1. A Life That Guards Against False Teachings and Gives Thanks for the Grace of the Lord
As Pastor David Jang emphasizes, the exhortation that Paul gives to Timothy in 1 Timothy 1 carries an extremely important message for all believers who take care of a flock-whether as pastors or in any leadership role. Classified among the Pastoral Epistles, this passage primarily deals with the specific manner in which young Timothy should care for and teach the congregation in Ephesus. Yet it also extends to anyone entrusted with shepherding the church, as well as to all who must lead the next generation or younger believers from a more seasoned position. In this letter, Paul highlights two principal teachings: First, "Beware of false doctrine," and second, "Always give thanks for the grace and mercy of the Lord, who saved me, a sinner." These two pillars can be considered the core of 1 Timothy 1, serving as the essential foundation that everyone in the church must hold fast to.
First, when Paul says "Beware of false doctrines," it is one of the most critical missions for those called to pastoral or shepherding ministry, both then and now. Pastor David Jang and many other ministers assert that protecting the flock from distorted doctrine and false ideologies that infiltrate the church community is of utmost priority in ministry. This is because the fundamental issue that disintegrates the church and causes believers to stray from the truth typically stems from doctrinal confusion and misinterpretation. The Roman Empire of Paul's era was marked by a polytheistic worldview and an explosion of philosophies, as if a hundred schools of thought were competing. Amid an age in which everything was relativized and intermixed, guarding and passing on only God's Word (sound doctrine) was a challenging task. This challenge remains much the same in the 21st century. Through mass media and the internet, a vast array of information circulates freely, and people uncritically blend it with their faith. Therefore, those who lead churches or teach the Word must be all the more discerning, distinguishing precisely between truth and false teachings to protect the community of faith.
Toward the latter part of 1 Timothy 1, Paul explicitly mentions heretical claims, flawed interpretations, or wrong ethics that disrupt the church. He warns that if believers are swayed by such false teachings, their souls will inevitably be destroyed. In the massive, pluralistic society of the Roman Empire, safeguarding the gospel demanded a solid grounding in the truth and the ability to identify what was false. Such discernment is cultivated through personal training, deeply studying Scripture, and mastering sound theology and doctrine. Thus, Paul effectively tells young Timothy-and by extension the young pastors and all believers of our time-"Be watchful yourselves." This requires the faith community to study doctrine on its own and become more mature through discussion and scrutiny based on the Word. As Pastor David Jang points out, if a shepherd has never systematically organized his church's doctrine, the congregation will inevitably remain vulnerable to doctrinal weaknesses. We must never forget that defending and researching doctrine is not antiquated speculation but the very frontline of protecting real life.
Paul also states in the latter part of 1 Timothy 1 that "Although you must beware of false teachings, the purpose of that vigilance must come from love." Preserving doctrine and defending the correct truth must not devolve into a mere argument of "I'm right and you're wrong." He makes it clear that the reason for upholding truth must stem from a heart of love and mercy. That is, rather than simply condemning and excluding those caught up in false teachings, believers should endeavor-through prayer and effort-to lead them back so their hearts may be restored. After all, the greatest mission of shepherding is to safeguard the truth while also saving people, ultimately guiding them back into the grace and mercy of the Lord.
Following this call to guard against false teachings, Paul stresses the need to "Always give thanks for the grace and mercy of the Lord." He openly confesses before Timothy about his own past, saying, "Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man...I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief" (1 Tim. 1:13). Originally, Paul actively persecuted the gospel and arrested those who believed in Christ. But the Lord showed him extraordinary mercy, plainly demonstrating that even the worst of sinners can be saved and used anew. When he says "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-of whom I am the worst" (1 Tim. 1:15), he is not making a hyperbolic display of modesty but offering an admission firmly grounded in genuine self-awareness. This truth provides great hope for all believers, reminding us that no matter how grave one's sin appears by human standards, God's grace can overcome it.
In Matthew 18, the parable of the unmerciful servant tells of a servant whose enormous debt of ten thousand talents was canceled, yet who refused to forgive his fellow servant's debt of merely a hundred denarii. A talent was such a massive sum that ten thousand talents corresponded to approximately sixteen years' wages for a laborer, whereas a denarius was only a day's wage-thus illustrating how incomparably large a debt was forgiven, and how absurd it was for this servant not to forgive his colleague's small debt. The parable's core message is that we, too, have had a colossal debt forgiven before the Lord-like those ten thousand talents. Consequently, if we fail to forgive brothers or sisters who offend us even slightly, we are just like that unmerciful servant. Paul recognized himself as precisely such a "servant whose massive debt was forgiven" and therefore spent his life proclaiming and being overwhelmed by "the Lord's grace and mercy."
