Hey Bible readers, I'm Tara Lee Cobble, and I'm your host for the Bible Recap.

Our New Testament readers finished their 17th book today, and our full Bible readers

finish their 56th book. Today and tomorrow, Paul is writing letters to the young,

new leaders of relatively young churches. One of the things that's interesting to notice is

which information he shares with both leaders and what is specific to just one leader.

That can help us as we try to learn more about the context of each church's problems and or

which instructions and counsel are universal to all churches. Timothy is one of the context of each church's problems and or which instructions and counsel are universal

to all churches. Timothy is one of the leaders at the church in Ephesus, which Paul planted.

Ephesus is the town where they worshipped so many false gods, specifically the goddess Artemis,

that the silversmith union started a riot over the gospel. The Ephesians are so steeped in their

culture of pagan worship that

Timothy has a real battle on his hands when it comes to good doctrine and orderly practice.

They are wheels off. So Paul's letter is bookended by his desire for them to have good doctrine.

They're proud and unteachable, and to make matters worse, they want to be teachers and leaders. But good

leaders are first and foremost good followers. You can imagine how intimidating this scenario could be

for Timothy. He's the new guy in town and he's younger than most of the church members and here Paul

is telling him to rebuke the locals who want to be leaders but who aren't even obeying the moral

laws God laid out and who don't want to listen. but who aren't even obeying the moral laws God laid out

and who don't want to listen. But there's hope for these sinners yet. After all, God saved Paul.

His story is a canvas on which God's mercy and patience shines. And that's his hope for the

two men he hands over to Satan at the end of chapter one, just like the guys in 1st Corinthians 5.

Paul always aims for restoration and repentance. In chapter 2, Paul encourages them to pray for those in authority over them.

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