The book of 1 Timothy

How to behave in the house of God

Author: The apostle Paul (1:1)
Written: Around AD 62–64, probably from Macedonia (1:3)
Time covered: Between Paul’s first and second imprisonments in Rome, after his release (according to tradition)
Key word: Godliness

Paul charges Timothy to stay in Ephesus to silence the false teachers, and recalls the grace that saved him, “chief” of sinners (1). He puts the church in order: prayer for all, because there is only one mediator; conduct in worship; the qualifications of bishops and deacons, for the church is “the pillar and ground of the truth” (2-3). Timothy must be an example despite his youth and train himself in godliness (4). Directions follow for widows, elders, and slaves (5:1-6:2), then a warning against the love of money and a call to guard the deposit (6).

Main theme

Paul entrusts Timothy with the mission of protecting the church in Ephesus from false teachers and putting it in order (prayer, worship, leaders, widows, the rich) so that it may be “the pillar and ground of the truth” (3:15).

Outline

1 Timothy 1 — Guarding sound doctrine
Against the fables of false teachers, Paul’s testimony of being saved by grace and the call to fight the good fight.
1 Timothy 2-3 — Order in the house of God
Prayer for all, worship, the qualifications of bishops and deacons, and the great mystery of godliness (3:16).
1 Timothy 4 — A good minister of Jesus Christ
Against the asceticism of the latter times, Timothy must train himself in godliness and be an example.
1 Timothy 5-6 — Pastoral care and true riches
Widows, elders, and slaves; the danger of the love of money; a final call to guard the deposit.

Key points

Timothy must stay in Ephesus to silence fables and endless genealogies; the aim of the commandment is love from a pure heart (1:3-5).
Paul, a former blasphemer and persecutor, calls himself the “chief” of sinners saved: a pattern of Christ’s patience (1:13-16).
Pray for all men, including kings: God wants all to be saved through the one mediator, the man Christ Jesus (2:1-6).
The bishop must be blameless, sober, hospitable, able to teach, a good manager of his household, and not a new convert (3:2-7).
The church is “the house of God,” “the pillar and ground of the truth” (3:15).
“Let no man despise thy youth”: Timothy must be an example and not neglect the gift he received (4:12-14).
The church supports widows who are truly alone; but whoever does not provide for his own has denied the faith (5:3-8).
“The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil”; godliness with contentment is great gain (6:6-10).

For 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 2:5–6 — One God, one mediator, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all.

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

1 Timothy 3:16 — The “mystery of godliness,” a summary of the whole work of Christ, from the incarnation to glory.

Let 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.

1 Timothy 4:12 — The call to every young believer: be an example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.

Jesus in 1 Timothy

1 Timothy presents Jesus as the one who “came into the world to save sinners” (1:15), the only mediator between God and men, who gave himself as a ransom for all (2:5-6). The hymn of 3:16 sums up his work: manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, received up into glory. He “witnessed a good confession” before Pontius Pilate, and his appearing will be shown in its own time by the King of kings (6:13-15).

Did you know?

The Pastoral Epistles contain five “faithful sayings,” three of them in 1 Timothy (1:15; 3:1; 4:9; see also 2 Tim 2:11 and Titus 3:8).
In 5:18, Paul cites as “Scripture” both Deuteronomy 25:4 and the saying “The laborer is worthy of his reward,” which is also found in Luke 10:7.
Timothy drank only water: Paul advises him, “use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities” (5:23).

Quiz on 1 Timothy

In which city did Paul urge Timothy to stay?

Complete: “Let no man despise thy …”

According to 6:10, the love of money is…

There are many more questions like these in Bible Academy, each with its explanation and verse. Start your free trial.