EPISTLES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
I TIMOTHY
Total Church
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1:3 command certain men not to teach
false doctrines any longer 2:1-2 first of all, that requests, prayers,
intercession and thanksgiving e made for everyone 2:8 men...to lift up holy hands in
prayer 1:9,11 women to dress modestly...learn in
quietness 3:2 the overseer (elder) must be above
reproach, the husband 3:8 Deacons, likewise, are to be men 3:13 how people ought to conduct
themselves in God's household 4:3 in later times....teachings come
through hypocritical liars....forbid to marry and...abstain from certain
meats 4:13 public reading of Scriptures, to
preaching and to teaching 5:3 Give proper recognition to those
widows who are really in need 5:17 elders direct the affairs of the
church 6:4 unhealthy
interest in controversies and quarrels about words |
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See
study of Ephesians for background on Ephesus. This city will show up again in the book of Revelation written
by John. Paul defended himself before Nero Caesar with no one
coming forward to testify in his behalf (2 Tim. 4:16). He was destined to be thrown to the lions,
but he was instead set free.
Thereupon he went to Colosae (Philemon 22) where he wrote Timothy in
Ephesus (1:3), probably at the same time he wrote Titus. Both letters regarding church leadership
and conduct. In his letter to
Philemon, just before his release, he called himself "an old man"
(v. 9) and knew that, although he escaped death during this imprisonment, his
death would come soon enough one way or another. Therefore, he needed to leave written instructions about church
organization. Paul had spent more time in Ephesus than any other
place (3 years - Acts 20:31). He set
up a daily Bible school there which he ran for two years (Acts 19:9-10). As a result of his influence, scrolls of
incantations were burned in the street, valued at 50,000 pieces of silver
(50,000 days' wages). He'd pushed the
pagans too far that time, and there was a riot defending Artemis. In the ampitheatre, the mob cried out for
two hours, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" (Acts 19:34). Finally, Paul had to sneak out of town in
order to save his life. He left Timothy behind in Ephesus to continue teaching
them. It is interesting that Paul
stayed here and struggled so long, and "never stopped warning each of
you night and day with tears" (Acts 20:31). Apparently in his mind it was the most important city for
church growth in Turkey, but had many hurdles to overcome. Paul really struggled with them. Six or eight months later when Paul passed
near Ephesus on his way to Jerusalem, he sent for the Ephesian elders, and
warned these elders: "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of
which the Holy Spirit was made you overseers [Greek, bishops]....I KNOW that
after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the
flock. EVEN FROM YOUR OWN NUMBER men
will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after
them." Because of Paul's foreknowledge that some of the elders
of the Ephesian congregation would lead them astray, he left Timothy behind
to "command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer" (1
Tim. 1:3). Now Paul wants to remind
Timothy what he had previously said and put it in writing so no one
misunderstands. But sadly, by the time we meet up with the congregation
in Revelation some 35 years later - a generation later - Jesus is about to
take their candlestick away because "You have forsaken your first
love" (Rev. 2:4). There is never
a guarantee a congregation will remain true to Jesus' authentic teachings. |
1:1,2 What titles are given to
the following:
Paul:
_______________________________________________
Timothy: ____________________________________________
God:
________________________________________________
Christ Jesus: _______________________________________
Yet church historians
take the unbiblical liberty of giving Timothy the title of Bishop of
Ephesus. Do you think Paul forgot only
Timothy's title?
_______________________
1:3,4 What were certain men in
the congregation at Ephesus teaching?
F______________________________________________________
M______________________________________________________
E______________________________________________________
What did such
discussions with other Christians promote?
_______________________________________
Verse 6 calls this
________________________________ talk.
1:7 Some teachers don't know
what they're ___________________________ about or what they so confidently
_____________________________________________.
1:8-10 Teaching principles of the
Law of Moses is good when used to help people understand what their sins
are. Write below next to only those
applicable Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) the kind of people Paul was referring to:
1 -
Don't worship other gods _________________________________________
2 - Don't make idols
_________________________________________________
3 - Don't misuse God's
name __________________________________________
4 - Keep Sabbath Day
holy ________________________________________________
5 - Honor father and
mother __________________________________________
6 - Don't murder
____________________________________________________
7 - Don't commit
adultery ____________________________________________
8 - Don't steal
______________________________________________________
9 - Don't lie
________________________________________________________
10- Don't covet what
others have _____________________________________
1:12,16 Paul wasn't
being holier-than-thou. He admitted
that he himself had been what?
B
______________________________________________
P
______________________________________________
V
______________________________________________
He admitted being
"the worst of sinners." But
Jesus displayed his ______________________________________ patience.
