Paul's Letters to Timothy
Setting: Paul writes 2 letters to Timothy and one to Titus, who were presiding officers of certain local churches. It is thought that Paul wrote 1 Tim and Titus while in Rome, 62 AD and 2 Timothy near his death in 67 AD.
Key Principles
1. Paul condemns using our lineage as a mark of superiority: "Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do." (1 Tim 1: 4)
"(1) Some apostate teachers recited their genealogies to give credence to their claims as coming with authority. Many Jews had become arrogant because of their illustrious ancestors. Some even flaunted their lineage when opposing the Savior himself: "We be Abraham's seed" (John 8:33), they said, as if to indicate that they were thereby natural inheritors of the truth."
"(2) Some of the apostate Jewish teachers were guilty of manufacturing their own genealogies-creating them in hopes of giving the added weight of authority to their teachings." (George H. Fudge-I have a Question, Ensign Mar. 1986)
2. The Law of Moses was made for a wicked people: "Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for men stealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine." (1 Tim 1:9-10)
3. Paul sinned ignorantly and was thus forgiven. Culpability increases as our knowledge of God does: "Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief." (1 Tim 1:13)
4. Jesus came into the world to save Sinners: "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." (1 Tim 1:15)
5. Those who leave Christ after coming unto Him are delivered to Satan: "Of whom is Hymenæus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme." (1 Tim 1:20)
There is a superior intelligence bestowed upon such as obey the Gospel with full purpose of heart, which, if sinned against, the apostate is left naked and destitute of the Spirit of God, and he is, in truth, nigh unto cursing, and his end is to be burned. When once that light which was in them is taken from them, they become as much darkened as they were previously enlightened, and then, no marvel, if all their power should be enlisted against the truth, and they, Judas like, seek the destruction of those who were their greatest benefactors. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, selected and arranged by Joseph Fielding Smith [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1976], 66-67.)
6. We should pray for all men, especially those in authority: "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." (1 Tim 2: 1-2)
7. There is one God and Jesus is the only mediator between us and Him: "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." (1 Tim 2: 5-6)
8. We should dress and behave modestly: "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works." (1 Tim 2: 9-10)
9. Women should not usurp Priesthood authority: "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence." (1 Thess 5: 14)
In the days of Paul, however, it was the universal custom that women should play no part in political government or minister in churches. Israel, without doubt, gathered some ideas from the Gentile governments with which they associated. The Jewish people, after the return from the captivity, adopted some of the customs and practices common among their captors which were contrary to the former government in Israel. Many man-made rituals and technicalities were added to the law. The custom that women should remain silent may have been borrowed from their pagan neighbors with such additions as the Jewish priests added to the Jewish law. (Answers to Gospel Questions, 5 vols. [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1957-1966], 3: 66-67.)
10. Qualifications of a Bishop set forth:
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil." (1 Tim 3: 2-7)
11. In the Last Days, Many will apostatize and destroy their consciences: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron." (1 Tim 4: 1-2)
"...too little guilt is deadly to our spirits. Remember, the scriptures prophesy that in the last days 'many will have their conscience seared with a hot iron' (1 Tim. 4:2), suggesting that they will become immune to the whisperings of their conscience." (Brent A. Barlow, Worth Waiting For: Sexual Abstinence Before Marriage [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1995], 86.)
12. Many apostates will forbid marriage and eating meat but this is false doctrine: "Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: (1 Tim 4: 3-4)
13. We should care more for our spirits than our bodies and not allow body image to become an idol: "For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." (1 Tim 4:8)
Americans, in particular, have stopped worshipping God in exchange for worshipping their own bodies. The media has told them what they should look like, and they are just gullible enough to spend their lives trying to achieve the culture-coveted look. Their diet, exercise, and dress patterns may be glorified as examples of health consciousness, but in reality, they are expressions of a love of self. The obsession may form an ironic form of idolatry in which the creature is worshipped 'more than the Creator' (Rom. 1:25). While the latter-day saints are busy trying to develop the image of God in their countenances (Alma 5:14), the rest of the world is trying to develop the image of physical perfection in their mirrors. Paul certainly saw our day when he prophesied that 'in the last days...men shall be lovers of their own selves' (2 Tim. 3:1-2).
