1 Timothy

The self-proclaimed author of each of the Pastoral Epistles is the apostle Paul (1 Tim 1:1; 2 Tim 1:1; Titus 1:1), and the early church unanimously attributes them to Paul as well.  However, these epistles do provide an interesting challenge for anyone trying to fit them into the life of the apostle Paul as we know it from the rest of Scripture, particularly the book of Acts.  This is because there are a number of events mentioned in them by Paul that we do not have verification of elsewhere.  Specifically in this letter of 1 Timothy, we notice the following:

In 1 Timothy 1:3 we are told that Paul left Timothy behind him in Ephesus when he himself went on to Macedonia. But on the only occasion when Paul traveled to Macedonia from Ephesus according to Acts, he had Timothy with him. Timothy was also in the apostle’s company when Paul wrote 2 Corinthians (Acts 19:22; 20:1-4; 2 Corinthians 1:1). Again, we are told that Paul hoped to return to Ephesus (1 Timothy 3:14). But when he went to Macedonia on his third journey, he planned to pass the winter at Corinth and go on from there to Jerusalem. In fact, when he set out on this return trip, he avoided a visit to Ephesus in order to save time (Acts 20:16).¹Schaller, John, Loren A. Schaller, and Gary P. Baumler. The Book of Books: A Brief Introduction to the Bible. The People’s Bible. Milwaukee, WI: Northwestern Pub. House, 1990. 263.

However, this does not mean that the apostle Paul did not write the Pastoral Epistles.  In fact, these separate events could actually help support Paul being the author.  If these letters were written and falsely attributed to Paul, one would assume the person writing in Paul’s name would have used events and locations that matched widely known facts about Paul’s life.  Instead, what we have seems to point to Paul’s missionary activity after the book of Acts and after his earlier letters had already been written.  See below for more information on a possible fourth missionary journey of the apostle Paul.

For more information about the apostle Paul, see also his bio page as well as the Chronology of Paul’s Ministry.

Unlike Paul’s ten other letters, the Pastoral Epistles do not fit into the historical framework of the book of Acts and therefore must have been written after Paul’s imprisonment in Rome, with which the book of Acts closes.  Also, in 1 Timothy we see that Paul was in Macedonia and Timothy was in Ephesus. As mentioned above, we don’t see this situation in the first, second, or third missionary journeys.

There are a number of indications in later New Testament books that Paul was released after two years of imprisonment (approximately AD 61-63):

• Acts 25:25; 26:32 – Paul’s innocence was obvious to the Roman officials (and these men were not exactly friends with Paul–they were officials in an anti-Christian government). It seems in their opinion that Paul would be released.
• Philippians 2:19, 23, 24 – Paul believed he would be released soon.
• Philemon 22 – Paul again mentions being released soon, and he tells Philemon to prepare a guest room.
• Reliable tradition reports that Paul was martyred during the Neronian persecution (AD 64-68). This would have given up to five years during which Paul could have been a free man prior to his second, and final, imprisonment.  Knowing Paul, he would have done what Paul does when he is free: missionary work.  There are hints of a fourth missionary journey in Romans 15:24, 28; 1 Timothy 1:3; 2 Timothy 4:13,20; Titus 1:5; and Titus 3:12.

Considering all of the above information, the following is a possible chronology:

• AD 61-63 — First Roman imprisonment
• AD 64-66 — “Fourth Missionary Journey”— Writing of 1 Timothy and Titus
• AD 67-68 — Final Roman imprisonment and martyrdom — Writing of 2 Timothy (“last will and testament”)

Paul writes to Timothy in order to encourage him in his ministry and to guide him as he faces a number of challenges as a young pastor.  First and foremost on the mind of Paul is ensuring that Timothy does not give in to false teachers and others who are taking advantage of the gospel message (1 Tim 1:3), a point which he also returns to at the end of his letter (1 Tim 6:2-16).  Paul also gives Timothy instructions on godly and orderly worship (1 Tim 2). He then gives Timothy guidelines to follow in order to select men and women wisely for service in the church (1 Tim 3:1-16), which again seems focused on helping Timothy and his congregations avoid false teachings (1 Tim 4:1-16).  Among all of these instructions is pastoral advice for Timothy as he shepherds various groups of people in God’s Church (1 Tim 5:1-6:2).

• 1 Timothy 1:15-17
• 1 Timothy 2:1-6
• 1 Timothy 2:11-15
• 1 Timothy 3:1-13
• 1 Timothy 4:1-5
• 1 Timothy 4:10
• 1 Timothy 4:16
• 1 Timothy 5:8
• 1 Timothy 5:17-18
• 1 Timothy 6:6-10
• 1 Timothy 6:11-16

1. Warnings against False Teachers and Thankfulness for God’s Mercy (1 Timothy 1)
2. Instructions on Worship (1 Timothy 2)
3. Qualifications for Church Leaders (1 Timothy 3)
4. An Approaching Apostasy (1 Timothy 4)
5. Instructions about Different Groups (1 Timothy 5)
6. Warnings against False Teachers and against Greed (1 Timothy 6)