Outline of the Book of I Timothy - The Floral Heights Church of Christ

God writes, "A son honors his father, and a servant his master: if then I am a father, where is
mine honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? Saith Jehovah of hosts unto you, O priests,
that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?" (Malachi 1:6).
VI. Paul gives Timothy, the evangelist, a message to give to Rich Christians (6:17-19):
A. "Charge them that are rich in this present world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hope set
on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy;" (6:17).
1. Once again we find the word "charge" which, as discussed at I Timothy 1:17 and 6:13, means to
command someone to do something. Obviously there were Christians during Paul's days who were
actually wealthy. Their wealth did not make them sinners but their approach to their wealth had
the potential of making them sinners.
2. Note that the Apostle Paul does not tell the wealthy Christians to sell everything they have and give
to the poor as Jesus told the rich young ruler (see Matt. 19:21). Paul tells Timothy to command
that those Christians who are rich to do two things (see study # 40; Riches and Wealth):
a. First, the rich Christians were not to be "highminded" (hupselopsronein) = "to have lofty
thoughts, be proud, overweening (presumptuously arrogant), haughty (see also Rom. 11:20)"
(Moulton 421). Sometimes when we are around the wealthy it is apparent by their attitudes
that they believe that they are at a different financial level than others and thereby others who
are not at their level are not worth their time or attention.
b. Secondly, rich Christians were not to set their "hope in their riches" because, as Paul said
earlier, no man will take any accumulated wealth with him when he dies (see I Tim. 6:7). The
Christian's hope ought to be on God.
B. "that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to
communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they
may lay hold on the life which is life indeed" (6:18-19).
1. The third thing Paul tells Timothy to command the rich to do is to do good and be rich in good
works in relation to distributing and "communicating" to those less fortunate or in various needs.
The Christian should not hoard his riches but rather have a willing disposition to help others in
need.
2. When the wealthy Christian is willing to help others he or she lays up treasures in heaven where
true life (eternal life) will be experienced.
VII. Final Benediction and Admonition to Timothy (6:20-21):
A. "O Timothy, guard that which is committed unto thee, turning away from the profane babblings and
oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so called" (6:20).
1. First Timothy has been an epistle that outlines the duties of the evangelist and the Christian's
approach to this life. Above all things man must keep the doctrine of Jesus Christ in all its purity
rather than allowing others to pervert it. Paul thereby pleads with Timothy to "guard" the faith.
The word "guard" (psulazon) = "watch, guardian, keeper, protector" (LS 874). There were
obviously men who were teaching false doctrines (see I Tim. 1:3; 6:3), involving themselves in
fables and genealogies (I Tim. 1:4), and participating in "profane babblings" (kenopsonias) =
"Empty discussion, discussion of vain and useless matters” (Thayer 2757). Timothy was also to
turn away from "oppositions" (antithesis) “that which is opposed: the inventions of false
knowledge, either mutually oppugn ant, or opposed to true Christian doctrine” (Thayer 50). As
Ezekiel is commanded of God to be a watchman over Israel (Ezek. 3:16ff) so God now commands
evangelists (I Tim. 6:20) and members of the body of Christ (Rom. 16:17) to do no less
(see study # 28).
2. Knowledge (gnosis) “of the heretical Gnosis (Gnosticism): of knowledge falsely so called” (AG
164). “Gnosticism was a heresy far more subtle and dangerous than any that had appeared during
the early years of the church. It became so widespread that by the beginning of the 3 rd century
A.D. most of the intellectual Christian congregations throughout the Roman Empire were to some
degree infected by it… The fantastic product of the blending of certain Christian ideas with
speculations and imaginings derived from a medley of sources (Greek, Jewish, Parsic;
philosophies, religions, theosophies, mysteries) in a period when the human mind was in a kind of
ferment…Neander, a Greek philosopher of the 2 nd cent., described Gnosticism as “the first notable
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