1 and 2 Timothy and Titus have been described as “God’s preachers’ manual.” They contain inspired advice from the Apostle Paul to two young evangelists, from a veteran preacher (one who has been there) to younger men (just learning and growing).

These three letters emphasize the importance of standing for the truth. There are two sides to this vital work. One is the preaching of the gospel, the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. Paul tells Timothy and Titus to teach only “sound doctrine.”

The second aspect of an evangelist’s work has to do with opposing error. The world is always filled with false teachers who turn aside from sounding teaching to idle talk.

Outline

• Verses 1-11 – Timothy’s work
• Verses 12-17 – Paul’s example
• Verses 18-20 – A warning

--Roger Hillis

Lord willing, beginning on August 1, we will begin posting chapter summaries for the New Testament books of 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon. There will be one chapter summarized each day and we hope you will check them out. We do hope that you are finding these postings to be helpful and encouraging to you as you seek to serve the Lord according to the New Testament pattern. Thanks for reading them and feel free to send us a message if you need any additional spiritual help.

--Roger Hillis

Paul begins this section, verses 1-9, by asking the Thessalonians to pray for him (and Silas and Timothy) in order that their work in the gospel might prosper.

They were facing opposition from unbelievers who were determined to undermine the disciples’ influence. He warns them, in verse 6, of the need to discipline unfaithful members (“every brother who walks disorderly”).

In verses 7-9, he points to his own example as one who worked hard to provide for his own needs so as not to be a burden to others.

In earlier passages in these letters, we have noted that some of the Thessalonian Christians had quit working so they could simply await the Lord’s return, which they considered to be imminent. Two thousand years later, we know they were wrong.

Perhaps that should give pause to those today who believe He will return in our own lifetime. He might, but He might not. Nobody knows for sure (Mark 13:32-37). In this last section of the book, Paul gives final instructions for faithful, prepared living.

He teaches in verses 10-12 that a person should work for a living and, if he is not willing to do so, he doesn’t even have the right to eat. He is not talking about someone who is physically unable to work, but those who simply choose not to work and support his family. This subject will also be dealt with in 1 Timothy 5.

Verses 14-15 remind us that, if a person has been “withdrawn from” (verse 6), he is not an enemy, but should be treated as a brother and encouraged to do the right thing. Do not avoid such people, but try to help them get things back in order.

In verse 13, Paul encourages them, and also us, not to “grow weary in doing good.” It is often easy to grow discouraged and the Lord wants us to keep on doing the right thing.

Jesus is coming again. Do you love His appearing (2 Timothy 4:6-8)? Are you ready?

--Roger Hillis

In view of their preoccupation with Christ’s second coming, Paul reveals some things that would happen before the Lord’s return. He predicts a great apostasy, a major rebellion against God. Since the first century, there have been many spiritual rebellions against the Creator.

Even in the first century, there were “many antichrists” already in the world (1 John 2:18). 1 John 4:3 speaks of “the spirit of the antichrist” (NASV) and reminds God’s people that “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (4:4).

In the course of human history, there are many people, both individuals and groups, who could be described by the language Paul uses in this chapter to describe “the man of sin.” They oppose the Lord and all that is good and right. They promote themselves and elevate themselves, sometimes even to the point of expecting the worship of their followers.

Deception is one of Satan’s favorite schemes. But those who take “pleasure in unrighteousness” are often easily deceived. Paul says that the false teachers/prophets would come with “all power, signs, and lying wonders” and with “all unrighteous deception.” Their followers’ reaction to error shows where their hearts really are. God has often used evil people to accomplish His will.

Paul encourages them to hold fast to the apostolic teaching (he calls them “the traditions,” something handed down). It is only when we remain faithful to inspired truth that God will be pleased with us. Truth will always prevail over error, in the long run.

There are three important lessons we can learn from this chapter.

First, there is evil in the world.

Second, God is still in control.

And, third, God will ultimately win.

So don’t give up. Be faithful to the Lord, no matter what.

--Roger Hillis

Very little time has passed since Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians, perhaps only 2-3 months. The circumstances described in both letters are almost identical. These Christians remain troubled by outside persecution and are still confused about the second coming.

There have been apparent misunderstandings about Paul’s message in the first letter. Some think a forgery letter had been sent (2 Thessalonians 2:2), so Paul makes it even clearer now with further instruction.

