1Let as many as are bondservants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine not be blasphemed. 2Those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brothers, but rather let them serve them, because those who partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.
3If anyone teaches a different doctrine and doesn’t consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, 4he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, evil suspicions, 5constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such.
6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can’t carry anything out. 8But having food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation, a snare, and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses. 13I command you before God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession, 14that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15which at the right time he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords. 16He alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen nor can see, to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.
17Charge those who are rich in this present age that they not be arrogant, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy; 18that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to share; 19laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.
20Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of what is falsely called knowledge, 21which some profess, and thus have wandered from the faith.
Grace be with you. Amen.
First Timothy was Paul’s first letter written to the young Pastor in the city of Ephesus. Paul’s concern and love for Timothy is evident from his fatherly tone. He calls Timothy “a true son” and encourages him to hold fast to all the things he had been taught concerning the Faith. Paul also reminds Timothy to “guard” what had been committed to him in trust.
1 Timothy was probably written from Macedonia, after Paul’s release from his first imprisonment, around A.D. 62. Critics argue that 1 Timothy was actually written by someone other than Paul, using his name to give the letter authority. Some also argue that there are fragments of Paul used in the letter. These say that an admirer of Paul took the fragments and filled them in to compose a complete letter. These critics all point to differences in vocabulary from Paul’s “known” works. They also say the theology of 1 Timothy differs from Paul. However, it is illogical to think that Paul would have spoken the exact same way to different audiences, especially in this case where he is writing to a close personal friend. Moreover, the theological arguments Paul uses are found elsewhere, including Colossians.
Following Paul’s release from his first imprisonment, this letter is most likely dated around A.D. 62. Some critical scholars have proposed that this epistle is a pseudepigraphal letter and thus not of Pauline origin. It has been speculated that the forger of this epistle employed Pauline verbiage while using Paul’s name to make it appear authentic. This is sheer speculation, with no literary evidence whatsoever to back it up.
Despite modern critics, church fathers unanimously accepted this letter as Pauline. However, some of the charges of forgery include an alleged historical problem involving apparent chronological differences observed in the Book of Acts. Thus, it is argued that 1 Tim was written much later. On the contrary, it is more likely that various events in 1 Tim were written shortly following Acts.
Moreover, it is claimed by the critics that the writing style observed in Timothy is different from a Pauline style and instead appears to be verbiage common in the 2nd century. Yet, the truth is that we simply do not have enough evidence from the first and second centuries to argue such a case. Hence, it’s at best an argument from silence.
Third, it’s argued that church leadership and roles in Timothy appear too advanced for an early date. However, this argument is specious because the early church employed much of the same structure as those of the Jewish synagogues. Furthermore, in Phil 1:1 we also observe the roles of elders and deacons. We observe, for example, Paul giving instructions for relationships in the church and proper dress for women (2:8-15). He also gave instructions for masters and servants (6:1-2), and the rich (6:9-10; 17-19). This, in addition to church structure and leadership, adds to our knowledge of the early church’s social structure and thus an early date for this letter is warranted.
Paul also stressed Church qualifications. He gave Timothy (and the whole church) instructions for who was qualified to be elders (or bishops) and deacons, saying that such was the purpose of his letter (3:15). These were no mere suggestions, but commands. He advised those in the church to take care of their own widows so that the church could take care of widows without families (5:16). He also told believers to honor elders who “rule well” with just compensation (5:17-19), and not to entertain accusations against them unless there are “two or three witnesses” (5:19).
Finally, the fact that Paul also addresses some form of a heresy in this letter, some maintain that this kind of Gnosticism flourished later in the second century. But here we must remember that Paul is referring to the nascent form of Gnosticism, having its roots in the first century. Many of the heresies, in particular the highly developed systematic, theological and philosophical works, while having come to fruition in the second century and onward, had their origins in the first century.
Once more, the early church fathers authenticated this letter as Pauline. The truth is this: those closer to the time of these events are less biased and in a better position to judge the matter correctly. It is a fact that all New Testament biblical critics either ignore the church fathers entirely, or else underestimate their influence on the study of the Bible.
While 1 Timothy is as much a letter of encouragement to Timothy to live out his faith, and to teach others to do the same, it is also Paul’s exhortation to him to stand against false teachers and their heretical views. Timothy had stayed in Ephesus to help combat false teachers when Paul left the city for Macedonia. Perhaps Paul heard Timothy was having trouble, which prompted this first letter.
Moreover, Paul urged Timothy to exhort those in Ephesus to “teach no other doctrine” than the Gospel (1:3). This theme is applicable to all pastors, young and old. Paul also repeats the basic message of the Gospel several times, perhaps quoting an ancient hymn in 3:16 saying that “God was manifested in the flesh,” “that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” and that there is only one Mediator between men and God: Christ Jesus (2:5). Hence, we see a high Christology maintained in the early 60’s, which is just as evident in Paul’s other letters.