READ IT! - Introduction to Paul’s First Letter to Timothy

Readings for this week

Monday: 1 Timothy 1
Tuesday: 1 Timothy 2
Wednesday: 1 Timothy 3
Thursday: 1 Timothy 4
Friday: 1 Timothy 5
Saturday: 1 Timothy 6
Sunday: 2 Timothy 1

Introduction to Paul’s First Letter to Timothy 

Background 

This historical relationship between Paul and Timothy is one of mentorship.

Paul's second visit to Lystra is when Timothy first connected with Paul. Paul not only brought Timothy into the faith but he was Timothy’s main mentor in Christian leadership, having done church planting and missionary journeys together. Timothy would have received his authority to preach in churches directly from Paul who of course was the greater known and accepted of the two and an apostle. 

Timothy’s official position in the church was one of an evangelist and he worked with Paul in Phrygia, Galatia, and Mysia, Troa, Philippi and Berea and continued on to do even more work in Athens, and Thessalonica for the church not to mention his work in Corinth, Macedonia, Ephesus and greater Asia. Timothy was also noted for coming to Paul’s aid when Paul fell into prison. 

It is noteworthy that, despite not being required due the ruling of the Jerusalem council, Timothy took circumcision himself in order to be a better witness among the Jews. 

According to church tradition he was loyal to Paul’s wishes and stayed and worked in Ephesus until he finally suffered a martyr's death himself. 

“The Pastorals are distinguished from all other New Testament letters in that they are addressed ... to a special functional class within the church, namely, the professional ministry. Thus these letters occupy the unique distinction of being not simply the only letters in the New Testament to be addressed primarily to clergymen, but also of being in this sense the first extant pastoral letters—that is, letters written by a pastor to pastors—in the history of the church.” 

Authorship 

The dating of 1st Timothy depends very much on the question of authorship. Those who accept the epistle's authenticity believe it was written soon after Paul left Ephesus, which he did twice according to the Acts of the Apostles. This dates the epistle to either about the year 58 or 59, or about the year 64 or 65 AD.

Nineteenth and twentieth century scholarship questioned the authenticity of the letter, with many scholars suggesting that 1st Timothy, along with 2nd Timothy and Titus, are not original to Paul, but rather to an unknown Christian writing some time in the late-first-to-mid-2nd century. Evidence for this perspective is that the Pastoral Epistles contain 306 words that Paul does not use in his unquestioned letters, their style of writing is different from that of his unquestioned letters, they reflect conditions and a church organization not current in Paul's day, and they do not appear in early lists of his canonical works. 

The text seems to be contending against nascent Gnosticism, which would suggest a later date due to Gnosticism developing primarily in the latter 1st century. The term Gnosis ("knowledge") itself occurs in 1 Timothy 6:20. If the parallels between 1 Timothy and Polycarp's epistle are understood as a literary dependence by the latter on the former, as is generally accepted, this would mean the latest possible date of writing would be AD 130–155. However, Irenaeus (writing c.AD 180) is the earliest author to clearly and unequivocally describe the Pastorals. 

Chapter 1 

The letter opens with a salutation. It claims to be written by the apostle Paul to Timothy “my true son in the faith.” A blessing of “grace, mercy and peace” is given. 

There is then a warning against false teachers. Paul tells Timothy to stay in Ephesus (same instruction as when Paul was in Macedonia) in order to make sure certain people don’t teach false doctrines anymore. Paul also tells Timothy to tell these people to not “devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies” which “promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work.” The goal of this command is love coming from a pure heart and good conscience and sincere faith. He says that some who want to teach the law have turned to meaningless talk and don’t know what they are talking about.

Paul then talks about the right use of the law. He says that we know that the law is good if one uses it properly, and that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers. 

The law was made for… 

Rebels
The ungodly
The sinful
The unholy
The irreligious
Those who kill their fathers or mothers
Murderers
Pornois (or fornicators)
Arsenokoitais (combining two terms referring to “man” and euphemistic “sleeping”)
Slave traders
Liars
Perjurers
Anything contrary to the Gospel 

Paul then discusses his own experience of grace. Paul says he’s thankful to Jesus for allowing him to serve and for showing him mercy and grace even though he was once a violent blasphemer. 

He then offers “a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance”: 

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” 

Paul then repeats his Charge to Timothy. He tells him to remember the prophecies made about him so that he will fight well to hold onto his faith and keep a good conscience. He says he’s handed certain people like Hymenaeus and Alexander “over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme” because they have not kept a good conscience and have subsequently shipwrecked their faith.

Chapter 2 

Paul then gives instructions on how to repair the Church. First, he addresses public worship, starting with the topic of prayer. Paul says it pleases God for us to pray for all people about all things… including kings and those in authority to bring about a life of peace. Paul says God wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. He says, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.” Paul says this is the whole reason why he was appointed an apostle to the Gentles. 

He then addresses the roles of men and women in public worship. To the men he says: Pray in a holy manner, for all men should pray without anger. To the women he says: Conduct yourselves quietly, and dress modestly, not lavishly - clothing yourselves with good deeds. 

Paul says that when these Ephesian women in the church are being taught, then they should be quiet in order to listen and learn in submission to the teacher. Paul says that these women should not be allowed to teach or have authority over the men who are already teachers there. Paul then references the Creation narratives in Genesis as an example of a woman who came after a man… and also as an example of a woman who was deceived and sinned. Like Eve, these women are deceived and are leading the men astray in their attempt to be first. Paul then adds that “women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety”. 

What does Paul mean when he says that “women will be saved through childbirth”? 

