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Introduction to 1 Timothy
Part 1: General Introduction
Outline of the Book of 1 Timothy
- Greetings (1:1,2)
- Paul and Timothy
- Warning about false teaching (1:3-11)
- Paul thankful for what Christ has done in his ministry (1:12-17)
- He calls Timothy to fight in this spiritual battle (1:18-20)
- Prayer for all (2:1-8)
- Roles and responsibilities in the church (2:9-6:2)
- Warnings
- Second warning about false teachers (cp. 1:3-11 and 6:3-5)
- Money (6:6-10)
- Description of a man of God (6:11-16)
- Note to the wealthy (6:17-19)
- Closing admonition to Timothy and blessing (6:20,21)
What is the Book of 1 Timothy about?
Paul, an older servant of God, gives his younger colleague, Timothy, various instructions in this letter. The topics he addresses include church worship, qualifications for church leaders, and warnings against false teachers. This letter shows how Paul was training Timothy to be a leader among the churches.
How should the title of this book be translated?
Translators may choose to call this book by its traditional title, "1 Timothy" or "First Timothy." Or they may choose a clearer title, such as "Paul's First Letter to Timothy." (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names)
Who wrote the Book of 1 Timothy?
This book is the first letter Paul wrote to his disciple and close friend Timothy, probably near the end of his life.
Part 2: Important Religious and Cultural Concepts
What is discipleship?
The term disciple refers to a person who spends time with a teacher, learning from that teacher's character and teaching. Discipleship is the process of making disciples of Christ. This letter gives many instructions about how a leader should train a less mature Christian. The goal of discipleship is to encourage other Christians to grow in likeness to Christ. (See: rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/disciple)
Part 3: Important Translation Issues
Singular and plural "you"
In this book, the word "I" refers to Paul. Also, the word "you" is almost always singular and refers to Timothy. The exception to this is 6:21. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-exclusive and rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-you)
What does Paul mean by the expression "in Christ," "in the Lord," etc.?
Paul means to express the idea of very close union with Christ and the believers. Please see the introduction to the Book of Romans for more details about this kind of expression.
What are the major textual issues in the text of the Book of 1 Timothy?
The following are the most significant textual issues in the Book of 1 Timothy:
- "Withdraw from such things." (6:5) Some older versions have this reading, but the ULB, UDB, and most other modern versions do not. The best ancient copies do not have this phrase.