1 Timothy

1 Timothy front

Introduction to 1 Timothy

Part 1: General Introduction

Outline of the Book of 1 Timothy

In this letter, Paul alternates between personal commands to Timothy that empower him to act as his representative and with his authority, and instructions for how followers of Jesus should live in community.

1. Greetings (1:1-2)
2. Paul commands Timothy to tell people not to teach false doctrines (1:3-20)
3. Paul gives instructions about how to re-establish order and decency in the church (2:1-15)
4. Paul gives instructions about how to ensure that elders and deacons are properly qualified (3:1-13)
5. Paul commands Timothy regarding his own personal conduct (3:14-5:2)
6. Paul gives instructions to ensure church support for worthy widows (5:3-16) and elders (5:17-20)
7. Paul commands Timothy that he must be impartial (5:21-25)
8. Paul gives instructions to ensure order in master-servant relationships (6:1-2a)
9. Paul commands Timothy regarding how he should teach and conduct himself (6:2b-16)
10. Paul gives instructions for how people who are rich should live (6:17-19)
11. Paul commands Timothy to guard what has been entrusted to his care (6:20-21a)
12. Closing blessing to the whole church (6:21b)

Who wrote the Book of 1 Timothy?

A man named Paul wrote 1 Timothy. Paul was from the city of Tarsus. He had been known as Saul in his early life. Before becoming a Christian, Paul was a Pharisee. He persecuted Christians. After he became a Christian, he traveled several times throughout the Roman Empire telling people about Jesus.

Paul may have written other letters to Timothy, but this is the earliest one that we still have. That is why it is known as 1 Timothy or First Timothy. Timothy was Paul’s disciple and close friend. Paul probably wrote this letter near the end of his life.

What is the Book of 1 Timothy about?

Paul had left Timothy in the city of Ephesus to help the believers there. Paul wrote this letter to instruct Timothy about various matters. The topics he addressed included church worship, qualifications for church leaders, and warnings against false teachers. This letter shows how Paul was training Timothy to be a leader among the churches while Timothy himself trained other leaders.

How should the title of this book be translated?

Translators may choose to call this book by its customary title, “1 Timothy” or “First Timothy.” Or they may choose a different title, such as “Paul’s First Letter to Timothy.” (See: How to Translate Names)

Part 2: Important Religious and Cultural Concepts

What is discipleship?

Discipleship is the process of making people to be disciples of Christ. The goal of discipleship is to encourage other Christians to be more like Christ. This letter gives many instructions about how a leader should train a less mature Christian. (See: disciple)

Part 3: Important Translation Issues

What did Paul mean by the expression “in Christ”?

Paul meant to express the idea of a very close union with Christ and the believers. Please see the introduction to the Book of Romans for more details about this kind of expression.

What are the major textual issues in the text of the book of 1 Timothy?

In 6:5, the oldest Greek manuscripts differ from later Greek manuscripts. Modern translations may also differ depending on the Greek manuscript that they translate from. The ULT text translates the Greek from the oldest manuscripts and puts the differences from later manuscripts in a footnote. If a translation of the Bible exists in the general region, translators should consider following the decision in that translation. If not, translators are advised to follow the oldest Greek manuscripts as reflected in the ULT text. (See: Textual Variants)

1 Timothy 1

1 Timothy 1 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Paul formally introduces this letter in verses 1-2. Writers often began letters in this way in the ancient Near East.

Special concepts in this chapter

Spiritual children

In this chapter, Paul calls Timothy a “son” and his “child.” Paul discipled Timothy as a Christian and a church leader. Paul may also have led him to believe in Christ. Therefore, Paul called Timothy his “son in the faith.” (See: disciple, faith and spirit, wind, breath and Metaphor)

Metaphor

In this chapter Paul speaks figuratively of people who are not fulfilling the purpose of their faith as if they had “missed the mark” that they were aiming at, as if they had “turned away” down a wrong path, and as if they had been “shipwrecked.” He speaks figuratively of following Jesus faithfully as “fighting the good fight.”

1 Timothy 1:1

Παῦλος

In the culture of this time, letter writers would give their own names first. Your language may have a particular way of introducing the author of a letter, and if it would be helpful to your readers, you could use it here. Immediately after introducing the writer, you might also want to indicate to whom the letter was written. Alternate translation: “I, Paul, am the one writing this letter to you, Timothy”

κατ’ ἐπιταγὴν Θεοῦ

Alternate translation: “by the authority of God”

Θεοῦ Σωτῆρος ἡμῶν

Alternate translation: “God, who saves us”

Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τῆς ἐλπίδος ἡμῶν

Here, our hope refers figuratively to the person in whom we have hope. Alternate translations: “Christ Jesus, the one in whom we have confidence” or “Christ Jesus, whom we trust” (See: Metonymy)

1 Timothy 1:2

γνησίῳ τέκνῳ

Paul speaks of his close relationship to Timothy as though they were father and son. This shows Paul’s sincere love and approval of Timothy. It is also likely that Paul personally led Timothy to trust in Christ. That would be another reason why Paul considered him to be like his own child, since Timothy entered his new life as a follower of Jesus because of Paul. Alternate translation: “who is truly like a son to me” (See: Metaphor)

χάρις, ἔλεος, εἰρήνη

In this culture, letter writers would offer a good wish for the recipient before introducing the main business of the letter. Alternate translation: “I hope you are experiencing God’s kindness, mercy, and peace”

Θεοῦ Πατρὸς

Here, Father is an important title for God. Alternate translation: “God, who is our Father” (See: Translating Son and Father)

Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν

Alternate translation: “Christ Jesus, who is our Lord”

1 Timothy 1:3

καθὼς παρεκάλεσά σε

Alternate translation: “as I told you”

σε

In this letter, with one exception, the words you, your, and yourself refer to Timothy and so are singular. A note will discuss the one exception in 6:21. (See: Forms of ‘You’ — Singular)

προσμεῖναι ἐν Ἐφέσῳ

Alternate translation: “wait for me there in the city of Ephesus”

Ἐφέσῳ

Ephesus is the name of a city. (See: How to Translate Names)

τισὶν

Alternate translation: “certain people”

ἑτεροδιδασκαλεῖν

The implication is that these people were not teaching in a different way, but teaching different things than what Paul and Timothy taught. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: “a different doctrine from what we teach” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

1 Timothy 1:4

μύθοις

These myths were fanciful stories of some kind, perhaps about the supposed exploits of various spiritual beings. But since we no longer know exactly what these stories were about, it would probably be best to use a general term for them. Alternate translation: “made-up stories”

γενεαλογίαις ἀπεράντοις

Paul uses the term endless as an exaggeration to emphasize that these are very long. Alternate translation: “lists of names that seem as if they will never end” (See: Hyperbole)

γενεαλογίαις

Usually, the term genealogies refers to a record of a person’s ancestors. However, in this case it could also mean a record of the supposed ancestors of spiritual beings. Alternate translation: “lists of names”

αἵτινες ἐκζητήσεις παρέχουσι

The people were debating about these stories and lists of names, but no one could know for certain whether they were true. Alternate translation: “these make people disagree angrily”

οἰκονομίαν Θεοῦ

If your readers would misunderstand this phrase, you could express the idea behind the abstract noun stewardship with a concrete noun such as “plan” or “work.” Alternate translations: “helping us to understand God’s plan to save us” or “helping us to do God’s work” (See: Abstract Nouns)

τὴν ἐν πίστει

If your readers would misunderstand the word faith, you could express the idea behind the abstract noun faith with a verb such as “trust” or “believe.” Alternate translations: “which we learn by believing in God” or “which we do by trusting in God” (See: Abstract Nouns)

1 Timothy 1:5

δὲ

Paul here uses the word Now to introduce background information that will help Timothy understand the purpose of what he is commanding him. You can translate it with a word or phrase in your language that introduces background information.

τὸ δὲ τέλος τῆς παραγγελίας ἐστὶν

Here Paul is expressing to Timothy the goal or the outcome that he desires from the commands that Paul gave him. Alternate translation: “I am commanding these things in order to get this result” (See: Connect — Goal (Purpose) Relationship)

τῆς παραγγελίας

Here, this command refers to the instructions that Paul has given Timothy in 1:3 and 1:4.

ἐστὶν ἀγάπη

That God’s people would show love is the goal of the command. If it is necessary to include the object of “love,” you can state “each other” or “others.” This may also include love for God. Alternate translation: “is that God’s people would love others” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἐκ καθαρᾶς καρδίας

Here the heart figuratively represents a person’s thoughts and inclinations. Alternate translation: “from a desire for only what is good” (See: Metaphor)

ἐκ καθαρᾶς καρδίας

Here, pure figuratively indicates that the person wants only good things and does not have mixed motives that also include some bad ones. Alternate translation: “from a desire for only what is good” (See: Metonymy)

συνειδήσεως ἀγαθῆς

Your translation should make it clear that love is the one goal of the command and is followed by three things that lead to this love. This is the second thing, after “a pure heart.” Alternate translation: “and from a conscience that leads a person to choose right instead of wrong”

πίστεως ἀνυποκρίτου

Paul presents a sincere faith as the third thing that leads to love, which is the one goal of the command. It is not a third goal of the command. Alternate translations: “and from faith that is genuine” or “and from faith that is without hypocrisy”

πίστεως ἀνυποκρίτου

If your readers would misunderstand the phrase a sincere faith, you could express the idea behind the abstract noun faith with a verb such as “trust” or “believe.” Here, faith could refer to: (1) trust in God. (2) belief in true teaching about God. Alternate translations: “firmly trusting in God” or “sincerely believing the true message about God” (See: Abstract Nouns)

1 Timothy 1:6

τινες ἀστοχήσαντες

Paul speaks figuratively of faith in Christ as if it were a target that people should aim at. Paul means that some people are not fulfilling the purpose of their faith, which is to love, as he has just explained. Alternate translation: “some people, who are not fulfilling the purpose of faith in Jesus” (See: Metaphor)

ἐξετράπησαν εἰς

Here, turned away figuratively means these people have stopped doing what God has commanded. Alternate translation: “are no longer doing what God commands. Instead of that, they just engage in” (See: Metaphor)

1 Timothy 1:7

νομοδιδάσκαλοι

Here, law refers specifically to the law of Moses. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state that explicitly, as in the UST. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

μὴ νοοῦντες

If the contrast is not clear in your language between what these people want to be (teachers of the law) and their ability to do it, you may want to mark the contrast. Alternate translations: “but not understanding” or “and yet they do not understand” (See: Connect — Contrast Relationship)

μὴ…μήτε…μήτε

Paul uses a triple negative in Greek for emphasis here, “not … neither … nor.” None of these negatives cancel each other to create a positive meaning. Instead, the negative meaning is retained throughout. If your language uses double negatives for emphasis that do not cancel one another, it would be appropriate to use that construction here. (See: Double Negatives)

ἃ λέγουσιν, μήτε περὶ τίνων διαβεβαιοῦνται

These two phrases mean similar things. Paul uses the repetition for emphasis. You do not need to put both phrases in your translation if that might be confusing for your readers. Alternate translation: “the things that they say so confidently are true” (See: Parallelism)

1 Timothy 1:8

οἴδαμεν δὲ ὅτι καλὸς ὁ νόμος

Alternate translations: “we understand that the law is useful” or “we understand that the law is beneficial”

οἴδαμεν

In this letter, Paul uses the words we, us, and our to refer either to Timothy and himself, or else to all believers, which would also include the two of them. So generally, these words include the addressee. A note will discuss the one possible exception in 4:10. (See: Exclusive and Inclusive ‘We’)

ἐάν τις αὐτῷ νομίμως χρῆται

Alternate translations: “if a person uses it correctly” or “if a person uses it in the way that God intended”

1 Timothy 1:9

εἰδὼς τοῦτο

Alternate translation: “we also know this”

δικαίῳ νόμος οὐ κεῖται

If your readers would misunderstand this passive phrase, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who did the action. Alternate translation: “God did not make the law for people who are righteous” (See: Active or Passive)

δικαίῳ

Paul is using the adjective righteous as a noun, to refer to a class of people that it describes. If your readers would misunderstand this term, you could translate it with a noun phrase. Alternate translation: “for people who are righteous” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

ἀνόμοις δὲ καὶ ἀνυποτάκτοις, ἀσεβέσι καὶ ἁμαρτωλοῖς, ἀνοσίοις καὶ βεβήλοις

Paul is also using these adjectives as nouns to refer to the classes of people that they describe. If your readers would misunderstand this phrase, you could translate each of these adjectives with a noun phrase. Alternate translation: “people who break the law, people who defy authority, people who do not honor God, people who commit sins, people who live as if God did not matter, people who live as if nothing was sacred” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

