WHO WROTE:  Paul.

 

 

WHAT TIME PERIOD IS COVERED:  65 A.D. - 68 A.D.

 

 

WHEN WRITTEN:  Paul, in this Epistle to Timothy, speaks of himself as having left Ephesus for Macedonia (1Ti. 1:3), probably Philippi, or some other city in that region.  Thus, this is where this Epistle was written.  During the interval between his first and second imprisonments he probably visited the scenes of his former labors in Greece and Asia, and then found his way into Macedonia; whence he wrote this Letter to Timothy, whom he had left behind in Ephesus.

 

Therefore, it was probably written about 66 or 67 A.D.  Some date it as early as 62 A.D.  From “Smith’s Bible Commentary” we read:  “The First Epistle to Timothy was probably written from Macedonia, A.D. 65, in the interval between St. Paul’s first and second imprisonments at Rome.  The absence of any local reference, but that in First Timothy 1:3, suggests Macedonia, or some neighboring district.  In some manuscripts and versions, Laodicea is named in the inscription, as the place from which it was sent.  The Second Epistle to Timothy appears to have been written A.D. 67 or 68, and in all probability at Rome.”

 

In fact, since he was in prison at that time, it was written at Rome.  Later, according to “Foxe’s Book of Martyrs,” Timothy’s death occurred in 97 A.D. during the reign of Domitian.  Other sources believe he was a bishop of Ephesus, and while preaching to a crowd of pagans, was martyred by them in 97 A.D.

 

 

INTRODUCTION:  Any Book written by Paul must be classified with this important statement from Peter, that all the writings of Paul are “hard to be understood,” Second Peter 3:16.  Also, according to Second Peter 3:15, Paul wrote “unto you,” meaning the Hebrews.

 

First and Second Timothy (more recently) are often referred to as “The Pastoral Epistles.”

 

In First Timothy 1:1, Paul specifically states that he was given this authority to write this letter “by the Commandment of God our Saviour.”

​