Introduction To The First And Second Epistles Of Paul To Timothy
Overview
Paul's letters to Timothy differ from most of his other letters in that they are written to an individual, rather than a church. The only other Pauline epistle written to an individual is the book of Titus. Therefore, 1 and 2 Timothy along with Titus are often referred to as the "Pastoral Epistles."
This gives 1 and 2 Timothy a more personal touch than some of his other letters and provides us with an intimate glimpse into the life of Paul. Couple this with the fact that these are among some of the last letters Paul wrote, and their significance grows. The maturity that comes only with time flavors these letters.
Timothy was ordained the first bishop of the church at Ephesus (subscript at 2 Tim. 4:22). This apparently took place when Paul had to flee Ephesus (see note 1 at Acts 20:1). Therefore, these letters have special significance to ministers. Paul gives Timothy instructions on how to run the church at Ephesus and also how to manage himself in order to be as effective as possible. There are exhortations to boldness (2 Tim. 1:7), and instructions of how a young minister can operate in authority despite his youth (1 Tim. 4:12).
In 2 Timothy chapter 4, Paul makes a somewhat impassioned plea for Timothy to come to him quickly and bring Mark and certain items such as a cloak and his parchments. Everyone but Luke had left Paul and he desired his "son in the faith" to be with him at the end.
Authorship
Both 1 and 2 Timothy begin with a clear statement that Paul is their author (1 Tim.1:1-2; 2 Tim.1:1-2). "There are few New Testament writings which have stronger attestation, for these Epistles were widely used from the time of Polycarp, and there are possible traces in the earlier works of Clement of Rome and Ignatius...Objections to authenticity must therefore be regarded as modern innovations contrary to the strong evidence from the early Church" (The New Bible Dictionary, Inter-Varsity Fellowship, p. 1282).
Date Of Writing
The subscript at the end of both 1 and 2 Timothy say that these letters were written from different places and therefore give us clues as to the dates of writing.
The subscripts to 1 Timothy says, "The first to Timothy was written from Laodicea which is the chiefest city of Phrygia Pacatians."
There is no scriptural account of Paul visiting Laodicea. He did pass through that area on his first and second missionary journeys, ministering in Lystra (see note 4 at Acts 14:6), Derbe (see note 5 at Acts 14:6), and Iconium (see note 3 at Acts 13:51).
Paul mentioned the Laodiceans in Colossians 2:1, that they had not seen his face. This shows he was aware of them and prayed for the believers there, even though he hadn't been there personally at that time of writing (see DATE AND PLACE OF WRITING in INTRODUCTION TO THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS). In Colossians 4:13, Paul speaks of Epaphras having a great zeal for the Laodiceans. Epaphras was the one who received the gospel from Paul in Ephesus and carried it to Colosse. It can be supposed that he did the same thing in Laodicea (see note 5 at Col. 1:4).
Many people believe Paul was released from his imprisonment in Rome and traveled before being incarcerated again (see note 1 at Acts 28:30). Scripture doesn't prove or disprove this. If he was released, it is possible that he traveled back to Asia and Laodicea where he wrote this first letter to Timothy.
Those who believe Paul was imprisoned twice in Rome with a brief period of travel in between, date the first imprisonment from about A.D. 61-62. Thus the approximate dates for 1 Timothy and Titus are perhaps A.D. 63-66. It is supposed that the letter to Titus was written around the same time (see DATE AND PLACE OF WRITING in INTRODUCTION TO THE EPISTLE TO TITUS).
The subscript for 2 Timothy says, "This second epistle unto Timotheus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Ephesians, was written from Rome, when Paul was brought before Nero the second time." The wording of this subscript seems to lend itself towards the interpretation that Paul was released from his Roman imprisonment, and then he was recaptured and came before Nero the second time. It would have been during this second imprisonment when Paul wrote the second letter to Timothy, possibly around A.D. 67.
The Recipients
Both 1 and 2 Timothy were written to Timothy who was Paul's closest associate in ministry. Timothy's father was Greek while his mother was a Jew (Acts 16:1). The spiritual condition of Timothy's father is not mentioned but his mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois, were both extolled for their faith in Christ (2 Tim. 1:5).
Timothy was from Lystra which Paul visited on his first missionary journey (Acts 14:6;16:1). Whether or not Paul led Timothy to Christ cannot be known with certainty, but it is certain that it was through Paul's missionary journey to Lystra that the gospel came to that area and Timothy came to know the Lord. Therefore, Paul calls Timothy "my own son in the faith" (1 Tim. 1:2) and "my beloved son" (1 Cor. 4:17).
Timothy knew and believed the Old Testament Scriptures from his youth (2 Tim. 3:15), and Paul took him on his team during his second missionary trip (Acts 16:1-3). Paul became like a spiritual father to Timothy.
Six of Paul's epistles include Timothy in the salutations (2 Cor. 1:1; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:1; 1 Th. 1:1; 2 Th. 1:1; Phile. 1). Timothy had become so dear to Paul that in the apostle's last message was a touching appeal for Timothy to join him in his final days of imprisonment (2 Tim. 1:4; 4:9, 21).
About The Author
There are many footnotes in the Life for Today Study Bible and Commentary which will give information about Paul. See note 4 at Acts 7:58; note 1 at Acts 9:1; note 1 at Acts 9:26; and note 1 at Acts 28:30. For additional information about Paul see the footnote index.