As Pastor David Jang teaches, ultimately "knowing from what great sin I was saved" is critically important to the inner world of a pastor (or shepherd). This realization allows one to forgive others, cover their shortcomings, and cultivate the humility and love necessary to grow together in the truth. Paul did not hide his past memories of opposing Jesus Christ and persecuting the church. Instead, by exposing that shame openly, he bore witness to how majestic and vast the Lord's mercy truly is. This likewise applies to believers today: the more our weaknesses and sinfulness come to light, the more brilliantly the Lord's grace shines. As such experiences deepen, a more generous heart and capacity to forgive naturally flow out among believers.
Also, the grace and mercy that Paul teaches his "son" Timothy do not merely remain at the level of "Well, I'm saved, so I'm relieved." People who experience the greatness and value of this grace cannot help but proclaim the Lord. In Mark 14, we see a young man, traditionally identified as Mark, fleeing naked in the end (Mark 14:51-52), a raw display of a fearful, shamefaced disciple. That Mark chose to record this incident in his own Gospel reflects his desire to boldly confess how weak he was while acknowledging the boundless grace and love he received from the Lord. This insight benefits us all greatly. Often, even if we profess, "I truly love the Lord," we still find ourselves running away or denying Him in moments of cowardice. Yet the Lord infinitely loves even such frail individuals and followed the path of the cross to the very end. When we sincerely grasp this truth, we can bring greater authenticity to our shepherding ministries.
Not only does Paul recall his past as "the worst of sinners" before Timothy, but he also testifies to his dramatic conversion in Acts 9. On the road to Damascus, surrounded by a bright light, he heard the voice, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" (Acts 9:4), and through the Lord's calling, everything changed. Afterward, Paul stayed in Arabia for about three years, presumably in deep meditation and prayer. This likely served as a crucial period in shaping his theological and spiritual foundations. During that time, he would have contemplated just how immense the grace bestowed on someone like him was and found a framework to harmonize the Old Testament Scriptures with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thanks to this formative period, he could later boldly proclaim, "I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ" (Gal. 1:12).
As Pastor David Jang also stresses, one crucial message we must glean from 1 Timothy 1 is that our salvation is wholly the result of grace and mercy, and that this grace should constantly overflow within us. Timothy was a person of good character, having received faith instruction from his godly grandmother Lois and mother Eunice (2 Tim. 1:5). Yet in Paul's view, Timothy was still a sinner who could never attain salvation except by grace. Recognizing this truth and nurturing a heart of gratitude toward the Lord's grace each day is, according to Paul, what births a proper ministry, proper service, and proper leadership.
Remembering Mark's account of himself in his Gospel, one can read it as a confession: "I claimed to love the Lord, but at the most critical moment, I shamefully fled. Yet the Lord held onto me even then." This is the astonishing grace Mark testifies to. Timothy, similarly soft and timid in nature-sometimes appearing physically weak as well-was a young junior in Paul's eyes. However, as Paul knew so well, God uses such fragile vessels, and precisely in their weakness His power is fully displayed. When Paul declares, "I was the worst among all people in this world" (cf. 1 Tim. 1:15), it prompts us to confess, "Ah, I am the same. I did not enter the church by my own merit." Therefore, we ought not to forget the grace we receive daily or fail to live in gratitude for it. When we are thankful for such grace, we can truly embrace others in a pastoral or shepherding role, walking with them as they find renewal.
Paul takes this a step further: "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service" (1 Tim. 1:12). From a human perspective, it may seem strange that the Lord "considered him faithful." How could God entrust the weighty calling of "Apostle to the Gentiles" to someone who once tried to destroy the church? Yet the standard by which God summons and uses people transcends any human résumé, skill, or qualifications. That is precisely the "boundless grace of the Lord," and at the same time the "sovereign work of God." Thus, as Pastor David Jang and others frequently emphasize, we do not first become "faithful persons" by our own strength and then receive a position. Rather, it is the Lord who first raises us, justifies us (calls us righteous), sanctifies us, and assigns us a role within that grace. This is the reality behind Paul's confession: "The Lord considered me faithful."
