1 & 2 Timothy
Ephesus (where Timothy was)
Paul’s ministry at Ephesus, a port city in the Roman province of Asia, began in the first century. The city was known for its rich civic leaders, including wealthy Asiarchs. Ephesus was also a center for worship of the pagan goddess Artemis and was known for its occult practices. Paul’s christological language in Ephesians was influenced by the pagan spiritual atmosphere. Ephesus was home to a temple for the worship of the Roman emperor and his family.
“If religious life was dominated by emperor worship, idolatry, and the black arts of occultism and spiritism, moral life was typical of a Greco-Roman city: a large brothel stood at one of the major intersections. Excavations have uncovered an impressive amphitheater seating 24,000 people (see Acts 19:29). Irenaeus, a second-century church leader, reports that the apostle John resided and ministered there late in the first century.”
Who wrote 1 & 2 Timothy?
The author of both these letters is Paul. He says so in the opening of each letter.
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope (1 Timothy 1:1, ESV).”
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 1:1, ESV).”
About the Audience and Background
Timothy is introduced in the Book of Acts as a disciple in Lystra. His mother was a Jewish believer, and his father was a Greek. (Acts 16:1) Paul wanted Timothy (and Silas) to join him on his second missionary journey.
“For this role his circumcision was required, in Paul’s judgment, in order not to offend Jews Paul wanted to reach with the gospel (16:3). Following this procedure and the time required for recovery, Timothy took part in the work of delivering the results of the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15): “As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey” (16:4). Timothy’s earliest assignment with Paul involved mediation of apostolic teachings among Gentile churches, something still at the core of his mandate when he receives 1 and 2 Timothy. His dual citizenship, so to speak, in the Hellenistic world on the one hand as a native of Lystra and, on the other among the Jewish people in the Diaspora, suited him ideally for this assignment. He would have an insider’s feel for the Abrahamic heritage fulfilled in Jesus, according to the gospel affirmed in Acts 15, yet strong points of contact with the Greek world of his own father and the region of his upbringing.”
It appears that Timothy was Paul’s right-hand man even when the gospel was being promoted against opposition (including physical harm). Timothy was with Paul for most of a decade. During this letter, Timothy is in Ephesus. For more insight into Ephesus, please see the introduction to Ephesians.
Timothy is mentioned in Paul’s other epistles, too. Chronologically prepared, here are the places Timothy is mentioned:
1 Thessalonians 1:1
1 Thessalonians 3:2
1 Thessalonians 3:6
2 Thessalonians 2:1
1 Corinthians 4:17
1 Corinthians 16:10
2 Corinthians 1:1
2 Corinthians 1:19
Romans 16:21
Philippians 1:1
Philippians 2:19
Philippians 2:22
Colossians 1:1
Philemon 1:1
Why did Paul write 1 Timothy?
It appears that there are a few different reasons why Paul wrote this letter to Timothy. The first was to encourage him to support the true gospel and warn against false doctrine and teaching. For evidence of this, see 1 Timothy 1:3. The second is to instruct Timothy on what believers should look like within the church. “The need for presenting a committed Christian life-style in contrast with the corrupt, self-seeking practices of the false teachers provided the occasion and purpose for the statement of 3:15. The Epistle of 1 Timothy provides us information on the identity of the false teachers and the characteristics of their error.”
Why did Paul write 2 Timothy?
“Paul’s mood in 2 Timothy is utterly different from that in the other two Pastorals. Paul had apparently been arrested again and had passed through a preliminary hearing (4:16–18). He expected to die soon (4:6–8). He had been treated unevenly by Christian friends. Some had sacrificed greatly to minister to him (1:16–18). Others, perhaps “false brothers,” had abused and deserted him (4:14–16). He was lonely, for most of his close friends had left on specific ministries (4:10–12). The problem in the church at Ephesus had worsened. There was widespread defection from commitment to Christ (1:15). The deceitful, meddlesome Hymeneus, excommunicated in 1 Tim 1:20, continued to spread his insidious teaching among the faithful like a disease (2 Tim 2:17–18). Paul, however, was not preoccupied by the heresy.
Paul focused his interest on Timothy. This is a personal word to a beloved follower. He reminded Timothy of their longtime acquaintance (3:10–11) and appealed to his loyalty to Pauline teaching (1:6–14; 2:1–13; 3:10–4:5). To Paul this was also loyalty to Christ (see 1 Cor 11:1). False teachers still hovered in the background, but Timothy was not to focus merely on defeating them (2:24–26). He was to focus on proper teaching and was to pass on the gospel truths to faithful, committed followers of Christ gathered around him (2:1–2). Paul appealed for Timothy to come to his side (4:9). No doubt the memory of Timothy’s warm affection and sharing of difficulty gave warmth to the lonely, weary heart of the apostle.
Despite his imprisonment and the likelihood of death Paul was not discouraged. He asserted that “God’s word is not chained” (2:9), and he reminded Timothy of the faithfulness of God (2:11–13). He stood confident that the foundation of God for his people was secure (2:19). Paul was preparing Timothy to carry on the work of Christ even after he was gone. His reminders of divine faithfulness would provide that incentive to the younger friend of the apostle.”
When were these letters written?
1 & 2 Timothy were written in the mid-60s A.D. toward the end of his life.
