SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Timothy 2003 – Page 4

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 4:10

4:10a

In the Greek text, this verse uses the particle gar, which the Berean Standard Bible leaves implicit. This word indicates the way that this verse connects with what Paul had just said. It indicates that this verse is a reason or logical support for what he has just said. If you have a suitable way in your language to indicate this connection you should use it here.

To this end: There are two interpretations about what the word this refers to:

(1) It refers back to the saying in 4:8. The English versions that follow this interpretation usually include a connection like for or “this is why” in their translation.

(Revised Standard Version, NET Bible, New American Standard Bible)

(2) It refers forward to 4:10b. The English versions that follow this interpretation usually begin 4:10 as a new sentence with no overt connection to the verses before.

(New International Version (2011 Revision), Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, probably the Berean Standard Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The Greek words at the beginning of this verse often point back to something already mentioned.

labor: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as labor often refers to physical work like working in a field. However, in this context, Paul was not talking about literal working. See the next note on “strive.”

strive:

Some translations, such as the King James Version and New Living Translation (2004 Revision), follow a version of the Greek text that says “suffer reproach” instead of
strive. The majority of the editorial committee for the UBS Handbook Greek New Testament (4th edition) chose the variant “struggle.” However, they gave it a {C} reading, which means that the Committee had difficulty in deciding which variant to place in the text. Metzger, page 642, says, “A majority of the Committee preferred the latter [‘struggle’] partly because it has slightly better attestation and partly because it seems better suited to the context.” Most English versions follow the UBS Handbook text here.) The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as strive often refers to competing in an athletic contest or to fighting as a soldier does. (He also used the same verb in 1 Corinthians 9:25, where it clearly refers to competing as an athlete.) In this context, Paul probably meant the verb to mean “fight, struggle” rather than “compete as an athlete.” Paul used the same verb in 6:12a.

As with the verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as labor Paul did not use this verb literally.

These two words translated labor and strive mean almost the same thing. Paul used both to emphasize the tremendous effort that he and Timothy exerted in order to be godly. In some languages it may be necessary to combine these two terms into one expression, For example:

for this we work very hard

4:10b

because: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as because is hoti. This word can have many different meanings. Here, it means “because.” For example, see the Revised Standard Version and the Good News Translation. Paul used this word to introduce a detailed explanation of 4:10a.

we have set our hope on: This means that Paul and Timothy trusted in God. They believed that God would save them and give them the eternal life that he had promised to give them. The form of the Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as have set our hope on implies that this was something that they were doing continually.

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

the living God: Paul used this expression here in the same way that he used it in 3:15c. In both verses, he used the expression to emphasize that God is active. The next part of this verse, 4:10c, says that God is active in the sense that he “saves” us.

4:10c

the Savior of everyone: Paul and Timothy put much effort into obeying God. He said here that that was because God was the Savior of everyone. This means that God is the only one who can save all people, and that he is able and willing to do so.

Savior: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Savior refers to a person who rescues someone from danger. In this context, Paul was talking about God, who rescues us from the consequences of our sin. See the note on “our Savior” in 1:1c and the note on “save” in 1:15c.

everyone: Paul wanted to emphasize that God wanted to save everyone, not just a certain kind or group of people.

4:10d

especially: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as especially is malista. In this context, it means especially, that is, “particularly,” or “above all.” This is the normal meaning of the Greek word. It is true that God is the Savior of all people (4:10c). That is, he is the only one who can save people and he is able and willing to do that. But God is especially the Savior of believers in the sense that he has actually saved them.

believe: To believe means to trust in Christ, which also implies to obey him.

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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 6:4

6:4a

conceited: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as conceited is used to refer to people who think and behave as though they are superior to other people. They are very proud. In many languages, there is an idiomatic way to say this. The Good News Translation uses an English figure of speech and says “swollen with pride.” See the note on 3:6b. This Greek word also occurs in 2 Timothy 3:4.

understands nothing: This is the second accusation that Paul made against the false teachers in this passage. Paul did not literally mean that the false teachers understood nothing at all. This is an example of hyperbole or exaggeration. He meant that the false teachers did not really understand what they were teaching about when they taught about God. This is similar to what Paul said about them in 1:7b and 1:7c.

