| Back to Home Page | Back to Book Index |

 

Introduction to 1 Timothy

 

Summary of the Book of 1 Timothy

This summary of the book of 1 Timothy provides information about the title, author(s), date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the Book of 1 Timothy.

Author

Both early tradition and the salutations of the Pastoral Letters (1,2 Timothy; Titus) themselves claim Paul as their author (1:1; 2Ti 1:1; Tit 1:1). Some objections have been raised in recent years on the basis of an alleged uncharacteristic vocabulary and style (see, e.g., notes on 1:15; 2:2), but other evidence still convincingly supports Paul's authorship. See essay, p. 2481.

Background and Purpose

During his fourth missionary journey (see map, pp. 2486-2487), Paul had instructed Timothy to care for the church at Ephesus (1:3) while he went on to Macedonia. When he realized that he might not return to Ephesus in the near future (3:14-15), he wrote this first letter to Timothy to develop the charge he had given his young assistant (1:3, 18), to refute false teachings (1:3-7; 4:1-8; 6:3-5,20-21) and to supervise the affairs of the growing Ephesian church (church worship, ch. 2; the appointment of qualified church leaders, 3:1-13; 5:17-25).

A major problem in the Ephesian church was a heresy that combined Gnosticism (see Introduction to 1 John: Gnosticism), decadent Judaism (1:3-7) and false asceticism (4:1-5).

Date

1 Timothy was written sometime after the events of Ac 28 (c. 63-65), at least eight years after Paul's three-year stay in Ephesus (see Ac 19:10 and note).
Recipient

As the salutation indicates (1:2), Paul is writing to Timothy, a native of Lystra (in modern Turkey). Timothy's father was Greek, while his mother was a Jewish Christian (Ac 16:1). From childhood he had been taught the OT (2Ti 1:5; 3:15). Paul called him "my true son in the faith" (1:2; see note there), perhaps having led him to faith in Christ during his first visit to Lystra. At the time of his second visit Paul invited Timothy to join him on his missionary travels, circumcising him so that his Greek ancestry would not be a liability in working with the Jews (Ac 16:3). Timothy helped Paul evangelize Macedonia and Achaia (Ac 17:14-15; 18:5) and was with him during much of his long preaching ministry at Ephesus (Ac 19:22). He traveled with him from Ephesus to Macedonia, to Corinth (see Ac 20:3 and note), back to Macedonia, and to Asia Minor (Ac 20:1-6). He may even have accompanied him all the way to Jerusalem. He was with Paul during the apostle's first imprisonment (Php 1:1; Col 1:1; Phm 1).

Following Paul's release (after Ac 28), Timothy again traveled with him but eventually stayed at Ephesus to deal with the problems there, while Paul went on to Macedonia. Paul's closeness to and admiration of Timothy are seen in Paul's naming him as the co-sender of six of his letters (2 Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, 1,2 Thessalonians and Philemon) and in his speaking highly of him to the Philippians (Php 2:19-22). At the end of Paul's life he requested Timothy to join him at Rome (2Ti 4:9,21). According to Heb 13:23, Timothy himself was imprisoned and subsequently released -- whether at Rome or elsewhere, we do not know.

Timothy was not an apostle. It may be best to regard him as an apostolic representative, delegated to carry out special work (cf. Tit 1:5).

Outline

I.           Greetings (1:1-2)

  1. Warning against False Teachers (1:3-11)

A.   The Nature of the Heresy (1:3-7)

    • The Purpose of the Law (1:8-11)

                   III.        The Lord's Grace to Paul (1:12-17)

  1. The Purpose of Paul's Instructions to Timothy (1:18-20)
  2. Instructions concerning Church Administration (chs. 2-3)

1.    Prayer in public worship (2:1-8)

      • Women in public worship (2:9-15)
    • Qualifications for Church Officers (3:1-13)

                  VI.        Instructions concerning False Teaching (ch. 4)

    • False Teaching Described (4:1-5)
    • Methods of Dealing with It Explained (4:6-16)

VII.           Instructions concerning Different Groups in the Church (5:1;6:2)

VIII.           Miscellaneous Matters (6:3-19)

IX.           Concluding Appeal and Benediction (6:20-21)

──《New International Version》

 

Introduction to 1 Timothy

The design of the epistle appears to be, that Timothy having been left at Ephesus, St. Paul wrote to instruct him in the choice of proper officers in the church, as well as in the exercise of a regular ministry. Also, to caution against the influence of false teachers, who by subtle distinctions and endless disputes, corrupted the purity and simplicity of the gospel. He presses upon him constant regard to the greatest diligence, faithfulness, and zeal. These subjects occupy the first four chapters; the fifth chapter instructs respecting particular classes; in the latter part, controversies and disputes are condemned, the love of money blamed, and the rich exhorted to good works.

── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on 1 Timothy》

                             
1 Timothy General Review
                             
AUTHOR:  The apostle Paul, as stated in the salutation (1:1).  The 
internal evidence certainly supports Paul as the author, especially
references to his earlier life (1:13), and the close relationship
between the author and Timothy (1:2; cf. Ph 2:22).  Early sources in
church history that attribute this letter to Paul include:  Eusebius
(300 A.D.), Origen (250 A.D.), Clement of Alexandria (200 A.D.),
Tertullian (200 A.D.), Irenaeus (200 A.D.), the Muratorian Fragment
(180 A.D.).  References to the epistle are also found in the writings
of Theophilus of Antioch (180 A.D.), Justin Martyr (160 A.D.), Polycarp
(135 A.D.), and Clement of Rome (90 A.D.).
 
