The Book of 1 Timothy is one of the Pastoral Epistles written by the apostle Paul to Timothy, his young protégé. Timothy was a leader in the church at Ephesus, and Paul wrote to instruct and encourage him in the responsibilities of pastoral oversight of this congregation.
The key themes of 1 Timothy include proper doctrine and sound teaching, qualifications for leaders, instructions about church order, warnings against false teachers, and exhortations to faithfulness.
Authorship
1 Timothy begins with the statement that it is from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope (1 Timothy 1:1). This establishes Paul’s authority in giving instructions to the church. Throughout the letter, Paul refers to Timothy as his true son in the faith (1 Timothy 1:2), highlighting their close mentor-mentee relationship.
Date and Setting
Most scholars believe 1 Timothy was written between AD 62-64, after Paul’s imprisonment in Rome mentioned in Acts 28. This would make 1 Timothy one of Paul’s later letters, written after Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.
Paul had traveled through Ephesus during his second and third missionary journeys (Acts 18:19-21; 19:1-41), where he had trained church leaders like Timothy. Later, Paul assigned Timothy to provide oversight of the church at Ephesus while he went on to Macedonia (1 Timothy 1:3). This letter contains Paul’s guidance and instructions to Timothy for leading this congregation.
Purpose and Themes
A key reason Paul wrote 1 Timothy was to encourage Timothy in his leadership role at the church in Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:18). False teachers had infiltrated the church and were spreading wrong doctrine and controversies instead of God’s work, which is by faith (1 Timothy 1:3-7). Timothy as an overseer needed to instruct certain people not to teach false doctrines (1 Timothy 1:3).
Paul gave Timothy guidance on proper doctrine and theology. He emphasized that the goal of instruction is love from a pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith (1 Timothy 1:5). He highlighted the proper use of the law is to expose sin, not for legalists to try to obey it flawlessly (1 Timothy 1:8-11). And he shared the beautiful testimony of how Christ came to save sinners, using Paul’s own conversion as Exhibit A of God’s grace (1 Timothy 1:12-17).
Paul reminded Timothy of prophecies made about him when he was set apart for ministry, urging him to wage the good warfare and cling to faith and a good conscience (1 Timothy 1:18-19).
Paul named specific false teachers like Hymenaeus and Alexander who had shipwrecked their faith and blasphemed God with what they taught (1 Timothy 1:19-20). This personal application helped make the warnings more vivid.
Paul instructed Timothy how to structure corporate prayer in the Ephesian church, including praying for all people and praying for those in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-8).
Paul gave regulations on the woman’s role in the church forbidding them from teaching or exercising authority over a man (1 Timothy 2:9-15). This tied to the problem of false teaching spreading in Ephesus.
The qualifications and duties for overseers (elders) and deacons were laid out (1 Timothy 3:1-13). Godly character was paramount – above being an impressive public speaker or teacher. Deacons likewise were to be worthy of respect and exercise self-control and clear consciences (1 Timothy 3:8-10, 12). The instructions on church leaders aimed to preserve the gospel message and protect against false doctrine.
Paul stressed the supreme importance of sound doctrine, citing it as a deposit entrusted to Timothy to guard (1 Timothy 4:6, 16; 6:20-21). He urged Timothy to command and teach these things, not letting anyone look down on his youthfulness (1 Timothy 4:11-12).
Paul described the characteristics of false teachers like those troubling the Ephesians and how to recognize their hypocrisy (1 Timothy 4:1-5). He gave prescriptions for what a good servant of Christ should focus on instead, like training for godliness, faithful teaching, and setting an example (1 Timothy 4:6-16). TheEphesian church needed to reverse the effects of the false teaching.
Instructions were given on what proper pastoral care should look like – exhorting older men as fathers, older women as mothers, younger men as brothers, and younger women as sisters (1 Timothy 5:1-2). The church was Timothy’s true spiritual family.
Qualifications for widows to receive financial care from the church were outlined, including being over sixty and devoted to prayer and ministry (1 Timothy 5:3-16). Rules for paying elders were also prescribed, after dealing with problem leaders who continued in sin (1 Timothy 5:17-25).
Directives were given to slaves/servants and masters on working to please God by living out their roles properly (1 Timothy 6:1-2). This included teaching and preaching so the Ephesian masters would know how to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel.
In contrast to the false teachers motivated by greed, Paul exhorted Timothy to live out and teach contentment, godliness, and the danger of loving money (1 Timothy 6:3-10). As a man of God, Timothy must flee from all this and pursue what really matters instead – righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness (1 Timothy 6:11-12). He must keep all Paul’s instructions blameless until Christ returns (1 Timothy 6:13-16).
