1Ti 2:5 What is a mediator? Who was the mediator of the old covenant? See Ex 19:21,24, 20:19, Num 16:43-48. What is the importance of a mediator between men and God, and why is it important that the mediator be both man and God? See 1 Sam 2:25a, Job 9:33, Is 59:16. Who is the mediator of the new covenant? See also Is 53:12, Rom 8:34, Heb 7:25, 8:6, 9:15. How many mediators are there between men and God? What does this teach us about the Roman Catholic notion that priests, the Pope, the saints, and Mary are necessary mediators between men and God? Given the context of 1Ti 2:4, what is the implication of Paul’s words in this verse for the number of ways by which a person might be saved? Going back to the context of 1Ti 2:1, why then is it of primary importance that the true church give itself to prayer on behalf of all men?
1Ti 2:6 Note: “ransom” translates the Greek anti (instead of , in place of, in exchange for) + lutron (ransom, price paid for release); it is found only here in the NT, and was perhaps coined by Paul to most perfectly describe our redemption in Christ. From what three inseparably related things does Christ ransom us? See Jn 8:34, Rom 7:14,23-24, Tit 3:3; Gal 3:13, 4:1-4,9-10; Gal 4:8, 5:1, 1 Cor 7:23, Col 2:8,20-23. What was the ransom that Christ paid to deliver us from our bondage to sin, the law, and the commandments and teachings of men? See Ps 49:7-9, Eph 1:7-8, 1 Pet 1:17-19. What implication of our ransom from the bondage of sin is often neglected in today’s church? See Rom 6:15-18, 1 Cor 6:19-20, Tit 2:13-14. Did God redeem the children of Israel from their bondage in Egypt so they could continue to serve their former taskmasters? For what purpose did he redeem them? See Ex 4:23, 7:16, 8:1,20, 9;1,13, 10:3. Did God ransom us from the bondage of sin with the blood of His own dear Son so we could continue to serve sin as our master? See again Rom 6:15-16. For what purpose did He redeem us? By what name did the early disciples refer to themselves that illustrates this truth? See Luke 1:38, Acts 4:29, Phil 1:1, James 1:1, 2 Pet 1:1, Jude 1:1, Rev 1:1. (Note: the KJV “servant” in these passages is better translated as “bond-servant” or “slave” as in the NASB.) What characteristics describe a bondservant of the Lord? See 2 Cor 4:5, Gal 1:10, 2 Tim 2:24, 1 Pet 2:16, Rev 22:3. For how many does Paul say in this verse that Christ gave Himself as a ransom? What does this teach us about the Calvinist doctrine of limited atonement (that Christ died only for the elect)? Does the fact that Christ gave Himself as a ransom for all mean that all will be saved? See Mat 24:10-13, Luke 13:23-24. Does the fact that one has been set free from slavery mean that he may not of his own will continue to serve his old master? See Ex 21:5-6. Does the fact that one has been redeemed from bondage to even a cruel taskmaster mean that he will then serve his new master and not seek to return to his former slavery? See Ex 16:3, Num 14:2-4, Neh 9:17, Jer 42:7-43:7. Because one is once redeemed from sin does it mean he is saved for all of eternity and may not yet be destroyed by the wrath of God? See 1 Cor 10:1-12, Jude 1:5. In light of these truths, what choice does Christ’s ransom offer us? See Josh 24:14-15.