πατρολῴαις καὶ μητρολῴαις, ἀνδροφόνοις

In this list Paul uses several compound words to express his meaning concisely and vividly. In each case the first term in the compound, a noun, is the object of the second term in the compound, a verb. Three of these compound words are in this verse, and two more are in the next verse. If your readers would misunderstand these terms, you could translate them either with single terms or with phrases. Alternate translations: “patricides and matricides, murders” or “people who kill other people, even their own fathers and mothers”

ἀνδροφόνοις

Paul uses the term man here in a generic sense that includes both men and women. Alternate translation: “murderers” (See: When Masculine Words Include Women)

1 Timothy 1:10

πόρνοις

Paul is using the adjective immoral as a noun to refer to a class of people that it describes. If your readers would misunderstand this term, you could translate it with a noun phrase. Alternate translation: “people who have sexual relations outside of marriage” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

ἀρσενοκοίταις

The term male-liers is the fourth compound word on the list. The term “lie” figuratively means to have sexual relations. Alternate translation: “men who have sexual relations with other males” (See: Idiom)

ἀνδραποδισταῖς

The term man-stealers is the fifth and last compound word on the list. Paul uses the term man here in a generic sense that includes both men and women. Alternate translation: “people who kidnap other people to sell them as slaves” (See: When Masculine Words Include Women)

καὶ εἴ τι ἕτερον τῇ ὑγιαινούσῃ διδασκαλίᾳ ἀντίκειται

Here Paul leaves out some of the words that, in many languages, a sentence would need to be complete. He means that if anything else is contrary to healthy teaching, then the law is made for people who do that, too. Alternate translation: “and for people who do anything else that is against wholesome teaching”

τῇ ὑγιαινούσῃ διδασκαλίᾳ

The phrase healthy teaching is a figurative way to say that the teaching is good and reliable in every way and has no defect or corruption. A person with a healthy mind would recognize this teaching as correct. Alternate translation: “correct teaching” (See: Metonymy)

1 Timothy 1:11

τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς δόξης τοῦ μακαρίου Θεοῦ

This phrase could mean one of two things. Alternate translations: “the gospel about the glory that belongs to the blessed God” or “the glorious gospel about the blessed God”

ὃ ἐπιστεύθην ἐγώ

If your readers would misunderstand what had been entrusted to Paul, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who did the action. Alternate translation: “for which God made me responsible” (See: Active or Passive)

1 Timothy 1:12

χάριν ἔχω

Alternate translation: “I thank”

πιστόν με ἡγήσατο

Alternate translation: “he believed that he could rely on me”

θέμενος εἰς διακονίαν

Paul speaks of the task of serving God as if it were a location that one could be placed in. Alternate translations: “he assigned me to serve him” or “he appointed me as his servant” (See: Metaphor)

1 Timothy 1:13

ὄντα βλάσφημον

Paul is referring to his character before he believed in Jesus. He is probably referring to how he used to say that Jesus was not the Messiah and that people should not believe in him. Alternate translation: “I was a person who said wrong things about Jesus” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

διώκτην

Paul is referring to his character before he believed in Jesus. Alternate translation: “a person who persecuted those who believed in Jesus” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ὑβριστήν

Paul is referring to his character before he believed in Jesus. Alternate translations: “a violent person” or “a person who used violence against those who believed in Jesus” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἠλεήθην, ὅτι ἀγνοῶν, ἐποίησα ἐν ἀπιστίᾳ

If your readers would misunderstand these phrases, you could change the order since the second phrase, “not knowing,” gives the reason for the action that the first phrase, “I was shown mercy,” describes. Alternate translation: “I did not act the way God would have trusted me to act, but that was because I did not know what I was doing, and so Jesus had mercy on me” (See: Connect — Reason-and-Result Relationship)

ἠλεήθην

If your readers would misunderstand who showed mercy to Paul, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who did the action. Alternate translation: “Jesus had mercy on me” (See: Active or Passive)

1 Timothy 1:14

δὲ

Paul here uses the word indeed to introduce an expanded description of the way Jesus treated him mercifully even though he persecuted the followers of Jesus. This description will help Timothy and the other believers in Ephesus to understand how great the mercy of Jesus is. Alternate translation: “in fact”

ὑπερεπλεόνασεν…ἡ χάρις τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν

Paul speaks of the grace of Jesus as if it were a liquid that fills a container until it flows over the top. Alternate translation: “Jesus showed me unlimited grace” (See: Metaphor)

μετὰ πίστεως καὶ ἀγάπης τῆς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ

This could refer to: (1) faith and love that he received from Jesus when he became in him, which would mean figuratively “in relationship with” him. Alternate translation: “and enabled me to trust him and love him” (2) the faith and love that Jesus himself possesses and could be saying that these were the basis of the mercy that Jesus showed him. Alternate translation: “because he believed in me and loved me” (See: Idiom)

1 Timothy 1:15

πιστὸς ὁ λόγος

In this context, the term word refers to an entire statement. Alternate translation: “this statement is dependable”

καὶ πάσης ἀποδοχῆς ἄξιος

If your readers would misunderstand this phrase, you could state who does this action. Alternate translations: “and we should believe it without any doubt” or “and we should have full confidence in it”

Χριστὸς Ἰησοῦς ἦλθεν εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἁμαρτωλοὺς σῶσαι

Paul uses this phrase as a direct quotation. It may be helpful to your readers if you indicate this by setting off the words that follow, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” with quotation marks or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language may use to indicate a quotation. (See: Quote Markings)

ὧν πρῶτός εἰμι ἐγώ

Here the term first has the sense of the superlative example of a class, in this case a negative class. Alternate translation: “and I am the worst one of all”

1 Timothy 1:16

ἠλεήθην

If your readers would misunderstand who showed mercy to Paul, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who did the action. Alternate translation: “Jesus had mercy on me” (See: Active or Passive)

ἵνα ἐν ἐμοὶ πρώτῳ

Alternate translation: “so that through me, the worst sinner of all”

1 Timothy 1:17

δὲ

Paul here uses the word Now to introduce a change in what he is writing. As a result of what he has been teaching Timothy, he now writes a blessing to and about God. Use a word to indicate this change in your language, such as “so” or “now.”

τιμὴ καὶ δόξα

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract nouns honor and grace, you could express the ideas behind the them with verbs. Alternate translation: “may people honor and glorify” (See: Abstract Nouns)

1 Timothy 1:18

ταύτην τὴν παραγγελίαν παρατίθεμαί σοι

Paul speaks of his instructions as if he could physically put them in front of Timothy. Alternate translations: “I am entrusting you with this command” or “this is what I am commanding you” (See: Metaphor)

τέκνον

Paul speaks of his close relationship to Timothy as though they were father and child. This shows Paul’s sincere love and approval of Timothy. It is also likely that Paul personally led Timothy to trust in Christ, and that would be another reason why Paul considered him to be like his own child. Alternate translation: “you who are like my very own child” (See: Metaphor)

κατὰ τὰς προαγούσας ἐπὶ σὲ προφητείας

If your readers would misunderstand how these prophecies happened, you could state who did this action. Alternate translation: “in agreement with what other believers prophesied about you”

στρατεύῃ…τὴν καλὴν στρατείαν

Paul speaks figuratively about Timothy doing his best for the Lord as if he were a soldier fighting a battle. Alternate translation: “continue to do your best on behalf of the Lord” (See: Metaphor)

1 Timothy 1:19

ἔχων πίστιν

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could express the idea behind the abstract noun faith with a phrase that uses a verb such as “trust” or “believe.” Here, faith could refer to: (1) a relationship with Jesus. Alternate translation: “continue trusting in Jesus” (2) a belief in the message about Jesus. Alternate translation: “keep believing the true teaching” (See: Abstract Nouns)

ἀγαθὴν συνείδησιν

See how you translated this in 1:5. Alternate translation: “continuing to choose to do what is right instead of what is wrong” (See: Abstract Nouns)

τινες…περὶ τὴν πίστιν ἐναυάγησαν

Paul speaks figuratively of these people as if they were a ship that had sunk. He means that these people no longer believe in Jesus and no longer live as his followers. You could use this same figure, or a similar one from your culture, if your readers would understand this meaning. Otherwise, you could state as an alternative translation, “no longer belong to Jesus” (See: Metaphor)

περὶ τὴν πίστιν

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could express the idea behind the abstract noun faith. Here, faith could refer to: (1) a relationship with Jesus (or God). Alternate translation: “their relationship with Jesus” (2) the teachings about Jesus. Alternate translation: “the message about Jesus” (See: Abstract Nouns)

1 Timothy 1:20

Ὑμέναιος…Ἀλέξανδρος

Hymenaeus and Alexander are names of two men. (See: How to Translate Names)

οὓς παρέδωκα τῷ Σατανᾷ

Paul speaks figuratively as if he physically took hold of these men and handed them to Satan. If this does not make sense in your language, you can state it plainly. Alternate translation: “I have allowed Satan to command them” (See: Metaphor)

οὓς παρέδωκα τῷ Σατανᾷ

This probably means that Paul expelled them from the community of believers. Since they are no longer a part of the community, Satan has access to them and can harm them. If it would be helpful to your readers, you may want to include this information in a footnote. Alternate translation: “I have allowed Satan to make them suffer” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἵνα παιδευθῶσι

If your readers would misunderstand this passive phrase, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who would do the action. Alternate translation: “so that God may teach them” (See: Active or Passive)

1 Timothy 2

1 Timothy 2 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter

Peace

Paul encourages Christians to pray for everyone. They should pray for rulers so that Christians can live peacefully, in a godly and dignified way.

Women in the church

Scholars are divided over how to understand this passage in its historical and cultural context. Some scholars believe that God created men and women to serve in distinctly different roles in marriage and the church. Other scholars believe that God wants women to use the gifts He gives them on an equal basis with men. Translators should be careful not to let how they understand this issue affect how they translate this passage.

1 Timothy 2:1

πρῶτον πάντων

As in 1:15, the term first figuratively means the superlative example of a class. Alternate translation: “most importantly” (See: Idiom)

παρακαλῶ

Alternate translation: “I encourage” or “I exhort”

ποιεῖσθαι δεήσεις, προσευχάς, ἐντεύξεις, εὐχαριστίας

If your readers would misunderstand this passive phrase, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who would do the action and who would receive the action. Alternate translation: “I urge all believers to make requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings to God” (See: Active or Passive)

ἀνθρώπων

Paul uses the term men here in a generic sense that includes both men and women. Alternate translation: “people” (See: When Masculine Words Include Women)

1 Timothy 2:2

ἤρεμον καὶ ἡσύχιον βίον

The terms peaceful and quiet mean the same thing. Paul uses them together for emphasis. He wants all believers to be able to live their lives without having trouble with the authorities. If your readers would misunderstand these terms, you could combine these terms. Alternate translation: “an undisturbed life” (See: Doublet)

ἐν πάσῃ εὐσεβείᾳ καὶ σεμνότητι

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could express the idea behind the abstract nouns godliness and dignity with phrases that use verbs such as “honor” and “respect.” Alternate translation: “that honors God and that other people will respect” (See: Abstract Nouns)

1 Timothy 2:3

καλὸν καὶ ἀπόδεκτον ἐνώπιον…Θεοῦ

The terms good and acceptable mean similar things. Paul may be using them together for emphasis. If you think that having both terms in your translation might be confusing for your readers, you could combine them. Alternate translation: “very pleasing to God” (See: Doublet)

1 Timothy 2:4

ὃς πάντας ἀνθρώπους θέλει σωθῆναι

If your readers would misunderstand this passive phrase, you could express this with an active form. Alternate translation: “who wants to save everyone” (See: Active or Passive)

πάντας ἀνθρώπους

Paul uses the term men here in a generic sense that includes both men and women. Alternate translation: “everyone” (See: When Masculine Words Include Women)

εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν ἀληθείας ἐλθεῖν

Paul speaks of learning the truth about God as if it were a place where people could come. Alternate translation: “to know and accept what is true” (See: Metaphor)

1 Timothy 2:5

εἷς καὶ μεσίτης Θεοῦ καὶ ἀνθρώπων

A mediator is a person who helps negotiate a peaceful settlement between two parties who disagree with each other. Alternate translation: “and one person who is able to reconcile God and people” (See: Translate Unknowns)

ἀνθρώπων

Paul uses the term men here in a generic sense that includes both men and women. Alternate translation: “people” (See: When Masculine Words Include Women)

ἄνθρωπος Χριστὸς Ἰησοῦς

Paul is likely using the term man in a generic sense to refer to the humanity of Jesus. Alternate translation: “Christ Jesus, who is also human” (See: When Masculine Words Include Women)

