SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Timothy 2003 – Page 2

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 4:5

4:5

because: The Greek word gar that the Berean Standard Bible translates as because can also be translated “for.” Paul used the word here to summarize the reasons the false teachers were wrong to ban some kinds of food.

it is sanctified: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as sanctified means “made holy, consecrated.” All foods are acceptable, for no food that God has made is impure or unclean. See also Acts 10:15.

by the word of God and prayer: This is the means by which food has been made holy.

the word of God: This refers to what God said in Scripture.

This is an example of personification, where Paul talked about the word of God as if it were a person. It is actually God who sanctifies food by his word. So in some languages it may be necessary to translate this as:

God made everything holy by what he said
-or-
God has declared everything to be holy

prayer: Paul was probably referring to the prayer of thanksgiving that he had mentioned in 4:3c. When people thank God for food, they are agreeing with God that it is good.

General Comment on 4:4–5

In some languages it may be better to reverse the order of these verses so that the cause comes before the result. One way to do this is:

^4aFor everything God created is good. ⁵It is declared holy by the word of God and by prayer. ^4cSo nothing is to be rejected ^4bbut everything should be received with thanksgiving.

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 5:22

5:22a

Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands: Here Paul implied that Timothy should be careful when he chose people to appoint as new leaders for the community of believers.

Do not be too quick: Paul did not want Timothy to appoint new elders too quickly. In other words, he wanted Timothy to ensure that the person was qualified to be a good elder. Timothy was to be sure that the candidate really was “above reproach” (3:2a).

the laying on of hands: The phrase the laying on of hands refers to the way that Timothy, along with other leaders of the believers, appointed a person to be an elder. They stood around a person, placed their hands upon him and prayed for him.

5:22b

and thereby share in the sins of others: Paul did not want Timothy to appoint any man to be an elder before Timothy really knew the man’s character. If Timothy did appoint an elder and later the elder sinned, Timothy would then share in the sins of that elder. That means that Timothy would be partly responsible for the sins that the elder committed.

others: This refers in general to elders who sin.

5:22c

yourself: Paul used the emphatic pronoun that the Berean Standard Bible translates as yourself to emphasize that Timothy needed to take care not to sin himself.

pure: To be pure means to be free from sin. Timothy needed to avoid having sinful habits or sinning in any major way. If he avoided sin, he would be a good example for the other believers. If he did not stay away from sin, he would be a bad example.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 1:1

Section 1:1–2

Paul greeted Timothy

In this first section of this letter, Paul introduced himself as the writer of the letter and explained to whom he was writing it. Then he wrote a short prayer for Timothy. Paul began this letter the way most people did when they wrote letters in New Testament times. That is why he put his name first and then wrote Timothy’s name.

In your language, people may not start letters the same way that Paul did. To follow the Greek word order might even convey wrong information. It may, therefore, be necessary to change the order of some of the information. Perhaps your readers may not understand that this was a letter or would think that Paul was being rude or was not well-educated. So in some languages it may be necessary to place the name of the person to whom Paul was writing before Paul’s own name. Then follow that with information that Paul was an apostle by the command of God.

Paragraph 1:1–2

1:1a

Paul: Paul began this letter to Timothy by stating his own name first. In some languages, it is not natural for a person to use his own name to refer to himself, as Paul did here. If that is the case in your language, you may have to say something like:

I, Paul

In addition, Paul did not use a verb here, so you may have to supply one. For example, you may have to say:

I, Paul, am sending this letter
-or-
I, Paul, am writing this letter

Other possibilities are:

I, Paul, greet you
-or-
This letter is from me, Paul

1:1b

an apostle of Christ Jesus: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as apostle means “sent one.” Therefore an apostle is someone who has been sent to do a specific job. Christ Jesus had sent Paul to represent him and authorized Paul to teach others about him.

Christ Jesus: Notice that in this verse Paul referred to Jesus as Christ Jesus instead of “Jesus Christ.” The names “Christ Jesus” and “Jesus Christ” refer to the same person. (Some people, however, think that when Paul used the word Christ before the word Jesus, as in Christ Jesus, he was emphasizing that Jesus was the Messiah.)

