Bible Book: I Timothy

Because the Bible is practical, here is an overview of the book.

Author: Paul

Type of Book: Epistle

Outline
Introduction (1:1-20)
Greeting to Timothy (1:1-2)
Warning Against False Teachers (1:3-7)
The Purpose of the Law (1:8-11)
The Lord’s Mercy and Grace to Paul (1:12-17)
The Purpose of Paul’s Instructions to Timothy (1:18-20)
Directions Concerning the Church’s Ministry (2:1-4:5)
Public Worship (2:1-15)
The Importance of Prayer (2:1-8)
The Appropriate Conduct of Women (2:9-15)
Qualifications for Overseers (Pastors) (3:1-7)
Personal
Above Reproach (Blameless) (3:2)
Temperate (Sober and Disciplined) (3:2)
Self-controlled (3:2)
Respectable (3:2)
Hospitable (Welcoming) (3:2)
Able to Teach (3:2)
Not Given to Drunkenness (3:3)
Not Violent (3:3)
Gentle (3:3)
Not Quarrelsome (3:3)
Not a Lover of Money (3:3)
Not a Recent Convert (3:6)
Good Reputation With Outsiders (3:7)
Family
Husband of One Wife (3:2)
Leads His Own Family Well (3:4-5)
Has Respectful Children (3:4)
Qualifications for Deacons (3:8-12)
Personal
Worthy of Respect (3:8)
Sincere (3:8)
Not Indulging in Wine (3:8)
Not Pursuing Dishonest Gain (3:8)
Holds to the Faith With a Clear Conscience (3:9)
Tested and Above Reproach (3:10)
Family
Husband of One Wife (3:12)
A Respectful and Trustworthy Wife (3:11)
Manages His Children and Household Well (3:12)
Reasons the Church Must Require High Qualifications for Leaders (3:13-4:5)
Directions Concerning Timothy’s Ministry (4:6-6:19)
Exposing and Handling False Teaching (4:1-11)
Encouraging Timothy’s Ministry (4:12-16)
Dealing with Different Groups in the Church (5:1-6:2)
Older and Younger Men (5:1)
Older and Younger Women (5:2)
Widows (5:3-16)
Ministers and Prospective Ministers (5:17-25)
Servants (6:1-2)
Recognizing Motives (6:3-10)
Pride, Contention and Greed (6:3-5)
Godliness, Contentment and Faithfulness (6:6-10)
Closing Challenges (6:11-19)
To Timothy Personally (6:11-16)
To the Rich (6:17-19)
Conclusion (6:20-21)

Theme: Church Leadership, Sound Teaching and Godly Character

Date of Writing: c. A.D. 65

Background
    1 and 2 Timothy and Titus are commonly referred to as “The Pastoral Letters.” They are letters from Paul (1Ti 1:1; 2Ti 1:1; Tit 1:1) to Timothy (at Ephesus) and Titus (at Crete) concerning pastoral care and leadership of the churches. Some critics have questioned Paul’s authorship of these letters based on slight differences in style and vocabulary when compared with Paul’s other letters. These differences, however, are understandable within the context of Paul’s age and his personal concerns for the ministries of Timothy and Titus. In addition, the early church definitely placed these writings among Paul’s authentic letters.
    Timothy was from Lystra (in modern Turkey). His father was a Greek, while his mother was a Jewish Christian (Ac 16:1). From childhood he had been taught the OT Scriptures (2Ti 1:5; 3:15). Paul may have actually been the one to lead Timothy to a personal relationship with Christ because he calls him “my true son in the faith” (1:2). During Paul’s second visit to Lystra, Paul invited Timothy to join him on his missionary endeavors. The young apprentice helped Paul take the message of Christ throughout Macedonia and Achaia (Ac 17:14-15; 18:5; see map of Paul’s Second Missionary Journey), and he was with Paul during a large part of his extended ministry in Ephesus (Ac 19:22; see map of Paul’s Third Missionary Journey). Timothy continued to travel with Paul (Ac 20:1-6), perhaps all the way to Jerusalem. From there Paul went to Rome, where he was eventually imprisoned under the Emperor Nero (see map of Paul’s Journey to Rome). Timothy was in Rome with Paul during Paul’s first imprisonment (Php 1:1; Col 1:1; Phm 1:1).
    Paul wrote 1 Timothy after the events recorded at the end of the book of Acts. Following Paul’s release from prison (Ac 28; cf. 2Ti 4:16-17), Timothy continued to travel with him during the fourth missionary journey. According to Clement of Rome (c. A.D. 96) and the Muratorian Canon (c. A.D. 170), Paul went from Rome westward to Spain and fulfilled a long-desired ministry there (cf. Ro 15:23-24, 28). Based on data in the Pastoral Letters, Paul then returned to the Aegean Sea region (particularly Crete, Macedonia and Greece) for further ministry. During this time (c. A.D. 64-65), Paul commissioned (i.e., gave an assignment along with the authority to do the task) Timothy as his representative to minister and deal with issues in Ephesus (where Paul had ministered extensively for over three years on his third missionary journey). Paul commissioned Titus to do the same on the island of Crete (see introduction to Titus). From Macedonia, Paul wrote his first letter to Timothy, and a short time later he wrote to Titus. Afterwards, Paul again became a prisoner in Rome, during which time he wrote a second letter to Timothy. This second letter was written shortly before Paul’s execution in A.D. 67/68 (see 2Ti 4:6-8; see also the introduction to 2 Timothy).

Purpose
Paul had a three-part purpose in writing 1 Timothy: (1) to encourage and instruct Timothy about his ministry and personal life; (2) to urge Timothy to defend the truth, purity and standards of the message of Christ from corruption by false teachers; and (3) to give Timothy instructions on supervising various areas of church ministry and to address specific issues and problems at Ephesus.

Survey
    One of the main challenges Paul assigned to Timothy as his young assistant was to strongly defend the Christian faith against twisted versions or false teachings that were diluting (i.e., weakening or reducing the strength, force or effectiveness of) the message of Christ and its saving power (1:3-7; 4:1-8; 6:3-5, 20-21). Paul also instructs Timothy about the spiritual and character qualifications for church leadership. In doing so, he provides a total picture of those who are permitted to become spiritual leaders of the churches (see the detailed list of qualifications in the above outline).
    Among other subjects, Paul also instructs Timothy how to relate to various groups within the church, such as women (2:9-15; 5:2), widows (5:3-16), older and younger men (5:1), elders (5:17-25), slaves (6:1-2), false teachers (6:3-10) and the rich (6:17-19). The apostle gives Timothy five clear instructions to fulfill so that he will model what he teaches others in the church (1:18-20; 3:14-16; 4:11-16; 5:21-25; 6:20-21). In this letter, Paul expresses his affection for Timothy as “my true son in the faith” (1:2) and sets a high standard of godly character for Timothy’s life and for the church.

Special Features
Four major features characterize this letter. (1) Addressed directly to Timothy as Paul’s representative to the church at Ephesus, the letter is very personal and written with deep feeling. (2) Along with 2 Timothy, it stresses more than any other NT letter the pastoral responsibility to keep Christ’s message and his church pure and free from false teachings that would weaken the power of the message and the influence of the church. (3) It stresses the supreme value of Christ’s message and exposes the evil influence that motivates those who try to present some altered version. It also stresses the church’s holy calling and the high qualifications God requires for its leaders. (4) It provides the most specific direction in the NT about how a pastor is to relate properly to both sexes and to all age and social groups in the church.

Giving credit where credit is due.  These informational notes about this book come from the Full Life Study Bible, also known as the Fire Bible.  Don Stamps, editor.  Originally published by Life Publishers.