1 Timothy
Introduction

1 2 3 4 5 6

Contradictions
Interpretation
Absurdities
Women
Injustice
Intolerance
Science and History
Good Stuff
Family Values
Language
Prophecy
Homosexuality

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Although First Timothy (1:1, 3:17) claims to have been written by Paul, many scholars believe that it was written after his death.¹

1 Timothy Highlights

• Ignore "fables and endless genealogies." If we follow this advice we would ignore most of the Bible -- especially the genealogies found in Gen.10, 1 Chr.1-9, Mt.1, and Lk.3. 1:4

• Homosexuals (those "that defile themselves with mankind") are included in the list of lawless, disobedient, unholy, and profane people. 1:10

• "Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme." Apparently (see 2 Tim.2:16-18 and 4:14-15) their "blasphemy" was disagreeing with Paul. 1:20

• Women are to dress modestly, "with shamefacedness" -- "not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array." 2:9

• "Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence." 2:11-12

• Men are superior to women since Adam was made before, and sinned after, Eve. But even though women are inferior to men, they shouldn't be discouraged because they shall "be saved in childbearing." 2:14-15

• "In the latter times some shall depart from the faith" by becoming vegetarians. 4:1-4

• "Bodily exercise profiteth little." 4:8

• Real widows are "desolate" and pray "night and day." But those widows that experience pleasure are "dead while [they] live." 5:5-6

• You should help a widow only if she : 1) is over 70 years old, 2) had only one husband, 3) has raised children, 4) has lodged strangers, 5) has "washed the saints feet," 6) has relieved the afflicted, and 7)has "diligently followed very good work." Otherwise, let them starve. "But the younger widows refuse [to help]: for ... they will marry; having damnation." Besides the young widows are always idle tattlers -- "busybodies, spreading things which they ought not." He adds that "some are already turned aside after Satan." 5:9-15

• Publicly humiliate those who sin by announcing their sins in front of God and everybody so "that others may also fear." 5:20

• Stop drinking water. Drink wine for your "stomach's" sake. 5:23

• "Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed." 6:1

• Avoid science, especially that which disagrees with Paul ("science falsely so called"). 6:20

1

Bart D. Ehrman, The New Testament: A Historical Introlduction to the Early Christian Writings, 3rd ed. (2004), chap.23

Pagels, Elaine, Adam, Eve, and the Serpent, 1988, p.xxiii.

Wikipedia

First Epistle to Timothy

Authorship of the Pauline epistles: The Pastoral Epistles