In most English versions “Jesus Christ” and “Christ Jesus” are translated in the same order as they occur in the Greek manuscripts. It is recommended that you do the same thing.

However, it is possible that, in some languages, people may be confused to see the names in two different orders. They may even think that Paul was referring to two different people. If this is true in your language, it may be necessary to translate Christ Jesus as “Jesus Christ.” This is the more usual word order in the New Testament.

Christ: The word Christ is used two ways in the New Testament. In the Gospels, Christ is a title for Jesus. It means “the anointed one.” But later, by the time that Paul and others wrote letters to individuals and churches, the word Christ was used as another name for Jesus. It was no longer used as a title. So here and in other New Testament letters you should spell Christ according to the rules of your language.

1:1c

by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope: Paul knew he was an apostle was because God and Christ wanted him to be one. He did not choose himself to be an apostle. The other apostles did not choose him either, nor did any other human being. Rather, Paul became an apostle by the command of God and of Christ Jesus. They had appointed him to be an apostle.

In some languages it may be necessary to translate the command with a verb. For example:

God our Savior and Christ Jesus our hope commanded/commissioned me to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.

God our Savior: When Paul mentioned God here, he was referring to God the Father. New Testament authors usually refer to Christ as Savior. However, Paul used this expression six times in 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus.

our: This refers to Paul, Timothy, and the Ephesian believers.

Savior: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Savior refers to a person who saves or rescues someone else from danger. Paul was saying that God rescues all people who trust in Christ. In other words, he saves them from their sin and its consequences.

Christ Jesus our hope: When Paul described Christ as our hope, he meant that Christ was the one who gives Christians hope.

In some languages, it may be necessary to translate hope with a verb. One way to express this would be to say:

we can hope/trust in Christ Jesus

our: Here again this refers to Paul, Timothy, and the Ephesian believers.

General Comment on 1:1c

Paul became an apostle because God and Christ had appointed him as one. This was Paul’s main point in 1:1. In 1:1c, he also included the information that God is our Savior and that Christ Jesus is our hope. This is secondary information. Paul did not explain how or why God is our Savior or in what way Christ Jesus is our hope. Do not add too many details to your translation to explain what it means to say that God is our Savior and that Christ is our hope. Otherwise your readers may miss Paul’s main point.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 2:14

2:14a

And: Here Paul gave the second reason that women should not teach or rule men. He implied that it was often easier for the devil to deceive women than it was for him to deceive men. (The view that women tend to be more easily deceived than men has historically been the more popular view. Modern western ideas make this interpretation unpopular, but I have not seen any other convincing interpretation of what Paul says here. For example, some people understand verse 14 to imply that Eve’s problem was not that she was deceived, but that she ate the fruit without consulting Adam, and then, by offering the fruit for Adam to eat, was taking an improper role by, in a sense, “teaching” him. Stott, page 81, promotes this view and says, “the essence of Eve’s part in the fall was not that she was deceived, but that she took an improper initiative, usurped Adam’s authority and thus reversed their respective roles.” However, the focus in verse 14 is on deception, not teaching. Eve stands not as a type of Ephesian women who were teaching false doctrine, but as a type of Ephesian women who were being deceived by false doctrine. If it were Paul’s point in verse 14 that Eve should not have been teaching Adam, it is strange that he should leave teaching unmentioned and refer only to her deception!Kroeger and Kroeger’s interpretation that these statements are actually combating proto-Gnostic teachings is attractive, but speculative. They say that Paul was combating the proto-Gnostic teaching which said that Adam had been tricked into thinking that he was created before Eve, that the God who had made the material universe was the highest God of all, and that he should worship this God. For more details and interaction with other views see Schreiner in Women in the Church, pages 140–146.Keener, in Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, page 591, says that Paul’s argument from Eve’s deception is likely to be ad hoc: “It is far more likely that Paul instead uses Eve to illustrate the plight of the particular women he addresses in Ephesus, who are easily deceived because they are untrained. Paul elsewhere uses Eve for anyone who is deceived, not just women (2 Cor 11:3).” However, the point remains that Paul is specifically referring to women here. Furthermore, Paul sets the context by referring to all women, not just untaught women, in 2:11 and 2:12a. See the notes on 2:11.) He said that the behavior of Eve and Adam was proof of this. If a woman is deceived, she may not teach what is true.

