Introduction

Timothy was a Christian from Asia Minor. His mother was a Jew but his father was a Greek. When Paul saw Timothy’s genuine faith, he accepted him as one of his companions and helpers at preaching and teaching the good message (Acts 16:1-3) and they had ended up in Ephesus together, where Paul left Timothy behind in order to look after the new believers there. After Timothy had been in Ephesus for some time, Paul sent this letter to him. Timothy’s age was likely around thirty at that time.

There seem to be three main purposes in this letter of Paul to Timothy:

1.) Firstly Paul warned him about false teaching that was affecting the assembly of believers there. This teaching contained the philosophies of both Jews and non-Jews, because according to them, this world that we live in is evil but a person can be saved if they have the correct wisdom or knowledge and doesn’t eat certain types of food and doesn’t marry. Paul writes that that’s not right.

2.) This letter also teaches about the behaviour of the assembly of believers and about worship. Paul writes about the desired behaviour of teachers of the message, of helpers in the assembly, and of other believers including widows and slaves.

3.) Finally he advised Timothy how to become good servant of Yeshua the messiah, and concerning his responsibility to believers.

This is still a very early look into the unfinished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.