The book of 1st Timothy is a letter from Paul written to Timothy. Timothy was Paul's 'son in the faith.' So, before we get started in scripture let's take a quick look at Timothy.
Timothy was from Lystra which is in the region of Galatia, which would be in the area of modern-day western Turkey. Paul visited Lystra first on his first missionary journey, which was in A.D 48. When Paul brought his message of the gospel to Lystra, Timothy was saved along with many others there.
The name Timothy means 'one who honors God.' Timothy was raised in a devout Jewish home. He would have grown up learning the Old Testament scriptures and Jewish culture. We know Paul's first place to visit when he came to a new town was the synagogue. He'd preach Jesus and Salvation from the Old Testament scriptures. Paul likely first encountered Timothy in this setting.
Timothy's mother was Eunice and grandmother was Lois. Timothy's father was a Greek and may have already died before Timothy met Paul. Timothy was raised as a devout Jew and his mom and grandma kept him in line. But it's not too hard to imagine that in the absence of a father Timothy may have been open to the mentoring and tutoring of Paul. This was a divine appointment. Paul in his obedience to the calling God placed on his life came before Timothy. God saved Timothy by the gospel message Paul brought and that was just the beginning. God began a work in Timothy's life and we'll see how Timothy grew from an unbeliever to a pastor in a very short time.
Paul returned to Lystra on his second missionary Journey in AD 50 (Acts 16).
Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek. 4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.
(NKJV; Acts 16:1-5; 1982, Thomas Nelson)
Very early on Timothy began to travel with Paul and preach the gospel. Timothy was either late teens or early twenties at the time. That's pretty remarkable if you think about it. I know what I was committed to at that age and it wasn't the Lord or a spiritual father. At that age Timothy voluntarily gave his life to the Lord and submitted himself to some pretty awful stuff.
Paul said, Timothy come follow me. It will be amazing to watch God work. And He'll grow our faith and extend our influence with every stoning and beating and imprisonment and flogging and mocking. We'll have a great time. And Timothy said, I'm in.
I think we can see a little about this young man right there. He was a lot like Paul. What may seem a little reckless to us looked like complete commitment to God. Timothy left it all to go with Paul who had nothing and offered nothing but a life lived for the Lord in complete reliance on Him for food, clothes, comfort, shelter, deliverance from evil men and guidance along the way.
You know, we all say we've given our life to the Lord. If someone in your town started executing Christians, we'd would hopefully maintain our testimony saying, “I'm with the Lord.” But, to commit our life to him every day, to die to our self and our own desires, to completely and selflessly chase after that thing the Lord has called us to, every moment of every day, that's a whole different level. I think it’s one we all probably struggle to understand. I think that's Timothy's commitment to the Lord as a 20-year-old. That's amazing.
Paul often sent Timothy on special assignments; to stay behind at some of these new churches and help or to go ahead of him and scout out the next town. When Paul and Silas left Thessalonica, they sent Timothy back to help the Thessalonians. Timothy had many of these assignments and they weren't easy. Hebrews 13:23 even says Timothy was imprisoned somewhere, though we don't know where.
Now, as Paul wrote this letter, Timothy was in Ephesus. This was called a Pastoral Epistles because Timothy was pastor at the church of Ephesus at the time and Paul was writing him there. There were some problems in Ephesus. In fact, Paul predicted these problems in Acts 20 when he left Ephesus. AT the time he said this to the elders of Ephesus.
For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
(NKJV; Acts 20:29-31; 1982, Thomas Nelson)
Paul's prediction was right on. Ephesus had been invaded with false teaching and false doctrine. Paul was helping mentor Timothy in how to deal with these things. You know this was a tough assignment for Timothy because the Church there in Ephesus was Paul's baby. He started it and taught there for several years. Paul had a love for the people there and that church. At the same time, the culture was hostile toward the church.
Yes, this is a pastoral epistle but we shouldn't think that this isn't for everyone. In this letter we see the doctrines of God laid out and applied in the church setting. We see these things aren't just for the pastor or for leaders of the church but they are for everyone. We should all be leaders of our own ministry. Together we make up the church. The church sits under the leadership of a man, the pastor. And together they all sit under the headship of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we can all learn from this letter.
So, to summarize the timeline, Paul and Timothy met originally in that God ordained appointment in AD 48. Then Paul called Timothy to follow him in AD 50. And, at the writing of this letter, in AD 62 we see Paul writing to a more seasoned thirty something year old man. Paul never stopped being Timothy's spiritual father.
Timothy was mentored by Paul but not just as a student of the faith or as a Pastor's pastor. We'll see that Timothy was also like a son to Paul.
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