提摩太前书可能是保罗写给「因信主作我真儿子的提摩太」的个人书信，不过，它对我们今天却有重大的价值。随着初期教会的数目逐渐增多，许多教会纪律、聚会秩序和教义上的问题便随之而起。使徒时代快将完结之际，保罗在圣灵的默示下，为教会定下很多准则。它们不单对应当时的需要，对我们今天的教会亦一样适用。因此，我们必须用心研读这些书信。

保罗在书信的开始便告诉我们，他是「作基督耶稣的使徒」，他拥有权威。保罗的使徒权威，是来自教会的头──耶稣基督；他也是受神的差派，代表神去传达信息。保罗更用三个称号来称呼基督。祂是耶稣，我们的救主。祂是基督，是神所立的受膏者。祂是主，是统治者，有权管治祂的百姓。保罗更补充说，基督是我们的盼望──我们借着祂给予的荣耀盼望，来看此时此地的处境。

提摩太比保罗年轻很多，但两人之间有着深厚的情谊。保罗曾经在几封书信提及提摩太。他在腓立比书二章19至23节指出，提摩太「与他同心」。保罗有好几次遭遇患难的时候，提摩太也跟他一同受苦；而且，他似乎一直陪伴保罗，直至他被行刑处死。在保罗的书信中，其中一段最叫人感动的话，就是在提摩太后书四章6节至结尾的一段话。当时已年纪老迈的保罗，只渴望提摩太这位年轻人陪伴他走完人生的路程。

保罗叫提摩太留在以弗所教会，为的是确保他们能持定保罗教导的真理，不要被一些次要的问题所纠缠（4节）。保罗明确地指出，信徒面对四大试炼，首先是爱心，继而是清洁的心、无亏的良心和无伪的信心。我们的生命，是否具备这四大素质呢？请将他作为我们现今自我省查的项目。提摩太前、后书给我们很多宝贵的教训，让我们带着一颗祷告的心，用心研读后面选读的经文。

This may have been a personal letter from Paul to his “true son in the faith”, but it has tremendous value for us today. As the number of the early churches increased so did the question of doctrine, discipline and church order. The end of the apostolic period was approaching and God the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to set down standards which were not only needed then but are very relevant to our churches today. It is important that we study these epistles in detail.

The first few words in our reading tell us so much –“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ”. Here was a man of authority. He had been sent and authorized to speak, by God and by Christ, the head of the church.

Three names of Christ are given. He is Jesus, our Saviour. He is Christ, anointed and recognised by God and He is Lord, the sovereign who reigns over His people. Paul adds that Christ is our hope - we can look at the present in the light of our great future.

Timothy was obviously much younger than Paul but there was a wonderful relationship between them. Paul referred to Timothy in several epistles. In Philippians 2:19-23 he wrote that Timothy was “likeminded to himself.” Timothy also must have suffered with Paul on various occasions and it seems he was with Paul right up to Paul’s execution. Among the most moving words Paul ever wrote are his final lines to Timothy in the second epistle chapter four, from verse 6 to the end of the letter. The older man was longing for the company of his young friend as the end drew near.

Paul left Timothy in Ephesus to make sure the church stayed true to the doctrines Paul had taught and not be taken up with side issues (v.4). Paul stated very plainly that the real test for believers is seen first in our love, then in a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith. Can we take those four points and make them a check list on our own lives today? 1st and 2nd Timothy have much to say to us. Read each selection carefully and prayerfully.