An Exposition of the Two Epistles to Timothy

By William Kelly

1 Timothy - A New Translation

 

1 Timothy 1

Paul, apostle of Christ Jesus according to command of God our Saviour and of Christ Jesus our hope, 2 to Timothy, genuine child in faith: grace, mercy, peace from God [the] Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 Even as when setting out for Macedonia I besought thee to remain in Ephesus, that thou mightest charge some not to be strange teachers, 4 nor to pay heed to fables and endless genealogies, such as furnish questionings rather than God's dispensation that is in faith. 5 now the end of the charge is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfeigned; 6 which [things] some, having missed, turned aside unto vain talk, 7 desiring to be law-teachers, not understanding either what they say, or whereof they affirm. 8 Now we know that the law [is] good if one use it lawfully, 9 knowing this that law is not laid down for a righteous person, but for lawless and insubordinate, for ungodly and sinful, for unholy and profane, for smiters of fathers and smiters of mothers, for murderers, 10 fornicators, sodomites, men-stealers, liars, perjurers, and if there be any other thing contrary to the sound teaching, 11 according to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I was entrusted. 12 I thank Him That strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, that He counted me faithful, appointing me unto ministry, 13 though before I was a blasphemer and persecutor and doer of outrage. But I had mercy shown me because I did [it] ignorantly in unbelief;

14 and the grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love that is in Christ Jesus. 15 Faithful [is] the word and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 But for this cause mercy was shown me that in me, [as] chief, Christ might display the whole long-suffering for an outline-sketch of those that should believe on Him unto life eternal. 17 Now to Him Who is King of the ages, incorruptible, invisible, only God, [be] honour and glory unto the ages of ages. Amen. 18 This charge I commit to thee, child Timothy, according to the prophecies on thee going before, that by them thou mightest war the good warfare, 19 holding faith and a good conscience; which some having thrust away made shipwreck concerning the faith; 20 of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may be taught not to blaspheme.

1 Timothy 2

I exhort, therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men, 2 for kings and all that are in high rank, that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all piety and gravity. 3 For this [is] good and acceptable before our Saviour God, 4 Who desireth that all men should be saved and come unto full knowledge of truth. 5 For [there is] one God, one Mediator also of God and men, Christ Jesus a man, 6 Who gave Himself a ransom for all, the testimony in its own times, 7 to which I was appointed a preacher and apostle (I speak truth, I lie not), a teacher of Gentiles in faith and truth. 8 I wish then that the men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting; 9 in like manner also that women in seemly deportment adorn themselves with modesty and sobriety, not with braids and gold or pearls or costly apparel, 10 but, what becometh women professing godliness, by good works. 11 Let a woman in quietness learn in all subjection. 12 But to teach I permit not a woman, nor to exercise authority over a man, but to be in quietness. 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman quite deceived is become in transgression; 15 but she shall be saved in child-bearing, if they continue in faith and love and holiness with sobriety.

1 Timothy 3

Faithful [is] the word: if anyone is eager for oversight, he is desirous of a good work. 2 The overseer [or bishop] therefore must be irreproachable, husband of one wife, temperate, sober, orderly, hospitable, apt to teach, 3 not given to wine, no striker, but gentle, not contentious, not fond of money, 4 one that ruleth well his own house, having children in subjection with all gravity, 5 (but if one knoweth not how to rule his own house, how shall he care for God's assembly), 6 not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the devil's charge [or judgment]. 7 But he must also have good testimony from those without, lest he fall into reproach and a snare of the devil. 8 Deacons likewise [must be] grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of base gain, 9 holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 And let these also be first proved, then let them serve as deacons, being blameless. 11 Women likewise [must be] grave, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling [their] children and their own houses well; 13 for those that have served well as deacons gain for themselves a good degree, and great boldness in faith that is in Christ Jesus. 14 These things write I to thee, hoping to come unto thee rather quickly; 15 but if I should tarry, that thou mayest know how one ought to behave in God's house, seeing it is a living God's assembly, pillar and groundwork of the truth. 16 And confessedly great is the mystery of piety: He Who was manifested in flesh, was justified in Spirit, appeared unto angels, was preached among Gentiles, was believed on in [the] world, was received up in glory.