What specific results emerge from such a confession of grace in one's pastoral ministry? The concept of a "good and faithful servant," spoken of by Paul, aligns with the commendation found in the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. The master praises the good and faithful servant: "You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things." Conversely, the servant who buried his talent in the ground is rebuked as "wicked and lazy." This admonition means that we must make good use of the talents entrusted to us and bear fruit. Paul, overwhelmed by joy, says that "the Lord has appointed me to his service," illustrating the principle that God entrusts us with greater missions when we remain faithful in smaller tasks. Likewise, the moment we receive a small role in a community, we already have an opportunity to be that "good and faithful servant."
We can summarize 1 Timothy 1 as follows: (1) Beware of false doctrines and uphold sound teaching; (2) Unceasingly give thanks for the grace and mercy of our salvation; (3) As those entrusted with a ministry on this earth, remain faithful, nurturing a good conscience and strong faith to endure tribulations. And this is not merely the story of Paul and Timothy in the early church-it is a principle for all believers who make up the church today. As Pastor David Jang often says, the church and individuals can be shaken in any age, but if we find our solutions in the Word, live discerningly in the world, and continue to give thanks for the grace we have received, we will never lose our way.
2. Prayer for All People and the Universality of Salvation
Reflecting again through the lens of Pastor David Jang, we see that in 1 Timothy 2, the apostle Paul underscores that "the very first attitude pastors (or all believers) must possess is prayer." Paul says, "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people" (1 Tim. 2:1). The key phrases here are "first of all" and "for all people." In other words, whether pastors or laypeople, everyone serving the church must "above all else" pray, and that prayer must encompass "all humanity." This may have felt like an overwhelming command to someone like Timothy, who was young and physically weak. He might have wondered, "It's hard enough for me to look after this small church-how can I possibly pray for the entire Roman Empire, much less all humanity?" Nevertheless, Paul presents a "grand worldview." He reminds Timothy of the basic Christian teaching that there is only one God who rules over all things, and that every person on earth is created in God's image.
Specifically mentioning "for kings and all those in authority" (1 Tim. 2:2), Paul has in mind the supreme rulers of the Roman Empire, such as Emperor Nero. Though the church sometimes endured harsh persecution under Roman rule, Paul exhorts believers that "the more so, the more you ought to pray for kings and those in high positions." He explains that the reason is "that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." In other words, believers should pray that authorities make the right decisions before God so that the church may proclaim the gospel in a stable environment. This is not an instruction for the church to compromise with dictatorial or unjust regimes. Rather, it means, "Know that even the world's power holders are under God's sovereignty. Intercede, pray that they repent, and encourage them to implement righteous policies." This still applies today. Though individuals often feel powerless against vast government powers and political systems, the church must pray for them, earnestly calling for God's goodness to be reflected in all institutions and decisions.
Paul goes on to proclaim that God "wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:4). Historically, this particular statement has generated significant theological debate. Calvinism emphasizes God's sovereignty and election, while Arminianism highlights human free will. However, by saying that God "wants all people to be saved," Paul clarifies that God's salvific will is neither narrow nor small-minded. Simultaneously, as he teaches in Romans 9-11, there remains a mystery of "divine election." Scripture, then, affirms both "God's desire that everyone be saved" and "the special grace for the elect." These are not contradictory but rather two truths reconciled within God's grand providence. In multiple talks, Pastor David Jang likewise insists, "Our salvation is never accidental but rather the fruit of God's special choice and love," while also stressing, "This election does not belong exclusively to a single individual or group but is open to all humanity."
Arriving at 1 Timothy 2, Paul declares, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim. 2:5). This one Christ Jesus "gave himself as a ransom for all people" (1 Tim. 2:6). A ransom is a payment made to free humanity from its slavery to sin; Jesus paid that cost for everyone. In discussions of whether His death was "limited atonement" or "universal atonement," Paul's statement here leans more toward "Christ's salvation is open to all." Yet the Book of Acts, Romans, and other Scriptures also make it clear that those who actually partake of this universal grace are those predestined by God. Thus, God's salvation is never a narrow or petty choice but rather expresses His love and purpose for the world, and each person may trust that "when the proper time comes, this truth will be made evident" (cf. 1 Tim. 2:6).
