Family Study: Week Of: Sunday, January 10, 2021 – 1 Timothy 1:1-2

Reflection

(1Ti 1:1 ESV) Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

(1Ti 1:2 ESV) To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Discussion

1 Timothy was written by Paul.  The best place to find the story of Paul is in Acts 21 & 22 from his self-defense on the steps of fort Antonia.  Paul was a _____________ born in the city of _____________.  Tarsus was a city of culture and education, not a podunk hole-in-the-wall. 

 

Paul calls himself zealous for the law and mentions the letters given to him by Jewish authorities to round up and even kill any _____________ he found.  It was not until the _____________ Road experience when _____________ personally encountered Paul that his life was set on a new direction.

 

Now years later Paul is about to be murder by a mob of angry _____________ against Christianity.  My how the tables have turned.  He who was once the chief persecutor of the _____________ church is not it’s chief defendant to his very own people.

 

Being saved from the mob by the _____________ guards, Paul then reveals his status as a Roman citizen giving him rights in the Roman Empire that few Jews ever had.  This statuts, no doubt, was key in his life being spared many times.

Connection

Paul first addresses the Roman guard in Greek, the language of the Romans.  Next he addresses the Jewish mob in Hebrew, their own language.  What is significant about Paul speaking to each group in their native language?

 

Paul expands on his qualifications from birth, through upbringing, education, and adherence to the law.  In all of these aspects Paul was as close to perfect as a man could be.  What can we understand of this in light of Philippians 3:8-10?

 

Paul has this miraculous encounter with the risen Jesus on the Damascus Road where he asks, “Who are you, Lord?”  Why is it significant that this lofty religious leader was unable to recognize the Lord himself?

 

Paul is blinded and led by the hand to a Christian named Ananias who is likely fearful because of the murderous reputation of Paul.  Both men acting in faith: Paul blind and led on the way, Ananias fully aware of the danger and going nonetheless.  What can we learn from these two examples of faith?

 

Expansion

Offices In The Christian Church

Eph 4:11-12, 1 Corinthians 12:28, 1 Tim 3:1-13, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Peter 5:1-2, Hebrews 13:17

Purpose of The Christian Church

Matthew 22:37-39 (The Greatest Commandment)

Matthew 28:19-20 (The Great Commision)

Acts 2:42-27 (The Fellowship of Believers)