1 Timothy (Introduction)

The church in Ephesus figures prominantly in the movement of the gospel westward. A metroplis on the seacost of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), at a nexus of major trade routes, Ephesus was the third largest city in the Roman Province at the time of the Apostle Paul. The city was a melting pot of languages and cultures.

The church in Ephesus was founded by Paul, Aquila and Priscilla (husband and wife team) upon Paul's journey home toward Caesara during his second missionary journey (49 - 41 AD). Paual left Aquila and Priscilla there (Acts 18). Later Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came and preached in Ephesus in the synagogue, but explained to him privately the way of God "more accurately" (Acts 18). Paul arrived again in Ephesus and formed a congregation of believers in Christ Jesus, separating himself from the synagogue (Acts 19) and preached there 3 years. Paul's ministry was effective, turning a great many people to Christ (cf. Acts 18:26) and a riot ensued. After the riot, Paul left for Macedonia.

On his return from Greece, Paul revists the Ephesus church elders (Acts 20:17-38) from Miletus, where he tells them that they will never see him again, since he has been persecuted in everywhere and is now heading back to Jerusalem where he will most likely be arrested and executed. Paul does indeed return to Jerusalem and is arrested (Acts 21:27-27:12) during which he appeals to bring his case before Caesar as a citizen of Rome.

While under house arrest in Rome, Paul writes a letter to Timothy, a young disciple from Lystra that Paul took with him on his missionary journey to Macedonia (Acts 16:3; 17:15; 18:5) and is later sent to Ephesus to bring correction to the local church.

It should be noted that the churches were most likely house churches and very unlike the gatherings we associate today with property and buildings.

The context of the letter is that false teachers were troubling the church (1 Timothy 1:3-4, 20) most notably Hymenaeus and Alexander.