RECIPIENT:  Timothy, Paul's "true son in the faith" (1:2,18).  We are
first introduced to Timothy in Ac 16:1-3, where we learn that his
mother was Jewish (cf. also 2 Ti 1:5; 3:14-15) and his father Greek.
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 (Ph 2:19-24).  Such
service included not only traveling with Paul, but remaining with new
congregations when Paul had to leave suddenly (Ac 17:13-14), going back
to encourage such congregations (1 Th 3:1-3), and serving as Paul's
personal emissary (1 Co 16:10-11; Ph 2:19-24).  He had the honor of
joining Paul in the salutation of several epistles written by Paul (2
Co 1:1; Ph 1:1; Co 1:1; 1 Th 1:1; 2 Th 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 (1:3)
 
TIME AND PLACE OF WRITING:  Some commentators (such as Barnes) believe
that Paul may have penned 1st Timothy after his extended stay at
Ephesus and departure to Macedonia on his third missionary journey (cf.
Ac 19:1-41; 20:1-3). This would place its composition around 58-59 A.D.
 
The general consensus, though, is that Paul wrote this epistle from
Macedonia, following his first imprisonment in Rome (cf. Ac 28:16,
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 (Ph 1:26; 2:24), Colosse (Phile 22), and 
even Spain (Ro 15:24,28).  With more certainty his destinations 
included Ephesus (where he left Timothy, 1 Ti 1:3), Macedonia (where he
wrote 1st Timothy, 1 Ti 1:3), Crete (where he left Titus, Ti 1:5),
Miletus (2 Ti 4:20), Corinth (2 Ti 4:20), and a winter at Nicopolis (2
Ti 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" (1:3-11).  Fulfilling this charge was made
difficult by Timothy's youth and natural timidity (4:11-12; cf. 2 Ti 
1:7-8).  While Paul hoped to come himself, he writes Timothy to guide
him in the meantime (1 Ti 3:14-15).  Therefore, Paul writes:
 
   * To instruct Timothy on how to conduct himself while administering
     the affairs of the church (3:14-15)
 
   * To encourage Timothy by providing counsel concerning his own 
     spiritual progress (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."
 
OUTLINE:
 
INTRODUCTION (1:1-2)
 
I. CHARGE CONCERNING SOUND DOCTRINE (1:3-20)
 
   A. TEACHING SOUND DOCTRINE (1:3-11)
 
   B. THANKSGIVING FOR THE LORD'S GRACE AND MERCY (1:12-17)
 
   C. TIMOTHY'S RESPONSIBILITY (1:18-20)
 
II. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING THE CHURCH (2:1-3:13)
 
   A. THE PRACTICE OF PRAYER (2:1-8)
 
   B. INSTRUCTIONS FOR WOMEN (2:9-15)
 
   C. QUALIFICATIONS FOR CHURCH OFFICERS (3:1-13)
      1. For bishops (3:1-7)
      2. For deacons (3:8-13)
 
III. ADVICE TO TIMOTHY (3:14-4:16)
 
   A. PAUL'S PURPOSE IN WRITING (3:14-16)
 
   B. REMEMBER THE SPIRIT'S WARNING OF APOSTASY (4:1-6)
 
   C. EXERCISE YOURSELF UNTO GODLINESS (4:7-16)
 
IV. INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH (5:1-6:19)
 
   A. MAINTAIN PROPER RELATIONSHIPS (5:1-2)
 
   B. CONCERNING WIDOWS (5:3-16)
 
   C. CONCERNING ELDERS (5:17-25)
 
   D. CONCERNING SERVANTS (6:1-2)
 
   E. CONCERNING TEACHERS MOTIVATED BY GREED (6:3-10)
 
   F. CONCERNING THE MAN OF GOD HIMSELF (6:11-16)
 
   G. CONCERNING THE RICH (6:17-19)
 
CONCLUDING CHARGE TO TIMOTHY (6:20-21)
 
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE INTRODUCTION
 
1) Where do we first read about Timothy?
   - Acts 16:1-3
 
2) What was the name of his grandmother and mother? (2 Ti 1:5)
   - Lois (grandmother)
   - Eunice (mother)
 
3) How did Paul affectionately regard Timothy? (1:2)
   - As his true son in the faith
 
4) Where was Timothy when Paul wrote this epistle? (1:3)
   - Ephesus
 
5) What is the general consensus for the time and place that Paul wrote
   this letter?
   - After his first Roman imprisonment, sometime around 63-64 A.D.
   - While in Macedonia, shortly after leaving Ephesus
 
6) What two-fold purpose does Paul have in writing this epistle?
   - To instruct Timothy on how to conduct himself while administering
     the affairs of the church
   - To encourage Timothy by providing counsel concerning his own
     spiritual progress
 
7) What is the theme of this epistle, as suggested in the introductory
   material?
   - Sound doctrine for a congregation and its preacher
 
8) What are the key verses?
   - 1 Ti 3:14-15
 
9) According to the outline proposed above, what are the main points of
   this epistle?
   - Charge concerning sound doctrine
   - General instructions concerning the church
   - Advice to Timothy
   - Instructions concerning members of the church

 

－－《Executable Outlines》