1:18 Although Paul had been
violent, he tells Timothy to fight what kind of fight? ______________________
2:1,2 First of all, prayers
should be made for ____________ and all those in _________________________ so
the church can live ___________________.
2:4 Does God choose just
certain people to be saved?
_________ Who does God want
saved? _________________________
2:5 Is Mary or are any of the
"saints" mediators between God and us? _________ Who is? ____________________________
2:8 This word "men"
lifting up holy hands in prayer means males as opposed to females.
2:9-11 In church, women are to
dress _________________________ and learn in _______________________________________.
The word
"learn" comes from a Greek word meaning that which comes by asking
questions, interrogating.
The word
"quietness" here means peaceful calm, the same was what Jesus told
the sea to do during the storms (Mark 4:39).
The word "submission"
comes from a Greek word meaning self-control, not control by others
2:14 Eve sinned because she was
deceived. Adam jumped right in and ate
the fruit, even though he had not been deceived. Adam's was the first sin (Romans 5:17). Therefore, men need to stand up in public and declare what is
right; it is good for them.
3:1,2 An overseer (bishop in
footnote) must be a h____________________________. That means, he must be a man.
3:8,11 Deacons also must have a
w___________________________. Therefore,
deacons must be men.
NOTE: There is a difference between being an older
man and having the qualifications and office of an elder. There is also a difference between deaconing
(in Greek, ministering), and having the qualifications and office of a deacon.
3:15 The theme of this letter
is "How people ought to _________________________ themselves in God's
_________________.
3:2-3 Later the church will get
teachers who are hypocritical _____________________, whose
_______________________________ have been _______________________________ as
with a hot iron. They will forbid
people to _________________________ and order them to abstain from certain
___________________________. Did this
happen? ______________
4:13 Public worship should include
______________________________ of Scripture, ___________________________ and
________________________________.
5:3 Grown children with
widowed parents should care for them, thus _______________________________
their parents and grandparents.
5:10,16 The church
should take the burdens of (support) widows only if she is over
_________________________, been faithful to her husband, is well known for her
good __________________________, such as showing ____________________________.
5:13,14 Rather than being
supported by the church and being given time to gossip and be
_______________________________, saying things they ought not to, younger
widows should ________________________________.
5:17 Elders are to ___________________________
the affairs of the _____________________, and if possible they should ______________________
and _______________________________.
5:17-18 Giving "double honor" to elders if
their work is preaching and teach means they deserve to receive
______________________.
5:22 Timothy laid his hands on
certain people. Acts 6:6 says the
elders and apostles laid their hands on the first deacons to appoint them. Therefore, Timothy laid his hands on what
two groups whose qualifications are given to hold what two offices?
_______________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
Note: Another case of laying on of hands was done
by those lower in the church hierarchy onto those higher: Elders to apostles (Acts 13:1-3). Laying on of hands was only to apostles or by
apostles (to give spiritual gifts) and also only to elders and deacons. Never was it done by ministers to
"ordain" other ministers.
6:3-5 Any who teach false
doctrine are __________________________________ and understands
_______________________. All they
create is an ________________________________ interest in
___________________________________ and _____________________________ about
_____________________________. What
does this create in the church?
*
*
*
*
*
Such people use
religion (godliness) as a means to what?
_____________________________________________________
6:7 Instead of money, we
should be content with what?
____________________ and ___________________________.
6:12-13 Comparing John 18:36-37 where Jesus made "the good confession"
before Pilate, and Acts 8:37 [see footnote in your Bible] where The eunuch made
"the good confession," what was the "good confession"
Timothy apparently made when he took hold of eternal life? ____________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
2 TIMOTHY
Tearing the Church
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2:14 quarreling about words...ruins 2:16,17 godless chatter...gangrene 2:23,24 foolish and stupid
arguments...quarrels....resentful 2:24 come to their senses and escape from
the trap of the devil 3:1 terrible times 3:5 a form of godliness 3:6 control over weak-willed 3:8,9 oppose the truth...depraved
minds...folly 3:11,12 persecutions...persecuted 3:13 imposters...bad to worse, deceiving 4:3 not put up with sound doctrine 4:14 a
great deal of harm |
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After
release from prison the first time, Paul went to Colossae to regroup. Then he went to the border of Greece and
Bulgaria where he met with Titus (Titus 3:12) and recommend he go on up into
Europe farther to preach. Titus then
went on up into Yugoslavia (Dalmatia - 2 Tim. 4:10). Then Paul revisited Corinth (2 Tim. 4:20a)
where he left Erastus, Timothy's old friend.
