The "Heavenly Citizens" series serves as a tool to help the Christian understand not only what the Bible teaches us, but also how to study the Bible. Explaining what the Bible teaches is like giving someone a fish to eat. Teaching him how to study the Bible is like teaching someone how to fish so he can feed himself. Both approaches are essential to developing spiritual maturity."1 Timothy" is the nineteenth volume in the "Heavenly Citizens" series. The Apostle Paul begins this letter by presenting his credentials: he is an apostle of Christ Jesus. This is in accord with the authority of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, our hope. This letter is written to Timothy, Paul's true child in faith. Timothy was made the pastor of the Church of Ephesus by Paul, through his authority as an apostle of King Jesus.Ephesus was the capital of the Roman province of Asia (contemporary Turkey). As such, it had strategic value for spreading the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire. It was an aphorism of the times back then, that all roads lead to Rome. In that vein it was also true that all roads in Rome lead throughout the Empire.Sharing the Gospel and planting churches in the capital of Roman Asia killed two birds with one stone: new churches were planted, and the Gospel was advertised, and thus disseminated, by folks coming into contact with believers, as they traversed all of Roman Asia and the Roman Empire too. Think of it as the churches serving as huge billboards today.All of Roman Asia was inundated by the Mystery Religions, of which Gnosticism was the chiefest variety. These religious movements claimed to know the secrets of who God is and how man can relate to Him. In reality they were man's opinions about who God is and what it takes for man to approach God. Still, gullible souls will believe anything, which is why these religious movements prospered so far and wide over the Roman Empire.Paul emphasizes to Timothy to preach and teach the Word of God, and to be sure to avoid adding man's words into the message. Gnosticism, as well as other forms of man's words, were already beginning to make inroads into the churches in Roman Asia. Paul provides Timothy with the qualifications and job descriptions of church leaders (i.e., pastors and deacons), as per instructions from King Jesus. The danger from adding man's words to God's Word makes preaching exclusively God's Word so essential, when it comes to man relating to God. This Bible book is must reading for every pastor, before he should be allowed to step foot in a pulpit.Microwave Bible might be quick, but it can never nourish a growing boy into a spiritual man of God. So for a thorough understanding of these issues, we invite you to come inside and join the Bible class with us. We plan to delve into each and every detail and get to the bottom of it. After all, we do want our church today to be spiritually vibrant and fecund, don't we? What better way to accomplish this, than to enjoy a thorough study of the Apostle Paul's "First Letter to Timothy".The approach for "1 Timothy", and for every volume in the "Heavenly Citizens" series, is to teach the student the meaning of Scripture. We also teach him or her how to study the Bible on his/her own. We do this in two ways: we provide a few rules by which to govern our Bible study, and we demonstrate by example how to study the Bible. Experience is an outstanding teacher. In our books we practice the rules for Bible study. By walking through the Bible with us, the reader experiences firsthand what our method of study is like.We believe the student will come out of our studies with both an understanding of the Bible and the ability to truthfully understand the Bible on his/her own. The path lies before you. Walk through the gate and join the journey with us! And may the blessings of the Lord Jesus Christ be yours in abundance.
