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Solving Interpretive Challenges in the Book of 1st Timothy
A Brief Commentary

In our Introduction to the Book of 1st Timothy, as with all the other Bible books, we typically include a chapter or section examining a few of the most common interpretation difficulties and challenges that often puzzle readers of the book.  In a few cases however, we encounter difficulties that require addition space to adequately examine the topic.  Such is the case with the First Epistle to Timothy, due to both quantity and complexity of the challenges.

Progress Note (Created Dec 2024):  Articles are still in progress and some longer ones may be located on separate pages.  Links will be added as articles are completed.

Bibliography Note : Some of the questions come from Norman L Geisler and Thomas A Howe, When Critics Ask : A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties (Wheaton, Ill: Victor Books, 1992)

Table of Contents

What was Paul’s Meaning of “Here is a Trustworthy Saying”?  (1Tim 1:15; 3:1; 4:9; also 2Tim 2:21; Tit 3:8)

Several times in the Pastoral Epistles, we find Paul declaring that “Here is a trustworthy saying” (1:15; 3:1; 4:9; also 2 Tim. 2:11; Titus 3:8).  In a few cases, he also emphasizes that the saying “deserves full acceptance”.  Since all scripture is divinely inspired and trustworthy (2Tim 3:16), why would he use this statement in a few particular cases.  Perhaps it was because each statement that followed was a concise summary of a key doctrine, not a verbatim quotation of an existing scripture.  Thus, Paul was using his divine inspiration and apostolic authority to declare each summary to be inspired inerrant truth.  The sayings themselves were probably well-known amongst the  churches and in use as concise expressions of fundamental gospel truth.  Since Timothy and Titus travelled extensively with Paul, they likely would have heard Paul utilize and expand on these sayings many times.

To expand on the first saying, Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst (1:15).  Paul is quoting Jesus from Matthew 9:13, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” and from Luke 19:10, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” and from John 3:17, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him“.

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If God Desires all persons to be Saved, why will some end up in Hell?  (1Tim 2:3-6)

After Paul urges believers to pray for all people, he then writes in chapter 2, verses 3-6, This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.  This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.  In light of these passages, some might question why all people will not be saved.  The Greek word used here for “wants” (or “desires” in some English translations) is thélō, which typically carries the meaning of preference.  That is, it is God’s preference, not His sovereign decree that all would be saved.

Paul notes that Christ’s role in salvation was “a ransom for all” (2:6).  Likewise, Jesus Himself used as similar phrase, to be “a ransom for many” (Mt 20:28) when He described the primary purpose of His First Coming.  The all is qualified by the many.  Although His death would have been sufficient for all, His atonement was only effective for believers.  There is however, some worldly temporal blessings and benefits of His atonement that is universally passed on to all people, such as God’s compassion and grace.  These blessings are typically known as the doctrine of “common grace”.  For those who would like to research the subject of “common grace”, a good source is the theological writings of Louis Berkhof.

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What Instruction did Paul give that would apply to Specific Types of Church Members?  (Various Verses)

For young persons (including Timothy), Paul gave instructions in chapter 4, verses 12-16.  Specifically, he advised not to let others look down on young believers due to their age, but to set an example with their speech, conduct, love and faith, and to devote themselves to public reading and study of the scriptures.  He also advised them to be diligent in matters of life and to hold on to sound doctrine.

To the wealthy, he advised to be content with, and good stewards of, what God had given them (6-6-19).  He also cautioned against pride in their possessions and not to discriminate against the poor (see also Jas 2:1-4).

Paul covers instructions for dealing with widows and the elderly in chapter 6.  He instructs believers not to rebuke an older man harshly, but to correct him as you would your father.  This attitude of treating people as relatives in Christ also extends to the treatment of others.  Younger men are to be treated as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters.  He also distinguishes between widows who have family members capable of caring for and aiding them versus the widow that is really in need, putting all of her hope in God.  Paul goes as far as saying that anyone who does not provide for their own relatives is worse than an unbeliever (5:8).  The “widows list” also has further restrictions.  A widow must be at least 60 years of age, have been faithful to her husband, and well known for her good deeds and hospitality (5:9-10).

See the separate article, “What was Paul’s Policy regarding the Roles of Women in Ministry?” for additional info.

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Should Christians Avoid Earthy Monetary Gains?  (1Tim 5:8)

In the previous difficulty, we noted that 1Timothy 5:8 states “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”  This implies that we should be wise stewards of the monetary blessing that we have.  Yet, Jesus warned His disciples against laying up treasures on earth (Mt 6:19) and to give to everyone who asks of you (Lk 6:30).  He also commanded one rich young ruler to give away all his money to the poor (Lk 18:22).  In addition, Proverbs 13:22 states that “A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children...”  Are these statements in conflict?  The short answer is no.  When understood in context of the whole of Scripture, the varying statements actually support and build upon each other.