In this context, Pastor David Jang often mentions an anecdote in which someone went to a subway station intending to evangelize but ended up saying nothing to anyone-too busy speculating about "Who might be chosen by God?" or "Who might be good and virtuous?" and thus returned home empty-handed. This is not far from our reality. Even when someone appears to have committed serious sins or seems totally unlikely to accept the gospel, we must pray for that individual and strive to share the gospel. After all, Paul himself was once that person- the most malevolent character seeking to destroy the church. Yet God transformed him into one of the greatest apostles in Christian history. Such examples warn us that hastily saying "That person is hopeless" imposes a limitation on God's sovereign power.
Stressing the need to pray for everyone, Paul outlines four types of prayer in 1 Timothy 2:1: petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving. In the original Greek, petition (δέησις, deēsis) translates to a request from a position of deficiency or need. Prayer (προσευχή, proseuchē) is an earnest supplication offered as one bows before a king. Intercession (ἔντευξις, enteuxis) refers to intervening or praying on behalf of others-corporate or public prayer. Lastly, thanksgiving (εὐχαριστία, eucharistia) is directly related to the Eucharist, a prayer that recalls the salvation and life given by the Lord.
These four forms serve as a practical guide for the entire spectrum of a believer's prayer life. We often focus solely on personal needs, yet Paul frames prayer in multiple dimensions aimed at "all people." Intercession and thanksgiving, in particular, hold profound significance from a communal perspective. The church is not merely a place to present our own requests; it is where believers pray for one another and even include the world's rulers and authorities in their prayers. In the Old Testament, Exodus 17 provides a symbolic illustration: as Israel fought against the Amalekites, Moses held up his hands in prayer, supported by Aaron and Hur, leading the Israelites to victory. It reminds us that when the church unites to intercede and petition God, the resulting power far exceeds our human expectations.
When explaining prayer, Pastor David Jang often cites the slogan "Think Globally, Act Locally." This phrase broadens the Christian perspective of "God's reign," especially relevant in an era when communication and transportation have advanced to the point of turning the world into a "Global Village." We can hear and see the sufferings of people on the other side of the planet in real time, and air travel allows us to reach nearly anywhere in a day. Hence, "embrace the world through prayer and act locally" has become an actual calling. When Paul tells Timothy to pray "for kings and all those in authority," it may have seemed like a "vast realm beyond his capability," but spiritually it was not so. All things rest in God's hand, and the church is entrusted with a share in that spiritual authority. Today, as then, the church must restore this spiritual viewpoint, persisting in earnest prayer for the entire world.
At this point, does such prayer merely seek peace in the world? Paul goes one step further, urging believers to pray ultimately that "all people be saved." Moreover, this salvation is not a mere abstraction but is grounded in the fact that Jesus Christ, fully human, has already completed His saving work on the cross, offering His life as a ransom. In this regard, 1 Timothy 2:6-"He gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time"-is of great importance. Evangelism is not a matter of merely enlarging church membership or achieving personal goals; rather, it is about proclaiming to the world the accomplished truth of Christ's death and resurrection and making known that Christ's redeeming work is "for everyone."
Of course, we should not hastily conclude from these words that Paul endorses a "universal salvation" whereby everyone is automatically saved. Paul himself emphasizes in Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, and elsewhere that a "response of faith" in Jesus Christ is required for righteousness. Yet at the same time, as 2 Peter 3:9 states-"He does not want anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance"-we see that God's heart is profoundly broad and inclusive. When the church envisions salvation at this grand scale, it will not prematurely give up on or judge those who remain hostile to the gospel.
Finally, Paul confesses in 1 Timothy 2:7, "And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle-I am telling the truth, I am not lying-and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles." He boasts in being "a herald and an apostle" because God called the very man who once persecuted the church and made him a key spokesman, proclaiming the gospel to the Gentiles. Even while imprisoned, Paul testified boldly before governors and kings, leaving the unforgettable statement: "I pray that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am" (Acts 26:29). This boldness aligns perfectly with 1 Timothy 2:4: "God wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."
