The First Epistle to Timothy, usually referred to simply as First Timothy and often written 1 Timothy, is one of three letters in the New Testament of the Bible often grouped together as the Pastoral Epistles, along with Second Timothy and Titus. The letter, traditionally attributed to the Apostle Paul, consists mainly of counsels to his younger colleague and delegate Timothy regarding his ministry in Ephesus (1:3). These counsels include instructions on the organization of the Church and the responsibilities resting on certain groups of leaders therein as well as exhortations to faithfulness in maintaining the truth amid surrounding errors.
Here are some common questions people have about 1 Timothy:
What is the purpose and background of 1 Timothy?
1 Timothy was written by the apostle Paul to Timothy, one of his companions in ministry. Timothy was in Ephesus overseeing the church there and Paul wrote this letter to encourage and instruct him in his responsibilities (1 Timothy 1:3). false teachers and wrong doctrine were threatening the church, so Paul gave Timothy advice on dealing with false teachers (1 Timothy 1:3-7), keeping sound doctrine (1 Timothy 4:1-16), and proper order in the church regarding prayer and the roles of men and women (1 Timothy 2:1-15). Paul wrote to prepare Timothy for the difficulties he would face in Ephesus and strengthen him in his ministry.
What are the major themes in 1 Timothy?
Some of the major themes in 1 Timothy include:
- Instructions on combating false doctrine and false teachers (1 Timothy 1:3-7, 4:1-5, 6:3-5).
- Qualifications and responsibilities of church overseers and deacons (1 Timothy 3:1-13).
- Principles for proper corporate worship (1 Timothy 2:1-15).
- God’s desire for all people to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4-6).
- Regulations for caring for widows in the church (1 Timothy 5:3-16).
- Instructions regarding paying elders (1 Timothy 5:17-18).
- Warnings against greed and the love of money (1 Timothy 6:6-10).
- A charge to Timothy to guard the gospel and fulfil his calling faithfully (1 Timothy 6:11-16).
What did Paul warn Timothy about false teachers and false doctrine?
Paul gave Timothy multiple warnings about false teachers and false doctrine that were impacting the church at Ephesus:
- False teachers were promoting “myths and endless genealogies” rather than God’s work of faith (1 Timothy 1:3-4).
- False teachers were desiring to be teachers of the law without understanding the law’s proper use (1 Timothy 1:5-7).
- False doctrine was being spread by deceitful spirits and the hypocrisy of liars (1 Timothy 4:1-2).
- False teachers were forbidding marriage and advocating abstaining from certain foods (1 Timothy 4:3).
- False teachers were obsessed with “irreverent, silly myths” rather than God’s truth (1 Timothy 4:6-7).
- False teachers were conceited and devoid of truth, promoting controversies and quarrels (1 Timothy 6:3-5).
Paul charged Timothy to teach sound doctrine, rebuke false teaching, guard the gospel, and rely on Scripture to combat falsehood (1 Timothy 1:18-20, 4:6-16, 6:11-14).
What qualifications did Paul give for overseers and deacons?
In 1 Timothy 3:1-13 Paul lays out qualifications for church overseers (also called elders or bishops) and deacons:
Overseers
- Above reproach (1 Timothy 3:2)
- Husband of one wife (1 Timothy 3:2)
- Sober-minded and self-controlled (1 Timothy 3:2)
- Respectable and hospitable (1 Timothy 3:2)
- Able to teach (1 Timothy 3:2)
- Not addicted, violent, or greedy (1 Timothy 3:3)
- Gentle and peaceable (1 Timothy 3:3)
- Not a lover of money (1 Timothy 3:3)
- Manages household well (1 Timothy 3:4-5)
- Not a recent convert (1 Timothy 3:6)
- Well thought of by outsiders (1 Timothy 3:7)
Deacons
- Dignified and not double-tongued (1 Timothy 3:8)
- Not addicted, greedy, or scheming (1 Timothy 3:8)
- Sincere in faith and doctrine (1 Timothy 3:9)
- Blameless (1 Timothy 3:10)
- Husband of one wife (1 Timothy 3:12)
- Good managers of children and household (1 Timothy 3:12)
These qualifications centered on godly character and maturity rather than worldly skill or status.
What instructions did Paul give Timothy regarding prayer and worship?
In 1 Timothy 2:1-15, Paul instructed Timothy that when the church gathers for worship, they should pray for all people, including rulers and authorities. Their prayers should be holy and peaceable, with modesty and decency (1 Timothy 2:8-10). Paul said he did not permit women to teach or have authority over men, but instead learn quietly with submission (1 Timothy 2:11-12). He pointed to the order of creation and Eve’s deception as the basis for this instruction (1 Timothy 2:13-14). Despite restrictions on their role, Paul said women would be saved through childbearing, faith, love, and holiness if they continued in these with modesty (1 Timothy 2:15).
How did Paul instruct Timothy to confront the false teachers?