1 Timothy 2:6

δοὺς ἑαυτὸν

Alternate translation: “sacrificed himself” or “died willingly”

ἀντίλυτρον ὑπὲρ πάντων

Alternate translation: “as the price of freedom for everyone”

τὸ μαρτύριον

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could make it explicit that this demonstrated specifically that God wants to save all people. Alternate translation: “as the proof that God wants to save all people” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

καιροῖς ἰδίοις

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: “at the time that God had chosen” (See: Idiom)

1 Timothy 2:7

εἰς ὃ

Here, which refers back to the testimony about God in the previous verse. Alternate translation: “of this testimony”

ἐτέθην ἐγὼ κῆρυξ καὶ ἀπόστολος

If your readers would misunderstand this passive phrase, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who did the action. Alternate translation: “Jesus has made me, Paul, a preacher and a representative for him” (See: Active or Passive)

κῆρυξ

A herald is someone who is sent out to announce a message. If your language does not have a similar term and your readers would not know what a herald is, you could use a general expression for this. Alternate translations: “an announcer” or “a messenger” (See: Translate Unknowns)

κῆρυξ

Paul compares himself to a herald because God has sent him out to announce the gospel message. Alternate translation: “a preacher” (See: Metaphor)

ἐν Χριστῷ

Alternate translation: “as a follower of Christ”

ἀλήθειαν λέγω ἐν Χριστῷ, οὐ ψεύδομαι

In order to emphasize what he is saying, Paul says the same thing twice, first positively and then negatively. If this is confusing in your language, you can express this once. Alternate translation: “I am telling you the truth as a follower of Christ”

διδάσκαλος ἐθνῶν ἐν πίστει καὶ ἀληθείᾳ

Here, faith and truth could mean: (1) the content of what Paul teaches. Alternate translation: “I teach the Gentiles the message of faith and truth” (2) Paul’s character as a teacher. Alternate translation: “a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles”

διδάσκαλος ἐθνῶν ἐν πίστει καὶ ἀληθείᾳ

If this phrase has the second meaning that the previous note discusses, Paul may be using the two terms faith and truth together to express one idea. Alternate translation: “I teach the Gentiles about the true faith” (See: Hendiadys)

ἐθνῶν

This term the nations refers to members of other people groups who are not Jewish. Alternate translations: “of the Gentiles” or “of non-Jewish people groups”

1 Timothy 2:8

τοὺς ἄνδρας ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ

Here the word men refers specifically to males. The term is not generic, since Paul addresses women next. Alternate translations: “the males in all places” or “men everywhere” (See: When Masculine Words Include Women)

ἐπαίροντας ὁσίους χεῖρας

It was the customary posture in this culture for people to raise their hands while praying. You could translate this in a way that would make that clear. Alternate translation: “reverently lifting up their hands in the customary way” (See: Symbolic Action)

προσεύχεσθαι…ἐπαίροντας ὁσίους χεῖρας

Paul describes one part of the person, the hands, as holy to indicate that the entire person is to be holy. Alternate translation: “lifting up their hands to pray in holiness” (See: Synecdoche)

χωρὶς ὀργῆς καὶ διαλογισμοῦ

Here Paul expresses a single idea by using two words connected with and. The word anger tells what kind of argument the men should avoid. If your readers would misunderstand this, you could express this meaning with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “without angry arguments” (See: Hendiadys)

1 Timothy 2:9

ὡσαύτως

Here Paul leaves out some of the words that a sentence would ordinarily need in order to be complete. Alternate translation: “in the same way, I also want” (See: Ellipsis)

μὴ ἐν πλέγμασιν

During this time, many Roman women braided their hair lavishly to try to make themselves attractive. If your readers would not be familiar with the practice of braiding hair, you could express this idea in a more general way. Alternate translations: “they should not have fancy hairstyles” or “they should not have elaborate hairstyles that attract attention” (See: Translate Unknowns)

μὴ ἐν πλέγμασιν

Paul mentions braids and gold as ways a woman could give undue attention to her hair. At the time, women would make elaborate braided hairstyles, often weaving in chains of gold. Alternate translations: “not with fancy hairstyles” or “not by means of elaborate hairstyles that attract attention” (See: Synecdoche)

μαργαρίταις

These pearls are beautiful and valuable mineral balls that people use as jewelry. They are formed inside the shell of a small animal that lives in the ocean. If your readers would not be familiar with pearls, you could express this idea in a more general way. Alternate translation: “decorations made from valuable materials” (See: Translate Unknowns)

1 Timothy 2:10

ἐπαγγελλομέναις θεοσέβειαν, δι’ ἔργων ἀγαθῶν

Alternate translation: “who want to honor God by the good things that they do”

1 Timothy 2:11

ἐν ἡσυχίᾳ

Paul may be saying that he wants the women to listen rather than to speak. Alternate translation: “by listening” (See: Idiom)

ἐν πάσῃ ὑποταγῇ

Alternate translation: “and submit to the authority of the teacher”

1 Timothy 2:12

εἶναι ἐν ἡσυχίᾳ

As in 2:11, Paul may be saying that he wants the women to listen rather than to speak. Alternate translation: “she should listen quietly”

1 Timothy 2:13

Ἀδὰμ…πρῶτος ἐπλάσθη

If your readers would misunderstand this passive phrase, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who did the action. Alternate translation: “God created Adam first” (See: Active or Passive)

εἶτα Εὕα

Here Paul leaves out some of the words that a sentence would ordinarily need in order to be complete. Alternate translation: “and then God created Eve” (See: Ellipsis)

1 Timothy 2:14

Ἀδὰμ οὐκ ἠπατήθη

If your readers would misunderstand this passive phrase, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who did the action. Alternate translation: “Adam was not the one whom the serpent deceived” (See: Active or Passive)

ἡ δὲ γυνὴ ἐξαπατηθεῖσα, ἐν παραβάσει γέγονεν

If your readers would misunderstand this passive phrase, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who did the action. Alternate translation: “but it was the woman who disobeyed God when the serpent deceived her” (See: Active or Passive)

ἐν παραβάσει γέγονεν

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract noun transgression, you could express the ideas behind it with a verbal phrase. Alternate translations: “began to sin” or “began to disobey God” (See: Abstract Nouns)

1 Timothy 2:15

δὲ

Use a natural way in your language to indicate that this sentence provides a contrast to the previous sentence. (See: Connect — Contrast Relationship)

σωθήσεται

Here, she likely refers to Eve, mentioned in the preceding verse, and whom Paul describes as “the woman.” Later in the sentence, they refers to women in general. To show how Paul shifts the topic from Eve, a representative woman, to all women, the word she could be translated here as “women.”

σωθήσεται…διὰ τῆς τεκνογονίας

This could mean: (1) people thought that women would be condemned because of Eve’s sin and punished even more than with the pain of childbearing (see Genesis 3:16), or they may have thought that a woman who believed in Jesus was no longer under the punishment that God gave in Genesis 3:16. Since the Greek word translated through can also mean “with” or “while,” Paul may be saying here that women continue to have the punishment of pain in childbirth but will be saved from additional punishment as long as they have faith in Jesus. Alternate translation: “God will save women, although they do have to endure childbirth” (2) the women of the church in Ephesus were being led away from faith in Jesus by the false teachers (see 2 Timothy 3:6), so Paul is recommending that they focus on raising their families rather than listening to (or participating in) the “foolish talk” (1:6). Alternate translation: “God will save women as they attend to their families” (3) a reference to the birth of Jesus as a human child to be the Savior. Alternate translation: “God will save women through Jesus, who was born as a child”

διὰ τῆς τεκνογονίας

If option number 2 from the previous note is correct, then Paul is figuratively referring to all of the aspects of motherhood by mentioning the beginning part of it: childbearing. Alternate translation: “as they attend to their families” (See: Synecdoche)

σωθήσεται

If your readers would misunderstand this passive phrase, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who did the action. Alternate translation: “God will save women” (See: Active or Passive)

ἐὰν μείνωσιν

Here, they refers to women. Paul switches from the singular to the plural as he switches from talking about Eve as the representative of women to women in general. Alternate translation: “if women continue living”

ἐν πίστει, καὶ ἀγάπῃ, καὶ ἁγιασμῷ

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract nouns faith, love, and holiness, you could express the ideas behind them with verbs. Alternate translation: “trusting Jesus, loving others, and living in a holy way” (See: Abstract Nouns)

μετὰ σωφροσύνης

Here, with self-control could mean: (1) with good judgment. (2) with modesty. (3) with clear thinking. (See: Idiom)

1 Timothy 3

1 Timothy 3 General Notes

Structure and formatting

3:16 was probably a song, poem, or creed the early church used to express what it understood to be the meaning of who Jesus was and what he did.

Overseers and deacons

The church has used different titles for church leaders. Some titles include elder, pastor, and bishop. The word “overseer” reflects the Greek term in verses 1-2, which means literally an “over-seer.” The word “bishop” is derived directly from the letters of this Greek term. Paul writes about another kind of church leader, a “deacon,” in verses 8 and 12.

Character qualities

This chapter lists several qualities that an overseer or deacon in the church must have. (See: Abstract Nouns)

1 Timothy 3:1

πιστὸς ὁ λόγος

As in 1:15, in this context the term word has a meaning more like “statement” or “message.” Alternate translation: “this statement is dependable”

πιστὸς ὁ λόγος

Paul uses this phrase to introduce a direct quotation. It may be helpful to your readers if you indicate this by setting off the words that follow in the rest of the verse with quotation marks or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language may use to indicate a quotation. (See: Quote Markings)

ἐπισκοπῆς

The term overseer describes a leader of the early Christian church whose work was to take care of the spiritual needs of believers and make sure that they received accurate biblical teaching. Alternate translation: “spiritual leader” (See: Translate Unknowns)

καλοῦ ἔργου

Alternate translations: “an honorable task” or “an honorable role”

1 Timothy 3:2

μιᾶς γυναικὸς ἄνδρα

Here, if one wife means that he has only one wife, that is, he does not have any other wives or concubines. This also means that he does not commit adultery and may also mean that he has not divorced a previous wife. Alternate translations: “a man who has only one woman” or “a man who is faithful to his wife”

δεῖ…εἶναι…νηφάλιον, σώφρονα, κόσμιον, φιλόξενον

Alternate translation: “He must … not do anything to excess, he must be reasonable and behave well, and he must be welcoming to strangers”

1 Timothy 3:3

μὴ πάροινον, μὴ πλήκτην, ἀλλὰ ἐπιεικῆ, ἄμαχον

Alternate translation: “he must not drink alcohol to excess, and he must not fight and argue, but instead, he must be gentle and peaceful”

ἀφιλάργυρον

If the expression loving money would not convey the idea of something inappropriate in your language, it might be helpful to use a term that expresses the idea of “greed.” Alternate translation: “not greedy for money” (See: Metaphor)

1 Timothy 3:4

προϊστάμενον

Alternate translations: “he should lead” or “he should take care of”

ἐν ὑποταγῇ, μετὰ πάσης σεμνότητος

This could mean: (1) the overseer’s children should obey their father and show respect to him. Alternate translation: “who obey him completely respectfully” (2) the overseer’s children should show respect to everyone. Alternate translation: “who obey him and show respect to everyone” or (3) the overseer should show respect to those in his household as he leads them. Alternate translation: “who obey him as he treats them with respect”

1 Timothy 3:5

εἰ δέ τις τοῦ ἰδίου οἴκου προστῆναι οὐκ οἶδεν, πῶς ἐκκλησίας Θεοῦ ἐπιμελήσεται?

