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Label Element Value
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading

Fixed Income Fund

CLASS A: TFIAX     |     CLASS C: TFICX

Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock The investment objective of this Fund is to generate a high level of current income consistent with prudent investment risk.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading FEES AND EXPENSES
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Timothy Plan Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in “How to Reduce Your Sales Charge” on page 65 of the prospectus and “Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Shares” on page 33 of the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information.
Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text] rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Timothy Plan Funds.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount $ 50,000
Shareholder Fees rr_ShareholderFeesAbstract  
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption Shareholder Fees

(fees paid directly from your investment)
Expenses Deferred Charges [Text Block] rr_ExpensesDeferredChargesTextBlock A one percent (1%) contingent deferred sales charge is imposed on any Class C shares sold within the first twelve months after purchase.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_OperatingExpensesAbstract  
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment.)
Expenses Not Correlated to Ratio Due to Acquired Fund Fees [Text] rr_ExpensesNotCorrelatedToRatioDueToAcquiredFundFees Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of average net assets in the Financial Highlights Table, which reflects the operating expenses of the Fund and does not include Acquired Fund fees and expenses.
Example: rr_ExpenseExampleAbstract  
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example:
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example Closing [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleClosingTextBlock The Example does not reflect sales charges (loads) on reinvested dividends and other distributions. If these sales charges (loads) were included, your costs would be higher.
Expense Example, No Redemption: rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionAbstract  
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual Fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the Fund’s most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 21.62% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 21.62%
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock
•   To achieve its goal, the Fund normally invests in a diversified portfolio of corporate bonds, U.S. government and agency securities, convertible securities and preferred securities. The Investment Manager will only purchase securities for the Fund that are investment grade, with a rating of at least “BBB” as rated by Standard & Poor’s or a comparable rating by another nationally recognized rating agency. The Fund may also invest in debt securities that have not been rated by one of the major rating agencies, so long as the Fund’s Investment Manager has determined that the security is of comparable credit quality to similar rated securities. The Fund has adopted a non-fundamental investment policy that under normal circumstances will invest at least 80% of its assets in fixed income securities. This policy may not be changed without at least 60 days prior written notice to Fund shareholders.
 
•   In managing its portfolio, the Fund’s Investment Manager concentrates on sector analysis, industry allocation and securities selection, deciding which types of bonds and industries to emphasize at a given time, and then which individual bonds to buy. The Fund attempts to anticipate shifts in the business cycle in determining types of bonds and industry sectors to target. In choosing individual securities, the Fund seeks out securities that appear to be undervalued within the emphasized industry sector. Companies that meet or exceed specific criteria established by the Manager in the selection process are purchased. Securities are sold when they reach internally determined pricing targets or no longer qualify under the Manager’s investment criteria.
 
•   The Fund may, from time to time, take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, or other conditions. When the Fund takes a defensive position, the Fund’s assets will be held in cash and/or cash equivalents.
 
•   The Fund will not invest in Excluded Securities. Excluded Securities are securities issued by any company that is involved in the production or wholesale distribution of alcohol, tobacco, or gambling equipment, gambling enterprises, or which is involved, either directly or indirectly, in abortion or pornography, or promoting anti-family entertainment or alternative lifestyles.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading PRINCIPAL RISKS
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock
1.   General Risk | As with most other mutual funds, you can lose money by investing in this Fund. Share prices fluctuate from day to day, and when you sell your shares, they may be worth less than you paid for them.
 
2.   Interest Rate Risk | When interest rates rise, bond prices fall; the higher the Fund’s duration (a calculation reflecting time risk, taking into account both the average maturity of the Fund’s portfolio and its average coupon return), the more sensitive the Fund is to interest rate risk.
 
3.   Credit Risk | The Fund could lose money if any bonds it owns are downgraded in credit rating or go into default. For this reason, the Fund will only invest in investment-grade bonds. The degree of risk for a particular security may not be reflected in its credit rating. Bonds rated at the time of purchase BBB by Standard & Poor’s or, unrated, but determined to be of comparable quality by the Investment Manager, are subject to greater market risk and credit risk, or loss of principal and interest, than higher-rated securities.
 
4.   Sector Risk | If certain industry sectors or types of securities don’t perform as well as the Fund expects, the Fund’s performance could suffer.
 
5.   Excluded Security Risk | Because the Fund does not invest in Excluded Securities, and will divest itself of securities that are subsequently discovered to be ineligible, the Fund may be riskier that other Funds that invest in a broader array of securities.
 
6.   Who Should Buy This Fund | The Fund is most appropriate for investors who want a high level of current income and are willing to accept a minor degree of volatility and risk.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney As with most other mutual funds, you can lose money by investing in this Fund.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading PAST PERFORMANCE
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing the variability of the Fund’s performance from year to year and by comparing the Fund’s performance to a broad based index. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. More up-to-date returns are available on the Fund’s website at www.timothyplan.com, or by calling the Fund at (800) 846-7526.

