August 14, 2010

1 Timothy 1:1-20 (Good News Translation)

Embodying Hope and Encouraging Others in Faith

Introduction

1 Timothy 1:1-20: Today we begin reading the letters to Timothy. In this passage, the author offers general instructions for life in the church, which include giving thanks and staying away from false teachings. The false teachings mentioned here may have been myths about Greek and Roman gods and goddesses.

Today’s Scripture: I Timothy 1:16

God was merciful to me in order that Christ Jesus might show his full patience in dealing with me, the worst of sinners, as an example for all those who would later believe in him and receive eternal life.

Today’s Reading

¹From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by order of God our Savior and Christ Jesus our hope— ²To Timothy, my true son in the faith: May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace. ³I want you to stay in Ephesus, just as I urged you when I was on my way to Macedonia. Some people there are teaching false doctrines, and you must order them to stop. ⁴Tell them to give up those legends and those long lists of ancestors, which only produce arguments; they do not serve God's plan, which is known by faith. ⁵The purpose of this order is to arouse the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a genuine faith. ⁶Some people have turned away from these and have lost their way in foolish discussions. ⁷They want to be teachers of God's law, but they do not understand their own words or the matters about which they speak with so much confidence. ⁸We know that the Law is good if it is used as it should be used. ⁹It must be remembered, of course, that laws are made, not for good people, but for lawbreakers and criminals, for the godless and sinful, for those who are not religious or spiritual, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, ¹⁰for the immoral, for sexual perverts, for kidnappers, for those who lie and give false testimony or who do anything else contrary to sound doctrine. ¹¹That teaching is found in the gospel that was entrusted to me to announce, the Good News from the glorious and blessed God. ¹²I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength for my work. I thank him for considering me worthy and appointing me to serve him, ¹³even though in the past I spoke evil of him and persecuted and insulted him. But God was merciful to me because I did not yet have faith and so did not know what I was doing. ¹⁴And our Lord poured out his abundant grace on me and gave me the faith and love which are ours in union with Christ Jesus. ¹⁵This is a true saying, to be completely accepted and believed: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I am the worst of them, ¹⁶but God was merciful to me in order that Christ Jesus might show his full patience in dealing with me, the worst of sinners, as an example for all those who would later believe in him and receive eternal life. ¹⁷To the eternal King, immortal and invisible, the only God—to him be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen. ¹⁸Timothy, my child, I entrust to you this command, which is in accordance with the words of prophecy spoken in the past about you. Use those words as weapons in order to fight well, ¹⁹and keep your faith and a clear conscience. Some people have not listened to their conscience and have made a ruin of their faith. ²⁰Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have punished by handing them over to the power of Satan; this will teach them to stop their blasphemy.

Reflect

This letter may have been written toward the end of Paul's life, or, as some scholars believe, it may have been written in his name by one of his followers after Paul's death. It was not unusual in the ancient world for followers to honor their teacher by writing something in the teacher's name. How does the author of this letter describe the relationship between Paul and Timothy? How can sharing faith strengthen a relationship? Who has served as a mentor in faith for you?

Pray

Great teacher, you provide wonderful people along life's path to offer wisdom and guidance. Help me to recognize my teachers and mentors, that I may open myself to their wisdom. Amen.

Prayer Concern

Teachers