Tuesday, July 22 – 1 Timothy 1, 2

1. What did Paul mean that the “law is not made for the righteous, but for the ungodly”? 1 Timothy 1:9

2. Why does Paul put “murderers of fathers and mothers, sodomites, and liars” in the same group? 1 Timothy 1:9, 10

3. Why does Paul say that “women should keep silent”? 1 Timothy 2:12

Paul’s introduction to this letter to his “true son in the faith,” like many of his letters, is beautiful. We have certainly lost this art of politeness and meaningful, sincere salutations with our poor-communication, texting society.

Paul wastes no time jumping into his concern to keep doctrinal purity, emphasizing “the commandment is love from a pure heart,” but quickly balancing that statement with the truth that the “law is good.” It is so easy for us as humans to favor either one side or the other, love or law, but the truth is both together. “Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed.” (Psalm 85:10 NKJV)

What did Paul mean that the “law is not made for the righteous, but for the ungodly”? Do nice people like you not have to keep the law? Of course you do. The righteous are not breaking the law because they are filled with the Holy Spirit and are living in harmony with the law. They are not consciously, rebelliously, willfully disobeying God’s law; thus the law has nothing to condemn them (other than to reveal unknown sins), but the sinners stand condemned by God’s law, which will hopefully cause them to run to the cross for salvation.

Why does Paul put “murderers of fathers and mothers, sodomites, and liars” in the same group? I hope the reason is obvious: if we have broken one commandment, we have broken them all. All equally murdered Christ.

Why did Paul consider himself the “chief of sinners”? Because he, like all of us, crucified Christ. “There are none who do good, no, not one.” (Psalm 14:3; Psalm 53:3; Romans 3:12) Until we fully realize our true state of being outside of Christ, we will never fully surrender to Him. As long as we continue in the lie, “we are created in God’s image,” (He said that of Adam & Eve, not of you and me), we will never see ourselves as wretched, miserable, poor, naked, and in need of a full crucifying of self, and in need for all things to be made new.

What did Paul mean “whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme”? Paul used similar counsel regarding a man having sexual relations with his stepmother: “deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” (I Corinthians 5:5) This is a very powerful and frightful prayer that I reserve for only extreme cases. I have seen dramatic effects from it. The person is already serving Satan, but this prayer petitions God to release more of His protection from the person so that they truly hit rock bottom, and hopefully look up for deliverance in Christ.

Pray for all those in authority? Yes, most definitely. If we spent more time praying for them than condemning them, talking about them, or second-guessing them, we would see more results.

Jesus gave Himself as “a ransom for all.” God has already forgiven all the world. We benefit from that gift when we believe that truth, accept it, and allow it to transform our lives.

“Modest apparel without gold, etc.” would apply equally to anything done, said, worn, or purchased for attention-getting’s sake.

As for Paul stating, “women should keep silent,” …excuse me, my wife is calling me…