Instructions were given to command the rich in the Ephesian congregation to be generous and willing to share, not arrogant or trusting in their wealth (1 Timothy 6:17-19). This would help combat the false teachers preoccupied with riches.
Paul closed with a final solemn charge to Timothy to guard the deposit of sound teaching entrusted to him. He was to avoid worthless chatter that only breeds quarrels and aim for righteousness, faith, love and peace along with others who call on the Lord from a pure heart (1 Timothy 6:20-21).
Outline
Here is a broad outline of the book of 1 Timothy:
I. Opening (1 Timothy 1:1-2)
II. Instructions about False Teachers (1 Timothy 1:3-20)
III. Instructions on Church Worship (1 Timothy 2:1-15)
IV. Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons (1 Timothy 3:1-13)
V. The Nature of Paul’s Ministry and Timothy’s Responsibilities (1 Timothy 4:1-16)
VI. Pastoral Responsibilities and Treatment of Widows, Elders (1 Timothy 5:1-25)
VII. Exhortations to Slaves and Masters (1 Timothy 6:1-2)
VIII. godliness, Contentment and the Dangers of Wealth (1 Timothy 6:3-19)
IX. Final Charge to Timothy (1 Timothy 6:20-21)
Detailed Summary
Below is a more detailed summary of the content in 1 Timothy:
I. Opening (1 Timothy 1:1-2)
– Paul identifies himself as the author, an apostle of Christ Jesus appointed by God (1:1).
– He addresses Timothy as his true son in the faith, wishing him grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus (1:2).
II. Instructions about False Teachers (1 Timothy 1:3-20)
– Timothy is to instruct certain people in Ephesus not to teach false doctrines (1:3-4). The goal of a godly life is love from a pure heart, good conscience and sincere faith (1:5).
– Some teachers have wandered from this and turned to meaningless talk, wanting to be teachers of the law but not understanding it (1:6-7).
– The proper use of the law is to expose sin, not for legalists to try and obey it flawlessly (1:8-11). Paul shares his own testimony of receiving mercy and grace from Christ who came to save sinners (1:12-17).
– Timothy is urged to hold on to faith and a good conscience, unlike false teachers like Hymenaeus and Alexander who have shipwrecked their faith (1:18-20).
III. Instructions on Church Worship (1 Timothy 2:1-15)
– Guidelines are given for prayer in the church: pray for all people, for kings and authorities, that people can live peaceful and quiet lives in godliness and holiness (2:1-2). Such prayer pleases God who wants all to be saved (2:3-4).
– There is one God and mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom (2:5-6).
– Paul was appointed a preacher, apostle and teacher to spread the faith and truth to Gentiles (2:7).
– When praying, men should lift holy hands without anger or disputing (2:8).
– Women are told to adorn themselves modestly and not with elaborate hairstyles. Their focus should be on good works, as is proper for women who profess to worship God (2:9-10).
– Women are forbidden from teaching or exercising authority over a man but urged to learn quietly with submission (2:11-12).
– Reasoning is given that Adam was formed first, then Eve was deceived – tying gender roles to creation order (2:13-14).
– Yet women will be saved through childbearing, if they continue in faith and holiness (2:15).
IV. Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons (1 Timothy 3:1-13)
– The saying is trustworthy: anyone aspiring to be an overseer desires a noble task (3:1).
– An overseer must be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome or lover of money (3:2-3).
– He must manage his household well and see that his children obey with proper respect (3:4).
– If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for God’s church (3:5)?
– He must not be a recent convert or he may become conceited and fall into condemnation (3:6).
– He must have a good reputation with outsiders so he won’t fall into disgrace (3:7a).
– Deacons likewise must be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in too much wine or greed (3:8).
– They must keep the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience (3:9).
– Deacons must first be tested before serving, and only serve if found blameless (3:10).
– Wives of deacons must also be worthy of respect, not slanderers but temperate and trustworthy (3:11).
– Deacons must be faithful husbands and manage children and households well (3:12).
– Those who serve well gain an excellent standing and much assurance in their faith (3:13).
V. The Nature of Paul’s Ministry and Timothy’s Responsibilities (1 Timothy 4:1-16)
– The Spirit expressly states that later times some will depart from the faith and follow deceitful spirits and teachings (4:1a).
– This includes teachings of demons propagated by liars with seared consciences who forbid marriage and certain foods (4:1b-3).
