1 Timothy

About 1 Timothy

First Timothy is a coaching letter for a young leader guiding the church in Ephesus through a season of false teaching. Paul tells Timothy how God's household should work: sound teaching, trustworthy leaders, orderly worship, care for widows, and godliness in every relationship. It shows how the gospel takes lasting, everyday shape in a community after the first missionaries move on.

Written by

The letter presents Paul writing to his co-worker Timothy, and the church has traditionally accepted this, though many modern scholars question whether the Pastoral Letters come directly from Paul.

When

If from Paul, it was likely written in the mid-60s AD, after the events recorded in Acts; scholars who doubt his authorship date it near the end of the first century.

Themes

• Sound teaching
• Godly leadership
• Life in God's household
• Godliness with contentment

Key verses

• 1 Timothy 1:15This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.
• 1 Timothy 2:5-6For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony that was given at just the right time.
• 1 Timothy 4:12Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.