1 Timothy Bible Study Resources
Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study both Paul’s first epistle to Timothy.
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1 Timothy Basics
- Who was Paul?
- 1Timothy, 2Timothy and Titus make up the “pastoral” epistles, letters written to individuals, not churches.
- Timothy’s father was Greek and his mother (Eunice) and grandmother (Lois) where Jews (2 Tim 1:5).
- Paul converted Timothy when he was in Lystra (Acts 16:1-3) during his first missionary journey. Timothy traveled with Paul and was his scribe for 6 of Paul’s letters.
- Date: c. 62-64 AD, Paul wrote 1 Timothy shortly after Paul’s release from his first Roman imprisonment.
- Purpose: Timothy remained in Ephesus to combat false teachers.
1 Timothy Structure
1 Timothy: Five Charges to Timothy at the end of each section
- 1:1-20 – Charge regarding doctrine
- 1:18-20 – “Fight the good fight”
- 2:1-3:16 – Charge regarding public worship
- 3:14-16 – “Know how people ought to conduct themselves”
- 4:1-16 – Charge regarding false teachers
- 4:11-16 – “Be an example… do not neglect your gift”
- 5:1-25 – Charge regarding church discipline
- 5:21-25 – “Keep these things without partiality”
- 6:1-21 – Charge regarding pastoral motives
- 6:20-21 – “Guard what has been entrusted to your care”
Key Theme: Godliness: 1Ti 2:2; 1Ti 3:16; 1Ti 4:8; 1Ti 6:3; 1Ti 6:6; 1Ti 6:11.
Genre: Understanding Epistles
Background & Outlines
Paul’s use of the Old Testament
Blue Letter Bible: Chronology of Acts/Epistles
Ray C. Stedman: Overview of the Book
Blue Letter Bible: 1 Timothy Outline
John MacArthur: Author, Date, Background – 1 Timothy
NIV: 1 Timothy Introductory Notes
ESV: The Global Message of 1Timothy
Charles Swindoll: 1 Timothy: Introductory Notes
1 Timothy Introduction – James Van Dine
1 Timothy summary – William Orr
1 Timothy – James Gray
1 Timothy – summary – Myer Pearlman
1 Timothy – Introduction– Wil Pounds
1 Timothy: Introduction, Argument, and Outline – Daniel Wallace
1 Timothy Outline and Introduction – J Vernon McGee
1 Timothy: The Pastor’s Primer – Ray Stedman
The First Epistle of Timothy – short overview article – J Gibson
Maps
Journeys
Paul’s Conversion and Early Ministry– Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s 1st Journey – Bible-History.com
1st Missionary Journey of Paul– Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s 2nd Journey – Bible-History.com
2nd Missionary Journey of Paul– Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s 3rd Journey – Bible-History.com
3rd Missionary Journey of Paul– Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s Journeys– Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s Arrest and Imprisonment– Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s Voyage to Rome– Holman Bible Atlas
Pentecost and the Jewish Diaspora– Holman Bible Atlas
Apostles’ Journeys – Bible-History.com
Geography
Israel in New Testament Times – Bible-History.com
New Testament Jerusalem – Bible-History.com
Herod the Great’s Kingdom – Bible-History.com
Herod’s Kingdom Divided – Bible-History.com
The Kingdom of Herod Agrippa I – Holman Bible Atlas
The Kingdom of Agrippa II– Holman Bible Atlas
Expansion of the Early Church in Palestine– Holman Bible Atlas
Key Words
Occurrences are based on New American Standard Text. “4x/3v” means the word appears 4 times in 3 verses. “3x” means the word appears 3 times in 3 verses.
1 Timothy
Jesus (13x) – 1Ti 1:1; 1Ti 1:2; 1Ti 1:12; 1Ti 1:14; 1Ti 1:15; 1Ti 1:16; 1Ti 2:5; 1Ti 3:13; 1Ti 4:6; 1Ti 5:21; 1Ti 6:3; 1Ti 6:13; 1Ti 6:14.
Lord (6x) – Strong’s G2962 in 1Ti 1:2; 1Ti 1:12; 1Ti 1:14; 1Ti 6:3; 1Ti 6:14; 1Ti 6:15.
Christ (14x) – Strong’s G5547 in 1Ti 1:1; 1Ti 1:2; 1Ti 1:12; 1Ti 1:14; 1Ti 1:15; 1Ti 1:16; 1Ti 2:5; 1Ti 3:13; 1Ti 4:6; 1Ti 5:11; 1Ti 5:21; 1Ti 6:3; 1Ti 6:13; 1Ti 6:14.
faith (17x) – Strong’s G4102 in 1Ti 1:2; 1Ti 1:4; 1Ti 1:5; 1Ti 1:14; 1Ti 1:19; 1Ti 2:7; 1Ti 2:15; 1Ti 3:9; 1Ti 3:13; 1Ti 4:1; 1Ti 4:6; 1Ti 4:12; 1Ti 5:8; 1Ti 6:10; 1Ti 6:11; 1Ti 6:12; 1Ti 6:21.