Paul is making a statement, not actually asking a question. He does not expect Timothy to explain how a man who could not manage his own household could take care of God’s church. Instead, Paul is using the question form to emphasize how important it is for an overseer to demonstrate faithfulness in his personal life before assuming a leadership role in the church. If your readers would misunderstand this, you could translate these words as a statement. Alternate translation: “I say this because a man who is not able to manage his own household will certainly not be able to take care of the church of God” (See: Rhetorical Question)

ἐκκλησίας Θεοῦ

Here the term church refers to a local group of God’s people, not to a building. Alternate translations: “a group of God’s people” or “a local gathering of believers” (See: Metonymy)

1 Timothy 3:6

μὴ νεόφυτον

Alternate translations: “he should not be still just learning the faith” or “he must be mature from a long, steady growth in the faith”

τυφωθεὶς

Paul is warning that a new convert might become excessively proud if he were given an important leadership position right away. Alternate translation: “becoming proud of himself” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

τυφωθεὶς

Paul describes being proud figuratively as if it made a person swell in size. Alternate translation: “thinking that he is better than others” (See: Metaphor)

ἵνα μὴ…εἰς κρίμα ἐμπέσῃ τοῦ διαβόλου

Paul describes the experience of being condemned for having done wrong as like falling into a hole. Alternate translation: “and have God condemn him … as he condemned the devil” (See: Metaphor)

1 Timothy 3:7

τῶν ἔξωθεν

Paul speaks of the church figuratively as though it were a place and unbelievers were physically outside of it. Alternate translation: “those who are not believers” (See: Metaphor)

μὴ εἰς ὀνειδισμὸν ἐμπέσῃ

Paul speaks of disgrace figuratively as if it were a hole that a person could fall into. Alternate translation: “so that he does not do anything that would make him ashamed” (See: Metaphor)

παγίδα τοῦ διαβόλου

Paul speaks of the devil tempting someone to sin as if it were a trap that could catch a person. Alternate translation: “so that the devil is not able to tempt him to sin” (See: Metaphor)

1 Timothy 3:8

διακόνους ὡσαύτως

Alternate translation: “deacons, just like overseers”

μὴ διλόγους

Paul speaks figuratively about some people as if they could say two things at once. Alternate translation: “they should not say one thing but mean something else” (See: Metaphor)

μὴ διλόγους

If your readers would misunderstand not double-talkers, you can state this positively. Alternate translation: “be honest in what they say” (See: Double Negatives)

1 Timothy 3:9

ἔχοντας

Paul speaks of true teaching about God as if it were an object that a person could hold. Alternate translation: “they must continue to believe” (See: Metaphor)

τὸ μυστήριον

Paul uses the abstract noun mystery to refer to a truth that had existed for some time but that God was revealing at that moment. If your readers would misunderstand this, you could express the idea behind this term with a verb such as “reveal.” Alternate translation: “what God has now revealed” (See: Abstract Nouns)

τὸ μυστήριον τῆς πίστεως

Here, faith refers to the content of the mystery, that is, the specific things that God has revealed and that followers of Jesus must believe. Alternate translation: “the teachings that God has revealed to us” (See: Abstract Nouns)

ἐν καθαρᾷ συνειδήσει

Paul speaks figuratively of a person’s sense of right and wrong being clean, which means that it assures that person that he has done nothing wrong. Alternate translation: “knowing that they are not doing anything wrong” (See: Metaphor)

1 Timothy 3:10

καὶ οὗτοι…δοκιμαζέσθωσαν πρῶτον

If your readers would misunderstand this passive phrase, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who would the action. Alternate translations: “the leaders should observe and approve of them first” or “they should first prove themselves” (See: Active or Passive)

1 Timothy 3:11

γυναῖκας

This could mean: (1) deacons’ wives. (2) female deacons.

σεμνάς

Alternate translations: “people who act properly” or “people who are worthy of respect”

μὴ διαβόλους

Alternate translation: “they must not say malicious things about other people”

νηφαλίους

See how you translated sober in 3:2. Alternate translation: “not doing anything to excess.”

1 Timothy 3:12

μιᾶς γυναικὸς ἄνδρες

See how you translated this phrase in 3:2. Review the note there if that would be helpful. Alternate translations: “not married to more than one woman” or “faithful to their wives”

τέκνων καλῶς προϊστάμενοι καὶ τῶν ἰδίων οἴκων

Alternate translation: “taking proper care of their children and their personal affairs”

1 Timothy 3:13

γὰρ

Paul here uses the word For to introduce what the results will be if people with the qualifications he has just described are chosen as church leaders. Alternate translation: “After all” (See: Connect — Reason-and-Result Relationship)

οἱ…καλῶς διακονήσαντες

This phrase could refer either to deacons, whom Paul has just discussed, or to overseers as well, as a conclusion to Paul’s entire discussion of church leaders. Alternate translations: “deacons who serve well” or “church leaders who serve well”

βαθμὸν…καλὸν

This could mean: (1) an honorable position. (2) a good reputation.

καὶ πολλὴν παρρησίαν ἐν πίστει τῇ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ

This could mean: (1) they will speak more confidently to other people about believing in Jesus. (2) they will trust in Jesus with even more confidence.

1 Timothy 3:14

ἐν τάχει

The expression in quickness describes Paul’s haste and urgency. Alternate translation: “as soon as I can” (See: Idiom)

ἐλθεῖν

In some languages it is more natural to say “go” here, rather than come. Alternate translation: “to go” (See: Go and Come)

1 Timothy 3:15

ἐὰν δὲ βραδύνω

This phrase does not imply that Paul might choose to take his time rather than hurrying. Alternate translations: “but in case I cannot get there soon” or “but if something prevents me from getting there soon”

ἵνα εἰδῇς πῶς δεῖ ἐν οἴκῳ Θεοῦ ἀναστρέφεσθαι

Paul speaks of the group of believers as a family because God adopts each believer as a son or daughter through Christ. This could refer to: (1) the believers in general. Alternate translation: “so that you all may know how to conduct yourselves as members of God’s family” (2) Timothy’s behavior in the church. Alternate translation: “so that you may know how to conduct yourself as a member of God’s family”

οἴκῳ Θεοῦ…ἥτις ἐστὶν ἐκκλησία Θεοῦ ζῶντος

This phrase gives us further information about the household of God. It is not making a distinction between a household of God that is the church and one that is not the church. Alternate translation: “household of God, by which I mean the community of people who believe in the living God” (See: Distinguishing Versus Informing or Reminding)

στῦλος καὶ ἑδραίωμα τῆς ἀληθείας

Paul speaks of the truth as if it were a building and of the community of believers as if they were helping to hold up that building. Alternate translation: “which helps to proclaim God’s truth” (See: Metaphor)

στῦλος καὶ ἑδραίωμα

The terms pillar and support mean basically the same thing. They are architectural features that hold up parts of buildings. Paul uses the terms together for emphasis. If your readers would misunderstand this, you could combine them into an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “which helps promote” (See: Doublet)

Θεοῦ ζῶντος

Alternate translations: “the God who is genuinely alive” or “the true God” (See: Idiom)

1 Timothy 3:16

μέγα ἐστὶν τὸ τῆς εὐσεβείας μυστήριον

While in most of this letter Paul uses the term godliness to describe godly living, in this instance the term instead seems to describe the reverence for God that would lead a person to live a right life. Alternate translation: “the truth that God has revealed, that leads us to worship him, is great”

μέγα ἐστὶν τὸ τῆς εὐσεβείας μυστήριον

Since Paul follows this statement by quoting a hymn or poem about the life of Jesus, the implication is that he sees Jesus as having made it possible for people to worship God in the most genuine way. Alternate translation: “the truth that God has revealed about why we worship Jesus is great” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ὃς ἐφανερώθη ἐν σαρκί, ἐδικαιώθη ἐν Πνεύματι, ὤφθη ἀγγέλοις, ἐκηρύχθη ἐν ἔθνεσιν, ἐπιστεύθη ἐν κόσμῳ, ἀνελήμφθη ἐν δόξῃ

This is most likely a song or poem that Paul is quoting. If your language has a way of indicating that this is poetry, such as through line-by-line formatting, you could use that here. (See: Poetry)

ὃς ἐφανερώθη ἐν σαρκί

If your readers would misunderstand this passive phrase, you could express this with an active form. (Be sure not to suggest in your translation that Jesus only seemed or appeared to be human.) Alternate translations: “he revealed himself as a human being” or “he came to earth as a human being” (See: Active or Passive)

ἐν σαρκί

Paul uses the term flesh figuratively here to mean “in a human body.” He is describing the human body by reference to something associated with it, the flesh that envelops it. Alternate translation: “as a true human being” (See: Metonymy)

ἐδικαιώθη ἐν Πνεύματι

If your readers would misunderstand this passive phrase, you could express this with an active form. Alternate translation: “the Holy Spirit confirmed that he was who he said he was” (See: Active or Passive)

ὤφθη ἀγγέλοις

If your readers would misunderstand this passive phrase, you could express this with an active form. Alternate translation: “the angels saw him” (See: Active or Passive)

ἐκηρύχθη ἐν ἔθνεσιν

If your readers would misunderstand this passive phrase, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who did the action. Alternate translation: “people in many nations told others about him” (See: Active or Passive)

ἐπιστεύθη ἐν κόσμῳ

If your readers would misunderstand this passive phrase, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who did the action. Alternate translation: “people throughout the world believed in him” (See: Active or Passive)

ἀνελήμφθη ἐν δόξῃ

If your readers would misunderstand this passive phrase, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who did the action. Alternate translation: “God the Father took him up to heaven in glory” (See: Active or Passive)

ἀνελήμφθη ἐν δόξῃ

The abstract noun glory refers to the way Jesus received power from God the Father and is worthy of honor. If your readers would misunderstand this, you could express the idea behind this term with an adjective such as “powerful” and a verb such as “admire.” Alternate translation: “God the Father took him up to heaven, making him powerful and making everyone admire him” (See: Abstract Nouns)

1 Timothy 4

1 Timothy 4 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter

Paul speaks in 4:14 of prophecy. A “prophecy” is a message that God communicates to people through someone to whom He has given a special gift of hearing and conveying these messages. The specific prophecy that Paul describes revealed how Timothy would become a gifted leader of the church. (See: prophet, prophecy, prophesy, seer, prophetess)

Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter

Cultural practices

In verse 14 Paul speaks of church leaders placing their hands on Timothy. That was one way of indicating publicly that a person was being placed in a leadership position in the church.

Variation in names

In this chapter Paul speaks of church leaders called “elders.” They seem to be the same kind of leaders that he calls “overseers” in chapter 3.

1 Timothy 4:1

δὲ

Paul here uses the word Now to introduce background information that will help Timothy and the believers in Ephesus understand the next part of his letter. The false teachings that Timothy must oppose are something that the Spirit has already predicted. You can translate the term with the word or phrase in your language that is most similar in meaning and significance.

ἐν ὑστέροις καιροῖς

This expression refers to the time period when God’s purposes in history are approaching their culmination and so the evil opposition to them increases. Paul is probably referring to the time period between Jesus’ resurrection and his second coming. Alternate translation: “in these days as God’s purposes advance” (See: Idiom)

ἀποστήσονταί τινες τῆς πίστεως

Paul speaks of people ceasing to trust in Christ as if they were physically leaving a place. Alternate translation: “some people will stop trusting in Jesus” (See: Metaphor)

ἀποστήσονταί τινες τῆς πίστεως

Here, faith could refer to: (1) the teachings about Jesus. Alternate translation: “some people will stop believing the teachings about Jesus” (2) trust in Jesus. Alternate translation: “some people will stop trusting in Jesus” (See: Abstract Nouns)

προσέχοντες

Alternate translations: “and turn their attention to” or “because they are paying attention to”

πνεύμασι πλάνοις καὶ διδασκαλίαις δαιμονίων

These two phrases mean similar things. Paul may be using them together for emphasis. If you think having both phrases in your translation might be confusing for your readers, you could combine them into a single expression. Alternate translation: “the things that evil spirits say to trick people” (See: Doublet)

1 Timothy 4:2

ἐν ὑποκρίσει ψευδολόγων

If your readers would misunderstand what this phrase refers to, you could start a separate sentence here. Alternate translation: “The people who teach these things are hypocrites, and they tell lies”

κεκαυστηριασμένων τὴν ἰδίαν συνείδησιν

Paul is speaking figuratively of these people as if their sense of right and wrong had been ruined like skin that someone had burned with a hot iron. Alternate translation: “they will not have any sense of right and wrong any more” (See: Metaphor)

κεκαυστηριασμένων τὴν ἰδίαν συνείδησιν

If your readers would misunderstand this passive phrase, you could express this with an active form. Alternate translation: “they will be people who have destroyed their sense of right and wrong” (See: Active or Passive)

1 Timothy 4:3

κωλυόντων γαμεῖν

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could begin a new sentence here. Alternate translation: “these people teach that it is wrong to marry”

κωλυόντων γαμεῖν

The implication of this phrase is that these false teachers will forbid believers to marry. Alternate translation: “these people will forbid believers to marry” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἀπέχεσθαι βρωμάτων

Here Paul leaves out some of the words that a sentence would ordinarily need in order to be complete. He does not mean that these false teachers will forbid believers to abstain from certain foods, but that the false teachers will require them to abstain from certain foods. In other words, the meaning of forbidding does not carry forward from the previous clause; rather, the meaning of “requiring” should be supplied. Alternate translation: “they will require believers to abstain from certain foods” (See: Ellipsis)

