By Paul Alberts
When the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, some men were presenting strange teachings in the church at Ephesus. As a result, problems and disputes developed instead of the godly building up of believers and displays of “love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith” (1 Tim. 1:5 NKJV). The situation there was the early stage of what we find today, and the lessons in this book still need to be heeded.
Paul had taken Timothy with him on missionary journeys over the course of several years, and in the process Paul knew Timothy very well. In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul spoke of Timothy as his “beloved and faithful son in the Lord” (4:17). In 1 Thessalonians 3:2, Paul spoke of this servant of the Lord as “our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ.”
Paul knew that Timothy, “a true son in the faith” (1 Tim. 1:2), would endeavor to do what Paul instructed, even when Paul was not present with him. What a challenge this presents to us as we may ask ourselves the question, “Is the Lord’s evaluation of us as good?”
Glancing through the few pages of 1 Timothy one might think, “There isn’t much there for me as I am not going to involve myself with problems in the local church or the matters of elders and deacons.” But the book is about much more, for in those things and in other points it shows us what we need to stay away from and the things which we should seek. The Feature articles in this edition address some of these points, but you would do well to read the six short chapters which make up 1 Timothy. By pondering the verses along the way, you will discover that they have much instruction for daily Christian living. Practicing such things will bring honor and glory to the Lord.
Throughout a day we make many decisions as to how to live and act, and whether it will be for the Lord’s joy or our pleasure. I think that question is one of the central focuses of this magazine issue. Maybe you will find something different as you read it from cover to cover.
