SOURCE FOR QUESTIONS
1 Timothy 1:1 through 6:21

‍KEY VERSE FOR MEMORIZATION
“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12)

BACKGROUND

Paul’s first epistle to Timothy is thought to have been written about A.D. 64, during the last few years of Paul’s life. It is referred to as a “pastoral epistle,” as are 2 Timothy and Titus. Paul was Timothy’s spiritual father, and wrote to encourage and instruct him in practical subjects such as doctrine, public worship, qualifications for Church officials, and confrontation of false teaching in the Church. He also instructed Timothy concerning the treatment of widows, elders, and servants.

Timothy was the youngest member of the only three-generation family of believers mentioned in the New Testament. He was a young man when he joined Paul in the city of Lystra in Galatia (Acts 16:1-4), on the Apostle’s second missionary journey. His father was a Greek and his mother, Eunice, was a Jew. Paul took Timothy with him on his third missionary trip, spending three years with him in Ephesus and the surrounding areas (Acts 18:23 — 21:14). After Paul’s trip to Jerusalem for the Passover, he was sent to prison in Rome (Acts 21:18 — 28:31). Timothy was present with Paul in Rome when Paul wrote three of his prison letters: Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.

After Paul’s release from his first imprisonment, he and Timothy visited the churches in Ephesus. Paul eventually left for Macedonia while Timothy stayed to minister in Ephesus. It was during this time that Paul wrote this letter to Timothy.

Ephesus was a strategic center of travel and commerce. Situated on the Aegean Sea at the mouth of the Cayster River, the city was one of the greatest seaports of the ancient world. It was distinguished by the Temple of Diana and a theatre that could hold fifty thousand spectators. Many Jews lived there and the seeds of the Gospel are thought to have been sown in Ephesus immediately after Pentecost.

QUESTIONS

1. Paul had a spiritual father/son relationship with Timothy (1 Timothy 1:2, 18). How can we benefit from the example that Paul demonstrated?
   
2. Why did Paul consider himself to have been “chief” among sinners? 1 Timothy 1:13-15
   
3. In Chapter 2, verses 1 and 2, Paul exhorted Timothy to pray for all men, including government officials. What is our responsibility today concerning our government officials?
   
4. In Chapter 3, Paul listed qualifications for two church “offices,” or leadership roles. What were these roles? Why do you think Paul felt it necessary to list the qualifications for those who held these roles?
   
5. Paul stated in chapter 4 verse 8 that “bodily exercise profiteth little.” What point do you think he was making with this phrase? What did he say profits in all things? 1 Timothy 4:7-16
   
6. How are we to treat the “elders,” or senior members, of the church? 1 Timothy 5:1-3, 17-19
   
7. Paraphrase 1 Timothy 6:6, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” What does “contentment” add to this inspired verse?
   
8. What is the root of all evil? 1 Timothy 6:10
   
9. Paul reiterated the “good profession” and godly witness, or testimony, that Timothy had demonstrated and lived before his fellow man. Then he encouraged Timothy to “fight the good fight of faith.” How can we do this today? 1 Timothy 6:11-14

CONCLUSION

Paul’s first letter to Timothy was a charge to all Christians to be living testimonies of God’s life-changing power in the world today.