Book of Timothy Overview
The Book of Timothy is a collection of two inspired letters (epistles) that Paul wrote to Timothy. These two letters are found in the New Testament section of the Bible, where they are the 15th (the first letter) and 16th (the second letter) books of the same.
Therefore, Paul’s two letters to Timothy are known as pastoral letters. They contain principles for the pastoral care of God’s people, the administration of churches, and the qualifications for the ministers of God’s word.
1 Timothy
Additionally, Paul is likely to have written his first letter to Timothy from Macedonia (Philippi) in 62. This was sometime after he had been released from his first Roman imprisonment. And after his release, Paul traveled with Timothy to Ephesus.
But in Ephesus, Paul left Timothy in charge of the church there. Paul left him there to help the church by dealing with the false teachings that had crept into the church while he traveled to Macedonia (1 Timothy 1:3).
Therefore, in his first letter to Timothy, Paul urged Timothy to focus on the sound doctrine. Paul specifically commanded Timothy to charge some people in the church at Ephesus not to teach anything that was contrary to sound doctrine.
2 Timothy
After about 4 to 5 years of writing his first letter to Timothy, Paul wrote his second letter to him. This was while Paul was serving his second imprisonment in Rome in 66/67. And this was shortly before he was executed under emperor Nero.
Therefore, Paul wanted Timothy to go to him before he was executed. Moreover, Paul reminded Timothy to guard himself against false doctrines and be a good soldier who would work to please God with his work.
Consequently, Paul prepared Timothy for the tough ministerial and political times ahead. Paul also encouraged him to teach the word with endurance – Paul was always concerned about the spread of the truth of the gospel, which false gospels threatened, even the foundation of the early church.
Background
Timothy was Paul’s beloved son in the faith. Paul had led him to Christ during his first missionary journey when he ministered in Lystra (Acts 14:6-23, 1 Timothy 1:2, 18, 2 Timothy 1:2, and 1 Corinthians 4:17). So when Paul visited Lystra on his second missionary journey, he chose Timothy to accompany him (Acts 16:1-3).
Despite being young, Timothy had a reputation for godliness (Acts 16:2). Consequently, Timothy ended up being Paul’s disciple, friend, and co-laborer.
Therefore, Timothy ministered with Paul in Berea (Acts 17:4), Athens (Acts 17:15), and Corinth (Acts 18:5 and 2 Corinthians 1:19). He even accompanied him on his trip to Jerusalem (Acts 20:4). Timothy was also with Paul in his Roman imprisonment.
