Paul establishes the source of his authority and the relational weight of his instruction to Timothy.
1 Timothy 1:1-2
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ according to the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ our hope;
2 to Timothy, my true child in faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Timothy must confront doctrine that creates speculation rather than faith-filled stewardship and love.
1 Timothy 1:3-7
3 As I urged you when I was going into Macedonia, stay at Ephesus that you might command certain men not to teach a different doctrine,
4 and not to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which cause disputes, rather than God’s stewardship, which is in faith—
5 but the goal of this command is love, out of a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith,
6 from which things some, having missed the mark, have turned away to vain talking,
7 desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say, nor about what they strongly affirm.
The law is good when used in a way that exposes sin and agrees with sound doctrine according to the gospel.
1 Timothy 1:8-11
8 But we know that the law is good, if a person uses it lawfully,
9 as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave-traders, for liars, for perjurers, and for any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine,
11 according to the Good News of the glory of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
Paul's life becomes a living exhibit of Christ's patience, grace, and saving mission.
1 Timothy 1:12-17
12 I thank him who enabled me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he counted me faithful, appointing me to service;
13 although I used to be a blasphemer, a persecutor, and insolent. However, I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
14 The grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
15 The saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
16 However, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first, Jesus Christ might display all his patience for an example of those who were going to believe in him for eternal life.
17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Timothy is charged to persevere in faithful ministry while learning from those who rejected conscience and damaged their faith.
1 Timothy 1:18-20
18 I commit this instruction to you, my child Timothy, according to the prophecies which were given to you before, that by them you may wage the good warfare,
19 holding faith and a good conscience, which some having thrust away made a shipwreck concerning the faith,
20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan, that they might be taught not to blaspheme.