1 Timothy 1:1-17 Paul’s Three Sins

2021-03-23

Paul listed MY THREE SINS in 1 Timothy 1:13. First, Paul was a blasphemer. He had spoken evil of Jesus. Second, he was a persecutor. He had persecuted believers in Christ. Third, he was injurious. He had disrupted the church. Three groups in Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:18-3:16). Paul often gave a list near the start of his letters. The list pointed to what was coming next in his letter. When I learned of this I began looking for a list in 1 Timothy. I read various commentaries to see ...

Paul listed MY THREE SINS in 1 Timothy 1:13. First, Paul was a blasphemer. He had spoken evil of Jesus. Second, he was a persecutor. He had persecuted believers in Christ. Third, he was injurious. He had disrupted the church.

Three groups in Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:18-3:16). Paul often gave a list near the start of his letters. The list pointed to what was coming next in his letter. When I learned of this I began looking for a list in 1 Timothy. I read various commentaries to see what list they had found. No one mentioned any list.

And then, I found it! Paul’s list comes in 1:13. The list is found in his three sins - Paul had been (1) a blasphemer, (2) a persecutor, and (3) a disruptor. These three sins become the template he will use in Section Two of this letter.

In Section Two of his letter, Paul writes about three groups of people in Ephesus who correspond to each one of his three sins. Paul comments about those who are guilty of his first sin in a few words. He comments about those who have the power to commit his second sin with more words. He comments to Timothy about the group guilty of his third sin with the most words.

Here are the three groups:

Blasphemers at Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:18-20)
Persecutors at Ephesus (1 Timothy 2:1-7)
Disruptors at Ephesus (1 Timothy 2:8-3:16)

GO DEEPER

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