14. Missionaries should act as mature examples so that they aren't dismissed for their youth: "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." (1 Tim 4: 12)
"(Speaking to the young men) Those whom we teach will overlook our youth if in our conversations in charity, in spirit, in faith, and in the purity of our lives, we reflect the Spirit of Christ. We cannot indulge in swearing. We cannot be guilty of profanity; we cannot indulge in impure thoughts, words, and acts and have the Spirit of the Lord with us." ("Converts and Young Men," Ensign, May 1997, 48-49)
15. As Paul counseled Timothy, we should not neglect the gifts or talents God has given us but use them to edify all: "Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. " (1 Tim 4:14-15)
16. It is the church's duty to care for widows: "Honour widows that are widows indeed." (1 Tim 5:3)
The Lord and his priesthood leaders have always had the responsibility to honor and care for those who have lost the priesthood leader in their home, "pure religion and undefiled is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction." (James 1:27)
17. Parents need to teach children piety and obedience at home: "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." (2 Thess 3:10)
"Parents who fail to teach obedience to their children, if [their] homes do not develop obedience society will demand it and get it. It is therefore better for the home, with its kindliness, sympathy and understanding to train the child in obedience rather than callously to leave him to the brutal and unsympathetic discipline that society will impose if the home has not already fulfilled its obligation. (David o Mckay: The Responsibility of Parents to Their Children, p. 3.)
18. Those that do not provide for their families have denied the faith: "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." (1 Tim 5:8)
19. Paul warns against spreading rumors and gossiping: "And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not." (1 Tim 5: 13)
20. It is a family's responsibility to care for their widowed parents and grandparents: "If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed." (1 Tim 5: 16)
21. We should not be too hard on those who are working for us doing their best: "For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward." (1 Tim 5: 18)
A muzzle was a covering made for the mouth of an animal to prevent eating or vicious biting. In this particular context, Paul is reminding Timothy not to be too oppressive to the other leaders and workers in the church. They are doing their best and should not be treated too severely. (gospeldoctrine.com)
22. The Church must ensure the integrity of its membership and discipline when necessary: "Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear." (1 Tim 5:20)
23. We should not ordain people to the Priesthood too quickly if they are not ready: "Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure." (1 Tim 5:22)
24. We should not be contentious over church doctrine: "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself." (1 Tim 6: 3-5)
"Divine doctrine of the Church is the prime target of attack by the spiritually contentious. Well do I remember a friend who would routinely sow seeds of contention in Church classes. His assaults would invariably be preceded by this predictable comment: 'let me play the role of devil's advocate...Such contentious spirits are not new. In an epistle to Timothy, the Apostle Paul gave this warning, 'that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.' (1 Tim. 6:1.) "'If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to [his] doctrine ... doting about questions and strifes of words, ... supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.' (1 Tim. 6:3-5.)
"Dissecting doctrine in a controversial way in order to draw attention to oneself is not pleasing to the Lord. He declared: 'Bring to light the true points of my doctrine, yea, and the only doctrine which is in me. And this I do that I may establish my gospel, that there may not be so much contention; yea, Satan doth stir up the hearts of the people to contention concerning the points of my doctrine; and in these things they do err, for they do wrest the scriptures and do not understand them.' (D&C 10: 62-63.) (Russel M. Nelson "The Canker of Contention," Ensign, May 1989, 70)
25. Many suppose that Gain and wealth are favors of God but they are not always: (1 Tim 6:5)
"Those who preach the gospel of success and the theology of prosperity are suffering from 'the deceitfulness of riches' and from supposing that 'gain is godliness' (1 Timothy 6:5). The possession of wealth or the acquisition of significant income is not a mark of heavenly favor, and their absence is not evidence of heavenly disfavor. Riches can be among the blessings that follow right behavior-such as the payment of tithing (Malachi 3:9-12)-but riches can also be acquired through the luck of a prospector or as the fruits of dishonesty." (Pure in Heart [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988], 75.)"