1 Timothy 4

But the Spirit saith expressly that in latter times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and teachings of demons, 2 by hypocrisy of legend-mongers, branded in their own conscience, 3 forbidding to marry, [bidding] to abstain from meats which God created for reception with thanksgiving by those faithful and fully acquainted with the truth. 4 Because every creature of God [is] good, and nothing to be rejected when received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is sanctified through God's word and intercession. 6 Setting these things before the brethren, thou wilt be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith and the good teaching which thou hast followed up. 7 But the profane and old-womanish fables refuse, and exercise thyself unto piety; 8 for bodily exercise is profitable for a little, but piety is profitable for all things, having promise of life that is now and of that which is to come. 9 The word [is] faithful and worthy of all acceptance; 10 for unto this end we labour and suffer reproach, because we have our hope set on a living God Who is Saviour of all men, especially of faithful [men]. 11 These things charge and teach. 12 Let none despise thy youth, but be a pattern of the faithful in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give heed to reading, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Neglect not the gift that was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the elderhood. 15 Bestow care on these things; be wholly in them; that thy progress may be manifest to all. 16 Take heed to thyself and the teaching; continue in them; for in doing this thou shalt save thyself and those that hear thee.

1 Timothy 5

Reprimand not an elder, but exhort [him] as father, younger men as brethren, 2 elder women as mothers, younger women as sisters in all purity. 3 Honour widows that are widows indeed; 4 but if any widow hath children or descendants, let them learn first to show piety toward their own house and render requital to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight-of God. 5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and left desolate, hath set her hope on God and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. 6 But she that devoteth herself to pleasure is dead while living. 7 And these things charge that they may be irreproachable. 8 But if one doth not provide for his own and especially his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever. 9 Let a widow be enrolled not more than sixty years old, wife of one man, 10 witnessed of in good works, if she reared children, if she entertained strangers, if she washed saints' feet, if she relieved afflicted [persons], if she followed up every good work. 11 But younger widows refuse; for when they wax wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, 12 having as accusation that they slighted their first faith. 13 And withal they learn also [to be] idle, going about the houses; and not only idle but also tattlers and busy-bodies, speaking things that are not fitting. 14 I wish therefore that the younger marry, bear children, rule the house, give none occasion to the adversary for railing; 15 for already have some been turned aside after Satan. 16 If any believing [man or] woman hath widows, let [such an one] relieve them, and let not the assembly be burdened, that it may relieve those that are really widows. 17 Let the elders that preside well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they that labour in word and teaching. 18 For the scripture saith, An ox when treading out corn thou shalt not muzzle, and Worthy [is] the workman of his hire. 19 Against an elder receive not an accusation except at [the mouth of] two or three witnesses. 20 Those that sin rebuke [or rather, convict] before all that the rest also may have fear. 21 I testify [or charge thee] before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels that thou keep these things apart from prejudice, doing nothing according to partiality. 22 Lay hands quickly on no one, neither be a partaker in others' sins; keep thyself pure. 23 Be no longer a water-drinker, but use a little wine on account of thy stomach and thy frequent illnesses. 24 Of some men the sins are openly manifest, going before unto judgment, and some also they follow after; 25 and likewise also the good works are openly manifest, and those that are otherwise cannot be hid.

1 Timothy 6

Let as many as are bondmen under yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and the teaching be not reviled. 2 And they that have believing masters let them not despise [them] because they are brethren, but the more let them serve, because they that partake of the good service are faithful and beloved. These things teach and exhort. 3 If anyone teach differently, and accede not to sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that is according to piety, 4 he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but sick about questionings and word-disputes, out of which cometh envy, strife, revilings, evil suspicions, 5 wranglings of men corrupted in mind and bereft of the truth, supposing that piety is gain. 6 But piety with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world; because neither can we carry anything out. 8 But having food and-covering we shall be therewith satisfied. 9 But those that wish to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and many unwise and hurtful lusts, such as sink men into destruction and perdition. 10 For a root of all evils is the love of money, which some eagerly seeking were led astray from the faith and pierced themselves through with many pains. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things, and pursue righteousness, piety (godliness), faith, love, endurance, meekness of spirit. 12 Combat the good combat of faith; lay hold on the life eternal whereunto thou wast called, and didst confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses. 13 I charge thee in the sight of the God That keepeth all things alive, and Christ Jesus That witnessed before Pontius Pilate the good confession, 14 that thou keep the commandment spotless, irreproachable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ; 15 which in its own times shall show the blessed and only Potentate, the King of those that reign and Lord of those that exercise lordship; 16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in light unapproachable, Whom none of men saw nor can see; to Whom [be] honour and might eternal, Amen. 17 Those rich in the present age charge not to be high-minded, nor to set their hope on uncertainty of riches, but on the God That affordeth us all things richly for enjoyment; 18 to do good, to be rich in good works, to be liberal in distributing, ready to communicate, 19 laying up for themselves a good foundation for the future, that they may lay hold on the real life. 20 O Timothy, keep the deposit, turning away from the profane babblings and oppositions of the falsely-named knowledge, 21 in professing which some missed the mark concerning the faith. Grace [be] with you.