This does not mean that woman should never teach. In Titus 2:3–5 Paul wrote that women could teach other women. In 2 Timothy 1:5 and 3:14–15 he wrote that women should teach their children. However here Paul was saying that women should not teach men.

it was not Adam who was deceived: Paul was referring to Genesis 3:1–13. These verses explain that Satan appeared to Eve as a snake. He tempted her to eat the only fruit that God had forbidden Adam and her to eat. The snake did not speak to Adam or deceive him. Adam chose to eat the fruit when Eve offered it to him.

2:14b

but the woman who was deceived: The snake tricked or deceived Eve by causing her to disbelieve what God had said about the fruit.

Paul’s point here was that Satan was able to deceive Eve more easily than he could deceive Adam.

2:14c

fell into transgression: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fell into transgression means “deliberately broke God’s law.” Eve did not obey God’s command. (Kroeger and Kroeger say that this combats Gnostic teaching which said that Eve actually did a good thing when she ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They presume that people taught this in the time when Paul and Timothy lived.) She became a person who had disobeyed God.

General Comment on 2:11–14

Paul’s conclusion is in 2:12 and his reasons are in 2:13–14. However, in some languages, it is more natural to state reasons before the conclusion. If this is true in your language, you may need to combine and reorder the verses. One way to do this is:

¹¹When men teach about God, women should learn by listening quietly and respectfully. ^12–14For God made Adam before he made Eve. Also, Adam was not the one whom Satan deceived. Satan deceived Eve and she disobeyed God. Therefore, I do not allow women to teach or have authority over men.

General Comment on 2:14a–c

In some languages, it may be necessary to conclude 2:14 with a sentence to summarize what Paul was saying. For example, you could say:

Those are the reasons why women should not teach or have authority over men.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 4:16

4:16a

Pay close attention: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Pay close attention could also be translated as “focus on,” “be careful concerning,” “consider carefully.” The verb form in Greek suggests that Paul was commanding Timothy to continue to do something that he was already doing. He was not telling him to do something new. Paul was commanding Timothy to continue to pay careful attention to his behavior and what he taught.

your life: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as your life is literally “yourself.” This refers to behavior. Paul was telling Timothy to pay attention to the way that he behaved as a believer.

your teaching: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as teaching refers to the facts that Christians should believe about God and Christ. These were the facts that Paul and other apostles accepted as true. This was what Paul had taught Timothy (4:6) and was now telling Timothy that he should teach other believers (4:13c). See the note on 1:10d.

4:16c

for by so doing: Here Paul told Timothy the reason that it was so important to persevere.

Paul was not implying that Timothy might not persevere. The form of the Greek verb indicates that Paul was reminding him to continue to do things that he was already doing. See the note on 4:16a.

4:16d

you will save both yourself and those who hear you: Paul was not saying that Timothy and the other believers in Ephesus were not saved. Rather here he used the future tense (will save) to refer to the time when believers arrive in heaven. At that time their salvation is complete. In heaven there is no more suffering or persecution.

Specifically Paul was saying Timothy’s teaching and preaching was the way in which God was confirming Timothy’s own salvation. God was also using that teaching and preaching to tell others about himself so that they also could be saved. The New Testament writers wrote in the same way elsewhere (for example, in 1 Corinthians 9:22).

Paragraph 5:1–2

Paul told Timothy to treat all believers as if they were members of his family.

