This Sunday, we start a new sermon series in the book of 1 Timothy. We will begin with an introduction to the entire letter as a whole – attempting to understand the context in which it was written, and the characters that are in view.

Timothy (the recipient) was a companion of Paul’s (the author). According to Acts 16, Timothy was from Lystra, and he joins Paul in his missionary travels as he is passing through. Timothy’s father was a Gentile, and his mother and grandmother were both Jewish Christians who taught him the gospel.

Timothy and Paul do ministry together, and Paul disciples Timothy to help him grow as a missionary and pastor. Along the way, Timothy helps Paul write several of the letters in the New Testament (1 and 2 Thessalonians, 2 Corinthians, Colossians, Philemon, Philippians).

Eventually, Paul leaves Timothy in Ephesus to pastor the church there, and to address the false doctrine that is threatening it. Paul writes the letter of 1 Timothy to encourage and exhort Timothy to do just that – confront false teaching, remember the gospel, build the church on the gospel, order the church rightly, and help people to trust the gospel and to grow in Christian maturity.

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