The First Epistle to Timothy is one of three letters in the New Testament of the Bible often grouped together as the pastoral epistles, along with Second Timothy and Titus. The letter, traditionally attributed to the Apostle Paul, consists mainly of counsels to his younger colleague and delegate Timothy regarding his ministry in Ephesus (1:3). These counsels include instructions on the organization of the Church and the responsibilities resting on certain groups of leaders therein as well as exhortations to faithfulness in maintaining the truth amid surrounding errors.
Extract from 1 Timothy 3:16 in the 4th-century Codex Sinaiticus: "Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated..."
Second Epistle to Timothy
The Second Epistle to Timothy is one of the three pastoral epistles traditionally attributed to Paul the Apostle. Addressed to Timothy, a fellow missionary, it is traditionally considered to be the last epistle he wrote before his death. The original language is Koine Greek.
Fragment from the Codex Freerianus (5th century AD); the lower part shows text from 2 Timothy 1:10–12.
Quotation from 2 Timothy in Czech translation: "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction." (NIV)
