BACKGROUND

Upon his release from prison in Rome, Paul found the church in Ephesus a center of false and dangerous legalistic teaching. After a short stay, Paul traveled to Macedonia, leaving his disciple Timothy to care for the church. But the Ephesians and Timothy were still on his heart.

Paul’s first letter to Timothy, written around 63 A.D., was intended to instruct and encourage Timothy to stand firm on biblical truth while facing his difficult task.