6:4b

he has an unhealthy interest: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as has an unhealthy interest literally means “has a sick desire.” Paul was saying that the false teachers were interested in controversies and quarrels about words. He was also saying that this was harming them spiritually.

controversies and semantics: The two Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as controversies and semantics have almost the same meaning. (Moore, page 55, says this is a “near-synonymous doublet (borderline) (coordinate, with ‘and’).”) The false teachers liked to argue, dispute, debate, and disagree with other people.

semantics: The false teachers were arguing with other people about semantics. They were possibly arguing about what certain words in the Old Testament meant. Paul warned Timothy again in 2 Timothy 2:14 about how such quarrels could be harmful.

6:4c–5a

In these verse parts, Paul described the results of such unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words. He listed five results:

(a) envy (6:4c)

(b) strife (6:4c)

(d) evil suspicions (6:4d)

(e) constant friction (6:5a)

These five things were characteristics of the false teachers. They were also becoming characteristics of the people who followed their teaching.

6:4c

out of which come: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as out of which come introduces the five results that Paul listed.

envy: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as envy refers to the emotion that a person feels when he wants something another person has or wants to be like another person. It makes him resentful and discontented with what he has and who he is.

Your language may have an idiomatic way to talk about envy. If so, you could use it here. (Louw and Nida (88.160) on phthonos)

strife: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as strife refers to what happens when people quarrel and disagree with one other. In the New Testament this word almost always occurs along with a word that means “envy” or “jealousy.” See Romans 1:29, 13:13; 1 Corinthians 1:11, 3:3; 2 Corinthians 12:20; Galatians 5:20; Philippians 1:15; Titus 3:9. When people are envious of each other, this causes them to quarrel and disagree with each other.

Paul said in 6:4b that the false teachers were interested in controversies and quarrels. Here in 6:4c he said that this resulted in strife among believers. Use a stronger word to translate strife than you did to translate “controversies and quarrels” in 6:4b.

6:4d

abusive talk: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as abusive talk refers to verbal abuse and insults. The false teachers and those who followed them spoke harshly and said slanderous things about people.

evil suspicions: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as suspicions refers to thoughts that somebody has done something wrong. If a person has evil suspicions, he may accuse other people of wrong doing without any proof.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 1:6

1:6

This verse contrasts the way that the false teachers were behaving with the way that Paul wanted the believers in Ephesus to behave (1:5).

1:6a

Some: The word Some refers to the false teachers whom Paul had referred to in 1:3c.

have strayed from these ways: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as strayed from originally meant “to miss the mark.” Later it came to mean “to miss, fail, deviate, and depart.” Here it has a figurative meaning, that is, that the false teachers no longer had these characteristics that Paul had just been describing. See the note on 6:10b and 6:21b. This verb also occurs in 2 Timothy 2:18.

these ways: This phrase refers to the characteristics that Paul had mentioned in 1:5, that is, “a pure heart,” “a good conscience,” and “a sincere faith.”

1:6b

turned aside to empty talk: Paul here continued his figure of speech. If you cannot say turned aside to empty talk, you may want to say:

and have started talking about meaningless things

empty talk: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as empty talk only occurs here in the New Testament. It indicates that what the false teachers taught had no real meaning. It might have sounded good but it had no value. See Titus 1:10 where Paul used a similar word.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 3:4

3:4a

manage his own household well: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as manage means to influence the way people behave. (Louw and Nida (36.1) say that the word in the Greek (proistēmi) means “to so influence others as to cause them to follow a recommended course of action,” and it implies “a minimum of control on the part of the one guiding or leading.”) An overseer should train his family to behave in ways that please God. In some languages, it is possible to use a word meaning “guide” or “lead.” In other languages it may be possible to say “be in control of his family.”

3:4b

keep his children under control, with complete dignity: This is part of managing a family well. An overseer was to train his children and make sure they obeyed him respectfully.

with complete dignity: The Greek word semnotēs that the Berean Standard Bible translates as dignity means “esteem,” “reverence,” “honor.”

