{{ Introduction to 1 Timothy 63-64 AD

            This was written after Paul’s released from his first two-year imprisonment in Rome (Acts 28:30, 31).

Paul wants the reader to gain knowledge about God’s instructions to preachers, prayer, the role of women, qualifications of elders and deacons, proper treatment of various categories of people, the importance of the right example and more. Timothy received this letter from Paul and Paul took Timothy with him on other journeys (Acts 16:3-5). However, the writing is to give instructions and encouragement to Timothy and all other men who will preach the Good-news and to stress the necessity of preaching and teaching the sound doctrine (i.e., the Good-news of Christ, without adding to or taking away from it). He also identifies the need to wage the good spiritual warfare against Satan, including resisting and rebuking the ones who teach false doctrine. Paul addresses prayer, submission of women, qualifications of the men for the eldership or servants such as deacons. We also see instructions on the proper treatment of older and younger men and women, including widows and elders. He gives instruction and strong warning and exhortation to the ones who desire to be rich and to the ones who actually are rich in this world’s goods.}}

             ^1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, according-to the commandment of God our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, our hope; ^1:2 to Timothy, my genuine child in the faith: grace, mercy, peace, from God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

             ^1:3 As I encouraged you to remain in Ephesus, while I was traveling into the Macedonia Province, in-order-that you might command to some not to teach a different teaching, ^1:4 nor to take-heed to fables and unending genealogies, which provide more debates, rather than a stewardship of God which is in faith. ^1:5 But the end of the command is love^* out-of a clean heart and a good conscience and a non-pretended faith, ^1:6 from which some deviated, turned themselves aside to empty-talking, ^1:7 wishing to be teachers of the law, not perceiving either what they are saying nor the things concerning what they are confidently confirming. ^1:8 But we know that the law is good, if anyone uses it lawfully, ^1:9 knowing this: that law is not laid down {Or: reserved} for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for killers of their fathers and killers of their mothers, for murderers, ^1:10 for fornicators, for homosexuals, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers and if any other thing which lays in opposition to sound^* teaching, ^1:11 according-to the good-news of the glory of the glorious^* God, to which I was entrusted.

             ^1:12 And I have gratitude to the one who empowered me, namely, the Christ, Jesus our Lord, because he deemed me faithful, placed me into his service, ^1:13 even though being a former blasphemer and a persecutor and an insolent man, but I was shown-mercy, because being ignorant, I practiced it in unbelief; ^1:14 and the grace of our Lord overwhelmed me with the faith and love^* which is in Christ Jesus. ^1:15 Faithful is the word and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost. ^1:16 But I was shown-mercy because of this, in-order-that Jesus Christ might show all his patience in me as foremost, for a pattern of the ones who are afterward about to believe on him ^*for everlasting life. ^1:17 Now to the King of the ages, incorruptible, invisible, the only wise God, is honor and glory forevermore. Amen.

             ^1:18 I consign this command to you, my child Timothy, according-to the prophecies preceding upon you, in-order-that you may be warring the good warfare by them, ^1:19 holding faith and a good conscience, which some have shoved away, are shipwrecked concerning the faith, ^1:20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I gave to the Adversary in-order-that they might be disciplined not to blaspheme.