26. If we have food and clothing and our needs are being met we ought to be content: "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content." (1 Tim 6: 7-8)
27. The Love of Money is the root of all evil and we ought to seek after godliness instead: "But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness." (1 Tim 6: 9-11)
"'For the love of money is the root of all evil. That's true. You get your mind on the things of the world and you lose the Spirit of the Lord in your work. It isn't money that He's talking about, it's the love of money, it's the covetousness, it's the greed, it's the desire to have more than you need which becomes the root of all evil. I hope you'll remember that all the days of your life." (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1997], 708 - 709.)
28. Paul counsels the rich not to trust in riches but in the living God: "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate." (1 Tim 6: 17-18)
29. Paul counsels Timothy not to put trust in false science that opposes God: "O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen." (1 Tim 6: 20-21)
30.God does not give us the spirit of fear but of love: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Tim 1: 7)
31. We should not be ashamed of our Christianity and should suffer afflictions rather than hide our testimony: "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;" (2 Tim 1:8)
32. Those in the church are foreordained to holy callings before they were born: "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." (2 Tim 1:9)
33. Jesus Christ has abolished death and offers immortality through the Gospel: "But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." (2 Tim 2: 10)
34. We must endure afflictions as good soldiers of Christ and give total commitment to building the kingdom, not pursuing the things of this life: "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." (2 Tim 2: 3-4)
35. "The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits." (2 Tim 2:6) Those that preach the Gospel must first partake of the fruits of the Gospel.
36. If we suffer and die with Christ we will be raised but if we deny Him he will deny us: "It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us." (2 Tim 2: 11-12)
37. Paul counsels us to avoid contention and arguing as it benefits nobody and actually harms the listeners: "Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers." (2 Tim 2: 14)
38. We should study the word of God so that we can discern truth from error: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Tim 2: 15)
"The whole system of salvation centers in our obtaining the "mind of Christ," as Paul said (1 Cor. 2:16). It is the process by which we come to think as God thinks, to believe as he believes, and therefore to act as he would act. It embraces, Paul explained, our "rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15). The original sense of this text was to "cut a straight path," or to "hold to a straight course." It was a charge to teach the truths of salvation without adding to or taking from them (see 3 Ne. 11:39-40). It also embraced the idea of dividing to every man according to his need (see D&C 84:85). (Joseph Fielding McConkie, Answers: Straightforward Answers to Tough Gospel Questions [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1998], 229.
39. We should avoid speculating on things we do not know anything about but should be patient with those who err: "But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth." (2 Tim 2: 23-25)
40. Paul describes the apostate condition of many in the last days: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." (2 Tim 3: 1-5)
41. Many seek learning but resist the truth when they hear it, seeking something else: "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith." (2 Tim 3: 7-8)
42. All that live Godly Christian lives will suffer persecution: "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (2 Tim 3: 12)
43. Dishonest and evil men get worse and worse until their whole lives are a deception: "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." (2 Tim 3: 13)
44. We should focus on the Gospel truths we do know and the authority of those who taught them to us: "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them." (2 Tim 3: 14)
45. Scripture is given by inspiration of God and studying them makes us wise unto salvation: "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Tim 4: 15-17)
"Samuel Johnson observed 'people more frequently need to be reminded than instructed."
46. We should reprove, exhort and rebuke with meekness and longsuffering: "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." (2 Tim 4:2)
47. Many will not abide by sound doctrine but will seek teachers that tickle their ears with worldly philosophies: "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (2 Tim 4: 3-4)
48. Paul knew his martyrdom was near and expressed faith in the crown Jesus would offer him: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." (2 Tim 4: 7-8)
49. All men forsook Paul, but he asked God to forgive them: "At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge." (2 Tim 4: 16)