In this context, Paul was saying that the children were to obey their father to show that they respected him. That is, they were to esteem him and honor him by the way they behaved. See the New International Version (2011 Revision), Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), Contemporary English Version, and New Century Version.

complete: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as complete is literally “all.” Paul used this word to say that an overseer’s children should respectfully obey him in every way.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 5:6

5:6a

But she who lives for pleasure: Paul contrasted a “widow who is truly in need,” whom the believers should help, with the one who lives for pleasure. A widow who lives for pleasure thinks only about what she wants and not about what God wants. She will do whatever causes her to feel good even if she sins by doing it.

5:6b

is dead: A widow who lives for pleasure is obviously alive physically. Therefore when Paul said that she is dead, he meant that she was spiritually dead. That means that she has no real relationship with God.

Speakers of some languages may not use the word dead in this metaphorical way. Therefore they may find it very difficult to understand. If this is true in your area, you may need to say something like:

she lives cut off from God
-or-
her life counts for nothing good

In some languages people may be able to translate this as a simile and to say:

her soul is like a corpse
-or-
her heart is like it is dead, even though her body is alive

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 6:15

6:15a

the blessed and only Sovereign One: In the New Testament, the Greek word makarios that the Berean Standard Bible translates as blessed is only used to describe God here and in 1:11. It means that God has every blessing in himself. He is not dependent on anyone else for joy or anything else. (Hanson, page 60, says, “It came originally from pagan Greek literature (Homer calls the gods ‘blessed’), and was adopted by Hellenistic Judaism, which is no doubt how it entered the vocabulary of the author of the Pastorals. D-C [Dibelius and Conzelmann], rightly no doubt, see here traces of a liturgical style.”)

In your translation, use an expression that would be appropriate for referring to God. Some possibilities are:

the…Ruler who lives in perfect joy
-or-
the…Ruler who has all blessings
-or-
the perfect…Ruler

only Sovereign One: God is the only one who rules over everything. He is unique.

6:15b

the King of kings: That is, the King who is greater than all other kings.

Lord of lords: That is, the Lord who is greater than all other lords.

General Comment on 6:15b

The title “Kings of kings and Lord of lords” is also used in Revelation 17:14, 19:16. Make sure you translate it in the same way in these places.

6:15c

will bring about in His own time: Paul was saying that God had already decided when Christ would return. When that time comes, God will cause it to happen.

in His own time: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in His own time means that God will cause this to happen at the exact time that he has chosen.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 1:17

1:17

Here Paul stopped what he had been talking about and began to praise God. He also invited Timothy and everyone else to praise God with him.

In 1:17a–c, Paul listed some characteristics of God for which we should praise him (God). Then, in 1:17d, Paul said the way in which God should be praised.

It might be helpful in some languages to format this verse as poetry.

1:17a

Now: The Greek word de that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Now is used here to start a new thought. It does not express any idea of time, as the English word Now often does. In some languages it is best not to translate this word in this context.

the King eternal: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the King eternal is literally “the king of the ages.” It means that God is the one who always has had and always will have authority to rule. He was King before the world was created and he will always be King.

1:17b

immortal: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as immortal means “incorruptible” or “unchangeable.” In this context it means that God will never die. The only other place in the New Testament where God is described as immortal is Romans 1:23. There the word is used to contrast God with humans, who are mortal and can die.

and invisible: No one alive on earth can see God because he is spirit and so invisible to human eyes. Later, in 6:16c, Paul mentioned again that no one has seen God or ever can see him. God is also described as invisible in Colossians 1:15.

1:17c

the only God: There is a textual problem with this part of 1:17. English versions and scholars do not agree about what the original text was here. There are two main possibilities:

(1) Follow the Greek manuscripts that the Berean Standard Bible has used and translate the only God.

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

(2) Follow other Greek manuscripts that include the Greek word that can be translated as “wise.” For example, the King James Version has “the only wise God.”