godliness (9x) – Strong’s G2150 1Ti 2:2; 1Ti 3:16; 1Ti 4:7; 1Ti 4:8; 1Ti 6:3; 1Ti 6:5; 1Ti 6:6; 1Ti 6:11; Strong’s G2327 in 1Ti 2:10.
good (18x/16v) – Strong’s G2570 in 1Ti 1:8; 1Ti 1:18; 1Ti 2:3; 1Ti 3:7; 1Ti 4:4; 1Ti 4:6; 1Ti 5:10; 1Ti 5:25; 1Ti 6:12; 1Ti 6:13; 1Ti 6:18; 1Ti 6:19; Strong’s G18 in 1Ti 1:5; 1Ti 1:19; 1Ti 2:10; 1Ti 5:10; Strong’s G2573 in 1Ti 3:12; Strong’s G14 in 1Ti 6:18.
teach (5x) – Strong’s G2085 in 1Ti 1:3; Strong’s G1321 in 1Ti 2:12; 1Ti 4:11; 1Ti 6:2; Strong’s G1317 in 1Ti 3:2.
doctrine (4x/3v) – Strong’s G1319 in 1Ti 4:6; 1Ti 6:1; 1Ti 6:3; Strong’s G2085 in 1Ti 6:3.
Commentaries & Study Bibles
Top 5 Commentaries on Pastoral Epistles (1&2 Timothy, Titus) – Ligonier.org
Best Commentaries on Pastoral Epistles – Tim Challies
Commentary Reviews: Pastoral Epistles
Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible: 1 Timothy
Albert Barnes Notes on the Whole Bible: 1 Timothy
Alfords Exegetical Commentary: 1 Timothy
Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary on the Bible: 1 Timothy
Reformation Study Bible Notes: 1 Timothy
Precept Austin Commentaries & Sermons: 1 Timothy
Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
Paul
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary: Paul the Apostle
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Paul
Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Paul
Fausset Bible Dictionary: Paul
Holman Bible Dictionary: Paul
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Paul the Apostle
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Paul
Morrish Bible Dictionary: Paul
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Paul, the Apostle
McClintock and Strong: Paul
The Nuttall Encyclopedia: Paul
The Jewish Encyclopedia:
Timothy
American Tract Society: Timothy
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary:
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Timothy
Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Timothy
Fausset Bible Dictionary: Timothy
Holman Bible Dictionary: Timothy
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Timothy
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Timothy
Morrish Bible Dictionary: Timotheus, Timothy
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Timothy
McClintock and Strong: Timothy
The Nuttall Encyclopedia: Timothy
Timothy in Acts: Acts 16:1-3; Acts 17:14-15; Acts 18:5; Acts 19:22; Acts 20:4
Letters
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary: 1&2 Timothy, Theology of
Hastings’ Dictionary of the NT: Timothy & Titus, Epistles to
McClintock and Strong: Timothy, 1st Epistle to
McClintock and Strong: Timothy, 2nd Epistle to
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Timothy, Epistles to
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Pastoral Epistles to
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Timothy, Epistles to
Fausset Bible Dictionary: Timothy, the Epistles to
Morrish Bible Dictionary Timothy, Epistles to
Smith Bible Dictionary Timothy, Epistles of Paul to
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Timothy, Epistles to
Holman Bible Dictionary: 1 Timothy
Easton’s Bible Dictionary Timothy, Second Epistle to
City of Ephesus
Holman Bible Dictionary: Ephesus
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Ephesus
McClintock and Strong: Ephesus
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Ephesus
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Ephesus
Rome
Rome – Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology
Rome and the Roman Empire – Holman Bible Dictionary
Tychicus
Holman Bible Dictionary: Tychicus
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Tychicus
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Tychicus
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Tychicus
Tychicus in NT: Acts 20:4, Ephesians 6:21; Colossians 4:7; 2 Timothy 4:12; Titus 3:12
Articles
Campbell, Barth. “Rhetorical Design in 1 Timothy 4,” Bibliotheca Sacra 154 (1997) 189-204.
GotQuestions.org
Book of 1 Timothy – Bible Survey
Who were Hymenaeus and Alexander, and what does it mean that their faith was shipwrecked?
Why does the Bible speak against braided hair?
Women pastors / preachers? What does the Bible say about women in ministry?
What does it mean that women will be “saved” through childbearing?
What are the qualifications of elders and deacons?
Can an unmarried man be a deacon or elder?
Does the Bible teach the celibacy of priests?
Can women serve as deacons in the church?
What roles can women fill in ministry?
What does it mean to be above reproach / blameless?
What does the “husband of one wife” phrase in 1 Timothy 3:2 mean?
What does 1 Ti 3:15 mean when it says that the church is the pillar and foundation of the truth?
What does it mean that godliness with contentment is great gain?
Why is the love of money the root of all kinds of evil?
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