Although 1 Timothy was a pastoral letter written to Timothy, its admonitions likewise extend to all who lead or serve the church today. Timothy seemed fragile-indeed he struggled with frequent stomach ailments (1 Tim. 5:23)-and ministry in the large city of Ephesus no doubt weighed on him. Still, Paul instructs him: "Do not be shaken by false teachings. Amid that tumult of ideas, guard God's truth. Remember daily the boundless grace you have received, and pray for all people-especially for rulers and those in authority-because only when they stand on the right path can you lead a peaceful and devout life and proclaim the gospel freely. Furthermore, since God desires everyone to be saved, do not be afraid but boldly preach the gospel." As Pastor David Jang repeatedly points out, the reason the church exists as a community of faith in the world is to fulfill God's supreme command to "proclaim the gospel and bring people to salvation." If the church turns entirely inward, disregarding the world and ignoring whatever rulers do, it disobeys the call to "pray for everyone" found in this text.
Moreover, the four categories of prayer Paul emphasizes-petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving-apply directly to our present reality. When faced with difficulties and need, we offer petitions for God's provision; we bow in prayer before God as our King; we engage in intercession on behalf of others during corporate worship; and whenever we grasp God's grace, we respond with thanksgiving, often expressed in the sacrament of Communion. Pastor David Jang notes that the church demonstrates its true power only when it practices these diverse forms of prayer in a balanced way. If we stress only "petitions," we may become too fixated on our own needs; if we overemphasize "thanksgiving," we might neglect real suffering and deprivation; if we stress only "intercession," our individual devotion might weaken. Paul's fourfold structure provides a balanced model for implementing prayer in worship and ministry.
The statement "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim. 2:5) ranks among the most revolutionary declarations the early church made to the world. Countless philosophers, priests, religious figures, and emperor worshipers in the Roman Empire each spoke of "gods" in their own way, yet Paul proclaimed a single God and one unique Mediator-Jesus Christ-who alone reconciles God and humanity and has given His life as a ransom for all. This confession would not compromise with the world, which is why the church was persecuted. Nonetheless, that bold faith also allowed the church to shake the Roman Empire "spiritually." Eventually, in the early fourth century, Christianity was legalized, leading to a massive spread of the gospel throughout the empire.
From 1 Timothy 2, Paul's teaching encourages the church to rediscover its dynamic calling to embrace the world in prayer rather than fear it. Contemporary churches face different kinds of challenges-advances in science and technology, deepening pluralism, religious relativism, materialism, cultural syncretism, and more-that seek to dilute the truth of faith. Even so, the apostle Paul's message remains valid: under the conviction that God rules over everything, "pray for all people," and hold together both election and universal love. When the church prays in this posture for kings, rulers, and the powers of the world, even if they currently oppose the gospel, the Lord can move history so that the kingdom of God expands. This is the principle of providence in Scripture and the manner by which God's great plan of salvation actually unfolds on earth.
Pastor David Jang describes such a practice of prayer as "viewing the world from the Lord's perspective." In other words, we believe that even those who appear evil or hopeless can become saints if God turns them around. As Paul shifted from being the early church's worst persecutor to its greatest evangelist, so, too, our neighbors, colleagues, and even those in power can be transformed and used for the gospel-if we pray with that conviction. This conviction is the true starting point of pastoring or shepherding, namely recalling the immeasurable grace we ourselves have received and praying that this grace reach all people, then not stopping at prayer but also actively proclaiming and testifying to it. As we live in this way, the church manifests its power not in isolation from the world but right at its center-through prayer and action, the Word and love-acting as salt and light.
As Pastor David Jang continuously reiterates, the theological and pastoral context unifying 1 Timothy 1 and 2 is quite clear. First, we must discern false teachings and stand firmly on a doctrinal foundation, since our sinful nature is easily lured by distorted teachings. Second, we must continually meditate on and give thanks for the Lord's boundless grace and mercy, which saved even "the worst of sinners." With this understanding, we will not become harsh but instead move toward a shepherding ministry that upbuilds others. Third, we must pray for all people, especially for those in authority. This is because God wants everyone to be saved, and through such prayer, we ourselves can lead devout and tranquil lives. We must also testify that Jesus Christ alone is the sole Mediator for all humanity. Paul was called to proclaim this universal gospel truth, sharing the message of salvation with all people, high or low in status.
Even now, scholarly interest in 1 Timothy remains strong. In fact, reading this epistle amid the modern church's secularization and divisions allows us to return to the basics and reexamine the three pillars of "truth, grace, and prayer." On the pastoral front, Pastor David Jang has frequently criticized the pitfalls that arise when churches focus excessively on complicated programs or external growth. The core he emphasizes is by no means new. It aligns exactly with what Paul taught Timothy: "Keep sound doctrine, cling to the grace and mercy given by the Lord, and pray for all people." These come before any program, methodology, or organizational management.
