David Jeremiah - 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus: The Way to Live and Lead for Christ

If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. But reject profane and old wives fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things (1 Timothy 4:68). History tells us the apostle Paul was a remarkable individual who worked tirelessly to spread the gospel. When we read accounts of his life, such as the one told in Acts, we might think he accomplished these feats on his own. But the truth is that Paul had a team that helped him. His mission was to spread the gospel as far and wide as he could, so he was rarely in one place for any extended period of time. Yet the congregations he founded needed shepherding. For this reason, he recruited godly men such as Timothy and Titus to minister in his absence. Paul knew the task would not be easy. He knew they would face many challenges. So he sent them letterssuch as the ones we have in our Bibleto instruct, encourage, and equip them in this role.

The writer of this letter identifies himself as Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ (1:1). Early church fathers such as Polycarp ( AD 59156), Clement of Rome ( AD 3599), and Justin Martyr ( AD 100165) each made allusions to 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus (collectively known as the pastoral letters), and Irenaeus (writing around AD 180) noted they were penned by Paul. Although the letters do not contain themes typically found in Pauls letters, and the vocabulary and style do not necessarily match his other letters, the personal details he includes about Timothy align with what we know about Pauls life from Acts. It is likely Paul composed the letter c. AD 62, after being released from arrest in Rome (see Acts 28), when he was again allowed to travel.

Paul helped found the church in Ephesus during his second missionary journey (see Acts 18:1821) and ministered there for three years during his third missionary journey (see 19:141). Following his release from prison in Rome, sometime after the events depicted in Acts, he returned to the city with Timothy, whom he considered his son in the faith (1 Timothy 1:2). Paul eventually journeyed on to regions in Macedonia, but he left Timothy behind to minister in the church and confront certain false teachers who had infiltrated the congregation. Paul wrote this first letter from Macedonia to Timothy to instruct, inspire, and encourage him in this task.

Several key themes are prominent in 1 Timothy. The first is that believers in Christ must possess sound doctrine and practices in worship (see 1 Timothy 12). The city of Ephesus had been a center of pagan worship for centuries and was famous for its temple dedicated to the Greek goddess Artemis. As such, the city presented a unique challenge for believers in knowing how to lead a righteous life in the midst of a pagan culture. Paul thus offers instructions to Timothy on how to pray, worship, and maintain sound doctrine in the midst of competing influences.

A second theme is that believers in Christ must be instructed by godly leaders (see 1 Timothy 3). Paul emphasizes the importance of entrusting ministry to those who are pursuing godliness and encourages Timothy to surround himself with fellow laborers whose lives consistently reflect the influence of Christ. Paul assists him in his search by giving him a list of qualities and character traits to look for in prospective candidates.

A third theme is that believers in Christ must avoid false teaching and be good servants in Gods kingdom (see 1 Timothy 46). Paul was particularly concerned in advising Timothy on how to recognize false teachers in the church and not allow them to gain a foothold among the members. He instructed Timothy to encourage believers to flee from such teachings, pursue godly qualities (such as love, patience, and gentleness), and look for ways to serve the body of Christ. He urged Timothy to always fight for righteousness, be faithful to Gods Word, and remember that believers in Christ are recognized by the way they live.

The writer of this letter also identifies himself as Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ (1:1). Once again, though the vocabulary and style do not match his other letters (most likely in this case due to the personal nature of the letter), the details the writer includes align with what we know about Pauls life. It is likely Paul wrote the letter two to three years after penning 1 Timothy and shortly before his death in AD 67 at the hands of Emperor Nero. This was evidently the final letter that Paul wrote (see 2 Timothy 1:8, 16; 4:613) and was penned from a Roman prison.

Paul had written in his first letter that he hoped to visit Timothy soon in Ephesus (see 1 Timothy 3:1415). It is unknown whether this visit ever took place, but it clear that by the time Paul wrote his second letter, he was no longer in Macedonia but imprisoned in Rome, suffer[ing] trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains (2 Timothy 2:9). The Roman Emperor Neros persecution of Christians had intensified, and Paul recognized that his ministry on this earth was coming to an end. He would soon be martyred for his faithPoured out as a drink offering (4:6). So Paul wrote to ask Timothy to join him in Rome (see 4:9, 21).

Several key themes are prominent in this letter. The first is that