1 & 2 Timothy

by Robert M. Solomon

Overview

Paul's two letters to Timothy were written near the end of his life, in AD 64 and AD 66/67. Both were deeply personal and dealt with pastoral issues. Timothy was by nature timid and, as one of Paul's successors, needed encouragement and strengthening. Paul urged him to remember his calling, keep faithful to Christ, and stay confident about the gospel. Timothy had to deal with false teachers in the church. He needed instructions on what and how to teach believers, and how to order life and ministry in the church in such a way that their conduct would convince the world of the gospel's truth and power to transform people. In order to fulfil his pastoral responsibilities, Timothy was urged to keep watch over his life and doctrine in the way Paul had demonstrated.

The Structure of 1 Timothy

1:1–2

Greetings

1:3–11

Warning against false teachers

1:12–20

Being a faithful teacher

2:1–15

Worship in the church

3:1–16

Selecting church leaders

4:1–16

Dealing with false teaching

5:1–16

Helping widows

5:17–25

Respecting church elders

6:1–2

Slaves and masters

6:3–10

Warning for the rich

6:11–19

An exhortation for the pastor

6:20–21

Closing remarks and benediction

The Structure of 2 Timothy

1:1–2

Knowing identity and calling

1:3–7

Knowing Christian heritage

1:8–18

United with Christ in service and suffering

2:1–13

The right attitude to ministry

2:14–19

The meditation and application of Scripture

2:20–26

Ministering to the lost

3:1–9

The terrible world and its people

3:10–17

Christian character in a terrible world

4:1–5

Christian ministry in a terrible world

4:6–8

Preparing for the end

4:9–15

Personal needs at the end

4:16–22

Faithful to the end

Key Verse
Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. -1 Timothy 4:16

Day

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