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I Timothy


Author

Place & Time of Writing

Unique Characteristic

Audience

Theme

More details about I Timothy

Why did Paul write I Timothy?

Instructions for choosing leaders

Outline

Quiz with hover answers (Hover doesn't work for some smart phones and pads, so questions and answers here)

1. I Timothy is one of the Prison Epistles.

True
False
It is one of the Pastoral Epistles.
   
False
Right
It is a Pastoral Epistle.

2. Paul trained Timothy to be a church leader

True
Right
   
False
It is true.

3. This letter is a church leadership manual.

True
Right
   
False
It is true.

4. The big picture: Which church leadership structure is the right one?

Response
The different church leadership styles all developed in reaction to different situations that Christians found themselves in. For example, the episcopal system, with a bishop, originated with churches that existed with emperors, kings, and princes, and so patterned their leadership structure with a one-person rule. Similar situations occurred that produced presbyter, autonomous church, and megachurch leadership styles.

Timeline up to the book of I Timothy

Dates are approximate.

Year Event
63 B.C. Romans conquer Israel.
27 B.C. Pax Romana began and lasted until A.D. 180.
4 B.C. Jesus born.
All dates after this are A.D.
27 Jesus baptized.
30 Jesus was crucified, buried, rose from the dead, and ascended to heaven.
Apostles travel to Jerusalem and choose Matthias to replace Judas as an Apostle.
Day of Pentecost: Peter assumes leadership of Christianity.
30-50 Peter was leader of Christianity.
33 Jesus appeared to Paul and Paul became a Christian.
48-50 Paul's First Missionary Trip.
50 Council of Jerusalem; Paul became main Christian leader.
50-55 Paul's Second Missionary Trip.
  51-53 Galatians, I & II Thessalonians, and I & II Corinthians written.
55-60 Paul's Third Missionary Trip.
  55 Romans written.
60-62 Paul arrested in Jerusalem and taken to Rome.
Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians written while Paul was under house arrest in Rome.
62-63 (Not in Acts) Paul probably released from prison during this time.
63-65 (Not in Acts) Paul probably traveled. He may have gone to Spain.
  63 I Timothy written.
64 Fire in Rome and Christians persecuted by Emperor Nero.
65 (Not in Acts)Paul back in Rome; he and Peter arrested and martyred: Peter crucified upside down and Paul beheaded.
67 Gospel of Mark written.
70 Temple in Jerusalem destroyed by Romans (it has not been rebuilt).
80 Gospels of Matthew and Luke written.
90 Gospel of John and book of Acts written.
95 Christians persecuted by Emperor Domitian; Apostle John exiled on island of Patmos where he wrote Revelation.
96 Emperor Domitian died; Apostle John probably moved to Ephesus.
100 Apostle John died; he was the last Apostle to die.
390's New Testament canon "closed" at Councils of Hippo (393) and Carthage (397).
1200's Chapters added to the New Testament.
1500's Verses added to the New Testament.

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©2016 Mark Nickens

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