2 Timothy

First and Second Timothy, plus Titus, are referred to as the "Pastoral Epistles". Timothy was one of Paul’s closest disciples from from the time that Paul first recruited him.

Around 63 AD, the book of Acts concludes with Paul imprisoned in Rome. Most Bible historians believe that he was acquitted and returned to Greece and Asia Minor. Further, it is also believed that he was rearrested later, taken back to Rome, and then executed around 67 AD. This epistle was most-likely written while Paul was awaiting execution.

Also around this time (64 AD), the Great Fire in Rome occurred. In order to build an even greater city, the Roman Emperor, Nero, is attributed with burning the city, and fiddling with glee in the midst of it. While his people suspected it, and historians commonly regard Nero as the perpetrator of the fire, he accused the Christians of burning Rome in order to distract suspicion from himself. He further ordered their punishment for it.

In and around Rome, many Christians were arrested and put to death in cruel ways, including crucifiction and being fed to dogs or wild animals in arenas, for public entertainment.

Tradition states that Timothy continued to care for the church at Ephesus after Paul’s death, and that he was ultimately martyred under the Roman Emperor Domitian or Nerva.