1 Timothy 1:1-11

1 Timothy 1:1-11
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

I am struck by the the strong language here.  Paul was an apostle by the command of God.  Not the request or urging of God. Not the suggestion or leading of God.  He was an apostle by command.  He was given a direct order. 

Following through on the military theme, a corporal has no authority on his own.  Any orders he give would have come from the Sargent or the Lieutenant.  They in turn received their orders from above.  Paul's orders were from God himself.  God receives no orders from anyone.  Therefore Paul's words that follow are to be followed.  They are from God.
 

² To Timothy my true son in the faith:

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Timothy was a convert from Paul's ministry.  He was also young.

³ As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer ⁴ or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith.

Timothy was handed authority to command others to stop teaching falsely and to stop getting involved in para church activities that cause controversy in the church.

We to have a responsibility if there is false teaching in our churches.  We must know what we believe and how to defend it too. 

I also want  to address the issue of controversy. Even today issues come up that cause controversy among God's people.  Are we the ones who quell the controversy or a are the ones who START  the controversy?

⁵ The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. ⁶ Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. ⁷ They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

Timothy's authority was not given to him so he could hold sway over people and be in charge.  It was given to him to restore brothers and sisters to the faith.  Some just like to here their own voice.  They wanted to teach, not because they had something to impart, (because the did not really know their subject matter), but they just wanted to be up front and noticed.

When a brother or sister in Christ confronts you, I courage you to look beyond you pride and accept the love being given.  It's not easy, but it must happen for both of you to grow.

⁸ We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. ⁹ We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, ¹⁰ for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine ¹¹ that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.

The law was put here to serve to serve the people.  It pointed out to people their need for a Savior.  It was to bring them to repentance.  

My the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.