Timothy

Apostle Paul's first letter to his protegé Saint Timothy on how to lead and set an example. The letter is concerned with the organization of the church and Timothy's leadership within it. Themes include the use of God's Law (1:7-11), warnings against false doctrine, instructions for prayer (2:1-8), roles of women in the church, qualifications for leaders of the church (3:1-13), and the treatment of widows, elders, masters, youth, and church members in general (5:1-20).

The First Epistle to Timothy is one of three epistles that are called "pastoral" because they relate to the conduct of church leaders, thought of as pastors (literally shepherds) for church followers. The Second Epistle to Timothy and the Epistle to Titus are the other pastoral epistles.