Introduction to 1st Timothy

Known as the first of the Pastoral Letters, along with 2 Timothy and Titus, 1 Timothy is about righteous living and giving the right example as a church to the rest of the world. The Evangelist in this case, Timothy, is responsible for teaching the church the right way to live in the right church, the Kingdom of God, composed of those who have been saved rightly.

Who was Timothy?

Well spoken of by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium, Paul desired that the young disciple travel with him and therefore had him circumcised to accommodate Jews they would seek to evangelize. This began a long relationship of service together in the work of the Lord, in which Timothy served Paul as a son would his father (Phi_2:19-24). Such service included not only traveling with Paul, but remaining with new congregations when Paul had to leave suddenly (Act_17:13-14), going back to encourage such congregations (1Th_3:1-3), and serving as Paul's personal emissary (1Co_16:10-11; Phi_2:19-24). He had the honor of joining Paul in the salutation of several epistles written by Paul (2Co_1:1; Phi_1:1; Col_1:1; 1Th_1:1; 2Th_1:1), and from such epistles we learn that Timothy had been with Paul during his imprisonment at Rome. Such faithful service helps us to appreciate why Paul would leave him in Ephesus (1Ti_1:3).

TIME AND PLACE OF WRITING

The general consensus is that Paul wrote this epistle from Macedonia, following his first imprisonment in Rome (cf. Act_28:16, Act_28:30-31). Paul was released and allowed to travel for several years before being arrested again and finally put to death by Nero. It is possible to conjecture from several references in his epistles that he went to places like Philippi (Phi_1:26; Phi_2:24), Colosse (Phm_1:22), and even Spain (Rom_15:24-28). With more certainty his destinations included Ephesus (where he left Timothy, 1Ti_1:3), Macedonia (where he wrote 1st Timothy, 1Ti_1:3), Crete (where he left Titus, Tit_1:5), Miletus (2Ti_4:20), Corinth (2Ti_4:20), and a winter at Nicopolis (2Ti_4:20). Any attempt to determine the exact order of these visits is pure speculation, however. If 1st Timothy was indeed written during this period, the date would be around 63-64 A.D.

PURPOSE OF THE EPISTLE:

Paul had left Timothy behind at Ephesus with an awesome responsibility: to charge some not to teach anything contrary to the "sound doctrine" which was according to the "glorious gospel of the blessed God" (1Ti_1:3-11). Fulfilling this charge was made difficult by Timothy's youth and natural timidity (1Ti_1:1-12; cf. 2Ti_1:7-8). While Paul hoped to come himself, he writes Timothy to guide him in the meantime (1Ti_3:14-15). Therefore, Paul writes:

* To instruct Timothy on how to conduct himself while administering the affairs of the church (1Ti_3:14-15)

* To encourage Timothy by providing counsel concerning his own spiritual progress (1Ti_4:12-16)

THEME OF THE EPISTLE:

This letter is addressed to a young evangelist charged with the responsibility of working with a congregation and guiding them in the right way. Everything that is written is designed to aid both him and the congregation in doctrine and conduct. An appropriate theme for this epistle might therefore be:

SOUND DOCTRINE FOR A CONGREGATION AND ITS PREACHER

KEY VERSES: 1 Timothy 3:14-15

"These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."

Who was Timothy?

1. Young man from the church in Lystra and Iconium (Act_16:1)

2. His mom was a Jew and his father was a Greek (Act_16:1)

3. Was well known throughout the congregations as a man with good influence (Act_16:2)

4. Was willing to be circumcised for the sake of the Gospel (Act_16:3)

5. Paul considered Timothy to be unique brother due to his sincere faith and love for the brethren (Phi_2:19-20).

Theme of 1Timothy

1. Fixing problems in the church of Ephesus

2. Fighting erroneous doctrine, bitterness and selfishness which corrode righteous behavior in the church (Act_20:28-32).

References used:

1- Halley’s Bible Commentary

2- Nave’s Topical Dictionary

3- Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Lexicon