1 Timothy – Week 1 – Day 1

READ 

1 Timothy 1:1-2 

1 This letter is from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, appointed by the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus, who gives us hope. 2 I am writing to Timothy, my true son in the faith. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace. 

Paul wrote three letters that are called the “Pastoral Epistles.” He wrote them in the order of 1 Timothy, Titus, and 2 Timothy. The last was written just before his death. There were no clergy in the first century in the sense there is today. These were written to leaders in the church. Paul points out his apostleship came from God, not men. Paul addresses Timothy as “my true son in the faith.” Likely Timothy had been led to the Lord by his mother but discipled by Paul. The Bible does not specifically say. 

REFLECT 

What would it have been like to grow up in a non-traditional church in the first century? Without paid clergy or denominations in that day, the Gospel was spread by believers who were passionate in following Jesus and telling others about Him. They wanted to disciple the lost at any cost. Do you? 

RESPOND 

With a friend, read Acts 16:1-3 to see when Paul first met Timothy. It does not say his father was a believer so it is assumed he was not. In addition, Timothy’s father was a Gentile and his mother a Jew. Talk about how those from such backgrounds can be used of God in spite of limitations at home.