Lessons

Timothy Study – Part 1. The lesson on November 26, 2006 starts a new series by taking a look at the books of Timothy in the New Testament that the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy. Paul wrote these after he declared in Ephesians that he was given the calling to make all saints see what is the fellowship of The Mystery. Paul then took his brother in Christ, Timothy and gave us an example of how to do this type of ministry. Timothy is a character in scripture that faced issues just like other Christians do today. He really understood some things, yet he struggled with others that brought him pain and sorrow. Paul understood this because Timothy had a Christian friend with Paul who he could share these issues with. Timothy had a responsibility given to him which was to take care of the church at Ephesus. Paul writes three pastoral epistles in The Mystery: 1 & 2 Timothy, and Titus. The other letters he wrote were church letters. The pastoral letters were to help pastors grow their churches (like churches starting in homes and growing). Paul is not in prison while he wrote 1 Timothy and Titus. Later Paul gets arrested in Troas and is put in prison. 1 Timothy is about 4 or 5 years after the letter of Ephesians. Paul writes Timothy addressing the people issues within the church. In chapter 1, Paul deals with heresy or the use of incorrect doctrine. In chapter 2, Paul deals with the place of prayer and women. Chapter 3 discusses the deacons or bishops (those given the responsibility over the church). , In chapters 4, 5, and 6 we see Paul writing about the walk, the work, and the warnings to the ministers. We find Timothy needs all of it because when we get to 2 Timothy, we see he still has problems. The biggest problem is the Pagen worshippers in Ephesus and those clinging to Judiasm