5:1a

Do not rebuke an older man: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rebuke can also be translated “scold” or “correct severely.” This command and the following ones are addressed specifically to Timothy.

an older man: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as an older man is the same one that Paul used in 4:14 to refer to a church leader. However, in this verse, Paul was referring to any man who was older than Timothy.

5:1b

but: The connector that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but indicates that 5:1b contrasts with 5:1a.

appeal to: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as appeal to means “to exhort,” “to encourage,” “to advise strongly,” or “to urge earnestly.” Use a word or phrase in your language that expresses the way that a son might respectfully urge his father to do something.

as to a father: Paul was telling Timothy to treat older men in a way that showed that he respected them and loved them.

5:1c

Treat: In the Greek text, there is no verb in this part of the verse. The Berean Standard Bible has supplied the verb Treat. Or you might use the verb “exhort” from 5:1b. Paul wanted Timothy to show these men that he cared about them and that he was concerned for their welfare.

younger men: This probably refers to men who were younger than Timothy himself.

brothers: In some languages, it is necessary to differentiate between “older brothers” and “younger brothers.” If this is true in your language, use the term that means “younger brothers” here.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 6:10

6:10a

For: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For indicates that 6:10 gives the reason for the statement in 6:9. In other words, it gives the reason that those who want to become rich incur the problems listed in 6:9.

Here, Paul used a proverb to give the reason for 6:9. (Knight, page 257, reports that a “widely attested” ancient Greek proverb says “The love of money is the mother-city of all evil.” Paul modifies the proverb, but still keeps it in proverb form.)

the love of money: In some languages, it is not possible to love an object like money. If this is true in your language, it may be possible to say something like “wanting money,” or “wanting to become rich.” Or it may be possible to use a word like “greed.” See the note on 3:3d.

the root of all kinds of evil: To say that “the love of money” is the root of all kinds of evil is a figure of speech. It means that it causes much evil. For example, when people want to become rich, they may easily become selfish. They may cheat, lie, steal, envy, or quarrel. They may hate people, hurt them, and even kill them.

It is not clear from the Greek grammar here whether the word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the root should be translated as:

(1) a root, that is, one source or cause of evil among many possible sources or causes.

(New International Version (2011 Revision), Good News Translation, New American Standard Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

(2) “the root,” that is, the only source or cause of evil.

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version, Revised English Bible, NET Bible, God’s Word)

The Greek text is ambiguous. However, Paul was probably implying that there were other causes of evil as well as the love of money. So it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

all kinds of evil: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as all kinds of evil can be understood in two ways:

(1) It means all sorts or kinds of evil. In other words, the love of money can result in different sorts of evil behavior.

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)

(2) It means all evil. In other words, the love of money is the cause of every evil behavior.

(Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version, Revised English Bible, NET Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

6:10b

By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith: Paul knew that some people in Ephesus had wandered from the faith because they were eager for money. It is possible that he was referring to the false teachers. These teachers thought that godliness was a means to financial gain (6:5c). Paul may also have been referring to those who had been influenced by them.

wandered away from the faith: The form of the Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as wandered away from literally means “have been led astray.” Here Paul used the Greek verb figuratively, It refers to a person who has allowed money to hinder him from following Christian teaching. See the note on 1:6a and 6:21b.

the faith: When Paul referred to the faith, he was referring to the true teachings about God and about Christ. See the note on “the faith” in 3:9.

6:10c

and: This part of the verse gives the second thing that happens when people are “crave” money.

pierced themselves with many sorrows: Paul was using a figure of speech here to help the believers understand his point. People suffer physically if they pierce or stab themselves. In the same way, people who are eager for money often suffer terribly. For example, some people work so hard to become rich that they lose friends.

In some languages, it may be necessary to make the comparison explicit. For example, one way to do this is:

[they have] caused themselves to suffer as greatly as if they had pierced themselves with a weapon

If you have no suitable figure of speech in your language, you can translate only the meaning. For example, the New Century Version says:

they have caused themselves much sorrow

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 1:12

Section 1:12–17

Paul thanked Christ Jesus for his mercy

Paul began this section by thanking Christ Jesus for forgiving him. He described himself as the worst sinner. He said that Christ would forgive everyone who believed in him, no matter how sinful they were, just as Christ had forgiven him.

