Life of Paul - Paul's First Letter to Timothy
BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND ROMAN CAPTIVITIES
Possible Date: 63
Scripture: 1 Timothy
NOTE: Paul authored this "Pastoral" book in Nicopolis right after the apostle was released from a prison in Rome. This is the first book of the two.
#Paul
NOTE: Paul authored this "Pastoral" book in Nicopolis right after the apostle was released from a prison in Rome. This is the first book of the two.
#Apostle Paul
#Timothy
Introduction to the Pastoral Letters of Paul
NIV Study Bible Intro: 1 Timothy
Bible Project Overview of Timothy
https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/1-timothy/
Note: It appears that Paul may have been released from house arrest in Rome and permitted to be free for a while, perhaps up to two or three years.
It is impossible to outline his travels for the next five years as precisely as Luke did in Acts. It must be remembered the order of Paul’s travels was not given in the Bible. Reading from the three epistles (1 & 2 Timothy and Titus), Paul’s travels went something like this. Immediately after his release, Paul sent Timothy to Philippi with the news of his release (Philippians 2:19-23). Paul went to Crete where he left Titus (Titus 1:5) and then he went to Ephesus, up to Colossae and back to Ephesus (Philemon 22). Paul was joined by Timothy at Ephesus. He departed from Ephesus leaving Timothy there (1 Timothy 1:3-4). Paul went to Macedonia (Philippians 2:24; 1 Timothy 1:3).
From Macedonia, he wrote 1 Timothy and Titus. During this time, Paul wrote what is commonly called the "Pastoral" letters, epistles, and books. Thomas Aquinas in A.D. 1274 used the term Pastoral Rule to describe them. However, it was Paul Anton in A.D. 1726 who gave them the name The Pastoral Epistles in a famous lecture he gave on these epistles. This name is a misnomer. These epistles were written to individuals to help them in their service of Christ. While they do contain some information for elders (pastors/shepherds/overseers), they are primarily written to & for preachers.
Paul requested Titus to meet him at Nicopolis (Titus 3:12). Then Paul journeyed to Spain (Romans 15:24 and some ancient writers). Paul returned from Spain and went to Asia Minor where he left Trophimus sick at Miletus, south of Ephesus (II Timothy 4:20). At Troas, he visited Carpus and left his cloak (2 Timothy 4:13). He went through Corinth on his way to Rome. Paul left Erastus in Corinth (2 Timothy 4:20). He was arrested on his way to Rome or in Rome. This Roman imprisonment was severe and brief. He wrote 2 Timothy shortly before he was beheaded on the Ostian Way which is located about three miles outside of the capital. It is not known if Timothy and Mark arrived before his death or not.
Paul may have gone to Spain immediately after his release from prison, or he may not have gone to Spain at all. However, he mentioned these places in his epistle and they do not fit into the chronology of Acts; therefore, it is reasonable to assume he visited them. However, one must not be dogmatic about the order.
First and Second Timothy along with Titus are usually thought of as different from the rest of Paul's epistles. The most obvious difference is that they along with Philemon were written to individuals rather than to a church or group of churches.
The first letter from the Apostle Paul to his coworker Timothy. He led by preaching and ministering to the church at Ephesus. Again, the letter is considered one of the Pastoral Letters, along with 2 Timothy and Titus. Although Paul’s authorship is disputed by a few, here the scriptures have Paul as the author.