And he speaks even stronger words of rebuke to those who were causing problems by their actions. He makes it clear in this chapter that the Lord is aware of their “patience and faith” in the face of the “persecutions and tribulations” that they were enduring. He states that this shows them to be “counted worthy of the kingdom of God” for which they were suffering.

He promises two things. First, that God would give them rest from their trials. Second, that He would “repay with tribulation those who trouble you.”

He says that the final reckoning of these matters would occur “when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels.” The description of the punishment of the ungodly that he gives here is striking. Notice verses 8 and 9. “…In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.” Any questions about the reality of the place that is elsewhere called hell?

And then, speaking about the disciples in first century Thessalonica, Paul writes that “in that Day,” Christ would be glorified by the faithfulness of His people and he expresses his personal gratitude that they had believed and obeyed what Paul, Silvanus and Timothy had taught them.

Obedience always glorifies the Lord and He wants them to know that the persecutors and injurious ones who have troubled them will be punished. Mark that down; it is certain.

--Roger Hillis

Chapter Five continues the theme from the end of Chapter 4 about the second coming. Paul discusses two major aspects of our Lord’s return.

• We don’t know when it will be
• We need to be ready for it at all times

He is telling them that belief in the second coming should improve the way Christians live.  A constant awareness that Jesus could come back at any time should cause us to think twice before we do something that might be questionable. (If you are considering doing “something” that you are unconvinced is right, ask yourself if you would be willing to be doing this thing when Christ returns. If not, it is probably a bad idea to do at all.)

He compares the Lord’s return to “a thief in the night.” A thief strikes suddenly and often, when least expected. He also uses the illustration of labor pains coming on a pregnant woman suddenly and sometimes without much warning.

As sons of light, we should not be surprised by His return. We have been warned. A wise person takes such warnings seriously and makes preparation. Only those of “the night” or “of darkness” should be unprepared to stand before the Christ in judgment.

Similar to the end of many of Paul’s letters, verses 12-28 contain miscellaneous instructions and some practical advice about preparing for Jesus’ return. There is no need for those who are believers to be unprepared. But just because these subjects are miscellaneous, this does not mean that they are unimportant.

He speaks of the responsibility of every Christian to work in harmony with the shepherds (or elders) of the local church. The Lord desires peace to exist in every congregation.

Paul also addresses many of the duties of a child of God in relationship with each other and with the Savior. We must “test all things” and only seek to do those things that will help us and others to make it to heaven, not those things which would turn us away from the Master.

“Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house in coming – in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning – lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” (Mark 13:35-37).

--Roger Hillis

Verses 1-12 discuss living a life that pleases God. The apostle deals with three major areas:

• verses 1-8 – walking in holiness
• verses 9-10 – walking in brotherly love
• verses 11-12 – walking in honesty and integrity

Remember that they had previously had a problem with idolatry (1 Thessalonians 1:9). Immorality always follows idolatry, because, when God’s moral standards are no longer being followed, then anything goes. You can make up your own rules and decide for yourself what is right and what is wrong (and sometimes people decide that nothing at all is wrong).

Two important things that most distinguished first century Christians from their society was their moral purity and their love. So Paul addresses those subjects here.

He reminds them of the need for personal purity and holiness in the first eight verses of the chapter. He makes certain that they understand the immorality of fornication and adultery. Those are tragic sins against the Lord and will be devastating to His people, both personally and collectively.

Paul also wants to assure that they will continue to be loving toward one another. They were doing well in this area but he wanted them to “increase more and more.”

He also wants them to be people of honesty and integrity and to work hard so they can be a good example for the world and share with others.

As we come to verses 13-18, Paul addresses the subject of the Second Coming. Their main concern seemed to be for their deceased loved ones. Would they go to heaven? Or did they miss their chance since they had died before the Lord’s return?

Paul seeks to relieve their fears. His description of the second coming is at once exciting, terrifying and comforting. Perhaps the key question here is this, is the thought of the judgment day a comforting one for you?

--Roger Hillis

Paul ended the last chapter by saying that he wanted to come and see them, but had been unable to do so (1 Thessalonians 2:17-18). He is still on the same subject in Chapter 3.

Unable to come himself, Paul has sent Timothy to “establish and encourage” them in their faith. There were several reasons he was concerned about them.

