Today’s passage: 1 Timothy 1:1-2
Helpful thoughts:
- Timothy was from Lystra and came to Christ during Paul’s ministry there (Acts 16:1-3). Paul considered Timothy his son in the faith.
- Timothy had accompanied Paul on his missionary journeys and Paul left Timothy behind to minister to the church at Ephesus. Timothy was serving pastorally in that church when he received this letter from Paul (Around A.D. 62-64).
- Paul became an apostle because God had graciously and sovereignly commanded it. Remember, Paul did not find Christianity to be very appealing in his own flesh (Acts 8:1-3).
Questions to consider:
- What does Paul call God and Jesus Christ in verse 1? How is God our savior and how is Christ our hope? (2 Corinthians 5:21)
- What does Paul call God and Jesus Christ in verse 2? How is God our Father and how is Christ our Lord? (Matthew 7:11, Matthew 28:18)
- What can we learn from Paul’s regard for Timothy as a son in the faith? What is the discipleship relationship to look like? Do you have a “Paul” in your life? A “Timothy”? If not, who might those people be and how can you be praying for and pursuing those kinds of godly relationships in the church?