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General Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons of the Book

A Man of God

1. A divine mind

a. a sound mind (1Tim. 1:1-7).

b. a bright mind (1Tim. 1:8-14).

c. a determined mind (1Tim. 15-20).

2. A divine sentiment

a. a sentiment of showing one’s concern over all (1Tim. 2:1-4).

b. a sentiment of making intercessions earnestly (1Tim. 2:5-8).

c. a sentiment of chaste personal integrity (1Tim. 2:9-15).

3. A holy will

a. a will of management (1Tim. 3:1-5).

b. a will of self-restraint (1Tim. 3:6-10).

c. a will of being instructed (1Tim. 3:11-16).

4. A godly life

a. the false religion (1Tim. 4:1-3).

b. the true religion (1Tim. 4:4-9).

c. the religion that saves men (1Tim. 4:10-16).

5. A man of God

a. being deeply concerned about others (1Tim. 5:1-7).

b. ignoring others (1Tim. 5:8-15).

c. the true oneness (1Tim. 5:16-25).

6. The things of God

a. using things selfishly (1Tim. 6:1-10).

b. being better than riches (1Tim. 6:11-12).

c. encouraging men to abandon everything, as what Christ has done (1Tim. 6:13-19).

7. The conclusion------being faithful (1Tim. 6:20-21).

The Knowledge of the Truth of the Church

1. The witness of the truth of the church (1Tim. 1).

a. the experience of life (1Tim. 1:1-2)

b. making out and refuting the heresies (1Tim. 1:3-11).

c. Paul’s own witness (1Tim. 12-17).

d. the special exhortation (1Tim. 18-20).

2. The practical life in the church (1Tim. 2).

a. the truth of prayer (1Tim. 2:1-7).

b. the responsibilities that believers should take (1Tim. 2:8-15).

3. The administration and the ground of the truth in the church (1Tim. 3).

a. the qualifications for the administrative persons in the church (1Tim. 3:1-13).

b. the ground of the truth in the church------the mystery of godliness (1Tim. 3:14-16).

4. How should the church deal with the challenges in the last days (1Tim.4).

a. resisting the erosion of the heretical teachings (1Tim. 4:1-5).

b. holding fast to the true pious life (1Tim. 4:6-10).

c. carrying forward our own good witness (1Tim. 4:11-16).

5. The way to deal with men among members of the church and the administrative management (1Tim. 5).

a. the way that members of the church should have to deal with men (1Tim. 5:1-16).

b. the administrative management of the church (1Tim. 5:17-25).

6. The truth of the church is a tutor to the life of believers (1Tim. 6).

a. trying one’s best to take his responsibility, manifesting life and glorifying the name of the Lord (1Tim. 6:1-2).

b. godliness with contentment (1Tim. 6:3-10).

c. keeping one’s positions (1Tim. 6:11-16).

d. explaining the true meaning of rich life and laying hold on eternal life(1Tim. 6:17-19).

e. departing from the false knowledge and living in the grace of God (1Tim. 6:20-21).

How to Deal with Heresies

1. Knowing and resisting those who preach heresies

a. charge them that they teach no other doctrine (1Tim. 1:3-4).

b. they depart from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith (1Tim. 1:5-10)

c. they have rejected a good conscience, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck (1Tim. 1:19-20).

d. they give heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons (1Tim. 4:1-3).

e. they suppose that godliness is a means of gain (1Tim. 6:3-10).

2. Avoiding and guarding against those who preach heresies

a. avoid contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge (1Tim. 6:20-21).

b. shun profane and idle babblings (2Tim. 2:16-18).

c. turn away from such people who have a form of godliness but denying its power (2Tim. 3:5-9).

d. beware of those who resist the faith (2Tim. 4:15).

3. Refuting and reproach those who preach heresies

a. teach others the sound doctrine and convict those who contradict (Tit. 1:9).

b. stop their mouth and rebuke them sharply (Tit. 1:10-14).

c. exhort and rebuke with all authority (Tit. 2:15).

d. admonish and reject division men (Tit. 3:9-11).

Those Who Stray from the Faith

1. Some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk (1Tim. 1:6).

2. Of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander (1Tim. 1:20).

3. For some have already turned aside after Satan (1Tim. 5:15).

4. Some men's sins are clearly evident, but those of some men follow later (1Tim. 5:24).

5. Some have strayed from the faith in their greediness (1Tim. 6:10).

6. By professing it (contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge) some have strayed concerning the faith (1Tim. 6:21).

7. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth (2Tim. 2:17-18).

8. They subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not (Tit. 1:10-14).

9. They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him (Tit. 1:16).

10. They who are opponents (Tit. 2:8).

11. They are divisive men who are self-condemned (Tit. 3:10-11).

The Qualifications for the Elders (Overseers) and Deacons in the Church

1. Blameless: the elders (1Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:6,7); deacons (1Tim. 3:10).

2. The husband of one wife: the elders (1Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:6); deacons (1Tim. 3:12).

3. Temperate: the elders (1Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:7); deacons (1Tim. 3:8, 11).

4. Sober-minded: the elders (1Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:8),

5. Of good behavior: the elders (1Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:8); deacons (1Tim. 3:8, 11).

6. Hospitable: the elders (1Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:8).

7. Able to teach: the elders (1Tim. 3:2; 5:17; Tit. 1:9).

8. Not violent, but gentle: the elders (1Tim. 3:3; Tit. 1:7).

9. Not quarrelsome: the elders (1Tim. 3:3).

10. Not greedy for money, not covetous: the elders (1Tim. 3:3; Tit. 3:7); deacons (1Tim. 3:8).

11. Not given to wine: the elders (1Tim. 3:3; Tit. 1:7); deacons (1Tim. 3:8).

12. Ruling their own houses well: the elders (1Tim. 3:4); deacons (1Tim. 3:12).

13. Not a novice: the elders (1Tim. 3:6).

14. Having a good testimony among those who are outside: the elders (1Tim. 3:7).

15. Not double-tongued: deacons (1Tim. 3:8).

16. A pure conscience: deacons (1Tim. 3:9).

17. Be tested: deacons (1Tim. 3:10).

18. Not slanderers: deacons (1Tim. 3:11).

19. Faithful in all things: deacons (1Tim. 3:11).

20. Not self-willed: the elders (Tit. 1:7).

21. Not quick-tempered: the elders (Tit. 1:7).

22. A lover of what is good: the elders (Tit. 1:8).

23. Just, holy: the elders (Tit. 1:8).

24. Holding fast the faith: the elders (Tit. 1:9); deacons (1Tim. 3:9).

── Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible Commentary Series》

Translated by Sharon Ren