Paul Writes I & II Timothy, Titus, and
Hebrews
1 Timothy 1:1 KJV 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the
commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our
hope; 2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace,
from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
Introduction
At this point in Paul’s life, it appears that he has been released from house-arrest in Rome after his case failing to be heard. It is believed that he is now in Spain. This epistle is the first of three that are commonly called the
“Pastoral Epistles.”
Charles Swindoll writes the following:
The first of Paul’s final series of letters—which along with
2 Timothy and Titus are called the Pastoral Epistles—1
Timothy offers practical and pastoral advice from the aging
apostle Paul to a young pastor named Timothy working in
the church at Ephesus. More than a decade prior to writing
this letter, Paul had first met Timothy in the city of Lystra—
in Asia Minor—where Timothy was known and respected
by the Christians (Acts 16:1–4). Upon recognizing
Timothy’s impressive qualities, Paul recruited the young man to travel with him as he continued his second
missionary journey. The presence of Timothy would have met an important need for Paul, their friendship coming on
the heels of Paul’s split with his close friend and partner in missions, Barnabas (15:36–41)….
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The Bible’s silence on the ultimate fate of Paul has engendered a great deal of debate in modern times. The book
of Acts ends with Paul sitting in a Roman prison awaiting his hearing before the Roman emperor, a privilege of appeal
that all Roman citizens possessed. However, the writing of
the Pastoral Epistles clearly dates to a time after the events of Acts. So where was Paul when he wrote 1 Timothy? Paul
had expected the Romans to release him from prison,
something that likely happened near the end of AD 62
(Philippians 2:24). His release allowed him the opportunity
to travel to Ephesus and eventually place Timothy in
ministry at that church. Paul then went on to preach in Macedonia, where he heard reports of Timothy’s work at Ephesus that prompted him to write 1 Timothy, probably in
AD 63.1
OUTLINE OF FIRST TIMOTHY- DOCTRINE, THE
CHURCH, AND PASTORS
SALUTATION (1:1-2)
A.
The Writer (1:1)
B.
The Addressee (1:2a)
C.
The Greeting (1:2b)
I. DOCTRINE (1:3-20)
A.
The Charge (1:3-11a)
1.
Its Nature (1:3-4)
2.
Its Purpose (1 :5-11 a)
a.
That Love Might Prevail (1:5)
b.
That the Law Might Not be
Misunderstood (1:6-11a)
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B.
A Personal Testimony (1:11b-17)
1.
Gratitude (1:11b-14)
2.
Assurance (1:15)
3.
Mission (1:16)
4.
Praise (1:17)
C.
The Charge Reaffirmed (1:18-20)
II. THE CHURCH (2:1-3:16)
A.
The Worship (2:1-15)
1.
Prayer for All (2:1-8)
a.
The Primacy of Prayer (2:1a)
b.
The Objects of Prayer (2:1 b-
2)
c.
The Basis of Prayer (2:3-7)
1)
Good
for
the
Christians (2:3a)
2)
Acceptable to God
(2:3b-4)
3)
Effective
through
Christ (2:5-6)
4)
Appropriate for all
Men (2:7)
d.
The Leaders of Prayer (2:8)
2.
Women in Public Worship (2:9-15)
a.
Adornment (2:9-10)
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b.
Deportment (2:11-14)
c.
Service (2:15)
B.
The Officers (3:1-16)
1.
The Bishop (3:1-7)
a.
Ambition (3:1)
b.
Qualification (3:2-7)
2.
The Deacons (3:8-13)
a.
Qualifications (3:8-12)
b.
Reward (3:13)
3.
Reasons for Instruction (3:14-16)
a.
Timothy's Conduct (3:14-15)
b.
Greatness of Gospel (3:16)
III. PASTORAL DUTIES (4:1-6:21)
A.
Proclaiming the Truth (4:1-16)
1.
Apostate Teachers (4:1-5)
a.
Foretold (4:1-3a)
b.
Rebuked (4:3b-5)
2.
The Good Minister of Christ (4:6-16)
a.
Reminding of the Good
Doctrine (4:6)
b.
Refusing Old Wives Fables
(4:7a)
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c.
Exercising unto Godliness
(4:7b-11)
d.
Being
an
Example
to
Believers (4:12)
e.
Neglecting Not the Gift (4:13-
16)
B.
Shepherding the Flock (5:1-6e :2)
1.
Old and Young (5:1-2)
2.
Widows (5:3-16)
a.
Widows in Need (5:3-8)
1)
The Guiding Principle
(5:3)
2)
Important
Details
(5:4-8)
b.
Widowed
Dependents
of
Believing Women (5:16)
3.
The Elders (5:17-25)
a.
Honor Them as The Called of
God (5:17-21)
b.
Select them with Care (5:22-
25
4.
Slaves (6:1-2)
a.
Slaves
of
Unbelieving
Masters (6:1)
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b.
Slaves of Believing Masters
(6:2)
C.
Living a Godly Life (6:3-16)
1.
Dangers (6:3-10)
a.
Pride (6:3-5a)
b.
Avarice (6:5b-10)
2.
Duties (6:11-16)
a.
Flee from Evil (6:11a)
b.
Follow the Good (6:11b)
c.
Fight the Good Fight (6:12a)
d.
Lay Hold on Eternal Life
(6:12b)
e.
Honor the Christ (6:13-16)
D.
Warning the Worldly (6:17-19)
1.
