1 Tim 1:1-6:21

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Summary

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Historical setting

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Discussion

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Chapter 1: Teach correct doctrine: Moses and Christ

• 1 Tim 1:4: Edifying. Although the Greek word oikodomia means "edifying," most scholars now agree that the textual evidence supports oikonomia which comes from the Greek word for steward and means "management of a household." The contrast here between questions (or "speculations") and godly management of the household "which is in faith" (cf. "household of faith" in Gal 6:10 and D&C 121:45) suggests an emphasis on the love (cf. v. 5), service and obedience-with-faith aspects of a teacher's call, which will "manage" or guide the doctrinal-exposition aspect of his call. Also, Paul may be suggesting that the false doctrines he is referring to are false precisely because they are divorced from true faith and charity. See also the lexical note for 1 Cor 9:17 where Paul describes that which has been entrusted unto him (i.e. his calling) as a oikonomia.

• 1 Tim 1:6: Vain jangling. This word pair comes from the compound Greek word mataiologos, from the roots mataios meaning "vain" and lego meaning "to say." The idea here of the "vain speaking" seems to reiterate the "swerving" and "turning aside" of the false teachers: rather than teaching how the "end of the commandment is charity" (v. 5), it seems the false teachers' words are useless because they do not elucidate what is the central purpose of the law (charity).

• 1 Tim 1:9: Made. The Greek word keimai (made) means "to lie down or to be laid down." In Greek, this construction is used to describe how a law is established (i.e. a law is put or laid in place). The usage in Rev 4:2 is used to discuss how a throne is established which has an interesting relationship to the "unsubjected" (disobedient) description of those for whom the law was established.

• 1 Tim 1:9: Disobedient. The Greek word anupotaktos (disobedient) means "unsubjected." The idea here may be that those who do not allow themselves to be in the subjugation/stewardship of God's household (see the note on "godly edifying" in v. 4) are the ones who need to be subjected to law.

Chapter 2-3a / Verses 2:1-3:13: Church administration

• 1 Tim 2:2: Quiet and peaceable. The Greek words eremos (quiet) and hesuchios (peaceable) may seem to be contrasting the noisy strife described in chapter 1 (e.g. "endless geneaologies" in v. 4, "vain jangling" in v. 6, "murderers" and "manslayers" in v. 9, etc.). Although the origin and meaning of the word eremos is somewhat uncertain, hesuchios is from the same root word translated "silence" in 2:11-12.

Chapter 3b-4 / Verses 3:14-4:16: Personal declarations, teach correct doctrine

• 1 Tim 4:12. Timothy is told to be an example of the believers in word and in conversation. At first, it appears that this is redundant. But the footnotes suggest that the Greek rendered here as conversation, might also be understood to mean conduct or behavior. We need to be examples of the believer in word and in behavior--no redundancy after all.

Chapter 5: Church administration

• 1 Tim 5:9: Taken into the number. This phrase, rendered elsewhere as "enrolled" or "put on the list" - does this indicate an accounting of widows to be cared for or a type of female presbytery specific to that time?

Chapter 6: Teach correct doctrine: riches

• 1 Tim 6:3: Wholesome. The Greek word hugiaino (wholesome) means "healthy." The same word was used in 1:10 to refer to "sound doctrine" (healthy teaching) which was described as contrary to various sinners. Throughout the Pastoral Epistles the notion of sound doctrine and righteous living seem closely bound together. The connotation here also seems to be that "wholesome words" are teachings which focus on, or at least include, praxis.

Complete outline and page map

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A. Teach correct doctrine: Moses and Christ (Chapter 1)

• greeting from Paul to Timothy (1:1-2)

a. see that correct doctrine is taught, some teach ignorantly (1:3-7)

b. the Mosaic Law provides guidance to the wicked (1:8-11)

b. the grace of Christ saves sinners (1:12-17)

a. see that correct doctrine is taught, some teach blasphemy (1:18-20)

B. Church administration (Chapter 2-3a)

a. pray for rulers so that we may live peaceable godly lives (2:1-8)

b. conduct of women (2:9-15)

c. calling of a bishop (3:1-7)

c. calling of a deacon (3:8-13)

C. Personal declarations, teach correct doctrine (Chapter 3b-4)

a. I hope to come soon, until then teach Christ (3:14-16)

b. I prophesy that some will teach false doctrines (4:1-5)

b. minister to the brethren in correct doctrine (4:6-11)

a. until I come, take heed also to yourself and be an example (4:12-16)

B. Church administration (Chapter 5)

b. treatment of old widows (5:1-10)

b. treatment of young widows (5:11-16)

c. public visibility of elders, church discipline, temperance (5:17-25)

a. servants obey masters so the name of God will be held in regard (6:1-2)

A. Teach correct doctrine: riches (Chapter 6)

a. teach correct doctrine, withdraw from those who do not (6:3-5)

b. contentment, not riches, is gain (6:6-10)

b. follow after righteousness, not the love of riches (6:11-16)

a. teach the rich to be rich in good works, some are not (6:17-21a)

• farewell (6:21b)

Points to ponder

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Resources

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Translations

These are still pointed at Matthew

• Amplified • The Amplified Bible, 1987 update

• NASB • New American Standard Bible, 1995 update

• NIV • New International Version

• NRSV • New Revised Standard Version

• RSV • Revised Standard Version

Joseph Smith Translation

The Joseph Smith Translation made changes to the following verses in 1 Timothy. This list is complete:

• 1 Tim 1:1

• 1 Tim 2:4-5, 12, 15

• 1 Tim 3:8, 15-16

• 1 Tim 4:2

• 1 Tim 5:10, 23-25

• 1 Tim 6:15-16

Cited references

• Wayment, Thomas A., ed. The Complete Joseph Smith Translation of the New Testament. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 2005. (ISBN 1590384393) BX8630 .A2 2005.

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves, such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word. In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources are preferable to footnotes.

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