1 Timothy 1:3-4
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
II. Sound Teaching
Warning Against False Doctrine. 3 [a]I repeat the request I made of you when I was on my way to Macedonia,(A) that you stay in Ephesus to instruct certain people not to teach false doctrines 4 [b]or to concern themselves with myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the plan of God that is to be received by faith.(B)
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- 1:3–7 Here Timothy’s initial task in Ephesus (cf. Acts 20:17–35) is outlined: to suppress the idle religious speculations, probably about Old Testament figures (1 Tm 1:3–4, but see note on 1 Tm 6:20–21), which do not contribute to the development of love within the community (1 Tm 1:5) but rather encourage similar useless conjectures (1 Tm 1:6–7).
- 1:4 The plan of God that is to be received by faith: the Greek may also possibly mean “God’s trustworthy plan” or “the training in faith that God requires.”
1 Timothy 1:18-20
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
18 I entrust this charge to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophetic words once spoken about you.[a] Through them may you fight a good fight(A) 19 by having faith and a good conscience. Some, by rejecting conscience, have made a shipwreck of their faith,(B) 20 among them Hymenaeus[b] and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.(C)
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- 1:18 The prophetic words once spoken about you: the Greek may also be translated, “the prophecies that led (me) to you.” It probably refers to testimonies given by charismatic figures in the Christian communities. Fight a good fight: this translation preserves the play on words in Greek. The Greek terms imply a lengthy engagement in battle and might well be translated “wage a good campaign.”
- 1:20 Hymenaeus: mentioned in 2 Tm 2:17 as saying that the resurrection has already taken place (in baptism). Alexander: probably the Alexander mentioned in 2 Tm 4:14 as the coppersmith who “did me a great deal of harm.” Whom I have handed over to Satan: the same terms are used in the condemnation of the incestuous man in 1 Cor 5:5.
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