ἀπέχεσθαι βρωμάτων

The implication of this phrase is that these false teachers will forbid only certain foods and that they will impose this restriction on believers. Alternate translation: “they will forbid believers to eat certain foods” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

τοῖς πιστοῖς καὶ ἐπεγνωκόσι τὴν ἀλήθειαν

These two expressions mean the same thing. Paul uses them together for emphasis. If your readers would misunderstand this, you could combine these terms. Alternate translation: “by the genuine believers” (See: Doublet)

τοῖς πιστοῖς

Paul is using the adjective faithful as a noun to refer to a class of people that it describes. If your readers would misunderstand this, you could translate it with a noun phrase. Alternate translation: “by people who believe in Jesus” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

1 Timothy 4:4

ὅτι

The word For communicates that what follows is the reason for what Paul just said. Use a natural way in your language to give a reason. Alternate translation: “that is true because” (See: Connect — Reason-and-Result Relationship)

πᾶν κτίσμα Θεοῦ καλόν

If your readers would misunderstand the phraseevery creation, you could express the idea behind the expression creation of God with a relative clause. Alternate translation: “everything that God created is good” (See: Distinguishing Versus Informing or Reminding)

οὐδὲν ἀπόβλητον μετὰ εὐχαριστίας λαμβανόμενον

If your readers would misunderstand this passive phrase, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who would do the action. Alternate translation: “we are free to eat anything that we can thank God for” (See: Active or Passive)

1 Timothy 4:5

γὰρ

The word for communicates that what follows is the reason for the last part of what Paul has just said. In other words, it is the reason why “nothing being received with thanksgiving is vile.” Use a natural way in your language to give a reason. Alternate translation: “because” (See: Connect — Reason-and-Result Relationship)

ἁγιάζεται

If your readers would misunderstand this passive phrase, you could express this with an active form. Alternate translations: “it becomes holy” or “it is suitable to eat” (See: Active or Passive)

διὰ λόγου Θεοῦ

In this context, the term word has a specific meaning. It refers to the pronouncement that God made in his word that everything that he created was good. Alternate translation: “because of what God said about it” (See: Metonymy)

καὶ ἐντεύξεως

In context, the implication is that this refers to prayers of thanksgiving to God for food. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: “and because of the thanks that people offer to God for it in prayer” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

1 Timothy 4:6

ταῦτα ὑποτιθέμενος τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς

Paul speaks of his instructions as if they were objects that could be physically placed in front of the other believers. Alternate translation: “if you help the believers remember these things” (See: Metaphor)

ταῦτα

This refers to the teaching that began in 3:16.

τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς

Paul is using the term brothers in a generic sense that includes men and women. Alternate translation: “the brothers and sisters” (See: When Masculine Words Include Women)

τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς

The term the brothers figuratively means fellow believers in Jesus. Alternative translation: “your fellow believers” (See: Metaphor)

ἐντρεφόμενος τοῖς λόγοις τῆς πίστεως, καὶ τῆς καλῆς διδασκαλίας ᾗ παρηκολούθηκας

If your readers would misunderstand this passive phrase, you could express this with an active form, and you could state what is doing the action. Alternate translation: “the statements of what we believe, expessed in proper teaching, are causing you to trust more strongly in Christ” (See: Active or Passive)

ἐντρεφόμενος τοῖς λόγοις τῆς πίστεως, καὶ τῆς καλῆς διδασκαλίας ᾗ παρηκολούθηκας

Paul speaks of these statements and teachings as if they could physically feed Timothy and make him strong. Alternate translation: “the statements of what we believe, expressed in proper teaching, are causing you to trust more strongly in Christ” (See: Metaphor)

τοῖς λόγοις τῆς πίστεως, καὶ τῆς καλῆς διδασκαλίας

Paul uses the term words figuratively to describe the statements of belief and the teachings that explain them, both expressed in words. Alternate translation: “the statements of what we believe, expressed in proper teaching” (See: Metonymy)

1 Timothy 4:7

τοὺς…βεβήλους καὶ γραώδεις μύθους

See how you translated myths in 1:4 and profane in 1:9. Alternate translation: “foolish, made-up stories in which nothing is sacred”

γραώδεις μύθους

The term old-womanish is an idiom that means “silly” or “foolish.” Paul tells Timothy in 5:2 that he should respect older women as mothers, so Paul’s expression here should be recognized as idiomatic rather than disrespectful. Your language may have a similar expression. Alternate translation: “old wives’ tales” (See: Idiom)

γύμναζε…σεαυτὸν πρὸς εὐσέβειαν

Paul tells Timothy figuratively to work to develop godly character as if he were an athlete improving his physical conditioning. Alternate translation: “diligently practice acting in ways that please God” (See: Metaphor)

1 Timothy 4:8

γὰρ

What follows after the word for is a direct quotation of a saying that Paul uses for teaching. It may be helpful to your readers if you indicate this by setting off the words that follow in the rest of the verse with quotation marks or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language may use to indicate a quotation. (See: Quote Markings)

σωματικὴ γυμνασία

Alternate translation: “physical exercise”

πρὸς ὀλίγον ἐστὶν ὠφέλιμος

This could mean: (1) it has some small value. (2) it has value for a little while. (3) it does not have very much value.

ἐπαγγελίαν ἔχουσα

Alternate translation: “will bring benefits”

1 Timothy 4:9

πιστὸς ὁ λόγος

As in 1:15 and 3:1, in this context, the term word means “statement” or “saying.” (Paul is referring to the entire saying that he quoted in the previous verse.) Alternate translation: “this statement is dependable”

καὶ πάσης ἀποδοχῆς ἄξιος

See how you translated this in 1:15. Alternate translations: “and we should believe it without any doubt” or “and we should have full confidence in it”

1 Timothy 4:10

εἰς τοῦτο γὰρ

The term this refers to “godliness,” which Paul mentions in the previous two verses. Paul is giving a reason why Timothy should believe the saying about the value of godliness. He and his other fellow workers are striving very hard to become godly, so it must be valuable. Alternate translation: “after all, it is for godliness that” (See: Connect — Reason-and-Result Relationship)

κοπιῶμεν καὶ ἀγωνιζόμεθα

The terms toil and struggle mean basically the same thing. Paul uses them together to emphasize the intensity with which he and his fellow workers are serving God. If your readers would misunderstand these terms, you could combine these terms. Alternate translation: “we work so hard” (See: Doublet)

κοπιῶμεν καὶ ἀγωνιζόμεθα

This could be the one place where we does not include the addressee. Paul has just told Timothy to make godliness his priority rather than physical exercise, and he may be offering himself and his other fellow workers as an example of that for Timothy to follow. So if your language makes that distinction, you may wish to use the exclusive form in this phrase. However, we in the next phrase would include Timothy, since Paul is encouraging Timothy to join him and his fellow workers in making godliness his priority as someone who, like them, has hoped in the living God. (See: Exclusive and Inclusive ‘We’)

Θεῷ ζῶντι

See how you translated this in 3:15. Alternate translations: “the God who is genuinely alive” or “the true God” (See: Idiom)

πάντων ἀνθρώπων

Paul uses the term men here in a generic sense that includes both men and women. Alternate translation: “of all people” (See: When Masculine Words Include Women)

1 Timothy 4:12

μηδείς σου τῆς νεότητος καταφρονείτω

The term despise here does not mean “hate,” but “think little of” or “scorn.” Alternate translation: “Do not let anyone disrespect you just because you are young”

ἐν λόγῳ

In this context, the term word means “what you say.” Alternate translation: “in your speech”

1 Timothy 4:13

πρόσεχε τῇ ἀναγνώσει, τῇ παρακλήσει, τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state explicitly what Timothy is to read and to whom, and whom he is to exhort and teach. Alternate translation: “continue reading the Scriptures to the people in the church there, exhorting them, and teaching them” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

πρόσεχε τῇ ἀναγνώσει, τῇ παρακλήσει, τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract nouns reading, exhortation, and teaching, you can translate them with verbal phrases. Alternate translation: “continue reading the Scriptures to the people in your meeting there, exhorting them, and teaching them” (See: Abstract Nouns)

1 Timothy 4:14

μὴ ἀμέλει

You can translate this phrase in a positive way if that is more natural for your language. Alternate translations: “continue to use” or “make sure you develop” (See: Double Negatives)

μὴ ἀμέλει τοῦ ἐν σοὶ χαρίσματος

Paul speaks of Timothy as if he were a container that could hold God’s gift. Alternate translation: “do not neglect the ability that God has given you” (See: Metaphor)

μὴ ἀμέλει τοῦ ἐν σοὶ χαρίσματος

The implication is that this gift is the ability that God has given Timothy for ministry. Alternate translation: “do not neglect the ability that God has given you” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ὃ ἐδόθη σοι διὰ προφητείας

If your readers would misunderstand this passive phrase, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who did the action. Alternate translation: “which you received when leaders of the church prophesied about you” (See: Active or Passive)

ἐπιθέσεως τῶν χειρῶν τοῦ πρεσβυτερίου

Paul is speaking of a ceremony during which the church leaders put their hands on Timothy and prayed that God would enable him to do the work he had commanded him to do. Alternate translation: “when the elders all laid their hands on you” (See: Symbolic Action)

1 Timothy 4:15

ταῦτα

If it is helpful in your language, you may want to make explicit what these things are. Alternate translation: “these things that I am telling you” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἐν τούτοις ἴσθι

Paul is speaking figuratively as if Timothy could physically be inside the instructions he has just given him. Alternate translation: “and follow them consistently” (See: Metaphor)

σου ἡ προκοπὴ

If it is helpful in your language, you may want to make explicit in what way Timothy is to make progress. Alternate translation: “your increasing ability to live the way that Jesus wants you to live” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

1 Timothy 4:16

ἔπεχε σεαυτῷ καὶ τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ

Alternate translation: “Pay attention to how you live and to what you teach”

ἐπίμενε αὐτοῖς

Alternate translation: “continue to do these things”

καὶ σεαυτὸν σώσεις καὶ τοὺς ἀκούοντάς σου

This could mean: (1) Timothy will save himself and those who hear him from God’s judgment (2) Timothy will protect himself and those who hear him from the influence of false teachers. Perhaps Paul means both things since, if Timothy can persuade the people of the church in Ephesus not to listen to the false teachers, then he will also spare them from God’s judgment for the wrong things they would have done if they had listened to those teachers. Alternate translation: “you will keep both yourself and your listeners from believing and doing the wrong things”

1 Timothy 5

1 Timothy 5 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter

Honor and respect

Paul encourages younger Christians to honor and respect older Christians. Cultures honor and respect older people in different ways.

Widows

In the ancient Near East, it was important to care for widows because they could not provide for themselves.

Variation in names

In this chapter, as in chapter 4, Paul speaks of church leaders called “elders.” Here, as well, they seem to be the same kind of leaders that he calls “overseers” in chapter 3.

1 Timothy 5:1

Paul was giving these commands to one person, Timothy. Languages that have different forms of “you” or different forms for commands would use the singular form here. (See: Forms of You)

πρεσβυτέρῳ μὴ ἐπιπλήξῃς

Alternate translation: “do not reprimand an older man”

ἀλλὰ παρακάλει

Alternate translation: “instead, encourage him”

ὡς πατέρα, νεωτέρους ὡς ἀδελφούς

Paul uses these two similes to tell Timothy that he should treat fellow believers with the same sincere love and respect that he would show to family members. Alternate translation: “as if he were your own father, and encourage younger men as if they were your own brothers” (See: Simile)

1 Timothy 5:2

ὡς μητέρας, νεωτέρας ὡς ἀδελφὰς

Paul uses these two similes to tell Timothy that he should treat fellow believers with sincere love and respect, just as he would treat family members. Alternate translation: “encourage each of them as if they were your own mother, and encourage younger women as if they were your own sisters” (See: Simile)

ἐν πάσῃ ἁγνίᾳ

If your readers would misunderstand the idea behind the abstract noun purity, you could translate it with an adjective such as “pure.” Alternate translation: “making sure that your thoughts and actions are pure” (See: Abstract Nouns)

1 Timothy 5:3

χήρας τίμα

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: “provide for widows” (See: Idiom)

τὰς ὄντως χήρας

Alternate translation: “widows who have no one else to provide for them”

1 Timothy 5:4

τέκνα ἢ ἔκγονα

Here these children and grandchildren are adults who are able to care for others, not young children.