Most scholars agree that this word was not present in the original Greek text and so you should omit it (The Editorial Committee of the UBS Handbook New Testament (4th edition) gives the reading without “wise” an {A} rating, indicating that the text is almost certain.). However if many people in your area use the King James Version, it might be helpful to mention the alternative in a footnote.

Other ways to translate the expression “the only God” are:

he alone is God (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
-or-
there is no other God

1:17d

honor: In some languages it may be necessary to use a verb rather than a noun like honor. To honor someone means to respect him and to treat him as an important person.

glory: To give glory to someone means to worship him, to praise him, or to tell other people how wonderful he is.

In some languages it may be necessary to use direct speech in order to translate this. Here is one way to do that:

Let us honor him, saying, “You are wonderful!”

forever and ever: In Greek the expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as forever and ever means that God deserves praise that will never end.

Amen: When people in the Bible prayed to God, they often ended by saying Amen. This means not only that they had finished, but that they fully agreed with what they had said. Because this word is well known even today, many translations just transliterate it. Another possibility is to translate it with an expression like “so let it be.”

General Comment on 1:17a–d

You may need to reorder this verse so that the description of God’s greatness comes after the call to praise. One way to do this is:

^17dLet everybody honor God and give him glory forever. ^17aHe is the King who rules forever. ^17bHe lives forever, no one can see him, ^17cand he is the only God. Amen.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 3:15

3:15a

in case I am delayed: Paul knew that there was a possibility that he would not visit Timothy very soon. The Greek verb is active (“I delay”) rather than passive (I am delayed). So it should not be translated as meaning that he might be held back by force. Paul knew that he might himself decide to wait.

3:15b

so that: The connector so that introduces the purpose for which Paul was writing to Timothy. Paul wanted Timothy to know the way to teach the believers even if Paul himself could not come to visit.

how each one must conduct himself: Paul was referring to the way that God wanted believers to behave. He was including himself, Timothy, and all other believers. Paul was especially referring to the way that believers should treat each other.

God’s household: This is a metaphor that refers to the community of believers. Believers are related to each other like brothers and sisters in a family. They are related to God like children are related to their father. Paul used the same Greek word for household here as he did in 3:12b.

3:15c

which is the church of the living God: Paul here used a different description of God’s household (3:15b). It refers to the people who belong to the living God.

church: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as church does not refer to a church building, but to all true believers. Together they form the assembly or community of God’s people. Avoid using a term that might suggest that Paul was referring to a building. Some ways of translating the term church are:

the assembly of God’s people
-or-
the community of God’s people
-or-
God’s family
-or-
God’s people

See also the notes on 3:5b and 5:16c.

the living God: That is, God is alive and active. He is not like idols that never lived. The same phrase occurs in 4:10b. The other NT references are Matthew 16:16, 26:63; Acts 14:15; Romans 9:26; 2 Corinthians 3:3, 6:16; Hebrews 3:12, 9:14, 10:31, 12:22; Revelation 7:2.

3:15d

the pillar and foundation of the truth: This is a metaphor that explains that the church supported and strengthened the truth. The truth (of the gospel) was like a building, and the community of believers was like a pillar and foundation. Just as a pillar and a foundation support and strengthen a building, the community of believers supports and strengthens the truth.

pillar: A pillar is a tall post, usually made of stone, that supports the roof of a building. The same Greek word is used in Galatians 2:9 and Revelation 3:12, 10:1. The picture below shows the way that pillars support the roof of a building.

foundation: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as foundation does not occur anywhere else in the NT. So scholars do not agree about its precise meaning here. There are two possibilities:

(1) It could mean foundation or ground, that is, something that is the base on which a building is erected.

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, King James Version)

(2) It could mean support, bulwark, or prop, that is, something that helps to hold a building up or protects it.

(Good News Translation, Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), Revised English Bible, NET Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The church is like the foundation of a building. The foundation of a building causes the building to remain strong.

the truth: When Paul mentioned the truth, he was referring to the gospel. See the note on the truth in 2:4b.

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Source: SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 2003

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 4:10

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 6:4

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 1:6

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 3:4

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 5:6

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 6:15

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 1:17

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 3:15

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