The bar chart does not reflect sales charges. If these charges were reflected, the returns would be less than those shown.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing the variability of the Fund’s performance from year to year and by comparing the Fund’s performance to a broad based index.
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress www.timothyplan.com
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone (800) 846-7526
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads The bar chart does not reflect sales charges. If these charges were reflected, the returns would be less than those shown.
Annual Total Returns rr_BarChartTableAbstract  
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Year-by-year Annual Total Returns for Class A Shares

(for calendar years ending on December 31)
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

Best          Worst

Quarter       Quarter

Sep-02             Jun-04

5.98%            -13.55%
Average Annual Total Returns rr_AverageAnnualReturnAbstract  
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average Annual Total Returns

(for periods ending on December 31, 2011)
Performance Table Narrative rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns displayed are for class A shares only, and after-tax returns for other classes will vary.
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown After-tax returns displayed are for class A shares only, and after-tax returns for other classes will vary.
Class A
  
Shareholder Fees rr_ShareholderFeesAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as % of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 4.50%
Maximum deferred sales charges (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of original purchase price or redemption proceeds) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none [1]
Redemption fees rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption none
Exchange fees rr_ExchangeFeeOverRedemption none
Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_OperatingExpensesAbstract  
Management Fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.60%
Distribution/Service(12b-1 Fees) rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses (including administrative fees, transfer agency fees, sub-transfer agency fees, and all other ordinary operating expenses not listed above) rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.42%
Fees and Expenses of Acquired Funds rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.28%
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.12%)
Total Annual Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.16% [2]
Example: rr_ExpenseExampleAbstract  
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 563
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 826
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,110
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,916
Annual Total Returns rr_BarChartTableAbstract  
2002 rr_AnnualReturn2002 10.32%
2003 rr_AnnualReturn2003 5.70%
2004 rr_AnnualReturn2004 3.44%
2005 rr_AnnualReturn2005 1.11%
2006 rr_AnnualReturn2006 3.11%
2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 5.19%
2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (0.05%)
2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 8.65%
2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 5.46%
2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 7.11%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2002
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 5.98%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2004
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (13.55%)
Class C
  
Shareholder Fees rr_ShareholderFeesAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as % of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charges (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of original purchase price or redemption proceeds) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther 1.00% [1]
Redemption fees rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption none
Exchange fees rr_ExchangeFeeOverRedemption none
Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_OperatingExpensesAbstract  
Management Fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.60%
Distribution/Service(12b-1 Fees) rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other Expenses (including administrative fees, transfer agency fees, sub-transfer agency fees, and all other ordinary operating expenses not listed above) rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.63%
Fees and Expenses of Acquired Funds rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 2.24%
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.33%)
Total Annual Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.91% [2]
Example: rr_ExpenseExampleAbstract  
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 294
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 669
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,170
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,549
Expense Example, No Redemption: rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionAbstract  
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 194
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 669
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,170
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 2,549
Return before taxes | Class A
  
Average Annual Total Returns rr_AverageAnnualReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 2.26%
5 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 4.26%
10 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.48%
Return before taxes | Class C
  
Average Annual Total Returns rr_AverageAnnualReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 5.42%
5 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 4.47%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 3.43%
Return after taxes on distributions | Class A
  
Average Annual Total Returns rr_AverageAnnualReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 1.24% [3]
5 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.99% [3]
10 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.10% [3]
Return after taxes on distributions | Class C
  
Average Annual Total Returns rr_AverageAnnualReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 4.64% [3]
5 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 3.43% [3]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 2.34% [3]
Return after taxes on distributions and sale of shares | Class A
  
Average Annual Total Returns rr_AverageAnnualReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 1.45% [3]
5 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.88% [3]
10 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.01% [3]
Return after taxes on distributions and sale of shares | Class C
  
Average Annual Total Returns rr_AverageAnnualReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 3.51% [3]
5 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 3.20% [3]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 2.28% [3]
Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Class A
  
Average Annual Total Returns rr_AverageAnnualReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 7.84% [4]
5 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 6.50% [4]
10 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 5.78% [4]
Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Class C
  
Average Annual Total Returns rr_AverageAnnualReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 7.84% [4]
5 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 6.50% [4]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 5.40% [4]
[1] A one percent (1%) contingent deferred sales charge is imposed on any Class C shares sold within the first twelve months after purchase.
[2] Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of average net assets in the Financial Highlights Table, which reflects the operating expenses of the Fund and does not include Acquired Fund fees and expenses.
[3] After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns displayed are for class A shares only, and after-tax returns for other classes will vary.
[4] Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (formerly Lehman Brothers US Aggregate Bond Index) is a benchmark index composed of US Securities in Treasury, Government-Related, Corporate, and Securitized sectors. It includes securities that are of investment-grade quality or better, have at least one year to maturity, and have an outstanding par value of at least $250 million. The Index assumes reinvestment of all dividends and distributions and does not reflect any asset-based charges for investment management or other expenses.