Then he went to the province of Asia in Turkey where he visited
Miletus and left Trophimus there sick.
Then he went back north and revisited Troas/Troy where he left his
cloak and parchments. It was
apparently here that Paul was re-arrested and taken back to Rome. No one in the entire province of Asia made
any attempt to help him escape his arrest. No one even knew what happened to Paul until
Ones-iphorus from Ephesus (2 Tim. 4:19) went to Rome and searcged for him
until he found him. Then he took care
of Paul's needs until the Roman Christians could step in and help (2 Tim.
4:21). Instead of a rented house,
Paul was this time apparently put in a prison. He referred to "me his prisoner" (2 Tim. 1:8), my
chains (1:16), and "suffering even to the point of being chained like a
criminal [is]" (2 Tim. 2:9); and he was certain he would be executed,
for "the time has come for my departure" (2 Tim. 4:6). But Paul had "fought the good
fight...finished the race...kept the faith." Now he knew there was in store for him "the crown of
righteousness." He begged Timothy to get John Mark and "come to me
quickly," for he knew he was about to die. Dr. Luke was with him from the old days too, possibly to treat
any wounds he may have or cold from the dungeon. They had been through a lot together. But in the mean time, Paul warned about false teachers. It was a growing problem in the
church. He did not give any more
doctrine, and he didn't even bother to say what all the arguing was about,
for it was senseless. He just told
Timothy to keep watch over the church.
His last letter is interlaced with such warnings and his goodbyes. Was it all worth it?
Ten years earlier in 2 Corinthians 11:24-27 he recalled what he'd been
through thus far: 5
times received 39 lashes from Jews In
danger from rivers Knew
hunger 3
times beaten with rods In
danger from bandits Knew
thirst 1
time stoned unto death In danger
from Jews Knew
cold 3
times shipwrecked In
danger from Gentiles Knew
nakedness 1
time spent a night and day in open water In
danger from false brothers He'd been constantly on the move. He'd worked to support himself and often
went without sleep. Christianity was
not easy. Was it worth it? He said it was. |
1:4 When Paul said goodbye
the last time, what did Timothy do?
______________________
1:7 God did not give us a
spirit of _____________________________, but a spirit of
__________________________.
1:8 How alone Paul must have
felt. How many times did he use the
word "ashamed" at the beginning of his letter (see also v. 1:12,16
and 2:15)? _______________________
2:8 Paul referred to two
miracles as "my gospel":
Jesus was raised from the __________________, and he descended from
____________________________ as predicted 1000 years earlier. In brief, that pretty much covers the
gospel.
2:11-12 If we
_________________________ with Christ, we will also
______________________________ with him.
If we disown Christ, he
will also _________________________________ us.
2:14 Quarreling in church about
words is of no _____________________________ and only
___________________________ those who listen.
2:15 How must we handle the
word of truth?
_______________________________
2:16-17 Godless chatter spreads like
_____________________________________ in the church.
2:23-24 We are not to have anything to do with
______________________________ and _______________________________ arguments
because they
only
produce ___________________________ which in turn creates
re-______________________.
3:1-5 In the latter days people
will do many sins people have always done.
The world will never change.
List below three of those sins you have trouble overcoming:
3:6 How does this verse
remind you of tel-evangelists?
_________________________________________________________
3:7 The weak-willed are
always _______________________ but never able to acknowledge
____________________.
3:11 Paul recalls terrible
things that happened to him 30 years earlier in Antioch, Iconium and
Lystra. In one of those places he was
left for dead. He had lived a life of
being hated by those he was trying to help.
3:12 Who WILL be
persecuted?
______________________________________________________________ How have you been persecuted because you
tried to teach the truth?
_____________________________________________________________ Did you give up after that to avoid
persecution?
3:15 What makes us wise for
salvation?
____________________________________________
3:16 Scripture [not our own
ideas] should be used for what things:
*
*
*
*
4:3 People often gather
around them ______________________________ who will tell them what they want to
hear.
4:5 The closest Paul ever
came to giving Timothy a title was where he described his work. Did he call him a bishop? _____
What did he call him? ___________________________________
4:6 Paul was already being
______________________________________________, possibly with torture. He knows the time has come for his
_____________________________ from this life.
4:7 May we, too, be able to
say this as we die: "I have ________________________
the good fight, I have ____________________________________ the course, I have
________________________ the faith.
4:18 Paul said God would rescue
him from evil attacks by bringing him safely where? _________________________________
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Peter was executed about the time this letter was written; Paul was
executed the following year - a blow to Christianity they could recover
from. The year after that, Jerusalem
and the Temple were destroyed - the final blow to Judaism. |