1 Timothy 2:5-7

Summary retelling of 1 Timothy 2:5-7

As Paul speaks about the truth that God wants us to discover, he reminds us that there is but one God.  He also reminds us that there is but one mediator between us and God: Jesus Christ.  Jesus came to earth, ransomed His life for us, and testified to God’s grace.  Paul then reminds Timothy that Paul was appointed by God to declare the truth especially to the Gentiles.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

There is one true God.  Any other so-called god cannot save us.  Any other thing we believe in cannot save us.  There is nothing in this world that can pull us out of our self-mongerism except for the one true God.  It is that simple.  What can we believe in that can save us from ourselves except God?

Do you agree with the point that nothing can save us from ourselves except God?  If so, why do you (as a human being) struggle with putting other things before God?  Do you think all of humanity has that same struggle?  Do you remember the first commandment of God’s 10 commandments given in Exodus 20?  Why do you think that one is first?

Second Thought:

There is one mediator between God and Christ.  The word mediator is really a great choice in translating the Greek.  The Greek word implies a process of reconciliation.  A mediator’s goal is to reconcile two (or more) parties to one another.  This is what Jesus Christ does for us.  He reconciles us to God.

Do you do anything that deserves reconciliation with God?  How does it make you feel to know that you are reconciled to God through Jesus Christ?  In what way can we say that Jesus was the perfect testimony of God’s grace?

Third Thought:

Paul reminds Timothy that he was called to go to the Gentiles.  Since Timothy learned at the feet of Paul, it seems likely to conclude that Timothy is also called to proclaim truth to the Gentiles.  This doesn’t mean that they ignore the Jews – reading through Acts demonstrates that Paul never ignored the Jews.  However, the focus is on taking the truth of Jesus Christ and telling it to people who haven’t heard it in a way that they are led to believe in it.

Who first told you the truth about Jesus in a way that you believed in it?  Who is ultimately responsible for you believing in God?  Who ultimately gives you the strength to believe in God?  What do you think God wants you to do with this gift of faith that He has given to you?

Passage for Tomorrow: 1 Timothy 2:8-10