The Book of 2 Timothy

I. Title

       The title of the letter comes from the name of the man to whom it is addressed. It is the second of two letters written to Timothy.

II. Author and Setting

       The author of the letter is Paul, according to 2 Timothy 1:1-2a:

       Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,
       To Timothy, my dear son:

       This second letter to Timothy was apparently written while he was imprisoned in Rome, awaiting execution. Timothy, based on the information in 1 Timothy 1:3, was still in Ephesus. The letter was written sometime between AD 62 and 67. If the tradition is accurate regarding Paul's martyrdom during the reign of Nero, then the letter was certainly written before June of AD 68, because it was in that month that the emperor committed suicide.

III. An Outline of 2 Timothy

I. Salutation 1:1-2
II. Thanksgiving 1:3-7
III. Patient Endurance 1:8-4:18
IV. Conclusion 4:19-22

IV. Questions on 2 Timothy

1. When was the second letter to Timothy written?
2. Reconcile 2 Timothy 2:14 with Paul's emphasis on the meaning of a single word in Galatians 3:16-18.
3. Discuss 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Are there any parts of the Bible that are unimportant or inappropriate?