1 Timothy - An Introduction

First Timothy is one of four epistles in the New Testament that the apostle Paul wrote to specific individuals. The others were Second Timothy, Titus and Philemon.

Normally Paul would write his letters to entire churches, but these particular letters were intended to offer specific advice and instruction to these individuals. Timothy and Titus were young evangelists that Paul had assigned to the troublesome churches in Ephesus and on Crete. In his absence, Paul sent them letters to confirm what had to be done and to encourage them in their efforts. These letters from Paul also gave these young preachers an authority in their respective churches that they might not otherwise have enjoyed. They had credentials from Paul.

Taken together, First and Second Timothy and Titus are called the Pastoral Epistles. The letter to Philemon represents an even more personal correspondence concerning an escaped slave and his master. Today, however, we concern ourselves with First Timothy.

There is little doubt that Paul wrote it, though more liberal commentators have suggested the there are words used in these epistles to Timothy that are used no where else in Paul's work. One only needs to look to the fact that these are personal communications and private instruction to know that the language might be a bit different. These men were friends and the older Paul was Timothy's personal mentor and father figure. So naturally Paul might use more familiar language with Timothy than when he would address an entire church. 

The date of the book is assumed to be after the events of Acts 28, possibly between AD63 and 65, after Paul had been released from his first imprisonment. He had recently left Timothy in charge at the Ephesian church and departed for Macedonia on a hypothetical fourth missionary journey. I say hypothetical because there is not such a journey recorded in scripture, but there were many places Paul still wanted to preach and there are hints of this throughout scripture. One such place was Spain. 

Paul's purpose in writing this first letter to Timothy was to give him as much instruction and encouragement as he could in handling the numerous problems of the church at Ephesus. Ephesus was a troubled church. There were what Paul regarded as false teachers there promoting forms of decadent Judaism, asceticism and also primitive forms of Gnosticism - a heresy that would plague the church for centuries.

There was also a leadership crisis in the Ephesian church, no doubt prompted by all the doctrinal confusion. So Paul made sure that Timothy knew how to appoint appropriate leaders to fit the church's situation.

Paul also offers diverse advice in the letter on the various social groups in the church - everything from the deportment of widows and slaves to stern warnings to the rich and wealthy.

In all, if you have an interest in church politics and diplomacy, this and the other Pastorals are the epistles for you. It's great to read other people's mail and if you ever wondered what preachers talk about when you're not there, well, this should give you an idea. So let's take a look...