πρῶτον

This could mean one of two things, or possibly both: (1) of all of their religious duties, taking care of their family is the most important one and the one that they should learn to do before anything else. Alternate translation: “as the most basic part of belonging to God’s people” (2) these children and grandchildren should be the first ones to take care of their family members, before the rest of the congregation. Alternate translation: “before the church offers any support”

μανθανέτωσαν…εὐσεβεῖν

Here, learn means to practice, that is, to learn by doing. Alternate translation: “let them become proficient in honoring”

μανθανέτωσαν…τὸν ἴδιον οἶκον εὐσεβεῖν, καὶ ἀμοιβὰς ἀποδιδόναι τοῖς προγόνοις

These two phrases may: (1) mean similar things and you could combine them if that would be helpful to your readers. If honor is an idiom for “provide” here, as in the previous verse, then Paul may be using repetition for emphasis. Alternate translation: “let them provide the support that their widowed mother or grandmother needs and deserves” (2) have a slight difference in meaning, and you could also choose to bring that out in your translation. Paul may actually be giving two reasons why people should support their widowed mothers or grandmothers. Alternate translation: “this is a respectful thing to do for widowed family members, and it will repay them for supporting their children and grandchildren as they were growing up” (See: Parallelism)

τὸν ἴδιον οἶκον

Paul uses this phrase figuratively to refer to family members, by association to the way they live in the same house. Alternate translations: “their own family members” or “those living in their homes” (See: Metonymy)

ἀμοιβὰς ἀποδιδόναι τοῖς προγόνοις

Alternate translation: “let them do good to their mother or grandmother in return for the good things their parents and grandparents gave them”

γάρ

Paul uses the term for to introduce an additional reason why family members should support their widowed mothers or grandmothers. Alternate translation: “also” (See: Connect — Reason-and-Result Relationship)

τοῦτο…ἐστιν ἀπόδεκτον ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ

Paul uses the expression before God, which means “in front of God,” to mean “where God can see.” Alternate translations: “this is pleasing in God’s view” or “this pleases God” (See: Metaphor)

1 Timothy 5:5

ἡ…ὄντως χήρα καὶ μεμονωμένη

The two words genuine and left-alone work together to describe one condition, and they may be combined if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “a widow who is genuinely alone” Or it may be that left-alone further defines genuine. Alternate translation: “a real widow, that is, one who has no family” (See: Hendiadys)

ἡ…χήρα

Here, the … widow does not refer to any specific widow, but to all widows who meet this description. Alternate translations: “any … widow” or “all … widows”

προσμένει ταῖς δεήσεσιν καὶ ταῖς προσευχαῖς

Paul leaves a verb unexpressed here that your language might need to express. Alternate translations: “continues in making requests and prayers” or “continues to make requests and to offer prayers” (See: Ellipsis)

ταῖς δεήσεσιν καὶ ταῖς προσευχαῖς

The phrase requests and prayers expresses a single idea by using two words connected with and. The word requests tells what kind of prayers Paul is talking about here. If your readers would misunderstand this phrase, you could express the meaning with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translations: “making requests to God in prayer” or “praying to God for what she needs” (See: Hendiadys).

νυκτὸς καὶ ἡμέρας

The words night and day are used together to mean that she prays to God often, no matter what time it is. It does not mean that she prays all night and all day without ever stopping. Alternate translation: “at all times” (See: Merism)

1 Timothy 5:6

ζῶσα τέθνηκεν

Paul speaks figuratively about people who do not seek to please God as if they were dead. Alternate translation: “has died in her spirit, even though she is still alive physically” (See: Metaphor)

1 Timothy 5:7

καὶ ταῦτα παράγγελλε, ἵνα ἀνεπίλημπτοι ὦσιν

This statement seems to refer back to 4:11, “Command and teach these things,” which Paul tells Timothy after telling him in 4:6 to “place these things before the brothers.” So they seems to refer to all the believers in this situation, including the widows, their families, and the local church that is supposed to organize the list of widows and make sure that the widows are cared for well. Alternate translation: “also give these instructions to the believers, so that no one will be able to accuse them of doing anything wrong”

1 Timothy 5:8

τις τῶν ἰδίων καὶ μάλιστα οἰκείων οὐ προνοεῖ

Here, his own is an idiom that means “his own relatives.” Alternate translation: “a person does not help with his relatives’ needs, and especially those of the family members living in his home” (See: Idiom)

τὴν πίστιν ἤρνηται

Here, the faith refers to believing in Jesus and obeying him. Paul explains that this action would be equivalent to denying all of this. Alternate translations: “by doing that, he denies that he belongs to Jesus” or “he has shown that he does not follow the Messiah” (See: Abstract Nouns)

ἔστιν ἀπίστου χείρων

The implication is that this person is worse than an unbeliever because even unbelievers take care of their own relatives. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: “is worse than those who do not believe in Jesus, because they do take care of their relatives” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

1 Timothy 5:9

χήρα καταλεγέσθω

If your readers would misunderstand this passive phrase, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who would do the action. Alternate translation: “have the church put a widow on the register” (See: Active or Passive)

χήρα καταλεγέσθω

There seems to have been a list of widows who had no family to help them. The church members met these women’s needs for food, clothing, and shelter, and these women then devoted their lives to serving the Christian community. If your readers would misunderstand this phrase, you could express this explicitly. Alternate translation: “have the church put a woman on the list of widows who truly need help” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

μὴ ἔλαττον ἐτῶν ἑξήκοντα γεγονυῖα

Paul is using the figure of speech not less than here that expresses a positive meaning by using a negative word together with a word that is the opposite of the intended meaning. Alternate translation: “if she is at least sixty years old” (See: Litotes)

ἑνὸς ἀνδρὸς γυνή

Like the similar expression in 3:2, this could mean: (1) she has only one husband. Alternate translation: “she was always faithful to her husband” (2) she was only married once. If it means this second possibility, it is not clear whether Paul means to exclude women who were married more than once and widowed each time, or more specifically women who divorced their husbands and married other men. Alternate translation: “she had one husband” (See: Idiom)

1 Timothy 5:10

ἐν ἔργοις καλοῖς μαρτυρουμένη

If your readers would misunderstand this passive phrase, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who did the action. Alternate translation: “people must be able to attest to her good deeds” (See: Active or Passive)

ἐξενοδόχησεν

Alternate translations: “has welcomed strangers into her home” or “practiced hospitality”

ἁγίων πόδας ἔνιψεν

In this culture, people walked barefoot or in sandals on roads that were dusty or muddy, so washing their feet once they entered a home was a way of helping them be comfortable and clean. If the people of your culture would not be familiar with this practice, you could use a general expression instead. Alternate translation: “has cared for believers who visited her” (See: Symbolic Action)

ἁγίων πόδας ἔνιψεν

Paul may be using one type of humble service figuratively to represent humble service in general. Alternate translation: “has done humble things to help other believers” (See: Synecdoche)

ἁγίων

The term saints refers to believers in Jesus as people who are “holy” or “set apart” for God. Alternate translations: “the believers” or “God’s holy people” (See: Idiom)

θλιβομένοις ἐπήρκεσεν

Paul is using the adjective afflicted as a noun to refer to a class of people that it describes. If your readers would misunderstand this term, you could translate it with a noun phrase. Alternate translation: “has helped people who were suffering” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

παντὶ ἔργῳ ἀγαθῷ ἐπηκολούθησεν

Paul uses the word every here as a generalization for emphasis. Alternate translation: “she has done many good deeds” (See: Hyperbole)

1 Timothy 5:11

νεωτέρας δὲ χήρας παραιτοῦ

Alternate translation: “But do not add the names of widows who are younger than 60 years old to the list of widows”

ὅταν…καταστρηνιάσωσιν τοῦ Χριστοῦ

The implication of this phrase is that when a widow accepted a place on the register, she promised to remain unmarried and devote herself to serving other believers. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate this explicitly. Alternate translation: “when they feel bodily desires that are contrary to their pledge of chastity” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

1 Timothy 5:12

ἔχουσαι κρίμα

Alternate translation: “and so they incur God’s judgment”

τὴν πρώτην πίστιν ἠθέτησαν

The term pledge here refers to a commitment that the widows made, as the last note to 5:11 explains, that they would serve the Christian community for the rest of their lives and not remarry if the community would supply their needs. Alternate translations: “they have not kept their prior commitment” or “they have not done what they had previously promised to do”

1 Timothy 5:13

καὶ ἀργαὶ μανθάνουσιν

Alternate translation: “they also get into the habit of doing nothing”

ἀργαὶ

Paul is using the adjective lazy as a noun to refer to a class of people that it describes. If your readers would misunderstand this term, you could translate it with a noun phrase. Alternate translation: “people who are lazy” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

περιερχόμεναι τὰς οἰκίας

Alternate translation: “going from house to house”

φλύαροι καὶ περίεργοι, λαλοῦσαι τὰ μὴ δέοντα

These three phrases may be ways of speaking about the same activity. Paul may be using repetition to emphasize that these women should not be looking into the private lives of people and telling about them to others who would be no better off after hearing this gossip. If you think it would be helpful to your readers, you could combine these phrases into a single one. Alternate translation: “people who interfere openly in other people’s business” (See: Doublet) (A doublet can consist of more than two terms.)

φλύαροι

Alternate translation: “people who talk nonsense”

1 Timothy 5:14

τῷ ἀντικειμένῳ

This expression could refer by implication to: (1) This could refer to: (1) Satan. This is the reading of UST. Alternate translation: “the devil” (2) unbelievers who are opposing the followers of Jesus. Alternate translation: “unbelievers who are opposing you”

1 Timothy 5:15

ἐξετράπησαν ὀπίσω τοῦ Σατανᾶ

Paul speaks of living in faithfulness to Christ as if it were a path that one can either follow or turn aside from. He means that some younger widows have stopped obeying Jesus and have started to do what Satan would want them to do instead. Alternate translation: “have stopped living in obedience to Jesus and have decided to obey Satan” (See: Metaphor)

1 Timothy 5:16

ἔχει χήρας

The implication is that she has widows within her extended family. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: “has relatives who are widows” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

καὶ μὴ βαρείσθω ἡ ἐκκλησία

Paul speaks figuratively of the community having to help more people than it is able to help as if it were carrying too much weight on its back. Alternate translations: “so that the church will not have more work than it can do” or “so that the Christian community will not have to support widows whose families could provide for them” (See: Metaphor)

καὶ μὴ βαρείσθω ἡ ἐκκλησία

If your readers would misunderstand this passive phrase, you could express this with an active form. Alternate translations: “so that the church will not have more work than it can do” or “so that the Christian community will not have to support widows whose families could provide for them” (See: Active or Passive)

ὄντως χήραις

Alternate translation: “widows who have no one else to provide for them”

1 Timothy 5:17

οἱ καλῶς προεστῶτες πρεσβύτεροι…ἀξιούσθωσαν

If your readers would misunderstand the passive phrase, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who would do the action. Alternate translation: “All believers should consider elders who are good leaders to be deserving” (See: Active or Passive)

διπλῆς τιμῆς

Here, double honor could mean: (1) the congregation should honor the elders in two ways. Alternate translation: “of both respect and payment for their work” (2) they should honor them twice as much as others. Since Paul quotes two Scriptures in the next verse that support the idea of church leaders being paid for their work, the first possibility is more likely. Alternate translation: “of more respect than others receive” (See: Abstract Nouns)

ἐν λόγῳ καὶ διδασκαλίᾳ

This phrase may be expressing a single idea by using two phrases (which are actually just two words in Greek) connected with and. The phrase in the word would be identifying the content of the teaching. If your readers would misunderstand this connection, you could express the meaning with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “at teaching from the Scriptures” (See: Hendiadys)

λόγῳ

Paul may be using the term word here figuratively to describe the Scriptures, which God inspired people to put into words. Alternate translation: “the Scriptures” (See: Metonymy)

1 Timothy 5:18

λέγει γὰρ ἡ Γραφή

Paul figuratively describes Scripture as if it could speak for itself. Alternate translations: “for it is written in the Scriptures” or “for we read in the Scriptures that” (See: Personification)

βοῦν ἀλοῶντα οὐ φιμώσεις

Here the Scriptures use a statement in order to give a command. Alternate translation: “you must not muzzle an ox while it is treading on grain” (See: Statements — Other Uses)

βοῦν ἀλοῶντα οὐ φιμώσεις

Paul is quoting this passage figuratively. He is using it to indicate that, just as God wanted oxen to be able to eat some of the grain that they were working to separate from its husks, so church leaders deserve to receive payment from the Christian community that they are serving. (See: Metaphor)

οὐ φιμώσεις

A muzzle is a sleeve that goes over an animal’s snout to prevent it from opening its jaws and eating while it is doing work. If your readers would not be familiar with this object, you could use a more general expression instead. Alternate translations: “Do not keep an ox’s mouth shut” or “You must not prevent an ox from eating” (See: Translate Unknowns)

