PPG view on 1 Timothy.

The book of 1 Timothy is among the New Testament writings attributed to the Apostle Paul, and its contents generally reflect an emphasis upon the Christian life as one of righteous obedience to God. From a Primitive Pentecostal perspective, this book can be taken at its primary meaning of Jesus' commands for believing followers to live according to His moral guidelines and the necessity of spiritual discernment. It is important to note, however, that some of the key themes of Pentecostalism may also be found within the text.

At the core of the Primitive Pentecostal perspective is the idea of the “baptism of the Holy Spirit.” This is generally taken to mean a special impartation of the Holy Spirit on the believer, often accompanied by speaking in tongues. In 1 Timothy 3:1-2 Paul describes qualities that should be present in a bishop, including “able to teach, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.” From the Primitive Pentecostal point of view, other aspects such as “filled with the Holy Spirit and power” become increasingly relevant. This is indicative of the importance of direct spiritual experience as a means of deepening faith and granting greater boldness for a faithful witness for Jesus.

The book of 1 Timothy additionally serves as a reminder to not become distracted from faithfulness to God by attention to the mundane and trivial. Paul makes the point that wealth and excess possessions can easily become an obstacle to the spiritual pursuit of our faith and can lead us astray from sensitivity to the will of the Lord (1 Timothy 6:9-10). Primitive Pentecostals emphasize the need to remain focused upon the “heavenly vision,” which is defined as living and witnessing according to the character and commands of Jesus as detailed within the New Testament.

In sum, 1 Timothy can thus be seen as a reaffirmation of the Primitive Pentecostal view of our Christian life. It encourages us to forsake worldly concerns for those of a spiritual nature, and to engage fully with the extraordinary workings of the Holy Spirit. It also reminds us to remain focused upon the tasks that the Lord has set apart for us and to remember that His desire is that we serve Him with with holiness and integrity.