1 Timothy 1 (NET)

1 Timothy

Salutation

1 From Paul,1 an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior2 and of Christ Jesus our hope, 2 to Timothy, my genuine child in the faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord!

Timothy’s Task in Ephesus

3 As I urged you when I was leaving for Macedonia, stay on in Ephesus3 to instruct4 certain people not to spread false teachings,5 4 nor to occupy themselves with myths and interminable genealogies.6 Such things promote useless speculations rather than God’s redemptive plan7 that operates by faith. 5 But the aim of our instruction8 is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.9 6 Some have strayed from these and turned away to empty discussion. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or the things they insist on so confidently.10

8 But we know that the law is good if someone uses it legitimately, 9 realizing that law11 is not intended for a righteous person, but for lawless and rebellious people, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 sexually immoral people, practicing homosexuals,12 kidnappers, liars, perjurers – in fact, for any who live contrary to sound teaching. 11 This13 accords with the glorious gospel of the blessed God14 that was entrusted to me.15

12 I am grateful to the one who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me faithful in putting me into ministry, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor, and an arrogant16 man. But I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and our Lord’s grace was abundant, bringing faith and love in Christ Jesus.17 15 This saying18 is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” – and I am the worst of them!19 16 But here is why I was treated with mercy: so that20 in me as the worst,21 Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life. 17 Now to the eternal king,22 immortal, invisible, the only23 God, be honor and glory forever and ever!24 Amen.

18 I put this charge25 before you, Timothy my child, in keeping with the prophecies once spoken about you,26 in order that with such encouragement27 you may fight the good fight. 19 To do this28 you must hold firmly to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck in regard to the faith. 20 Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I handed over to Satan29 to be taught not to blaspheme.

1tn Grk “Paul.” The word “from” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied to indicate the sender of the letter. 2sn God our Savior. Use of the title “Savior” for God the Father is characteristic of 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus. It occurs six times in these letters, but only twice elsewhere in the NT. However, it occurs commonly in the OT, especially in Isaiah. It emphasizes the Father as the initiator and source of salvation. 3map For location see JP1-D2; JP2-D2; JP3-D2; JP4-D2. 4tn This word implies authoritative instruction: “direct, command, give orders” (cf. 1 Tim 4:11; 5:7; 6:13, 17). See BDAG 760 s.v. παραγγέλλω. 5tn Grk “to teach other doctrines,” different from apostolic teaching (cf. 1 Tim 6:3). 6sn Myths and interminable genealogies. These myths were legendary tales characteristic of the false teachers in Ephesus and Crete. See parallels in 1 Tim 4:7; 2 Tim 4:4; and Titus 1:14. They were perhaps built by speculation from the patriarchal narratives in the OT; hence the connection with genealogies and with wanting to be teachers of the law (v. 7). 7tc A few Western mss (D* latt Ir) read οἰκοδομήν (oikodomhn, “[God’s] edification”) rather than οἰκονομίαν (oikonomian, “[God’s] redemptive plan”), which is read by the earliest and best witnesses.tn More literally, “the administration of God that is by faith.”sn God’s redemptive plan. The basic word (οἰκονομία, oikonomia) denotes the work of a household steward or manager or the arrangement under which he works: “household management.” As a theological term it is used of the order or arrangement by which God brings redemption through Christ (God’s “dispensation, plan of salvation” [Eph 1:10; 3:9]) or of human responsibility to pass on the message of that salvation (“stewardship, commission” [1 Cor 9:17; Eph 3:2; Col 1:25]). Here the former is in view (see the summary of God’s plan in 1 Tim 2:3-6; 2 Tim 1:9-10; Titus 3:4-7), and Paul notes the response people must make to God’s arrangement: It is “in faith” or “by faith.” 8tn Grk “the instruction,” referring to orthodox Christian teaching and ministry in general, in contrast to that of the false teachers mentioned in 1:3-4. 9tn Grk “love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” 10tn The Greek reinforces this negation: “understand neither what they are saying nor the things they insist on…” 11sn Law. There is no definite article (“the”) with this word in Greek and so the inherent quality of the OT law as such is in view. But the OT law is still in mind, since the types of sinful people surveyed in vv. 9b-11a follow the general outline of sins prohibited in the Decalogue. 12tn On this term BDAG 135 s.v. ἀρσενοκοίτης states, “a male who engages in sexual activity w. a pers. of his own sex, pederast 1 Cor 6:9…of one who assumes the dominant role in same-sex activity, opp. μαλακός…1 Ti 1:10; Pol 5:3. Cp. Ro 1:27.” L&N 88.280 states, “a male partner in homosexual intercourse – ‘homosexual.’…It is possible that ἀρσενοκοίτης in certain contexts refers to the active male partner in homosexual intercourse in contrast with μαλακός, the passive male partner” (cf. 1 Cor 6:9). Since there is a distinction in contemporary usage between sexual orientation and actual behavior, the qualification “practicing” was supplied in the translation, following the emphasis in BDAG. 13tn A continuation of the preceding idea: Grk “teaching, according to the gospel.” This use of the law is in accord with the gospel entrusted to Paul (cf. Rom 7:7-16; Gal 3:23-26). Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation. 14tn Grk “the gospel of the glory of the blessed God.” 15tn Grk “with which I was entrusted.” The translation is more in line with contemporary English style. 16tn Or “violent,” “cruel.” 17tn Grk “with faith and love in Christ Jesus.” 18tn Grk “the saying,” referring to the following citation (see 1 Tim 3:1; 4:9; 2 Tim 2:11; Titus 3:8 for other occurrences of this phrase). 19tn Grk “of whom I am the first.” 20tn Grk “but because of this I was treated with mercy, so that…” 21tn Grk “in me first,” making the connection with the last phrase of v. 15. 22tn Or more literally, “king of the ages.” 23tc Most later witnesses (א² D¹ H^c Ψ 1881 Ï) have “wise” (σόφῳ, swfw) here (thus, “the only wise God”), while the earlier and better witnesses (א* A D* F G H* 33 1739 lat co) lack this adjective. Although it could be argued that the longer reading is harder since it does not as emphatically affirm monotheism, it is more likely that scribes borrowed σόφῳ from Rom 16:27 where μόνῳ σόφῳ θεῷ (monw sofw qew, “the only wise God”) is textually solid. 24tn Grk “unto the ages of the ages,” an emphatic way of speaking about eternity in Greek. 25sn This charge refers to the task Paul described to Timothy in vv. 3-7 above. 26sn The prophecies once spoken about you were apparently spoken at Timothy’s ordination (cf. 1 Tim 4:14) and perhaps spoke of what God would do through him. Thus they can encourage him in his work, as the next clause says. 27tn Grk “that by them you might fight…” (a reference to the prophecies which can encourage him in his work). 28tn In Greek this continues the same sentence from v. 18, a participle showing the means by which Timothy will accomplish his task: Grk “fight the good fight, holding firmly…” 29sn The expression handed over to Satan refers to an act of discipline mentioned by Paul here and in 1 Cor 5:5, with a remedial goal, not a punitive one. The Greek word translated taught in this verse is used of “discipline, training of children” to lead them to correct behavior.