Thus, 1 Timothy 1-2 stands as a pillar not only for individual spiritual maturity but also for understanding how the church community should engage with the world. Indeed, following chapter 2, Paul addresses other themes-women in leadership, the qualifications for elders and deacons, internal church order, the mystery of godliness, attitudes toward wealth, coming tribulations, and more. Yet all these topics rest on the same premise: the church must protect the truth from distorted teachings, must remember that the salvation we have received and the offices entrusted to us depend wholly on grace, and, ultimately, must carry in prayer God's immense heart that desires all people to be saved. This is the vision Paul held for the church and the principle Timothy followed all his life.
When we revisit this teaching in the present age, we may feel overwhelmed by news of politics, violence, war, division, and factional strife scattered across the world. We might despair, thinking, "Why is the world so dark, and how can we possibly manage such a heavy burden?" Yet Paul's message remains certain: "Everything lies in God's hand, and when the church believes in God's reign and prays, history and the world move accordingly." Having such confidence, Paul did not despair even in prison, nor did he lose heart despite enduring many persecutions. Because the grace we have received is great, and because our God is great, we need never be crushed by the world; rather, we should pray and share the gospel with each person-even kings and rulers.
Pastor David Jang also strives, through various sermons and writings, to convey this apostolic assurance in language suited to the twenty-first century. He repeats that prayer is the most powerful action the church can take on behalf of the world. More than that, when prayer ceases to be a mere religious routine and becomes a practice of reading God's heart and aligning ourselves with His mercy and love for the world, it displays genuine power. Also, through prayer, we gradually understand God's plan, recognizing in turn that the door of salvation stands open for all people-a realization central to the church's calling.
In 1 Timothy 1 and 2, we find both a crucial responsibility-guarding against false teachings-and an exhortation to give continual thanks for the immense grace that saved us as sinners, as well as a summons to join in prayer for God's desire that all be saved. Should the church emphasize only one of these three pillars, it loses its balance. If it defends doctrine alone, neglecting the wonder of grace, the church can become a cold institution worshiping knowledge. If it highlights only grace, believers may lose the doctrinal discernment they need, leaving them vulnerable to false teachings. And if it abandons a fervor for prayer and evangelism, the church's raison d'être wavers. Thus, Paul's well-balanced admonition to Timothy remains a fundamental instruction that modern churches must revisit.
Moreover, from a pastoral standpoint, Paul anticipated the challenges Timothy would face ministering in the heart of a major metropolis like Ephesus, thus personally offering him comfort and encouragement. In 1 Timothy 1:18-19, Paul urges Timothy to "fight the good fight" with "faith and a good conscience," and then immediately in chapter 2:1 exhorts him to begin with prayer for all people. This forms a positive feedback loop. Communicating with God through prayer fortifies our faith, which sustains a good conscience that keeps us from false doctrines. Building on that framework, we can then live under the power of "the Lord's grace and mercy." Although Paul's letter was addressed to Timothy, in reality, it was intended for the entire early church and, by extension, reaches us today, two thousand years later. Pastor David Jang and many others teach and underscore this passage because its universal and foundational truth remains absolutely necessary for contemporary churches and believers.
All of us are "shepherds" or "pastors" in some sense. Even those without formal positions in a church have responsibilities to care for and lead toward the gospel-be it at work, at home, or in relationships with neighbors and acquaintances. In those moments, the principles of 1 Timothy 1-2 present clear direction. In short, constantly be on guard against false teachings, never forget how great a gift of love your own salvation is, and ultimately enfold the world in prayer. When such prayer extends beyond mere slogans and permeates our lives, the church's true power will be revealed.
Ultimately, only those who firmly grasp the two pillars-"Beware of false teachings" and "Always give thanks for the Lord's grace"-can properly respond to the command in 1 Timothy 2: "Pray for all people." And that is the very essence of ministry. Pastor David Jang often reminds us, "We are pilgrims passing through this earth, and heaven is our true home, so let us hold onto this hope and serve the world without fear." This hope is our greatest treasure, one no worldly riches or power can take away. It is the reason Paul could remain joyful and confident amid all kinds of suffering. And as this hope becomes concrete, still another person may enter the path of salvation through our witness. This, then, is the most valuable legacy that 1 Timothy bequeaths to countless generations of churches-and the central message we must hold onto.
