Purpose: Learn how Timothy received a sincere faith, how believers can strengthen God's gifts, and how the God-breathed Scriptures teach, correct, train, and prepare us for every good work while practicing English through reading, vocabulary, speaking, reflection, and writing.
Recommended Level: A2–B1
1) Before You Begin
Paul wrote this letter to Timothy, a younger Christian leader whom Paul loved like a son. Timothy had learned the sacred Scriptures from childhood through the faithful teaching of his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. Paul encouraged Timothy to remain faithful, strengthen the gift God had given him, and continue learning from God's Word.
In this lesson, you will follow four important parts of Paul's encouragement.
- Sincere Faith — Timothy received a genuine faith through the example and teaching of Lois and Eunice.
- Fan into Flame — Timothy was to strengthen and use the gift God had given him.
- Continue in Scripture — Timothy was to remain faithful to the sacred writings he had known from childhood.
- Equipped for Good Work — Scripture teaches, reproves, corrects, trains, and prepares believers to serve God and others.
Think about these questions before you read.
- Who helped you learn important truths when you were young?
- Why is it important to continue learning throughout life?
- How can correction help a person grow?
2) Part One — Sincere Faith
Read 2 Timothy 1:1–5. Paul called Timothy his beloved child. Paul remembered Timothy constantly in prayer and longed to see him. Paul also remembered Timothy's sincere faith, which had first lived in his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice.
- Who wrote this letter?
- To whom did Paul write?
- How did Paul describe Timothy?
- How often did Paul remember Timothy in prayer?
- Whose faith first lived in Lois and Eunice?
- What does sincere faith mean?
Speaking Practice: In simple English, explain how Lois and Eunice helped Timothy grow in faith.
3) Part Two — Fan into Flame God's Gift
Read 2 Timothy 1:6. Paul reminded Timothy to fan into flame the gift of God that was in him through the laying on of Paul's hands.
- What did Paul tell Timothy to fan into flame?
- What does the phrase “fan into flame” mean?
- Why can a spiritual gift grow weaker if it is not used?
- What habits can help a believer grow stronger in serving God?
- What distractions can cause spiritual zeal to grow cold?
Speaking Practice: Describe one gift or ability a person can strengthen through prayer, study, and faithful practice.
4) Part Three — Continue in the Scriptures
Read 2 Timothy 3:14–15. Paul told Timothy to continue in what he had learned and firmly believed. From childhood, Timothy had known the sacred writings, which could make him wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
- What was Timothy told to continue in?
- When had Timothy first learned the sacred writings?
- What can the sacred writings make a person wise for?
- Through whom does salvation come?
- Why is it important to remain faithful to God's truth throughout life?
- How can regular Bible reading help when false ideas or temptations arise?
Speaking Practice: Explain why Timothy needed to continue in what he had learned and firmly believed.
5) Part Four — All Scripture Is God-Breathed
Read 2 Timothy 3:16–17. All Scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. Scripture helps the person of God become complete and equipped for every good work.
- What does Paul say about all Scripture?
- For what four purposes is Scripture profitable?
- What is teaching?
- What is reproof?
- What is correction?
- What is training in righteousness?
- According to verse 17, what is the result of Scripture's work in a believer?
- Why is 2 Timothy 3:17 important for completing Paul's thought?
Speaking Practice: In simple English, explain what it means to say that the Bible is God-breathed.
6) Vocabulary
| Word/Phrase | Meaning | Your Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| sincere faith | A genuine trust in God that is honest and real. | |
| fan into flame | To strengthen and actively use something God has given. | |
| sacred writings | The holy Scriptures Timothy had learned from childhood. | |
| salvation | God's rescue from sin through faith in Christ Jesus. | |
| God-breathed | Given by God and carrying His truth and authority. | |
| reproof | Showing that something is wrong so it can be corrected. | |
| correction | Helping someone move from what is wrong to what is right. | |
| equipped | Prepared and given what is needed for a task. |
7) Put Paul's Encouragement in Order
Write one or two sentences for each step in Paul's encouragement to Timothy.
| Step | What happened? | My sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Sincere Faith | Timothy learned a genuine faith through Lois and Eunice. | |
| 2. Fan into Flame | Paul told Timothy to strengthen and use God's gift. | |
| 3. Continue in Scripture | Timothy was to remain faithful to the sacred writings he had known from childhood. | |
| 4. Equipped for Good Work | God-breathed Scripture teaches, corrects, trains, and prepares believers to serve. |
8) Reflection Questions
- How can parents, grandparents, teachers, and churches help pass on a genuine faith?
- How can sincere people sometimes be mistaken about what God wants?
- What spiritual gifts has God given believers today, and how can they grow stronger?
- Why must believers continue in what they have learned and firmly believed?
- Which purpose of Scripture—teaching, reproof, correction, or training—do you find most encouraging or challenging? Why?
- How does believing that the Bible is God's Word affect the way we read, study, and obey it?
- What are some good works Christians are called to do today?
- What one lesson from Timothy's example would you like to practice this week?
9) Speaking Practice
- Retell Paul's encouragement to Timothy in your own words.
- Explain what Timothy learned from Lois and Eunice.
- Describe what it means to fan into flame a gift from God.
- Explain why the Bible is called God-breathed.
- Speak for 30–60 seconds: Why is regular Bible study important?
- Speak for 30–60 seconds: How can correction help a person grow?
- Explain how Scripture prepares believers for good work.
- Tell one way a person can remain faithful to what he or she has learned.
10) Writing Practice
- Option A: Write 6–8 sentences summarizing Paul's encouragement to Timothy.
- Option B: Write a paragraph explaining what “all Scripture is God-breathed” means.
- Option C: Write about someone who helped you learn truth or grow in faith.
- Option D: Write four sentences using these words: sincere, Scripture, correction, equipped.
11) Final Thought
Paul thanked God for Timothy's sincere faith and reminded him to strengthen the gift God had given him. Timothy was to continue in the sacred writings he had known from childhood. Because all Scripture is God-breathed, it teaches, reproves, corrects, and trains believers in righteousness. God's Word helps believers become complete and equipped for every good work. As we pray, study the Bible, and follow Jesus, we prepare ourselves to serve God and others faithfully.