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 faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
• 1 Timothy 2:5-6For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
• 1 Timothy 4:12Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.