Welwyn Commentary Series - 1 & 2 Timothy - Passing On The Truth

Paul wrote 1 Timothy so that the Christians at Ephesus would have practical help on care for local churches. His second letter gives a glimpse of Paul's human side, as he expresses both his loneliness and longing for Timothy to visit him. Both letters warn against the danger of false teaching. Helpful for talk preparation or devotional study. Paul wrote his first epistle to Timothy so that the Christians at Ephesus should 'know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth'.

The epistle contains a wealth of practical help and guidance on the administration and care of local churches, including the roles of men and women, the appointment and responsibilities of church officers, the financial support of elders and the care of widows. The second epistle to Timothy was to be Paul's last letter, written from prison as he awaited his final trial and execution. In it we catch a glimpse of the human side of the great apostle as he feels loneliness and longs for a last visit from his younger friend.

Central to both epistles is the theme of the apostle's concern to warn against false doctrine and his charge to Timothy, and through him to succeeding generations of believers down the ages, to guard faithfully as a precious deposit the truth entrusted to him by Paul and the other apostles and to pass it on to others.

Michael Bentley is a preacher and author of sixteen books. He is married to Jennifer and has five children and nine grandchildren. Two of his sons and three of his granddaughters live in New Zealand, which he and his wife try to visit every other year.