Background and Context

1 Timothy is the first in a group of three letters known as the Pastoral Epistles.

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

Titus

All three letters are from the Apostle Paul to young pastors Timothy and Titus, who were his children in the faith.

Timothy served in Ephesus and Titus served on the island of Crete.

The letters deal with important church matters that Paul wanted to make sure these young men got right.

These letters are full of warnings and instructions that reveal Paul’s pastoral heart in caring for the churches he founded.

The subject matters dealt with in the Pastoral Epistles include:

Church organization (1 Timothy 3:1–13; Titus 1:1–16)

The role of women in ministry (1 Timothy 2:12)

Christ as the mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5)

Encouraging believers to persevere in the faith (2 Timothy 2:14)

Instruction to remain firm in sound doctrine (2 Timothy 1:1–2, 13–14)

The inspiration of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16)

Warnings against false and apostate teachers (2 Timothy 3:1–17)

The Pastoral Epistles are the “how-to” manual for pastors in all places and for all time.

Apostle Paul

An Apostle

The word for apostle in Greek carries with it the meaning of sent one or messenger.

The office of Apostle was unique to the time of the first century church, with no one today meeting the three qualifications of an Apostle.

Eyewitness of the resurrected Christ

Acts 1:21–22

So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.

The apostles were the foundation of the church, so it was important that they had been with Jesus himself and, in particular, seen him resurrected from the dead.

The apostle Paul met this criterion, though in a unique fashion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9), and he even acknowledges that this was a bit out of place.

1 Corinthians 15:7–8

Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

Directly called by Christ

A second requirement for an apostle is that he be directly appointed by Jesus himself. The original apostles were, of course, directly chosen by Jesus:

Mark 3:13–16

And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons. He appointed the twelve.

Even Matthias was appointed by Christ, indicated by the fact that after the apostles prayed, they cast lots as a means by which Christ could indicate his choice (Acts 1:23-26).

Likewise, the apostle Paul was directly called and appointed by Christ himself on the road to Damascus.

Demonstrated the “Signs of a True Apostle”

2 Corinthians 12:12

The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.

As is true of all miracles in Scripture, these mighty works were signs that confirmed and accredited the ministry of those whom God called to be his representatives.

In the Old Testament, this was true of Moses and the prophets, the final example of this being John the Baptist as he paved the way for Christ, Jesus himself was confirmed by miraculous signs, and this was also true of the apostles.

Hebrews 2:3–4

how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

We see many examples of these signs in the book of Acts.

The miracles did not exist for their own sake; rather, they were for the purpose of confirming the ministry of the apostles as they delivered the teachings of Christ during the foundational period of the church.

By command of God

Paul recognized that He was under orders from God Himself.

Wiersbe

His apostleship came by “commandment” from Jesus Christ.

This word means “a royal commission.”

He was sent by the King of kings.

Acts 9:15

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.”

Timothy

Timothy was born of mixed parentage.

Mother was a Jew

Father was a Greek.

He was so devoted to Christ that his local church leaders recommended him to Paul, who brought him along.

Read Acts 16:1-5

Timothy was faithful to the Lord and had a deep concern for God’s people.

1 Corinthians 4:17

That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.

Philippians 2:20–22

For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.

Ephesus

The city of Ephesus (in present-day Turkey) was at one time a city of nearly half a million people.

It was a seacoast capital of western Asia minor and a great religious, political, and commercial center

With it being a heavily used seaport, ideas could be brought in and propagated pretty quickly. VERY DANGEROUS!

Christians needed to be strong and know what they believe

Modern America is a similar type of environment.

Ideas are spread quickly with the use of technology, Christians are under constant attack, and unaffiliated religion (atheism, agnosticism, don’t identify with a religious group) is the fastest growing group of people in America (nearly 24% of Americans)

Ephesus was known for the Temple of Artemis.

People came from far away to worship the goddess of fertility

The temple itself took more than 100 years to complete and is one of the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World”

Due to the temple’s presence and the worship of Diana, there was a strong pagan influence on the city, which also presented a problem for the church in Ephesus, as well.