I Timothy

Author: the apostle Paul
Place of writing: unknown, possibly the Roman province of Macedonia
Time of writing: approximately 64 A.D.

Throughout the course of his ministry, one of Paul’s most trusted fellow-workers was Timothy, the recipient of this letter. He had worked with Paul to establish the church in Ephesus, on his third missionary journey (cf. Acts 19); and now, many years later, Paul had left him in Ephesus again, to care for the church as he went on to Macedonia (1:3). Since he is not sure how quickly he will be able to return to Ephesus, Paul is writing this letter to Timothy, so he might know how to conduct himself in his new ministry, if Paul should be delayed (3:14-15). Because this letter is written to Timothy, one of Paul’s beloved “children” in the faith (1:18), and not to the church as a whole, it has a very intimate and personal demeanor throughout.

This letter, together with Paul’s second letter to Timothy and his letter to Titus, is primarily concerned with how the leadership of the churches will be carried on after the apostles who laid its foundations had passed on. Therefore, it is concerned primarily with the qualities and responsibilities of elders and deacons within the church; and it gives strong warnings against the heresies that would soon arise, and counsel on how the churches’ leaders might resist them.

Paul begins his letter with a reminder of the responsibilities he had entrusted to Timothy, and exhorts him to pay no attention to unprofitable arguments, but to hold fast to the gospel. He rejoices in the mercy that he had received in order to glorify the grace of Jesus, and reminds Timothy of his own calling, exhorting him to continue steadfastly. Then, he gives Timothy instructions for the proper functioning of the church, teaching him how to carry out public prayer, instructing him in the necessary qualities for elders and deacons, and reminding him of the central truth which must be upheld in all the affairs of the church: God was revealed in the flesh, for the justification of those who believe on him. Next, Paul warns Timothy about the heresies which would soon arise, and admonishes him to instruct believers in the truth. He tells Timothy how to respond to different groups within the church, and, after warning him once again about the covetous false teachers, who dispute about meaningless matters for financial profit, he exhorts him once more to flee from all false teachings and unprofitable questions, but to pursue true doctrine and a godly life, and to command all the believers to do the same.

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