βοῦν ἀλοῶντα

An ox in this culture would “thresh” grain by walking on it or pulling a heavy object over it to separate the grain from the husks. Alternate translation: “an ox that is separating grain from husks” (See: Translate Unknowns)

ἄξιος ὁ ἐργάτης τοῦ μισθοῦ αὐτοῦ

Alternate translations: “a worker has a right to be paid” or “a worker should receive his wages”

1 Timothy 5:19

κατηγορίαν μὴ παραδέχου, ἐκτὸς εἰ

If, in your language, it would appear that Paul was making a statement and then contradicting it, you could reword this statement to avoid using an exception clause. Alternate translation: “only believe that an accusation is true if” (See: Connect — Exception Clauses)

ἐπὶ δύο ἢ τριῶν μαρτύρων

Here, on stands for the concept of “relying on.” You may need to use a more complete phrase in your language. Alternate translations: “you are relying on the testimony of two or three people” or “at least two people give evidence for it” (See: Ellipsis)

δύο ἢ τριῶν

Alternate translations: “at least two” or “two or more”

1 Timothy 5:20

ἐνώπιον…πάντων

Paul uses the expression before to mean “in front of.” Alternate translations: “where everyone can see” or “in public” (See: Metaphor)

ἵνα καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ φόβον ἔχωσιν

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state what, by implication, people will be afraid of doing. Alternate translation: “so that other people will be afraid to sin themselves” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

φόβον ἔχωσιν

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: “will be afraid” (See: Idiom)

1 Timothy 5:21

διαμαρτύρομαι ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ, καὶ τῶν ἐκλεκτῶν ἀγγέλων

By calling on God and Christ Jesus and the chosen angels as witnesses to what Paul is saying, Paul is making Timothy responsible to God to do what he says. If this is not clear, then put this into the form that your language uses for an oath. Alternate translation: “as God and Christ Jesus and the chosen angels are my witnesses, I put you under oath”

ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ

Paul uses the expression before, meaning “in front of,” to indicate “where they can see.” Seeing, in turn, figuratively means attention and judgment. Alternate translation: “as God and Christ Jesus and the chosen angels are watching” (See: Metaphor)

τῶν ἐκλεκτῶν ἀγγέλων

This phrase refers to the angels whom God has chosen to serve him in a special way. Alternate translation: “the angels who are God’s special servants” (See: Idiom)

ταῦτα φυλάξῃς

Alternate translation: “you follow these instructions”

ταῦτα

Grammatically, this could refer either to the instructions Paul has just given Timothy about elders or to the instructions he is about to give Timothy regarding his own personal conduct. But since Paul tells Timothy to follow these instructions without favoring one person over another, it is most likely that this refers to the instructions about elders. Alternate translation: “these things that I have just told you”

χωρὶς προκρίματος, μηδὲν ποιῶν κατὰ πρόσκλισιν

The terms partiality and favoritism mean similar things. Paul may be using repetition to emphasize that Timothy must judge honestly and be fair to everyone. If your readers would misunderstand these phrases, you could combine these terms. Alternate translation: “being completely fair to everyone” (See: Doublet)

1 Timothy 5:22

χεῖρας ταχέως μηδενὶ ἐπιτίθει

The placing of hands was a ceremony in which one or more church leaders would put their hands on people and pray that God would enable them to serve the church in a way that would please God. Timothy was to wait until a person had shown good character for a long time before officially and publicly setting that person apart in this way to serve the Christian community. Alternate translation: “wait until a person has consistently demonstrated good character before appointing that person to church leadership” (See: Symbolic Action)

χεῖρας ταχέως μηδενὶ ἐπιτίθει

Paul is using a figure of speech here that expresses a positive meaning by using a negative word together with a word that is the opposite of the intended meaning. Alternate translation: “wait until a person has consistently demonstrated good character before appointing that person to church leadership” (See: Litotes)

μηδὲ κοινώνει ἁμαρτίαις ἀλλοτρίαις

The implication in context may be that if Timothy appoints a person to leadership before they are ready or without ensuring that their character is exemplary, then Timothy will bear some responsibility for that person’s ultimate failure as a leader, or he will appear to have approved of the person’s sins, once they are uncovered. Alternate translation: “so that you do not become responsible for the moral and leadership failures of others” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

1 Timothy 5:23

οἴνῳ ὀλίγῳ χρῶ

Paul is telling Timothy to use wine specifically as medicine. The water in that area was impure and often caused sickness. Alternate translation: “in addition, you should drink some wine from time to time as medicine” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

1 Timothy 5:24

τινῶν ἀνθρώπων

Paul uses the term men here in a generic sense that includes both men and women. Alternate translation: “of some people” (See: When Masculine Words Include Women)

πρόδηλοί εἰσιν, προάγουσαι εἰς κρίσιν

Paul speaks of sins as if they could move on their own ahead of a person to the place where that person will be judged for committing them. Here, judgment could refer to: (1) the judgment when the sinner stands before God on the last day. Alternate translation: “are so obvious that everyone knows they are guilty long before God declares them guilty” (2) judgment before the church. Alternate translation: “are clear to everyone, even before the church leaders confront them” (See: Personification)

τισὶν δὲ καὶ ἐπακολουθοῦσιν

Paul speaks once again of sins as if they could move on their own. As in the previous clause, this could refer to: (1) judgment by God. Alternate translation: “but the sins of other people do not become evident until God judges them” (2) judgment by the church. Alternate translation: “but the sins of some people remain hidden for a long time” This latter alternative also allows the possibility that Paul is referring to judgment by God. (See: Personification)

1 Timothy 5:25

καὶ τὰ ἔργα τὰ καλὰ πρόδηλα

Implicitly, here Paul does not mean all good works, since in the rest of the sentence he speaks of some good works that are not evident. Alternate translation: “most good works are also obvious” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

τὰ ἔργα τὰ καλὰ

The implication of good works is that these works are considered good because they are consistent with God’s character, purposes, and will. Alternate translation: “actions that God approves” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

καὶ τὰ ἄλλως ἔχοντα, κρυβῆναι οὐ δύναταί

Paul speaks of good works as if they were objects that someone could hide. Alternate translation: “and people will find out later about even those good deeds that are not obvious” (See: Metaphor)

καὶ τὰ ἄλλως ἔχοντα, κρυβῆναι οὐ δύναταί

If your readers would misunderstand this passive phrase, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who will do the action. Alternate translation: “and people who secretly do good works will not be able to hide them forever” (See: Active or Passive)

κρυβῆναι οὐ δύναταί

If your readers would misunderstand the double-negative not … hidden, you can express this in a positive way. Alternate translation: “people will learn about later” (See: Double Negatives)

1 Timothy 6

1 Timothy 6 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter

Slavery

In this chapter Paul teaches slaves about honoring, respecting, and diligently serving their masters. This does not mean that he is endorsing slavery as a good thing or as something that God approves of. Instead, Paul is encouraging believers to be godly and content in every situation that they are in. This does not mean that they cannot also work to change those situations.

1 Timothy 6:1

ὅσοι εἰσὶν ὑπὸ ζυγὸν δοῦλοι

Paul speaks of people who work as slaves as though they were oxen plowing or pulling with a yoke around their necks. Alternate translation: “concerning people who are working as slaves” (See: Metaphor)

ὅσοι εἰσὶν…δοῦλοι

The implication in context is that Paul is speaking about believers who are slaves. Alternate translation: “All the believers who are working as slaves” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἵνα μὴ τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ ἡ διδασκαλία βλασφημῆται

If your readers would misunderstand this passive phrase, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who would do the action. Alternate translation: “so that unbelievers will not insult God’s character or what we believe and teach” (See: Active or Passive)

ἵνα μὴ τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ ἡ διδασκαλία βλασφημῆται

If your readers would misunderstand this negative phrase, you could express this in a positive way. Alternate translation: “so that unbelievers will always speak respectfully about God’s character and about the things that we teach”

τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Θεοῦ

Here, name is a figurative way of referring to the fame or reputation of a person. Alternate translations: “God’s character” or “God’s reputation” (See: Metonymy)

ἡ διδασκαλία

Implicitly Paul means the teaching about Jesus and about how his followers should live. Alternate translation: “our teaching about how believers should live” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

1 Timothy 6:2

ἀδελφοί εἰσιν

Here, brothers figuratively means fellow believers in Jesus, whether male or female. Alternate translation: “they are fellow believers” (See: When Masculine Words Include Women)

καὶ ἀγαπητοὶ

This could have either, or both, meanings: (1) God loves these people. Alternate translation: “whom God loves” (2) other believers love these people. Alternate translation: “and so their believing slaves should love them”

1 Timothy 6:3

ὑγιαίνουσι λόγοις

See how you translated the term healthy in 1:10. Here, as well, it is a figurative way to say that the teaching is good and reliable in every way and has no defect or corruption. A person with a healthy mind would recognize this teaching as correct. Alternate translations: “to the correct words” or “to the true expression of our faith” (See: Metonymy)

ὑγιαίνουσι λόγοις

Paul uses the term words figuratively to describe the verbal expression of what followers of Jesus genuinely believe. Alternate translation: “the true expression of our faith” (See: Metonymy)

τοῖς τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν, Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ

This could refer to: (1) the message about the Lord Jesus. (2) words spoken by the Lord Jesus.

1 Timothy 6:4

τετύφωται

Paul speaks figuratively of a person who is excessively proud as if they were inflated with air. See how you translated this in 3:6. Alternate translation: “that person is excessively proud” (See: Metaphor)

τετύφωται

If your readers would misunderstand the phrase puffed up, you could express this with an active form. Alternate translation: “that person is excessively proud” (See: Active or Passive)

τετύφωται

Here, he refers to anyone in general who teaches what is not correct. Alternate translation: “that person is excessively proud” (See: When Masculine Words Include Women)

μηδὲν ἐπιστάμενος

Paul uses the term nothing here as a generalization for emphasis. It is specifically God’s true message that the person does not understand. Alternate translation: “he understands nothing about God’s truth” (See: Hyperbole)

νοσῶν περὶ ζητήσεις

Paul speaks of people who feel compelled to engage in useless arguments as if they were ill. Such people greatly desire to argue, and they do not really want to find a way to agree. Alternate translation: “morbidly craves arguments” (See: Metaphor)

ζητήσεις καὶ λογομαχίας

These two terms mean basically the same thing, although the second term refers more specifically to arguments about the meaning of words. Paul uses these terms together for emphasis. If these are not separate ideas in your language, you could combine them. Alternate translation: “arguments” (See: Doublet)

λογομαχίας

Alternate translation: “fights about the meaning of words”

βλασφημίαι

While the term blasphemies often refers to untrue or disrespectful things that people say about God, in this context it refers to people falsely saying bad things about each other. Alternate translation: “insults”

ὑπόνοιαι πονηραί

Alternate translation: “people thinking incorrectly that others want to harm them”

1 Timothy 6:5

διαπαρατριβαὶ

Here, friction is the last item in the list that began in the previous verse, a litany of bad things that result from “controversies and word-battles.” This is a metaphor. It compares two results: the heat and damage which occur when two objects rub together and the irritation and anger that can occur when people interact badly. Alternate translation: “and constant conflict” (See: Metaphor)

διεφθαρμένων ἀνθρώπων τὸν νοῦν καὶ ἀπεστερημένων τῆς ἀληθείας

If your readers would misunderstand this passive phrase, you could express this with an active form. Alternate translation: “between people whose minds are corrupt and who no longer believe the truth” (See: Active or Passive)

διεφθαρμένων ἀνθρώπων τὸν νοῦν καὶ ἀπεστερημένων τῆς ἀληθείας

These two phrases mean basically the same thin; Paul uses the repetition for emphasis. If your readers would misunderstand these phrases, you could combine these phrases. Alternate translation: “people who are no longer able to recognize the truth” (See: Parallelism)

ἀνθρώπων

Paul uses the term men here in a generic sense that includes both men and women. Alternate translation: “between people” (See: When Masculine Words Include Women)

1 Timothy 6:6

δὲ

Paul uses the word But to introduce a contrast between what the false teachers believe about godliness and what is really true about godliness. Alternate translation: “instead” (See: Connect — Contrast Relationship)

ἡ εὐσέβεια μετὰ αὐταρκείας

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract nouns godliness and contentment, you could express the ideas behind them with verbal phrases. Alternate translation: “doing what is godly along with being content with what a person has” (See: Abstract Nouns)

ἔστιν…πορισμὸς μέγας

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract noun gain, you could express the idea behind it with a verbal phrase. Alternate translation: “makes a person very well off” (See: Abstract Nouns)

