Who wrote 1 Timothy:

1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus, are collectively known as the Pastoral Epistles. Twice Paul was imprisoned in Rome: the first between 60-63 A.D., the Second between 67-68 A.D. During Paul’s first imprisonment he wrote 1 Timothy, after being released he wrote Titus. During Paul’s second imprisonment in Rome he wrote 2 Timothy. Paul was then beheaded.

The letters Paul wrote to Timothy and Titus contained instructions for the ministry. With Paul in prison, he was unable to continue his ministry. Paul relied upon those who assisted him, including Timothy and Titus, to carry on his work.

The early church fathers excepted the Pastoral Epistle as written by Paul. However, in the nineteenth century some critical scholars began to disagree. Many scholars identified several areas of concern leading them to believe the letter may have been written after the end of the first century A.D. These areas of concern included:

Objections to Paul’s Authorship:

• The grammar of 1 Timothy and the other Pastoral Epistles is not consistent with the other letters known to have been written by Paul.
• The Pastoral Epistles appear to combat Gnostic beliefs and teachings. However, Gnosticism did not exist until well after the first century A.D.
• The leadership structure of the Church described in the Pastoral Epistles appear to be second century.

Today, most scholars disagree with these objections and propose the following counter arguments:

Arguments for Paul’s Authorship:

• Luke, one of Paul’s closest companions, kept Paul company during his imprisonment. Most likely, Luke wrote the Pastoral Epistles dictated by Paul. This explains the change in grammar and, in some areas, a change in vocabulary.

Only Luke is with me, Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.

2 Timothy 4:11

• None of the beliefs Paul counters in the Pastoral Epistles are explicitly Gnostic. More likely, Paul is addressing Jewish and Pagan beliefs and influences, a very common topic found in the letters of Paul.

They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.

1 Timothy 4:3

For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group.

Titus 1:10

• The leadership structure described in the Pastoral Epistles is far less advanced than the Church of the second century. The structure of the second century church was primarily based upon the leadership structure of the Jewish Synagogues. Paul, as a former Jew, was intimately familiar with the leadership structure of the synagogues and would obviously reference it in the Pastoral Epistles.

Because of the above reasons, few scholars disagree Paul wrote the Pastoral Epistles, including 1 Timothy.