What's The Big Deal?

The background of I Timothy includes Paul & Timothy being together in Ephesus subsequent to Paul's first Roman imprisonment. Paul left for Macedonia leaving Timothy behind in Ephesus to be his representative there. Paul hoped to return but in case he was delayed wrote to Timothy 'so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself' in the local church. His rationale for concern for such was bound up in the identity of the church ('the household of God, which is the church of the living God') and the functions of the church ('the pillar and support of the truth'). The text is expounded and several applications follow.