His Friends in Christ
Most of those whose names are given in this list were Paul’s traveling companions between the first and second captivities. Timothy went with him to Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3), Titus to Crete (Titus 1:5), Erastus to Corinth (2 Timothy 4:20), Trophimus to Miletus (2 Timothy 4:20), Carpus was with him at Troas (2 Tim. 4:13), and Onesiphorus ministered to him in Ephesus (2 Timothy 1:18). The only names in this list which appear in that of Paul’s companions during the first captivity are Timothy and Tychicus. Zenas is mentioned only here in Titus 3:13; he was “probably a Jewish scribe or jurist,” says Alford, “who had been converted and to whom the name of his former occupation still adhered, as in the case of Matthew the publican.” Some think he was one of the “seventy” disciples. On Apollos Titus 3:13, “Set forward Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.” We have no information about this journey of Zenas and Apollos to Crete, or whither they were going when Paul exhorted Titus to set them forward. To Priscilla (Prisca) and Aquila Paul sent greetings in 2 Timothy 4:19, which was written during the last imprisonment. His salutation shows that they were not with him then, but as their names were fresh in his mind we may suppose that he had seen them in his travels before his final captivity. When last heard of, they were at Rome (Romans 16:3). From 2 Timothy 4:19. where they are mentioned with Onesiphorus, who was probably an Ephesian (2 Timothy 1:17–18), Alford thinks that Aquila and Priscilla were now again in Ephesus. This couple at various times lived at Corinth (Acts 18:2), Ephesus (Acts 18:26; 1 Corinth 16:19), and Rome (Romans 16:3).
The other names on the list are Titus, Trophimus, Onesiphorus, Carpus, Artemas, and Erastus. Demas and Crescens properly belong to the time of Paul’s last imprisonment.
PURPOSE OF WRITING
The occasion for writing I Timothy was as follows. Paul had recently left Timothy in Ephesus. He wrote giving him instructions about how to work with the church. He wanted to encourage Timothy to continue in sound doctrine and work with the problems of the church. He reminded him of items concerning public worship.
THEME
Timothy is encouraged to teach the truth and combat false teaching.
Brief Outline of 1 Timothy
Instructions on dealing with false teaching (1:3-11)
Encouragement for faithful ministry (1:12-20)
Instructions on proper Christian conduct (2:1-3-16)
Instructions for Timothy (4:1-6:21)
More Detail Outline
- 1:1–2—Greeting
- 1:3–11—Reason for writing
- 1:3–4—Background
- 1:5—The goal of teaching
- 1:6–7—Some teach ignorantly
- 1:8–11—The proper use of the law
- 1:12–17—Paul’s personal example
- 1:18–20—Paul’s reminder to Timothy
- 2:1–7—Building faith and Godliness
- 2:1–2—Paul urges prayer
- 2:3–7—The rationale for requiring prayer
- 2:8–3:16—Teachings on the fellowship
- 2:8–15—Women in the fellowship
- 3:1–7—Elders in the fellowship
- 3:8–13—Deacons in the fellowship
- 3:14–16—The fellowship and God
- 4:1–5—False teachings to combat
- 4:1–3—False requirements
- 4:4–5—Freedom from false requirements
- 4:6–10—Combat training
- 4:6—Preach freedom
- 4:7—Reject speculation and myth
- 4:8–10—Train in Godliness
- 4:11–16—Battle plan
- 4:11–13—Lead with authority and by example
- 4:14–16—Exercise your gifts publicly with purpose
- 5:1–6:2—Further teachings on the fellowship
- 5:1–2—Relations within the fellowship
- 5:3–16—Widows in the fellowship
- 5:3—Honor authentic widows
- 5:4–8—Families should care for widows
- 5:9–10—Determining authentic widows
- 5:11–16—Recommendations for younger widows
- 5:17–25—Relations with the elders of the fellowship
- 5:17–19—Honor responsible elders
- 5:20–23—Dealing with irresponsible elders
- 5:23—Parenthetical personal note to Timothy
- 5:24–25—Conclusion on dealing with elders
- 6:1–2—Slaves in the fellowship
- 6:3–16—False and true teachers
- 6:3–10—False teachers strive for worldly gain
- 6:3–6—Characteristics of false teachers
- 6:7–10—True riches and contentment
- 6:11–16—True teachers strive for God
- 6:11–12—Characteristics of true teachers
- 6:13–16—Exhortation to proper teaching
- 6:17–19—Wealthy believers in the fellowship
- 6:20–21a—Final words for Timothy
- 6:21b—Benediction
No comments:
Post a Comment