Uncertain Riches (6:17)
2.
Rich in Good Works (6:18-19)
E.
Guarding the Trust (6:20-21a)
BENEDICTION (6:21b)2
After Paul’s Release and the Writing of 2 Timothy
There is considerable debate about the final years of Paul’s
life after the close of Acts. The most accepted theory is that after two years of house arrest, Paul was released and allowed to travel again. During this fourth missionary 405
journey (as some have called it), Paul traveled throughout the Mediterranean: Macedonia (1 Tim. 1:3) Troas (2 Tim.
4:13) Miletus (2 Tim. 4:20) Crete (Titus 1:5) Nicopolis (Titus 3:12) Possibly Spain. (The early church father
Clement asserted that Paul did fulfill his desire to go to Spain, expressed in Romans 15:28, but whether the visit actually took place is still uncertain.)
Eventually, Paul went back to Rome, but it may not have been voluntary. It has been suggested that Paul was arrested
while in Nicopolis, but the evidence is uncertain. What we
do know is that by the time Paul returned to Rome, the widespread persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero had
already begun. It’s entirely possible that by this time, the apostle Peter had been martyred in Rome. Paul’s
imprisonment this time was not house arrest. Rather, it is believed to have been in the cold, infamous Mamertine Prison, where Peter might also have been held. We do have
some information about Paul’s final days based on Paul’s last letter to Timothy. From this very personal, heartfelt letter, we know that Paul was visited by Onesiphorus, who
“often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains” (2
Tim. 1:16–17). But we also know that Paul had been
abandoned by many Christians as he faced trial (2 Tim. 4:10,
16). Luke alone was still with Paul, although Paul expressed
the hope that he would see John Mark again when Timothy
came to visit (2 Tim. 4:11). Historical evidence agrees that
Paul was executed in Rome, probably by beheading,
sometime between AD 66 and 68. But that did not put an end
to his ministry. Through his letters in the New Testament and his detailed story in Acts, Paul still ministers to us today.3
AN OVERVIEW
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KEY WORDS: (1) Not Ashamed, (2) Suffer Hardship, (3)
Endure, (4) Word, (5) Charge, (6) Diligence
CHAPTER I (The Past)
1) The Apostolic Greeting'
2) Thanksgiving for Timothy
3) Foundations of Christian Sufferings
CHAPTER II (The Present)
1) Timothy Exhorted
2) Traits of the Christian Servant
3) A Good Soldier in Times of Apostasy
4) Separation From Evil Men
CHAPTER III (The Future)
1) Warning of Apostasy - Avoid it
2) Perilous Times and the Servant of God
3) Trustworthiness of the Scriptures
4) Fully Equipped Man of God
CHAPTER IV (The Future)
1) Paul's Last Will and Testament (parting words)
2) The Charge to Keep, V. 1-5
3) The Wrestler, the Runner, the Sentry Soldier, V. 6-8
4) Victory ahead - V. 17-22 (Benediction)4
The Epistle to Titus
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Overview
The Epistle to Titus was written by the Apostle Paul to Titus in approximately 66 A.D (around the same time as the first
letter to Timothy). Paul was an aging man at this point shortly before his final imprisonment. Titus was on Crete and was sent there by Paul to establish leadership within the churches. This letter, unlike the letters to Timothy, was all business. The letter was written in a pattern of command, rationale, and charge. The first section on leadership is based on the false leader’s deception. The next two sections, on right conduct, are based on the rationale of God’s grace, mercy and its provisions. Titus was a Greek non-Jewish convert to Christianity. Most likely, Titus, like Timothy, came to faith under Paul’s teaching. Titus had traveled with
Paul and Paul trusted Titus. Perhaps Paul chose Titus to be
the one to reach Crete because he was once a Greek gentile
and would better understand what was going on in the culture of the day. Titus is mentioned thirteen times in the
New Testament (2 Cor 2:13, 7:6, 13, 14; 8:6, 16, 23; 12:18
(two times); Gal 2:1, 3; 2 Tim 4:10). Titus was to preach the same gospel message Paul was preaching. He wasn’t to
change it or add to it; perhaps the methodology would be different in the deliverance, but the gospel was never to change. Paul was adamant in his letter to Titus that Titus must never waiver or compromise on sound doctrine. Nor should we. The book of Titus is only three chapters long with forty-six verses in total.
Setting
A group from Crete had been in Jerusalem during the
Passover at the birth of the Christian church (Pentecost).
Acts 2:11 says, “(both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking
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in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” Some may have taken their faith back to the island of
Crete, but Paul mentions in Titus 1:5 that Paul was leaving
Titus on the island to complete the work they had started there. The only other time Crete is mentioned in the New Testament is in Acts 27 when Paul was being transported to
Rome via ship to face trial. Scholars believe that Paul’s work in Crete began after the events in Acts 28 (his trial and subsequent two years’ worth of preaching in Rome) and before his final imprisonment. Paul began the church in Crete without appointing leaders. This was generally what happened as he planted churches. In Crete, Paul gave Titus
the responsibility to appoint the leaders and Paul outlined what the leadership needed to look like. The culture in Crete was negatively influencing the young church. False teachers
were present. Titus needed to get the church in order before
the arrival of Artemas and Tychius. Titus needed to assign
elders in each city. When this had been completed, Titus would meet up with Paul and move on.5
OUTLINE OF THE BOOK