Grace Institute: The Pauline Epistles: 1 Timothy: Introduction

1 Timothy Survey of the New Testament: The Pauline Epistles Winter 2006

Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus are commonly called the Pastoral Epistles. They were not known as the pastoral epistles until the 18 th century when they were given this title by D.N. Berdot in 1703. The name was popularized by the Biblical Commentator Paul Anton in 1726.

The epistles are not precisely pastoral but are more like administrative handbooks. In one sense, Timothy and Titus were not serving as pastors but as representatives of Paul. They assisted their respective churches by teaching the Scripture, organizing the church, and appointing elders.

Date of the Epistles

I take the position that Paul wrote these epistles after his first imprisonment in Rome which is recorded in Acts.

• 1st Roman Imprisonment 62 A.D.
• 1st Timothy 63-66 A.D.
• Titus 63-66 A.D.
• 2nd Roman Imprisonment 67 A.D.
• 2nd Timothy 67 A.D.
• Paul Executed 68 A.D.

A. Paul was released from imprisonment in Rome

1. Concerning the book of Acts, Luke doesn't record Paul's death. If Paul were put to death while in prison, Luke would be guilty of one of the most glaring omissions in history. Furthermore Acts 25:26-27 and 26:31-32 point to Paul's innocence in he eyes of the authorities. It may be assumed he was released.
2. Paul wrote several letters from prison during this time. The letters anticipate his release. This expectation is seen in Philippians 1:23-25; 2:24 and Philemon 22.

B. Paul desired to travel to Spain to spread the gospel. In Romans 15:22 -24, 28; Paul said he planned on traveling to Spain . There is some historical evidence from the Church fathers that this occurred.

Clement of Rome wrote in 95 A.D., “After preaching both in the east and west, he gained the illustrious reputation due to his faith, having taught righteousness to the whole work, and come to the extreme limit of the west, an suffered martyrdom under the prefects.” Clement wrote this 30 years after the Pastoral Epistles were written and he wrote this from Rome . He would hardly considered himself to be at the extreme western point of the Roman Empire when he was at Rome . The Romans considered Rome to be the proud center of the Empire. The usage of the day referred to Spain as being the western terminus of the empire.

C. Information found in the Pastoral Epistles can't be fitted into the 3 recorded missionary journeys of Paul. Such as

• 1 Timothy 1:3: Paul departs for Macedonia with instructions for Timothy's work in Ephesus .
• 1 Timothy 3:14-15 While Paul hopes to come to Ephesus soon, he probably will be delayed
• Titus 1:5; Paul refers to a recent trip to Crete .
• Titus 3:12: Paul intends to spend the winter in Nicopolis which is probably located in the province of Achaia .
• 2 Timothy 4:13-20: Paul had recently visited Troas , Miletus and probably Corinth .
• 2 Timothy 1:16-17; 2:9: When Paul wrote 2 Timothy he was imprisoned in Rome .

Chronology Details

1. After his release from the Roman imprisonment Paul returned to the East at least as far as Asia Minor . While in the East he may have written 1 Timothy and Titus. This means he first would have visited Crete , Ephesus , Colosse, and Macedonia .
2. Paul traveled to Spain and stopped in Nicopolis for the winter.
3. Then Paul would have returned to the East before his final imprisonment. Here he visited Miletus , Troas , and Corinth . Finally he wrote 2 Timothy from a prison in Rome where he was executed in Rome in the spring of 68 A.D.

Why did Paul write 1 Timothy

Paul wrote 1 Timothy because of a possible delay in his arrival at Ephesus ( 3:14 ). Certain matters needed to be taken care of such as false doctrine in the church, leadership issues, church management, and practices.

The doctrinal difficulties stemmed from two groups. The first group are the Judiazers who wanted to implant the Mosiac Law into the gospel. Paul frequently confronts and condemns them for leading people astray. The book of Galatians is an example.

The second group are the Gnostics. In the second century, Gnosticism was spreading rapidly across the Roman empire . The roots of this movement started in the first century. Paul and John seem to be responding to this incipient Gnostic belief. Christian leaders thoroughly denounced Gnosticism in the second and third centuries. Gnostics believed that the material world was evil and that the spiritual world is good. This belief is commonly called Dualism. Only a few will attain salvation because they have the “divine spark” within them. Gnostics believed that matter is evil and this led to the conclusion that Jesus did not have a real body.

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