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1 Timothy 1: False Teachers
What kind of relationship did Paul have with Timothy?
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1 Timothy 1:1–2 From Paul, sent by God our Savior with the message of the Lord Jesus Christ our hope, to Timothy, my son in the faith. May God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ favor you with peace and abundant blessings.
King James
1 Timothy 1:1–2 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
How might Paul’s definition of “blessings” differ from a popular interpretation among Christians today?
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Acts 5:41 The apostles left the assembly rejoicing that their flogging was bringing recognition and honor to Jesus’ name.
Philippians 3:7 Even so, all that made me feel good about myself back then, I now consider worthless in yielding to what Christ wants to do in my life.
1 Timothy 1:1–2 From Paul, sent by God our Savior with the message of the Lord Jesus Christ our hope, to Timothy, my son in the faith. May God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ favor you with peace and abundant blessings.
King James
Acts 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
Philippians 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
1 Timothy 1:1–2 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
What factors might have influence Paul to leave Timothy in Ephesus?
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1 Timothy 1:3 When I went to Macedonia, I urged you to stay at Ephesus and be sure their teaching kept focus on the truth.
King James
1 Timothy 1:3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
How much emphasis should be placed on our ancestry?
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Exodus 20:5 Never serve idols. Don’t even bow to them, for I am a jealous God, offended by the hatred that fathers pass to their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Jeremiah 31:29–30 No longer shall the people repeat this common proverb: “The parents ate sour grapes and left a sour taste in their children’s mouths.” But people will be accountable for their own wrongdoing. The one who eats the sour grapes will suffer the resulting sour taste.
1 Timothy 1:4 Place no value on people’s lineage nor fantasies that stir controversy rather than the faith that strengthens our relationship with God.
King James
Exodus 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Jeremiah 31:29–30 In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge. But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.
1 Timothy 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
How can people distinguish faith from fantasy?
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John 16:13 “But when the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own authority but will say only what he hears. He will reveal to you things to come.”
Acts 17:11 These Jews were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica. Not only were they eager listeners, but they searched the Scriptures daily to see if everything Paul and Silas taught was true.
1 Timothy 1:4 Place no value on people’s lineage nor fantasies that stir controversy rather than the faith that strengthens our relationship with God.
King James
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
1 Timothy 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
Why is love so important?
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Romans 13:8–10 Have no outstanding debts except to love one another, for this is the fulfillment of the law. All of God’s commandments—to not covet—to avoid lying, cheating and stealing—to never commit adultery or murder—all these are fulfilled in one simple act of obedience: Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself. Love never wishes harm upon someone, which explains why love is the fulfillment of the law.
1 Corinthians 13:1 If I speak with human excellence and angelic might yet don’t really care for the wellbeing of those I serve, my message is like a noisy gong or clanging cymbal, getting attention but not really helping.
1 Timothy 1:5–6 The most important part of our message is unconditional love—not with any self-serving motive but with a godly concern for the wellbeing of others, but some have been sidetracked with meaningless arguments.
King James
Romans 13:8–10 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1 Timothy 1:5–6 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
What do you think motivates the love that is expressed by most people? Why?
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Luke 6:32–33 “What is commendable about loving only those who love you? Even sinners do that. You get no credit for showing kindness to those who treat you well, because sinners do that much.”
1 Timothy 1:5–6 The most important part of our message is unconditional love—not with any self-serving motive but with a godly concern for the wellbeing of others, but some have been sidetracked with meaningless arguments.
King James
Luke 6:32–33 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
1 Timothy 1:5–6 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
What gives meaningless arguments their energy?
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Luke 22:24 The disciples got into an argument over which one of them would be considered greatest in the Kingdom.
1 Timothy 1:5–6 The most important part of our message is unconditional love—not with any self-serving motive but with a godly concern for the wellbeing of others, but some have been sidetracked with meaningless arguments.
James 4:1 What causes quarrels and fighting among you? Isn’t it because of your conflicting self-serving desires?
King James
Luke 22:24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
1 Timothy 1:5–6 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
James 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
How can professional students miss the truth?
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John 5:38–39 “You do not have God’s message in your hearts, because you have not believed the one he has sent to you. You search the scriptures, thinking you will find eternal life, but those words testify concerning me.”
1 Corinthians 2:7 We speak what God knows is true, but in a mystery that people will never figure out on their own. From the beginning, that was his plan for our benefit.
1 Corinthians 3:18 Quit deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by the world’s standards, admit how foolish you have been and become truly wise with God’s truth.
1 Timothy 1:7 Wanting to be respected as teachers of the Law, they speak with confidence, but they don’t know what they’re talking about.