They were relatively new in the faith and, as a result, they had very little knowledge. If a brand new Christian today wants to learn fast, all he has to do is read the New Testament. I have heard of new disciples who have read the entire New Testament in three days. But the New Testament was not yet completed. (Actually, it was barely even started.)Their exposure to the word of God was limited, although, as an apostle, Paul could have laid his hands on some of the members there and imparted spiritual gifts to them, which would have given them some degree of teaching ability. (To review what the basic spiritual gifts were, see 1 Corinthians 12.)So they were not left totally alone in this area, but it wouldn’t have been the same as if Paul had been able to stay there longer.

And persecution was still prevalent. There are references in this chapter to the trials that these young disciples were facing. He mentions “these afflictions” (verse 3), “tribulation” (verse 4) and “the tempter” (verse 5). He was naturally concerned about their spiritual well-being and says that he “could no longer endure” not knowing how they were doing.

So the apostle sent Timothy, his son in the faith, to help them and determine how they were faring spiritually. Verses 6-7 tell us that Timothy brought back good news of their faith and Paul was comforted by the news.

He makes it clear that he still hoped to return and be able to spend some time strengthening them (verse 11). He tells them to love each other and to increase in that love. And he prayed that they might be blameless and holy at the coming of Christ.

As was often the case, when he could not be with a church personally, Paul writes them a letter to strengthen their faith. That is exactly what this epistle is all about.

--Roger Hillis

There are several recurring themes in these two letters.

The most obvious one is the second coming, which is mentioned in every chapter. He also frequently comments about persecution and afflictions, a common problem for first century disciples who lived in an ungodly world.

Another major theme deals with the relationship between a preacher and the congregation. The principles revealed here (verses 1-12) apply to elders, deacons, class teachers, small group teachers, or any Christian who is trying to help other disciples to mature in the faith.

He begins the chapter by speaking about some of the trials that “we” (Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, see 1:1) endured in bringing the gospel to Thessalonica. Remember the almost immediate persecution from jealous Jews when the gospel began taking root in the lives of the local citizens? He mentions being “spitefully treated at Philippi” and then, when they came to Thessalonica, they delivered the gospel “in much conflict.” We read about some of that in the Acts 17 account of the beginning of this church.

Then, in the next few verses, he makes comparisons between his work in their midst and the gentle, loving care of a mother (verses 7-9), along with the strong comfort and encouragement from a father (verses 10-12). His exhortation is for them to continue to walk worthy of their Lord’s example.

Verses 13-20 speak of the relationship between truth and error (and those who stand for each). They affirm the inspiration of Paul’s message and that its source is in God. Verse 13 is one of the most beautiful passages about the inspiration of Scripture and its value in our lives.

There is also a description of how God looks at false teachers (verses 14-16; see also Titus 1:15-16).

He concludes this chapter with a return to their close relationship to one another (verses 17-20). Paul’s hope for them was that they would be prepared when the Lord returns.

--Roger Hillis

The church in Thessalonica was planted as a part of Paul’s second preaching journey (Acts 17:1-10). He spent three Sabbath days, teaching in the Jewish synagogue. He may have spent more time in Thessalonica, teaching some of the “devout Greeks” in places other than the synagogue.

But he had to leave prematurely due to persecution. Acts 17:5 tells us that “the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace” and started a riot against Paul and his companions. They accused them of “turning the world upside down.” Actually, the world was already upside down because of the influence of sin and Paul and others were trying to turn it right side up again. These wicked men were able to influence both the crowd of people and the rulers of the city with these false statements about the disciples. Paul and his traveling co-workers were forced to leave Thessalonica. They went on, in Acts 17, to preach the gospel and establish local churches in both Berea and Athens.

Naturally, having to leave these new Christians so quickly after their conversion was troubling to Paul and so he wrote 1 Thessalonians to strengthen these young Christians in the faith. According to 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, many of them had been involved in idol worship prior to learning about the living and true God. That would not be an easy or automatic change for them to make. They needed further instruction.

In spite of their “newness” in the faith, they seem to have grown well in these early days, so that they showed their willingness to receive “the word in much affliction” and they were doing so “with joy of the Holy Spirit.” And he tells them that they had become “examples” of faithful devotion to God in a way that was motivating and encouraging others who had heard about their faith.

Their primary issue seemed to be some confusion about the return of Christ, which many of them believed to be in their very near future (people are still confused about that even in our day). So much of what he writes in this epistle had to do with answering some questions about the second coming.

--Roger Hillis