1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus were written toward the end of Paul’s life. Paul was free from prison when he wrote 1 Timothy and Titus and was engaged in evangelism in Greece and what is now known as Turkey. It is believed that he was arrested again and taken to trial.

2 Timothy was written while he was in prison and expecting execution. He gives advice on personal conduct and how to counter wrong ideas by teaching the truth.

Eerdman’s Handbook to the Bible

1 Timothy 1 (A Chapter a Day)

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

2To Timothy my true son in the faith:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Warning Against False Teachers of the Law

3As
I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that
you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer 4nor
to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote
controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith. 5The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. 7They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

8We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9We also know that law^[a]
is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the
ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill
their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10for
adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and
perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine
11that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.

The Lord’s Grace to Paul

12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13Even
though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I
was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

15Here
is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus
came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16But
for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of
sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an
example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

18Timothy,
my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once
made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight,
19holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. 20Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

Footnotes:

1. 1 Timothy 1:9 Or that the law

New International Version (NIV)

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society