Paul gave Timothy several strategies for dealing with the false teachers troubling the Ephesian church:
- Do not promote controversial speculations or fruitless discussion (1 Timothy 1:4, 6:4-5).
- Expose the falsehood through sound doctrine and instruction from Scripture (1 Timothy 4:6-7, 13, 16).
- Do not appoint people who teach false doctrine as overseers (1 Timothy 3:1-7).
- Rebuke false teachers sharply so they will be sound in the faith (Titus 1:9-13).
- Withstand falsehood through faithfulness to Paul’s teaching, conduct, purpose, and love (1 Timothy 1:18-19, 4:12-16).
- Flee from godlessness, pursue righteousness and godliness, fight the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:11-12).
- Guard the gospel treasure entrusted to you (1 Timothy 6:20).
Paul emphasized the power of Scripture, sound teaching, and godly example to overcome false doctrine.
What do we learn about widows in 1 Timothy 5:3-16?
1 Timothy 5:3-16 provides instructions for the church’s care and treatment of widows:
- Honor widows who are truly alone and dependent on God (1 Timothy 5:3).
- A widow’s family should care for her so the church is not burdened (1 Timothy 5:4).
- Widows devoted to prayer and service should be supported by the church (1 Timothy 5:5).
- Self-indulgent widows who live in pleasure should not receive support (1 Timothy 5:6).
- Give these instructions so widows can live above reproach (1 Timothy 5:7).
- Those who don’t provide for family are worse than unbelievers (1 Timothy 5:8).
- Support honorable widows over 60 with no family (1 Timothy 5:9-10).
- Exclude younger widows from support to avoid idleness and sin (1 Timothy 5:11-15).
- Believing women should care for widows so the church isn’t burdened (1 Timothy 5:16).
These instructions ensured needy widows were cared for while preventing abuse of charity.
What warnings and encouragements does Paul give about money?
Paul gave Timothy several warnings and encouragements related to money:
- False teachers see godliness as a means of financial gain (1 Timothy 6:5).
- Love of money leads to ruin, destruction, and wandering from the faith (1 Timothy 6:9-10).
- Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness instead of money (1 Timothy 6:11).
- Be content with food and clothing rather than loving money (1 Timothy 6:8).
- Those taught should share material blessings with teachers (1 Timothy 6:17-18).
- The rich should be generous and humble rather than arrogant or hopeful in their wealth (1 Timothy 6:17-19).
Paul emphasized the dangers of greed and loving wealth rather than pursuing godliness motivated by eternal rewards.
How did Paul encourage Timothy to remain faithful to his calling?
Recognizing the challenges Timothy faced, Paul gave him multiple encouragements to remain faithful:
- Timothy had a genuine faith passed down from his grandmother and mother (1 Timothy 1:5; 3:15).
- God gave him a spirit of power, love, and self-control to empower his ministry (1 Timothy 1:7).
- He needed to wage the good warfare by holding to faith and a good conscience (1 Timothy 1:18-19).
- He must be nourished on the words of the faith and sound doctrine (1 Timothy 4:6).
- He should be an example to believers in speech, conduct, love, faithfulness, and purity (1 Timothy 4:12).
- He must guard the deposit of truth entrusted to him (1 Timothy 6:20).
- He needed to flee evil, pursue righteousness, and take hold of eternal life (1 Timothy 6:11-12).
Despite his youth, Timothy had the resources to serve faithfully by God’s enabling grace.
How should instructions on women’s roles in 1 Timothy 2 be interpreted and applied today?
1 Timothy 2:9-15 contains controversial instructions about women learning quietly, not teaching or having authority over men, and being saved through childbearing. There are several views on applying these verses today:
- Traditionalist – Paul’s restrictions are universal and permanent limitations on women’s roles in the church.
- Complementarian – The restrictions apply only to the senior pastor role over the whole church.
- Egalitarian – The instructions were meant only for that specific time and situation at Ephesus and not intended as universal.
Factors to consider include the cultural context, Paul’s appeals to creation order and Eve’s deception, the lack of such limitations elsewhere, the value of men and women in God’s image, and principles of love, wisdom, and giftedness guiding ministry roles.
What is the importance of 1 Timothy for the church today?
Here are some reasons why 1 Timothy remains important for the church today:
- It teaches how to identify and confront destructive false teaching.
- It provides qualifications for church leaders that emphasize character.
- It gives principles for proper corporate worship and prayer.
- It balances special concern for widows with wise stewardship.
- It warns against destructive sins like greed and loving money.
- It emphasizes pursuing righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, and eternal life.
- It charges church leaders to guard the gospel message.
- It affirms the inspiration and sufficiency of Scripture (1 Timothy 3:16-17).
For these reasons, 1 Timothy continues to instruct the church on protecting doctrine, selecting leaders, conducting worship, caring for needs, avoiding sin, and fulfilling our calling.