1 Timotius 1:1

Salutation

1:1 From Paul, ¹  an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior ²  and of Christ Jesus our hope,

1 Timotius 1:3

Timothy’s Task in Ephesus

1:3 As I urged you when I was leaving for Macedonia, stay on in Ephesus ³  to instruct ⁴  certain people not to spread false teachings, ⁵ 

1 Timotius 1:12-16

1:12 I am grateful to the one who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me faithful in putting me into ministry, 1:13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor, and an arrogant ⁶  man. But I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, 1:14 and our Lord’s grace was abundant, bringing faith and love in Christ Jesus. ⁷  1:15 This saying ⁸  is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” – and I am the worst of them! ⁹  1:16 But here is why I was treated with mercy: so that ¹⁰  in me as the worst, ¹¹  Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life.

1 Timotius 1:19-20

1:19 To do this ¹²  you must hold firmly to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck in regard to the faith. 1:20 Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I handed over to Satan ¹³  to be taught not to blaspheme.

[1:1]  ¹ tn Grk “Paul.” The word “from” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied to indicate the sender of the letter.

[1:1]  ² sn God our Savior. Use of the title “Savior” for God the Father is characteristic of 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus. It occurs six times in these letters, but only twice elsewhere in the NT. However, it occurs commonly in the OT, especially in Isaiah. It emphasizes the Father as the initiator and source of salvation.

[1:3]  ³ map For location see JP1 D2; JP2 D2; JP3 D2; JP4 D2.

[1:3]  ⁴ tn This word implies authoritative instruction: “direct, command, give orders” (cf. 1 Tim 4:11; 5:7; 6:13, 17). See BDAG 760 s.v. παραγγέλλω.

[1:3]  ⁵ tn Grk “to teach other doctrines,” different from apostolic teaching (cf. 1 Tim 6:3).

[1:13]  ⁶ tn Or “violent,” “cruel.”

[1:14]  ⁷ tn Grk “with faith and love in Christ Jesus.”

[1:15]  ⁸ tn Grk “the saying,” referring to the following citation (see 1 Tim 3:1; 4:9; 2 Tim 2:11; Titus 3:8 for other occurrences of this phrase).

[1:15]  ⁹ tn Grk “of whom I am the first.”

[1:16]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “but because of this I was treated with mercy, so that…”

[1:16]  ¹¹ tn Grk “in me first,” making the connection with the last phrase of v. 15.

[1:19]  ¹² tn In Greek this continues the same sentence from v. 18, a participle showing the means by which Timothy will accomplish his task: Grk “fight the good fight, holding firmly…”

[1:20]  ¹³ sn The expression handed over to Satan refers to an act of discipline mentioned by Paul here and in 1 Cor 5:5, with a remedial goal, not a punitive one. The Greek word translated taught in this verse is used of “discipline, training of children” to lead them to correct behavior.