We first note that proverbs are sayings that are true in the general sense, or in the majority of cases (see Interpreting Parables for more info).  Without getting into a full treatment of the Bible and money, we’ll first note that the Bible does not require that believers to give away all their money.  Yes, we should give to those in need while still providing for our families and for other believers in the faith.  The rich young ruler was a special isolated case.  Jesus only commanded him to give all his money to the poor because money had become the overruling idol in his life.  Other than this isolated case, there appears to be no other case in which the Bible condemns investments (we could also argue that this was a case of hoarding rather than investing).

Some have suggested (or even accused) the Bible of teaching that the early church practiced socialism, based on a faulty interpretation of the activity describing the fellowship of the believers in Acts 2:42-47.  Yet, the acts of selling certain property and possessions to help those in need were strictly voluntary.  If this was not the case, how could the early believers not violate the command to provide for their families.

The Scriptures appear clear in their instructions on giving.  The first tenth (firstfruits) of everything belongs to the Lord (Lev 27:30).  Doing so, you will be storing up treasures in heaven (Mt 6:19-24).  Immediately following in Christ’s Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us not to worry, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Mt 6:33).  Thus, the formula appears to be, give first to God, then provide for your family, and finally, as much as possible, to aid the poor (Gal 2:10).

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Did Paul recommend Wine Drinking for Christians?  (1Tim 5:23)

In 1Timothy 5:23, Paul advises Timothy to “Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses”.  However, elsewhere in the same letter, the apostle alludes to temperance twice in the requirements for church leaders (3:1-8).  In addition, the Scriptures contain multiple warnings against the taking of strong drink and being in a state of drunkenness.  For example, Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God (1Cor 6:9-10).  Also, Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.  Instead, be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18).  Other warnings are found in Proverbs 20:1 and 31:4-5. Isaiah 5:11 and 24:9, Amos 6:6-7, and Micah 2:11.

As with most apparent discrepancies, we can easily reconcile these apparent contradictions by looking at the whole in context.  First, the warnings are against the abuse of alcohol.  We can certainly have a debate over the occasional drinking of alcoholic beverages in moderation.  We know that Jesus turned water into wine for a wedding celebration that His mother also attended (Jn 2:1-12).  Yet Paul is not speaking here about drinking in social occasions.  He is advising Timothy to drink the wine because of his stomach problems and frequent illnesses (5:23).  Thus he is recommending the wine for medicinal instead of social purposes.  In addition, he also recommended using “a little wine” (5:23), not a lot.  Finally, the ancient Jewish Talmud states that, in biblical times, wine was typically diluted with three parts water and one part wine, and thus much weaker than what we have today.  Therefore, a small amount with a meal would be almost negligible and would not impair a person in any way.

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Are Humans Immortal? - 1Tim 6:16

First Timothy 6:16 states that God alone is immortal, however, other scriptures appear to grant true believers certain types of immortality.  How do we explain this?  Probably the best place to start is with 1st Corinthians chapter 15, arguably the definitive chapter regarding the Resurrection of Christ and of believers.  Indeed, our resurrection as believers is irrevocably related to the resurrection of Christ.  But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.  For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive (1Cor 15:20-22).  Speaking of the resurrected body, Paul writes, So will it be with the resurrection of the dead.  The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.  If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body (1Cor 15:42-44).  Those living on earth are now in a mortal natural body, but for true believers, after our natural death, we’ll be raised in an immortal spiritual body.

Paul continues: Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.  For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.  When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”  “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1Cor 15:51-55).

In an attempt to summarize, I think we can say that only God (Father, Son and Spirit) is immortal in and of himself (intrinsically), that is part of His nature, being and essence.  Only He had no beginning or end.  Humans on the other hand are immortal because God created us that way, thus we depend on God for our immortality.  In addition, we could say that our immortality is limited to a future eternity, while God existed in eternity past and will exist into eternity future.  That is to say, there has never been a time that God has not existed nor will there ever be a time when He ceases to exist.  We had a beginning but will have no end.  In addition, this eternal future includes both believers and non-believers, but the two groups will have different eternal destinations.  Believers will spend their future eternity in heaven with Christ, while unbelievers will spend their eternal future in Hell.  Christ defeated death for all believers on the Cross to secure our immortality (2Tim 1:10) in Heaven.

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