1 Timothy 6:7

γὰρ

Paul uses the word For to introduce the reason for what he said in the previous sentence. Alternate translation: “after all” (See: Connect — Reason-and-Result Relationship)

οὐδὲν…εἰσηνέγκαμεν εἰς τὸν κόσμον

The implication of this phrase is that Paul is speaking about when a person is born. Alternate translation: “brought nothing into the world when we were born” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ὅτι

Here Paul leaves out some of the words that a sentence would ordinarily need in order to be complete. Alternate translation: “and so it is also clear that” (See: Ellipsis)

οὐδὲ ἐξενεγκεῖν τι δυνάμεθα

The implication of this phrase is that Paul is speaking about when a person dies. Alternate translation: “we can take nothing out of the world when we die” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

1 Timothy 6:8

ἀρκεσθησόμεθα

Here Paul uses a statement in order to express a moral imperative. Alternate translation: “that should be enough for us” (See: Statements — Other Uses)

ἀρκεσθησόμεθα

If your readers would misunderstand this passive phrase, you could express this with an active form. Alternate translation: “that should be enough for us” (See: Active or Passive)

1 Timothy 6:9

δὲ

Paul uses the word Now to indicate that he is returning to the topic of those who think being godly will make them wealthy. You can translate the term with the word or phrase in your language that is most similar in meaning and significance. (See: Connect — Contrast Relationship)

ἐμπίπτουσιν εἰς πειρασμὸν, καὶ παγίδα

Paul speaks figuratively about those who let the temptation of money cause them to sin as if they were animals that fall into a hole that a hunter is using as a trap. Alternate translation: “will encounter more temptation than they can resist” (See: Metaphor)

καὶ ἐπιθυμίας πολλὰς ἀνοήτους καὶ βλαβεράς

This phrase continues the figure of speech from the previous phrase. Paul speaks about these desires if they too were a hole that a hunter was using as a trap. Alternate translation: “and will experience destructive impulses than they cannot overcome” (See: Metaphor)

ἐπιθυμίας…ἀνοήτους καὶ βλαβεράς

Here Paul expresses a single idea by using two words connected with and. The word foolish tells why these desires are harmful. If your readers would misunderstand this connection, you could express the meaning with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “destructive impulses” (See: Hendiadys)

αἵτινες βυθίζουσι τοὺς ἀνθρώπους εἰς ὄλεθρον καὶ ἀπώλειαν

This phrase summarizes the character of the temptations and impulses that Paul has just described. He speaks of them figuratively as if they could make people drown in deep water. Alternate translation: “people cannot escape from such things and they destroy them” (See: Metaphor)

ἀνθρώπους

Paul uses the term men here in a generic sense that includes both men and women. Alternate translation: “people” (See: When Masculine Words Include Women)

ὄλεθρον καὶ ἀπώλειαν

These two words ruin and destruction mean very similar things. Paul uses them both to emphasize that this is very bad. If your readers would misunderstand these terms, you can use one term with a word that adds emphasis. Alternate translations: “complete destruction” or “total ruin” (See: Doublet)

1 Timothy 6:10

γὰρ

Paul uses the word For to introduce the reasons for what the previous sentence stated. Alternate translation: “this is because” (See: Connect — Reason-and-Result Relationship)

ῥίζα…πάντων τῶν κακῶν ἐστιν ἡ φιλαργυρία

Paul speaks figuratively of evil as if it were a plant, and of the love of money as if it were the root from which that plant grew. Alternate translation: “loving money leads a person to do all kinds of wrong things” (See: Metaphor)

πάντων τῶν κακῶν

Paul uses the term all here as a generalization for emphasis. Alternate translation: “of many kinds of wrong things” (See: Hyperbole)

ἧς τινες ὀρεγόμενοι

The reference here is to people desiring money, not evil. You could start a new sentence here if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “people who want to become rich”

ἀπεπλανήθησαν ἀπὸ τῆς πίστεως

Paul speaks figuratively of the desire for money as if it were an evil guide that intentionally leads people down the wrong path. Alternate translation: “have stopped believing in Jesus because of their desire for money” (See: Metaphor)

ἧς τινες ὀρεγόμενοι, ἀπεπλανήθησαν ἀπὸ τῆς πίστεως

If your readers would misunderstand this passive phrase, you could express this with an active form. Alternate translations: “which has led some people away from believing in Jesus” or “this love for money has led some people to stop following Jesus” (See: Active or Passive)

ἑαυτοὺς περιέπειραν ὀδύναις πολλαῖς

Paul speaks about grief as if it were a sword that people use to stab themselves. Alternate translation: “have experienced great sorrows in their lives” (See: Metaphor)

1 Timothy 6:11

ὦ ἄνθρωπε Θεοῦ

Alternate translations: “you servant of God” or “you person who belongs to God”

ταῦτα φεῦγε

Paul speaks of these temptations and sins as if they were things a person could physically run away from. Alternate translation: “make sure that you do not do these things” (See: Metaphor)

ταῦτα

This phrase could refer to: (1) everything Paul has been talking about in this section of the letter (false teachings, pride, arguments, and the love of money). (2) what Paul has been talking about most recently (the love of money). If possible, it is best to leave it as a general reference.

δίωκε

Paul speaks of righteousness and other good qualities as if they were things that a person could run after and catch. This metaphor is the opposite of “flee from.” It means to try your best to obtain something. Alternate translation: “seek to acquire” (See: Metaphor)

1 Timothy 6:12

ἀγωνίζου τὸν καλὸν ἀγῶνα τῆς πίστεως

Here, Paul speaks figuratively about a person persevering in following Jesus as if he were a warrior fighting at his best, or an athlete doing his best to win an event. Alternate translation: “do your best to obey Jesus” (See: Metaphor)

ἐπιλαβοῦ τῆς αἰωνίου ζωῆς

Paul speaks figuratively about people wanting eternal life so much that they hold onto it firmly in their hands. He may be continuing the metaphor of an athlete who worked hard to win an event and now holds the trophy in his hands. Alternate translations: “eagerly desire to live with God forever” or “do whatever is necessary to pursue life with God forever” (See: Metaphor)

εἰς ἣν ἐκλήθης

If your readers would misunderstand this passive phrase, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who did the action. Alternate translation: “to which God called you” (See: Active or Passive)

ὡμολόγησας τὴν καλὴν ὁμολογίαν

Alternate translation: “you publicly stated your faith in Jesus”

ἐνώπιον πολλῶν μαρτύρων

The implication is that Timothy’s statement of his faith was binding because these witnesses were present and could testify that he had made it. In your translation, you can use the expression used in your culture for a public, legal commitment. Alternate translation: “while many people were watching” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

1 Timothy 6:13

ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ

The implication is that Paul is asking God to be his witness that he has given Timothy this command. Alternate translation: “with God as my witness” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

τοῦ ζῳοποιοῦντος τὰ πάντα

Alternate translation: “who causes all things to live”

καὶ Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ

The implication is that Paul is also asking Jesus to be his witness. Alternate translation: “and with Christ Jesus … as my witness as well” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

τοῦ μαρτυρήσαντος ἐπὶ Ποντίου Πειλάτου τὴν καλὴν ὁμολογίαν

Paul is offering Jesus to Timothy as an example of someone who publicly affirmed his obedience to God even when others were hostile and threatening. Alternate translation: “who acknowledged God himself when Pontius Pilate put him on trial” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

1 Timothy 6:14

ἄσπιλον ἀνεπίλημπτον

The terms spotless and irreproachable mean similar things. Paul may be using them together for emphasis. If your readers would misunderstand these terms, you could combine these terms and express the emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: “completely blameless” (See: Doublet)

ἄσπιλον

A spot figuratively means a moral fault. This could mean: (1) Timothy should live in such a way that Jesus will not find fault with him or blame him for doing wrong. (2) Timothy should live in such a way that other people will not find fault with him or blame him for doing wrong. Alternate translation: “blameless” (See: Metaphor)

μέχρι τῆς ἐπιφανείας τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν, Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ

Alternate translation: “until our Lord Jesus Christ returns”

1 Timothy 6:15

καιροῖς ἰδίοις

See how you translated this expression in 2:6. Alternate translation: “at the time that God will choose” (See: Idiom)

ὁ μακάριος καὶ μόνος Δυνάστης

This expression refers implicitly to God. Alternate translation: “God, the One we praise, who alone rules over the world” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

1 Timothy 6:16

ὁ μόνος ἔχων ἀθανασίαν

Alternate translation: “the only one who has always existed”

φῶς οἰκῶν ἀπρόσιτον

Alternate translation: “who lives in light so bright that no one can come near it”

οὐδεὶς ἀνθρώπων

Paul uses the term men here in a generic sense that includes both men and women. Alternate translation: “no human being” (See: When Masculine Words Include Women)

1 Timothy 6:17

τοῖς πλουσίοις

Paul is using the adjective rich as a noun to refer to a class of people that it describes. If your readers would misunderstand this term, you could translate it with a noun phrase. Alternate translation: “people who are rich” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

ἐν τῷ νῦν αἰῶνι

The present age is the time period in which we are living, before Jesus returns and establishes God’s rule over all people. Alternate translation: “at this time”

ἐπὶ πλούτου ἀδηλότητι

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract noun uncertainty, you could express the idea behind this with a verbal phrase. Alternate translations: “in riches, which are so uncertain” or “in wealth, which a person can lose so easily” (See: Abstract Nouns)

πάντα πλουσίως εἰς ἀπόλαυσιν

By all, Paul is referring to all of the things that anyone actually has, not to everything that it might be possible to have. If your readers would misunderstand this term, you may want to include words to make that clear. Alternate translation: “all of the things that we have so that we can enjoy them” (See: Ellipsis)

1 Timothy 6:18

πλουτεῖν ἐν ἔργοις καλοῖς

Paul speaks figuratively of doing things to help others as a way of becoming wealthy, but it is measured in something other than money. Alternate translation: “to serve and help others in many ways” (See: Metaphor)

1 Timothy 6:19

ἀποθησαυρίζοντας ἑαυτοῖς θεμέλιον καλὸν εἰς τὸ μέλλον

Paul speaks figuratively about the blessings that God will give to those who have served him faithfully as if they were riches that a person was storing in a safe place. Alternate translation: “securing a good start now on their future life in God’s presence” (See: Metaphor)

ἀποθησαυρίζοντας ἑαυτοῖς θεμέλιον καλὸν εἰς τὸ μέλλον

Paul also speaks figuratively about the blessings that God will give as if they were the foundation of a building. He means that they will give a person a good start on their new life in the presence of God forever. Alternate translation: “securing a good start now on their future life in God’s presence” (See: Metaphor)

εἰς τὸ μέλλον

In the New Testament, this expression can refer to different things, but in this case it seems to refer to the new life that believers will have in God’s presence after death and the end of history. It is equivalent to the expression “the coming life” in 4:8. Alternate translation: “their future life in God’s presence” (See: Idiom)

ἵνα ἐπιλάβωνται τῆς ὄντως ζωῆς

Paul is using the same image as in the phrase grasp eternal life in 6:12. He is speaking figuratively about people wanting eternal life so much that they hold onto it firmly in their hands. Alternate translation: “so that they can indeed live with God forever” (See: Metaphor)

1 Timothy 6:20

τὴν παραθήκην φύλαξον

The implication is that Jesus has entrusted Timothy with the message to proclaim about him. Alternate translation: “protect the message about Jesus that he has put in your care” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἐκτρεπόμενος τὰς βεβήλους κενοφωνίας

In order to avoid profane chatter, Timothy must avoid the people who do the chattering. Alternate translation: “do not pay attention to the talk of people for whom nothing is sacred” (See: Metonymy)

καὶ ἀντιθέσεις

This could mean: (1) the false teachers are saying things that are contrary to true Christian belief. Alternate translations: “and teachings that contradict us” or “and the opposing statements” (2) the false teachers are saying things that cannot all be true at the same time.

τῆς ψευδωνύμου γνώσεως

If your readers would misunderstand this passive phrase, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who is doing the action. Alternate translation: “of what some people falsely call knowledge” (See: Active or Passive)

1 Timothy 6:21

περὶ τὴν πίστιν ἠστόχησαν

See how you translated this expression in 1:6. Paul speaks of faith in Christ as if it were a target that people should aim at. Alternate translation: “have not fulfilled the purpose of faith in Jesus” (See: Metaphor)

ἡ χάρις μεθ’ ὑμῶν

If your readers would misunderstand who will give this grace, you could state who Paul is thinking will make this happen. Alternate translation: “may God give grace to all of you”

ἡ χάρις μεθ’ ὑμῶν

The word you is plural and refers to Timothy and all the believers at Ephesus. Alternate translation: “may God give grace to all of you” (See: Forms of You)