Context
- Who wrote this letter? [ 1 Timothy 1:1 ]
- Who did he write it to? [ 1 Timothy 1:2 ]
- Why has Paul urged Timothy to remain in Ephesus? [ 1 Timothy 1:3-7 ]
- What are the dangers that face the church in Ephesus?
Characters
- In the context of this letter, why might it be important that God has given Paul strength? How might this encourage Timothy? [ 1 Timothy 1:12a ]
- What was Paul before God appointed him as a servant? [ 1 Timothy 1:12-13, Acts 7:54-59, Acts 8:1-3 ]
- How was Paul saved from his sin? [ 1 Timothy 1:14 ]
- Why did Jesus come into the world? [ 1 Timothy 1:15 ]
- How has God used Paul as an example of his grace? [ 1 Timothy 1:16 ]
- What sort of man was he before and after his salvation?
- What is Paul’s response to being saved? How does he feel about God’s grace? [ 1 Timothy 1:17 ]
- Given that Timothy is an experienced missionary worker, used to planting churches, why might Paul be telling Timothy this?
- How is the message of God’s grace different from the false teaching in Ephesus? [ 1 Timothy 1:4, 6-7 ]
- How serious is the battle that faces Timothy in Ephesus? [ 1 Timothy 1:18-20 ]
Application
- In this letter, the dangers that face the church are based on false teaching that has a Jewish origin. What false teaching might affect the church today?
- How might we wander away from the simple, yet glorious gospel that Jesus came into the world to save sinners?
- How does Paul’s salvation encourage us today? What is God able to do with sinful people? How should we respond to God’s grace?