Second Epistle to Timothy

The Second Epistle to Timothy is one of the three Pastoral Epistles, traditionally attributed to Saint Paul, and is part of the canonical New Testament.

Authorship and Date

Further information: First Epistle to Timothy § Authorship

Some have cast doubt on the authenticity of the epistle, based on internal analysis, ancient commentary and textual evidence. However, evangelical Christian scholars typically defend Pauline authorship, citing the inconclusiveness of academic inquiry. Even those who reject 2 Timothy's authenticity, however, generally agree that whoever the author really was, he also wrote 1 Timothy and Titus--all three referred to collectively as the Pastorals.

Naturally, dating the epistle is dependent on authorship concerns. Evangelical tradition generally regards 2 Timothy as having been written late in Paul's life, c. 60-67 CE, during a period of imprisonment. Critical scholars often suggest dates much later, well after Paul's death (c. 64-67); ranges in the first half of the second century are frequently offered.

Content

In his letter, Paul urges Timothy to not have a "spirit of timidity" and to "not be ashamed to testify about our Lord" (1:7-8). He also entreats Timothy to come to him before winter, and to bring Mark with him (cf. Philippians 2:22). He was anticipating that "the time of his departure was at hand" (4:6), and he exhorts his "son Timothy" to all diligence and steadfastness in the face of false teachings, with advice about combating them with reference to the teachings of the past, and to patience under persecution (1:6–15), and to a faithful discharge of all the duties of his office (4:1–5), with all the solemnity of one who was about to appear before the Judge of the quick and the dead.

See also

First Epistle to Timothy

Epistle to Titus

External links

Second Timothy by E.H. Wendland

EarlyChristianWritings.com discussion of 2 Timothy

EarlyChristianWritings.com further discussion of the Pastorals (on the 1 Timothy page)