History:
The book of Acts ends with the Apostle Paul in prison in Rome in AD 60. It appears that he was there for two years and he had some free time. After he came out of prison, he asked Timothy to stay in Ephesus (1 Tim.1:3). Paul then went to Macedonia. While Paul was in Macedonia he wrote this first letter to Timothy.
Background:
Timothy was the son of a Gentile father and a Jewish mother Eunice. His mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois, both believed the Lord. (2 Tim.1:5). Timothy, his mother and grandmother probably became Christians when Paul first went to the town called Lystra (Acts 14). All the Christians in Lystra and the town-church called Iconium spoke well about Timothy.
When Paul came the second time to Lystra, he asked Timothy to join his team (Acts 16:1-3). Timothy became a close friend and helper of Paul. He went with Paul as he travelled to many places. Paul spoke about him as his own son in the faith.
Paul asks Timothy to oversee the church in Ephesus. Therefore Paul writes this letter to him to encourage him in the task of leading that church. He gives Timothy a lot of advice for both Timothy and the church which also forms an essential teaching for the churches in the world.
Probable chronology of Pauline Letters
| SN | Letters | Date- AD | Place of writing | Ref. found in Acts |
| 1 | Galatians | 53 | Syrian Antioch | 14:28; 15:2 |
| 2 | 1 Thessalonians | 50 | Corinth | 18:5 |
| 3 | 2-Thessalonians | 50 | Corinth | |
| 4 | 1-Corinthians | 55 | Ephesus | 19:20 |
| 5 | 2-Corinthians | 56 | Macedonia | 20:2 |
| 6 | Romans | 57 | Corinth | 20:3 |
Prison Letters:
| SN. | Letters | Date- AD | Place of writing | Ref. found in Acts |
| 7 | Colossians | Early 60s | Rome | |
| 8 | Ephesians | Early 60s | Rome | |
| 9 | Philemon | Early 60s | Rome | |
| 10 | Philippians | 62-63 | Rome | 28:30-31 |
Fourth-Missionary journey:
| SN. | Letters | Date- AD | Place of writing | Ref. found in Acts |
| 11 | 1-Timothy | 63 | Macedonia | |
| 12 | Titus | 63 | Ephesus | |
| 13 | 2-Timothy | 64 | Rome. |