1 Timothy Overview and Outline

 AUTHOR: Paul

DATE: 63-66 A.D.

The two letters Paul wrote to Timothy and the one he wrote to Titus are called the pastoral epistles.  They contain principles for the pastoral care of God’s people, administrative work in churches, and qualifications for ministers of God’s Word.

Timothy was the son of a Greek Gentile father and a devout Jewish mother named Eunice. His association with Paul began at the time of Paul’s second missionary journey and continued on (2 Tim. 1:5; Acts 16:1-3).  Paul likely wrote 1 Timothy from Macedonia (1 Tim 1:3).  From there he was on to Nicopolis (Titus 3:12). Timothy was left in charge of the work in Ephesus and Asia Minor, and though Paul desired to visit Timothy (1 Tim 3:14; 4:13), this letter would have to serve in guiding him in his pastoral responsibilities.

Paul writes to Timothy personally with a theme that is beneficial to all in the Lord’s service, whether it is vocationally or as a lay person.  The theme is fighting “the good fight” (1 Tim 1:18).  Paul wrote about behaving in the house of God (1 Tim 3:15), the law as it relates to the church (1 Tim 1:7-11), the importance of prayer (1 Tim 2:1-8), the appearance and role of women in the church (1 Tim 2:9-15), qualifications for bishops or elders and for deacons (1 Tim 3:1-13), the last days (1 Tim 4:1-3), care of widows (1 Tim 5:3-16), and use of money (1 Tim 6:6-19).

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