heard in the past. The focus is on battle right in front of him now, where he must wage the good warfare - that is, "fight the good fight."
Paul gave Timothy the truth. Forewarned is forearmed. Timothy had a job in front of him, and it was going to be a battle. It was NOT going to be easy, or comfortable, or carefree. He had to approach the job Paul left him to do in Ephesus as a soldier approaches battle.
This gave Timothy still another reason to remain in Ephesus. He should sense a responsibility to stay when he felt like leaving because he was like a soldier in a battle, who could NOT desert his post.
Verse 19 tells us the tools for the warfare: faith and a good conscience.
"Having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck."
Faith and a good conscience:
These TWO THINGS are essential when battling for the Lord. They protect against the spiritual attacks of doubt and condemnation.
Timothy had to have the faith that God was in control, and would guide him as Timothy continued to seek him.
He had to have a good conscience, because his enemies would be attacking him, and if Timothy had NOT conducted himself rightly, they would have good reason to attack. A good conscience is NOT just a conscience that approves us, but one that approves us because we have been doing what is right - it is connected with good conduct.
Which some having rejected:
Some have rejected these weapons; specifically, Paul speaks of rejecting the faith; those who reject what Jesus and the apostles taught are headed for ruin (shipwreck).
Verse 20 tells us Two people that rejected the tools for warfare.
"Of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme."
Of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander:
We know nothing of Hymenaeus and Alexander other than what Paul said of them here, and again in 2 Timothy 2:17, when he adds the name of another false teacher, Philetus. As well, 2 Timothy 4:14-15 where the name Alexander is mentioned again. Paul apparently disciplined them for their disobedience to God in heresy, in conduct, or in both. He put them out of the church, sent them back into the world, into Satan's realm, to punish them and to teach them NOT to blaspheme God, His Word, or twist and pervert The Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We see that Paul was not afraid to point out opponents of the truth by name, as he said to do in Romans 16:17. This was not a contradiction of Jesus' command not to judge (Matthew 7:1-5).
While Christians are not to judge one another's motives, we are certainly expected to be honest about each other's conduct.
Whom I delivered to Satan:
From other New Testament passages we can surmise that he did this by putting them outside the church, into the world, which is the devil's domain. The punishment was a removal of protection, not an infliction of evil.
The Lord protects us from many attacks from Satan (Job 1:10; Luke 22:31-32), and much of this protection comes to us in what we receive as we gather together as Christians.
JOHN MACARTHUR in his commentary of 1 Timothy says, "To BLASPHEME, was not ONLY to take God's name in vain, but TO SLANDER THE LORD, to willingly and knowing PERVERT THE BIBLE, AND it was to SPEAK FALSE DOCTRINES."
In this, Paul gave Timothy one more reason to remain in Ephesus. He should do it because not everyone else does. We can not simply act as if every Christian does what God wants them to and stays faithful to the gospel. The fact that some do not should give us more incentive to not give up.
In this we see SIX DIFFERENT REASONS why we should follow the pattern of Paul's command to Timothy to remain in Ephesus and not give up in difficult times.
We should "Remain in Ephesus" …
1. Because they need the truth (1 Timothy 1:3-7).
2. Because you minister in a hard place (1 Timothy 1:8-11).
3. Because God uses unworthy people (1 Timothy 1:12-16).
4. Because you serve a great God (1 Timothy 1:17).
5. Because you are in a battle and cannot surrender (1 Timothy 1:18).
6. Because not everyone else does (1 Timothy 1:19-20).