He is referring to a phenomena that took place in the city of Ephesus in the time that Timothy was living there. The Ephesians believed that Artemis would protect women who were in childbirth, and according to some records 250,000 women each year would come to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus for such protection. Childbirth was a bigger deal in the ancient and classical world than it is today because back then most women died in childbirth. So what Paul is actually saying to the Ephesian women of Timothy’s congregation is that Jesus will save them “through the ordeal” of childbirth, and that they should not put their hopes and trust in Artemis. He is not saying that bearing children is what saves women. 

Chapter 3 

Paul then gives instructions on church leadership. He first discusses the qualifications of the “overseers” (which is a gender-neutral term in the original Greek). 

He offers another “trustworthy saying”: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 

Paul then lists the qualifications of an overseer: 

To be above reproach 

“Man of one woman” (this is the only phrase referencing gender) 

Temperate
Self-controlled
Respectable
Hospitable
Able to teach
Not given to drunkenness
Not violent
Gentle
Not quarrelsome
Not a lover of money
Manage their own family well
Their children obey them because they are worthy of respect
Not a recent convert… in order to avoid conceit and judgment
Have a good reputation with outsiders… in order to avoid disgrace and the devil’s traps 

Paul then lists the qualifications of “deacons” (which is also a gender-neutral term in the original Greek). In the same way, deacons are to be… 

Worthy of respect
Sincere
Not indulging in much wine
Not pursuing dishonest gain
They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience
They must first be tested before being allowed to serve 

He then specifically addresses women who are deacons, saying that they should be… 

Worthy of respect
Not malicious talkers
Temperate
Trustworthy in everything 

He then says of deacons in general that they must be… 

“Man of one woman” (again the only phrase he uses referencing gender)
Must manage their children and their household well 

He says, “Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.” 

Paul wraps this part up by saying he hopes to visit soon but wanted to send church instructions in case he was delayed, and he adds that the church is the pillar and foundation of the truth. 

He then sings a hymn to Christ, saying that “beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great”:

He appeared in the flesh,
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory. 

Chapter 4 

Paul then talks about truth in the Church and apostasy. Paul says that the Spirit teaches that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. He says that these teachings gain traction because of hypocrites and liars. 

He then provides some specific examples of their false teachings: 

They forbid people to marry
They order people to abstain from certain foods 

Paul says that all things, including food, were created by God and should be received with thanksgiving by those who know the truth through the word of God and prayer. 

He then discusses Timothy’s personal responsibilities. Paul tells Timothy to point all these things out to the brothers and sisters, and to avoid “godless myths and old wives’ tales.” He tells him to train himself in godliness like an athlete… but with a better reward than physical fitness in this life and the next. 

He then offers another “trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance”: That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe. 

Paul says to Timothy, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.”

He tells him to persevere so that both he and those who hear him will be saved.

Chapter 5 

Paul then talks about dealing with different groups in the Church. In regard to all men and women of all ages, he tells Timothy to not be harsh or impure with anyone, “but treat all like a father, mother, brother, or sister.” 

He then discusses widows specifically, starting with older widows. He tells Timothy to take care of needy widows, but if the widow has kids or grandkids they ought to be taking care of her if their faith is serious. He says, “The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.” 

He adds: 

“No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.” 

Paul then discusses younger widows, telling Timothy not to put young widows on the list because their desire is still to remarry… often to the point of forgetting the pledge they made to Christ. He says not to put young widows on the list who are idle and go from house to house being busybodies and talking nonsense. Paul encourages young widows to remarry and have kids and to manage their homes well so that they won’t be open to slander… but he adds that he knows that some have already begun to follow Satan. 

He adds: 

“If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.” 

Paul then discusses the office of “elder” (which is a gender-neutral term in the original Greek). He first discusses the reward of elders, saying that elders who lead the church, especially in preaching and teaching, should be highly honored. And he quotes Scripture saying, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.” 

He then discusses the reputation of elders, saying not to entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. But he adds that those elders who are sinning are to be reproved before everyone, so that the others may take warning. 

Paul then discusses prospective elders saying to follow his instructions and not to show favoritism, saying, “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.” 

He then gives a personal instruction to Timothy regarding his health, saying, “Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.” 

He also adds: 

“The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.” 

Chapter 6 

Paul then discusses the role of slaves in the Church. Paul says slaves should respect their masters, especially if their masters are believers, and that masters who believe should be devoted to the welfare of their slaves. 

He then addresses false teachers, saying that if anyone does not agree with these instructions they are conceited and ignorant. 

He says that they display their ignorance and conceit when they… 

Have an unhealthy interest in controversies
Quarrel about words that result in envy and strife
Are malicious talkers
Have evil suspicions
Have constant friction between people of corrupt mind
Have been robbed of the truth
Think that godliness is a means to financial gain 

Paul says contentment is a great thing because we are born with nothing and die with nothing. Paul says he is happy to just have food and clothing because people who want to be rich are trapped by their desires and fall from the faith into ruin and grief. He says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.”

Paul tells Timothy to flee from evil and pursue… 

Righteousness
Godliness
Faith
Love
Endurance
Gentleness 

Paul tells him to fight the good fight of the faith and take hold of the eternal life to which he was called when he made his public confession… just as Christ made his public confession before Pontius Pilate. He says to keep this command until Christ returns in God’s timing. 

He then offers a benediction: 

“God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.” 

Paul then add a final word to the wealthy: 

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” 

And he says to Timothy: 

“Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.” 

He ends his letter by saying: 

“Grace be with you all.”