Don

I was not saying 1 Tim was for the congregation.  I do think it was for Timothy but was pointing out that some point out the last verse.

My guess about what happened is Timothy tried to act as Paul instructed and if Timothy needed to do so, he might show the letter to selected people, to show he was acting as Paul’s agent.  Then when he died, he either gave the letter to the church as a treasure or it was found among his papers and treasured.  So the church at Ephesus was the source for Ephesians, 1 Tim and 2 Tim (maybe Rev?), like the church at Colossae was the source for Colossians and Philemon.

My take is Paul in realizing this potential for exposure would have reason to be circumspect on the woman in 1 Tim 2, as a dink from Paul would be ministry limiting.  I find this scenario far more plausible than MacArthur’s.