I Timothy 1:3-4 — “I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus… that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine…” What was this “other doctrine” that some were teaching in the church at Ephesus? Where did it come from? And what exactly was Timothy supposed to do about it? As we consider these…
Genesis 50:1-21 — “Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.” After the death of Jacob, Joseph’s brothers were worried that he would take revenge for what they had done many years earlier. As we consider the ways in which Joseph allayed their fears we discover a…
I Timothy 1:1-2 — “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour…” The opening lines of Paul’s letter are always theologically rich and the opening to I Timothy is an excellent example! Paul comments on his apostleship, his high Christology is evident, and his love and concern for Timothy shines through.…
Psalm 19:1-4 — “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge…” David was doing what we all have done. He was contemplating the sky and the heavenly bodies above. He was pondering the way the solar system operates with regularity. He was…
Nehemiah 10:32-39 — In recommitting themselves to the LORD, the people of Jerusalem determined to properly support Temple worship. This included a commitment to follow the laws concerning tithes and offerings, as well as a decision to provide additional support. As we study what the people resolved to do, we are reminded that it is…
Luke 9:25 — “For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?” Every generation has notable examples of what Jesus was talking about in this verse – people who seemed to have gained the whole world but lost themselves. Their massive success brought them only superficial,…
Exodus 12:1-13 — In this passage we have God’s instructions for Israel’s protection from the tenth and final plague. These instructions centred around a lamb, its death and its blood. God was instituting the Passover and in so doing He gave what is perhaps the clearest and most significant picture of the work of Jesus…
Luke 9:23-24 — “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” The twelve disciples were very keen on following Jesus in what they believed to be His imminent Messianic triumph, but their expectations were narrow and naive. Before exaltation and glory there was to be…
Nehemiah 10:1-30 — It is the response after one says “Amen” that truly matters, for that proves the authenticity of what was prayed. A glorious prayer had just been prayed. Confession was made for the sins of the people but it didn’t just stop with prayer, there was practical change. Spiritual reformation began with the people…
I Timothy 1 — In this final introductory study we look more closely at the problems Timothy was dealing with at the church in Ephesus. Some were teaching “other doctrine” – so what was it, and how was it impacting the fellowship? As we consider these questions, we discover that the problem was fundamentally one…