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The Upper Register

Introduction to First Timothy

Authorship: Paul

Section titled “Authorship: Paul”

Date: AD 63–65

Section titled “Date: AD 63–65”

After release from 1st Roman imprisonment, before his 2nd imprisonment under Nero.

Place of writing: Unknown

Section titled “Place of writing: Unknown”

Addressee: Timothy in Ephesus

Section titled “Addressee: Timothy in Ephesus”

Purpose

Section titled “Purpose”

Paul explicitly states his purpose:

  • “As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine” (1:3).
  • “I am writing these things to you so that … you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God” (3:14-15).

Outline of 1 Timothy

Section titled “Outline of 1 Timothy”
  1. 1:1-2: Letter Opening
  2. 1:3–6:21a: Letter Body
    1. 1:3-20: Warning against false teachers
    2. 2:1–3:16: Instructions concerning church leadership
    3. 4:1-16: Instructions for Timothy as a minister
    4. 5:1-25: Instructions concerning widows and elders
    5. 6:1-21: Warnings against false teachers and greed
  3. 6:21b: Letter Closing

Key Contributions of 1 Timothy

Section titled “Key Contributions of 1 Timothy”
  1. Prayer for civil authorities (2:1-2)
  2. God’s desire for all to be saved; one Mediator (2:3-7)
  3. Role of women in the church (2:11-15; 3:11)
  4. Qualifications for overseers and deacons (3:1-13)
  5. An early Christian confession of faith (3:16)
  6. Exhortations to a young minister (4:6-16)
  7. Instructions about widows (5:3-16)
  8. Further instructions about elders (5:17-25)