The First Letter of the Apostle Paul to
TIMOTHY
Author:
Paul an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Date:
Sometime about 64 AD.
Themes:
When Paul wrote this letter the number of Christian churches had much increased, and questions about the proper behavior of believers, order, discipline and leadership in the churches, and related matters had increased with them. Paul wrote two letters to Timothy and one to Titus about all this. He was Christ’s apostle, and wrote with Christ’s authority and with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, so the instructions and teachings he gave them are the truth of God and apply to all churches in all times. We might call 1 Tim 3:15 a key verse of this letter – “that you may know how you ought to behave in the church of God”. Again and again in his letters to Timothy Paul emphasizes the necessity of sound doctrine and correct instruction as an antidote to the false and deadly teaching that would attack the churches.
Contents:
False teaching, misuse of the law of Moses 1:3-7
The right use of the law 1:8-11
Paul saved by God’s grace 1:12-17
The chief of sinners 1:15
An example of mercy 1:16
Praise to God for this 1:17
Fighting the good spiritual fight 1:18-19
The spiritual shipwreck of some Christians 1:19-20
About prayer 2:1-2
God’s desire for all men 2:3-4
One God, one Mediator, one ransom 2:5-8
Proper behavior and dress for Christian women 2:9-15
Qualifications for elders and deacons 3:1-15
God’s mystery in a human body 3:16
Doctrines of demons 4:1-5
A good minister of Jesus Christ 4:6-16
Preaching the truth to others 4:6,11,13
Rejecting unnecessary matters 4:7
Practicing godliness 4:7-8
Setting a good example 4:12
Using spiritual gifts and abilities 4:14
Dedicating oneself completely 4:15-16
Instruction about behavior toward others 5:1-3
Instruction about widows 5:4-16
Instruction about the treatment of elders 5:17-20
Instruction to Timothy 5:21-25
Instruction about slaves 6:1-2
Instruction about false teachers 6:3-5
Contentment with what one has 6:6-8
The danger of loving money 6:9-10
What believers should pursue 6:11
Fighting the good fight of faith 6:12-14
The King of kings and Lord of lords 6:15-16
Commands for the rich 6:17-19
Things for Timothy to avoid 6:20-21