– All foods should be received with thanksgiving by those who know the truth, since everything created by God is good and nothing is to be rejected (4:4-5).
– By pointing out these things, Timothy will be a good servant of Christ nourished on the truths of the faith and sound instruction (4:6).
– He must discipline himself for godliness and train for it, unlike those absorbed in myths and speculation (4:7-8).
– Paul gives his credentials as an apostle worthy of full acceptance, suffering and being persecuted for the faith (4:9-11).
– Timothy must command and teach these things without letting anyone look down on his youth (4:11-12).
– Until Paul comes, Timothy should devote himself to preaching, teaching, public reading of Scripture, and using his spiritual gift (4:13-14).
– These things will help save Timothy and his hearers (4:15-16).
VI. Pastoral Responsibilities and Treatment of Widows, Elders (1 Timothy 5:1-25)
– Timothy should exhort older men as fathers, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with all purity (5:1-2).
– Honor widows who are truly alone and devout worshipers night and day (5:3-5).
– But any widow who lives in pleasure is dead even while alive (5:6).
– Give these instructions so no one can be open to blame (5:7).
– Family members, especially children and grandchildren, should provide for their own – this pleases God (5:8).
– No widow under sixty should be enrolled to receive regular support from the church (5:9-10).
– Younger widows tend to set their desire on marriage over Christ, bringing judgment (5:11-12). They also get into idleness, gossip and meddling (5:13).
– Paul thinks younger widows should marry, have children, and manage households so the church won’t be burdened (5:14).
– Some younger widows have already turned away to follow Satan (5:15).
– Any believing woman who has relatives should be cared for by them to ease the church’s burden (5:16a).
– Elders who rule well should be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who preach and teach (5:17).
– Scripture says not to muzzle an ox while it treads out grain, and workers deserve their pay (5:18).
– Do not admit an accusation against an elder unless supported by two or three witnesses (5:19).
– Publicly rebuke those who persist in sin so the rest will stand in fear (5:20).
– Before God and Christ Jesus and the angels, Paul charges Timothy to do all this without partiality (5:21).
– Timothy should not be quick to lay hands on and appoint anyone hastily (5:22a).
– He must keep himself pure (5:22b).
– Do not drink only water but use a little wine for health, and to aid stomach and frequent ailments (5:23).
– The sins of some men are conspicuous while others’ sins come out later. Similarly, good works can be conspicuous or hidden at first but not remain hidden forever (5:24-25).
VII. Exhortations to Slaves and Masters (1 Timothy 6:1-2)
– Those under the yoke as slaves should consider masters worthy of full respect so God’s name will not be slandered (6:1).
– Slaves with Christian masters should serve them even better because their masters are dear brothers (6:2a). Teach and exhort these things (6:2b).
VIII. Godliness, Contentment and the Dangers of Wealth (1 Timothy 6:3-19)
– Whoever teaches false doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of Christ and godly teaching is conceited and understands nothing (6:3-4a).
– They have morbid craving for controversies and quarreling over words (6:4b).
– This breeds envy, dissension, slander, and suspicion (6:4c).
– Constant friction from those who are depraved in mind and deprived of truth, who treat godliness as a means of gain (6:5).
– Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain (6:6).
– We brought nothing into this world and can take nothing out of it (6:7).
– If we have food and clothing, we should be content (6:8).
– Those wanting to get rich fall into temptation, traps, harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction (6:9).
– Love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and through this craving some have wandered from the faith (6:10).
– But Timothy must flee from all this and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness (6:11).
– He must fight the good fight of faith and take hold of eternal life to which he was called (6:12a).
– This was the charge Timothy professed before many witnesses to keep (6:12b-13).
– He must keep the command unstained until Christ returns, who will do this in his own timing (6:14-15).
– Christ alone is immortal, dwelling in unapproachable light whom no one has seen or can see (6:16).
– Instruct the rich not to be arrogant or put hope in wealth but to put hope in God (6:17a).
– Their hope should be in God who provides everything for our enjoyment (6:17b).
– Urge the rich to do good, be rich in good works, generous, willing to share (6:18).
– This will lay up treasure as a firm foundation for the future (6:19).
IX. Final Charge to Timothy (1 Timothy 6:20-21)
– Timothy must guard the deposit entrusted to him and avoid worthless chatter that only breeds quarrels (6:20).
– By professing opposing ideas, some have already swerved from the faith (6:21a).
Grace be with Timothy and all who have loved Christ’s appearing (6:21b).