William Taylor
Much recent scholarship has questioned whether Paul wrote the Pastoral Epistles. Personally, I disagree. For good reasons, I believe Paul did write them. For a clear defense of Pauline authorship, see Gordon Fee’s Commentary on the Pastorals and Douglas Moo and Don Carson’s Introduction to the New Testament.
If Paul is the author, the letter likely dates to the early 60s A.D.
This places 1 Timothy about ten years after Paul’s final encounter with the Ephesian elders on the beach at Miletus in Acts 20.
In Acts 20, Paul warned the elders that “fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.”
By the time of 1 Timothy, those false teachers had indeed appeared—growing up from within the church itself.
There are four passages addressing false teaching:
1:3–7
1:18–20
4:1–5
6:3–10
Characteristics:
They departed from the truth, though they had arisen within the church.
They saw themselves as teachers.
They promoted Jewish asceticism and mysticism—obsessed with genealogies, myths, and rigid ascetic practices.
They presented an exclusivist gospel for a limited group based on lineage or behavior.
Timothy, identified as “man of God” (6:11), is charged to:
Guard the good deposit.
Wage the good warfare.
Resist both false teachers and their supporters.
Though written primarily to Timothy as the Bible teacher, the letter is intended for the whole church. Paul closes with: “Grace be with you”—in the plural. The church is meant to “overhear” Paul’s charge so that the whole congregation is equipped to guard the truth.
Paul explains his purpose in 3:15–16:
“I am writing… so that you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.”
The church is the household of God—God’s family or dynasty.
It is the church of the living God—an assembly called together by Him.
It is pillar and buttress of the truth—holding up and holding out God’s truth to the watching world.
The gospel itself is summarized in a short hymn (3:16):
Christ’s work: manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels.
Church’s mission: proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
This is the true mystery of godliness—not in genealogies or rituals, but in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Three trustworthy sayings structure the letter:
1:15 – Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
3:1 – If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.
4:8 – Godliness is of value in every way, holding promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
The first trustworthy saying emphasizes the universality of the gospel.
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”
Paul uses himself as an example: if God saved the worst of sinners, the gospel must be for all.
The danger in Ephesus was becoming an inward-looking sect. Paul stresses:
The gospel is for all people.
Therefore, prayers are to be made for kings and rulers—even Nero—because God desires all people to be saved.
The heartbeat of the church must be outward-facing, gospel-driven, and mission-minded.
The second trustworthy saying emphasizes godly leaders.
This is not primarily about church polity, but about the character of leaders.
Elders and deacons must be godly in personal life, family life, and public reputation.
Without godly leadership, the church cannot be fit for purpose or hold out the truth.
The third trustworthy saying emphasizes true godliness.
Godliness holds promise for this life and the next.
It shapes the life of the leader and the congregation.
Even in the church’s mercy ministries (chapter 5), godliness must govern both recipients and overseers of care.
Paul contrasts true godliness with the false teachers’ distorted version and those who support them for personal gain (6:3–10).
Thus, the letter ends with a charge to Timothy to fight the good fight, keep the faith, and guard the deposit entrusted to him.
1 Timothy is not primarily about liturgy, service order, or church structures. It is about:
Churches fit for purpose.
Gospel-driven communities.
Godly leaders and godly lives.
Timothy’s task, and ours today, is to guard the gospel, resist false teaching, and ensure the church remains outward-looking and mission-focused.
This letter is deeply relevant today, warning us against ritualism, exclusivism, and inward religion. Instead, it calls us to keep the church centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ, proclaimed to the world.