King James
John 5:38–39 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
1 Corinthians 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
1 Corinthians 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
1 Timothy 1:7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
How can the Law be both good and bad?
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Romans 7:4–10 In the same way, fellow Christians, the law is dead that you may be committed to being and doing everything that God wants. You are now joined to Jesus, who was raised from the dead. While we lived under the law, we struggled with sinful desires that felt good at the time but had deadly consequences. But now, compliance with written commandments is a dead issue. We follow God, responding to the direction of the Holy Spirit, not a written code of behavior.
What do you think, then? Are rules bad? No, if it weren’t for commandments like “you must not want what others have,” we might not have recognized our sinful desires. When we have commandments—speed limit signs, for example—all kinds of wrong desires lead us to ignore the traffic laws. We know what the sign says, but we believe we can drive at the speed we want, lying to ourselves that we are doing right. But if there are no laws, we have no sin. Without speed limit signs but with a desire to drive safely, we can live in the freedom of doing what is right. As soon as we have the laws with their restrictions, sin revives as we want to drive our own fatal ways. The commandment that was designed to give life became a catalyst for our death.
1 Timothy 1:8 The Law is good only when we understand God’s plan and purpose in it.
King James
Romans 7:4–10 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
1 Timothy 1:8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
Why are laws often ineffective? When are they effective?
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1 Timothy 1:9–11 You know, the Law was written for the rebellious and disobedient, not the righteous—people who would murder even their parents to get what they want, with no respect for God or doing what is right. The Law was for those who lie, cheat, and steal, for the sexually perverse, for abusers who ignore the right treatment of others according to the glorious good news that our blessed God entrusted to me.
King James
1 Timothy 1:9–11 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
When we’ve not yet made a decision, how does God know what we will do?
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Romans 8:29–30 Because God knew what we would become, he sent his Son to be the first example of what his family will be like. Seeing the desires of people’s hearts, he called all those who would listen, made them blameless in his sight, and revealed his glory in them.
1 Timothy 1:12–13 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who strengthens me for his work, knowing I would be faithful, even though I had blasphemed the name of Christ and persecuted his people. But God was merciful because I did it in ignorance, not knowing the truth.
King James
Romans 8:29–30 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
1 Timothy 1:12–13 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
What is the value in knowing we don’t deserve God’s favor?
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Romans 5:8 The immense greatness of God’s love is proven by the fact that we were undeserving sinners when Christ died for us.
Ephesians 2:9 Since eternal life is God’s gift, we cannot boast that we have done something to deserve his favor.
1 Timothy 1:14 Oh, how great the unmerited favor of Christ Jesus was when he filled me with his faith and love.
King James
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
1 Timothy 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
How can one sin be ranked worse than another?
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John 19:11 “You would have no authority over me at all if it had not been given to you from above. Therefore, those who delivered me to you are guilty of the greater wrong.”
1 Timothy 1:15 Everyone should accept this absolute truth: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, and I was the worst.
James 2:10 If someone were to keep the entire Law except for one small point is no less a violator than one who is guilty of all.
1 John 5:17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is a sin that does not lead to death.
King James
John 19:11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
1 John 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
What are the benefits of knowing we have been forgiven?
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1 Timothy 1:16 But I was among the first to receive mercy so the great longsuffering of Jesus Christ would be an example for everyone to believe and have eternal life.
King James
1 Timothy 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
How can we understand the greatness of God’s wisdom and power?
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1 Timothy 1:17 Unto our ageless, immortal King, our God in whom is all wisdom and knowledge, be honor and glory forever. Let it always be so.
King James
1 Timothy 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
To what extent should prophetic words impact our lives?
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1 Timothy 1:18 Based on prophetic words spoken about you before, here are my instructions that you fight well in this spiritual warfare:
King James
1 Timothy 1:18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
What is needed to have a clear conscience?
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Romans 2:15 The knowledge of right and wrong is written on hearts, not on paper, blogs, or e-books. People’s own conscience either condemns or commends their deeds.
2 Corinthians 1:12 We take pride in a clear conscience, because our dealings everywhere have been without reproach. Not with worldly wisdom but in simplicity and godly sincerity, we have preached both to believers and unbelievers.
1 Timothy 1:19 Keep a clear conscience, always doing what is, to the best of your knowledge, most pleasing to the Lord. Never let go of your faith in him, which some have done, making a wreck of their lives.
King James
Romans 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
2 Corinthians 1:12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
1 Timothy 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
How can turning someone over to Satan not be an evil thing to do?
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1 Timothy 1:20 Of such are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have given to Satan with the hope that they will learn not to speak evil of Christ.
King James
1 Timothy 1:20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.