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1 Timothy 1:6-11 - Bible Study Fellowship Notes

Role of the Law

Chapter 1:6-11

6 For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, 7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.

8 But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers 10 and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.

Key Words

· Law 3

· Lawless 1

· Lawfully 1

· Teaching 1

· Teachers 1

Title(s)

Role of the Law

Outline

I. Straying Men 6-7

A. Desire to Teach the Law

B. Lack Understanding

C. Make Confident Assertions

II. The Law is Good if Used Lawfully 8-11

A. Who the Law is For

1. Not for Righteous People

2. For Unrighteous People

B. Listing of Unrighteous People

C. The Law is in Accordance with the Gospel

Cross References, Questions, Observations

6 For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion,

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

Pr 7:24 Now therefore, my sons, listen to me,

And pay attention to the words of my mouth.

25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways,

Do not stray into her paths.

1 Peter 2:25?For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

Titus 1:10 For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,

1 Timothy 5:13?At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention.

a) When we stray, we become fruitless.

b) Doctrine impacts life style

1) What do you think is the most important factor that causes someone to stray?

2) Give some examples of fruitless discussion

3) Are these men Christians or non-Christians?

7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.

James 3:1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.

for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. (2 Timothy 4:10)

Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." (Acts 15:1)

and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, (Romans 2:19)

a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth, (Romans 2:20)

you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal? (Romans 2:21)

Professing to be wise, they became fools, (Romans 1:22)

always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 3:7)

a) People can seem confident even if they’re ignorant of the subject.

1) If someone doesn’t understand the Law, why would they want to teach it?

2) What similar types of actions can you see in China today?

3) Why don’t people acknowledge when they are ignorant on a subject?

8 But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully,

"Then You came down on Mount Sinai, And spoke with them from heaven; You gave them just ordinances and true laws, Good statutes and commandments. (Nehemiah 9:13)

The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. (Psalm 19:7)

The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. (Psalm 19:8)

The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. (Psalm 19:9)

They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. (Psalm 19:10)

Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. (2 Timothy 2:5)

a) The Law is good (always).

1) When is the Law used unlawfully?

9 realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers

For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. (Romans 4:13)

For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. (Romans 6:14)

For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM." (Galatians 3:10)

Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." (Galatians 3:11)

However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, "HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM." (Galatians 3:12)

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"-- (Galatians 3:13)

in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (Galatians 3:14)

Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; (2 Thessalonians 2:8)

They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed. (Titus 1:16)

19 Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. 20 Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one. 21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. 22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. Gal 3:19-24

a) God designed the Law for the unrighteous person.

1) Why is the Law not made for a righteous person?

2) Then, who is the Law for?

3) What is the purpose of the Law?

4) If the unbeliever isn’t receptive to the Law, what function does the Law perform in his life?

10 and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching,

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, (1 Corinthians 6:9)

nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:10)

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, (Galatians 5:19)

idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, (Galatians 5:20)

envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:21)

"For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, (Mark 7:21)

deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. (Mark 7:22)

3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

a) Immorality, homosexuality, kidnapping, lying and perjuring are contrary to sound teaching

b) From the various sins listed, all except immorality were applicable to both sexes

c) Paul apparently makes a distinction between a lying and perjury.

d) The Law is made for these people.

e) Paul doesn’t indicate whether any of the listed sins are more serious than the others or if they are all equally serious.

f) Immorality and homosexuality are sexually related sins.

g) Lying and perjury are sins of the tongue.

h) Paul doesn’t complete the list, but ends it with a general statement of sinful behavior.

i) If a behavior is contrary to sound teaching, it is a sinful behavior.

j) The world portrays homosexuality as an acceptable, alternate lifestyle, but it is clearly listed here as a sin.

k) No qualifiers are cited on any of these sins indicating that they might be OK in certain circumstances.

l) Though these sins are contrary to sound teaching, they are not necessarily contrary to worldly teaching.

1) Where can we find sound teaching?

2) When is it OK to lie?

3) Are the behaviors listed on the rise or the decline? Why?

11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.

For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. (1 Timothy 2:7)

Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. (1 Corinthians 4:1)

Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, (2 Corinthians 5:18)

namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:19)

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20)

But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised (Galatians 2:7)

but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts. (1 Thessalonians 2:4)

Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you. (2 Timothy 1:14)

6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! Gal 1:6-9

3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. 4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. 2 Cor 11:3-4

a) The message of salvation in Christ is exceptionally good news.

b) The good news is from God, not man made or influenced.

c) The gospel message is a sacred trust for which Paul and we will be accountable

d) It is an awesome responsibility to be entrusted with the message by which men’s souls can be saved.

1) To whom, other than Paul, has the gospel been entrusted?

2) Why would God entrust the gospel to us instead of some other means of getting it to the lost?

Key Verse

Central Teaching

The Law was not given for the righteous man but for the unrighteous and is good when used correctly for the purpose it was intended.

Application

What does God want you to do based on this passage?

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