Paragraph 1:12–14

1:12a

thank: That is, Paul was grateful to Christ Jesus for all that he had done for him. Some languages may not have a word that means thank. If your language is like that, you may have to say something like:

I tell Christ Jesus our Lord that he has done good to me.

Christ Jesus our Lord: This is the same expression that was used in 1:2c.

In most English versions “Jesus Christ” and “Christ Jesus” are translated in the same order as they occur in the Greek manuscripts. It is recommended that you do the same thing.

our: This again refers to Paul, Timothy, and the Ephesian believers.

Lord: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Lord is a general word that means “master.” It was used to address any respected person. It is a title used frequently in the New Testament to refer to either Christ or God. When it refers to them, you could translate it as “owner” or “chief.”

1:12b

strengthened me: In 1:12c, Paul thanked Christ for giving him the responsibility to preach the gospel. But first he acknowledged that Christ had strengthened him to preach the gospel. That means that Christ enabled him to do it.

1:12c

that He considered me faithful: When Paul said that Christ had considered him faithful, he meant that Christ considered him to be trustworthy, dependable, and reliable.

Before Paul became a believer he had not been faithful. See 1:13. He had even persecuted those who believed in Christ, and he had blasphemed God. But, here in 1:12c, he said that, despite his past, Christ treated him as if he were faithful.

1:12d

and appointed me to service: The words appointed me to service explain the way in which Christ showed Paul that he considered him faithful. Paul used the word service here to refer to the task that Christ assigned to him. Paul’s task was to preach the gospel as an apostle. Christ appointed Paul to be his representative at the time when Paul first came to believe in him (see Acts 22:14–15).

service: You may need to translate service with a verb like “serve.” In some languages it may also be necessary to supply an object that specifies whom Paul was to serve. If so, you should follow the model of the New International Version (2011 Revision), Revised Standard Version, and Good News Translation, and indicate that Christ had chosen Paul to serve him.

The word “serve” here refers to serving or working for God, doing what God asks a Christian to do. In some languages it might be better to use a word that means “worship.”

General Comment on 1:12a

If you need to translate “thank” with direct speech, you may say something like this:

I say to Christ Jesus our Lord, he who has given me strength, “Thank you for considering me trustworthy and appointing me to serve you.”

General Comment on 1:12a–d

In some languages, it may be more natural to reorder this verse. For example, first mention that Christ gave Paul the responsibility to preach the gospel (1:12c–d). Then say that Christ had given him the strength to do it. One way to do this would be:

^12aI thank Christ Jesus our Lord ^12cbecause he has counted me as faithful ^12dand called me to serve him by preaching the gospel. ^12bAnd he has made me strong enough to do what he called me to do.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 3:10

3:10a

Additionally, they must first be tested: Paul told Timothy that someone who might become a deacon should be tested to discover if he had the right qualities. Only if he had these qualities should he be appointed as a deacon.

Paul did not say who should test a deacon. So it is recommended that you do not explain that either. Perhaps you could say:

Let them prove themselves.

But, if in your language you need to specify who tested the deacons, it is recommended that you use a general term. For example, you could say:

The believers must test them

Paul also did not explain the way that deacons should be tested. There are many possibilities, but it is recommended that you avoid specifying any method of testing in your translation.

first: In this context, this means before starting to serve as a deacon.

3:10b

if they are above reproach: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as above reproach means that the men being tested cannot be truthfully be accused of doing wrong. It has a similar meaning to the word that the Berean Standard Bible also translates as “above reproach” in 3:2a.

3:10c

let them serve as deacons: That is, once these men have passed the test, they can be appointed as deacons.

deacons: See the note on 3:8a.

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Source: SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 2003

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 4:5

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 5:22

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 1:1

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 2:14

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 4:16

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 6:10

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 1:12

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 3:10

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