Paul's handbook for a young pastor in a hostile city guard the gospel form

healthy churches and live a quiet, godly life that adorns the faith.

This is Seek Go Create.

You're listening to read the New Testament in 90 days, 27 books in order in context.

And boy is it laying out so well as we go in order, we're walking through

the New Testament, the way it was written so you can hear it the way the.

First churches did and get it in context.

I keep reminding you, but make sure you get our free reading

plan and all the resources at K two M Foundation slash NT 90.

That is a hub with links to all of these episodes on both YouTube and on,

the podcast platforms and a reading plan, and also a bunch of other

resources and all just to back up a number of the things we're saying here.

So go check that out.

K two M Foundation slash NT 90.

Today's stop.

We are at First Timothy.

This is a field manual for a young pastor trying to stabilize a pressured.

Church, here's some key facts.

The author, we know it's Paul.

Paul is writing this.

The date right around late 63 in the first century to 64.

I kind of put it at 64, just the way it seems to fall.

The audience is.

Timothy leading the church in Ephesus, but we believe this letter is meant

to be heard by the whole church.

In other words, it is specific to Timothy, but it's, it is for

him to carry this message through to the people of his church.

He's giving this young delegate public authority.

In this letter, we believe that Paul was in Macedonia.

Paul mentions leaving Timothy in Ephesus.

When I was going to Macedonia in chapter one, verse three,

the setting is, about 34.

Years since the resurrection, Paul has moved on.

Timothy's been left behind to lead.

Now let's briefly talk about the audience.

Who is Timothy?

First of all?

I love his name.

That's my namesake, so hallelujah.

Let's, just acknowledge that.

But let's look at who Timothy is.

He is Paul's protege.

Paul calls him my true child in the faith.

His mother Eunice, was Jewish, his father was Greek.

He was raised on scripture by both his mother and his grandmother, Lois.

But he wasn't circumcised, which meant he didn't fit neatly into the Jewish world.

Paul did circumcise him so he could minister in Jewish contexts and areas.

Timothy really lived between these multiple.

Worlds, which I think uniquely qualifies him for some of

the things that he will do.

he traveled with Paul through Philippi?

Thessalonika Corinth, Ephesus, when Paul couldn't be somewhere.

He seemed to send Timothy very often.

But Timothy struggled with timidity.

Paul tells him Here, let no one despise your youth.

He's in his thirties.

We believe He's leading one of the most spiritually charged cities in the empire,

and Paul is not in the room with him.

This letter isn't just instruction, it's Paul saying you can do this.

Guard the deposit.

I believe in you.

And he's somewhat endorsing him with this letter in front of the

group that Timothy is leading.

Paul wrote to the same church just a few years earlier in

his letter to the Ephesians.

There, he called them members of the household of God.

Now he tells Timothy how that household should function.

The theology of Ephesians becomes the.

Practice of what we see here in first Timothy.

They connect very well.

This might not be a bad time to go back and reread Ephesians prior

to jumping into first Timothy.

Let's look at some historical context.

We're immersing ourselves in what was going on during this timeframe around 64.

Ad in the first century, Rome Nero is still on the throne.

The empire would be considered stable, but pressure is growing.

Just two years ago, James, the Lord's brother was killed in Jerusalem.

That was more.

The Jerusalem leadership that did that.

But uh, but we're mindful of it as we are listening to this letter.

The church's first martyrdoms are no longer distant history.

They are happening in Jerusalem.

The temple is still intact.

We know now that there was only six years to go before it was destroyed.

The church, Ephesus.

Is a major city.

The temple of Artemis is there Commerce.

There's a lot of spiritual darkness.

Paul spent three years there now, Timothy leads this group alone.

The tension, false teachers are spreading myths and endless genealogies.

Some are drifting.

Timothy feels the weight of leading.

In his thirties.

Why now?

Paul writes practical instructions, who should lead, how the community should

function, what Timothy himself must guard.

Let's look at what you'll encounter in first Timothy.

It's practical and.

Urgent survival structure for a pressured church.

You'll hear about sound doctrine versus myths.

Some want to be teachers but don't understand what they're saying.

That applied in a D 64 and that's still applicable today, 2000 years later.

Prayer for all people is important.

Live peaceful.

Dignified lives.

Qualifications for overseers and deacons be above reproach, able to

teach self-controlled, not greedy.

Paul also gives some household instructions, how different

groups should live and serve.

He talks about care for the widows, honor for the elders practical community life.

Timothy's charge.

Don't let anyone despise your youth.

Set an example.

Keep a close watch on yourself and your doctrine.

Paul mentions the mystery of godliness, and this is a quote.

He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the spirit, seen by

angels proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, and taken up.

In glory.

That's chapter three, verse 16.

This is the deposit that Timothy must guard.

That really is the message of the gospel, resurrection, truth, not speculation.

That's guard the deposit, the gospel that was entrusted to you

speaking to Timothy character.

Over charisma doctrine that shapes daily life.

You're gonna be reading over the next two sessions, first Timothy chapters one

through three, and then four through six.

try to read it in one sitting if you can.

After this, we're gonna get to second Peter Peter's Farewell Manifesto.

Remember, resist and wait with Holy Lives.

Don't forget to be following along at K two M Foundation slash NT 90.

Be sharing this with people.

We're heading into the home stretch here, but it's not too late to

invite people along with us.

Now, before we read, let's set the scene.

It is a D 64 Ephesus you've gathered in a home near the harbor, maybe

a dozen of you crowded into a room that smells of oil lamps and sea air.

The Temple of Artemis looms just a mile away.

You pass it every day.

Everyone does.

Timothy stands at the front, unrolling a scroll.

He's younger than most of the elders, and you've seen him hesitate before speaking,

but tonight his hands are steady.

This letter is from Paul.

The room goes quiet.

Timothy clears his throat and begins Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus.

By command of God, our savior and of Christ Jesus, our hope.

To Timothy my true child in the faith, you lean forward.

Paul's voice reaches across the miles, and as Timothy Reeds, you realize this letter.

Isn't just for him.

It's for all of you, all of us instructions for how this household

of God is supposed to work.

Now, let's read