1st Timothy Un-shuffled
Paul
1. 1st Tim. 1:1-20
2. 1st Tim. 5:24-25
3. 1st Tim. 4:1-10
4. 1st Tim. 6:2c-21
1:1-20. 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by command of God — our Savior and Lord — Jesus Christ our confident expectation.
2 To Timothy, a genuine child in faith: grace, mercy, peace from God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 When conveying myself into Macedonia I exhorted you to stay in Ephesus so that you could command some not to teach foreign doctrine, 4 nor to give heed to myths and endless genealogies which engender disputes rather than management of God’s household — the one equipped with faith. 5 Now the objective of that command is self-sacrificial loving-care from out of a pure heart, and a clear conscience, and an un-hypocritical faith, 6 from which some, having deviated, were turned away to the extent of idle disputation, 7 desiring to be Law-teachers — understanding not — neither what they are saying, nor about what they themselves are strongly asserting.
8 Now we know absolutely that the Law is good if one uses it properly, 9 knowing this: that law is not laid down for a just man, but for lawless men, and for refractory men, and for ungodly men, and for sinners, for unholy men and for profane men, for killers of moms and killers of dads, for murderers, 10 for fornicators and catamites, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for lairs, for those who don’t keep their word and whatsoever else that is itself opposed to sound, wholesome, doctrinal teaching 11 with reference to the good news of the glory of the blessed God with which I was entrusted.
12 And I have a grateful frame of mind toward the One having enabled me, Christ Jesus our Lord, for he considered me faithful, putting me into service for himself — being the former blasphemer and persecutor and overbearing, wantonly violent person that I was — but I obtained pardon and forgiveness seeing that, being ignorant, I acted in unbelief; 14 and the grace of our Lord exceeded with faith and love in abundance toward me through Christ Jesus. 15 The Word is faithful and worthy of all acceptance, for Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am chief. 16 But with a view toward this I was shown pardon and forgiveness so that in me Jesus Christ himself might first show forth his all-encompassing, merciful, forbearance and clemency, for a pattern or model representation of those intending to faithe upon him to the extent of life eternal. 17 Now to the King of the ages — an immortal, invisible, singly all-wise God — be honor and glory on to the ages of ages. Amen.
18 I myself am committing this charge to you, child Timothy, in accord with the preceding prophecies about you so that with them you yourself can fight the good fight, 19 retaining faith and a clear conscience, which some having themselves rejected, made shipwreck concerning the Faith, 20 of whom is Hymanaeus, also Alexander, whom I handed over to Satan so that they can be taught not to blaspheme.
5:24-25. 24 The sins of some men are prominently conspicuous early on, leading to judgment; but some also appear in the aftermath. 25 In just the same way, good works also are prominently conspicuous early on, and the ones being otherwise are not always able to be concealed.
4:1-10. 1 Now the Spirit is expressly saying that in subsequent end times some will separate themselves/apostatize/fall away from the Faith, giving heed to deceptive seducing spirits and to doctrinal teachings of demons, 2 false-speaking with hypocrisy, their own conscience having been cauterized, 3 ever preventing to marry, abstaining themselves from foods which God created for partaking with thanksgiving by those faithful having acknowledged the truth. 4 For every creation of God is good, and not even to be regarded as vile, having been received with thanksgiving, 5 no doubt being sanctified through God’s word and prayer.
6 Teaching these things to the brothers you will be a good servant of Jesus Christ, being ever nourished by the words of the Faith, and of the good teaching you have conformed to. 7 But excuse yourself from the profane, and from old womanish myths, yet train yourself toward godliness, 8 for a little training for the body is profitable, but godliness is profitable for all, holding a promise of the present life, and of that coming. 9 The Word is faithful and worthy of all acceptance: 10 for, for this we also are laboring hard and are being reviled: because we have set our hope upon a living God who is a savior of all peoples — more specifically — of believers.
6:2c-21. 2c Always teach and always exhort these things. 3 If anyone is continually teaching what is foreign to the Christian faith, and not acceding himself to the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrinal teaching toward godliness, 4 he has been puffed up and demented with conceit — being the master of nothing, versed in nothing. Rather he is holding an inordinate and morbid fondness for controversies and disputes over trivial things out of which arise envy, jealousy, altercation, strife, blasphemies, evil suspicions, 5 pertinacious frictions between people — the mind having been utterly perverted. And (he), having been deprived and thus devoid of the truth, plus deeming godliness to be a source of gain, you are to withdraw from the like. 6 But godliness with a frame of mind viewing ones lot as sufficient is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world — obvious that neither are we able to carry anything out. 8 But having food and clothing, we will be content with these. 9 But those always wanting themselves to be rich are continually falling into temptation, and a snare, and many senseless and hurtful desires, which plunge the people into destruction and ruin. 10 For the love of money is a root of all (kinds of) evils, by which some, always aspiring themselves thereto, were steered away from the Faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But you, O man of God, continually flee these and always pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and kindness. 12 Fight the good fight of the Faith for yourself; grasp for yourself the eternal life to which you were called — even the good profession you professed in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I am charging you before God — the One giving life to all — even Christ Jesus — the One witnessing the good profession before Pontius Pilate: 14 you are to spotlessly keep the charge blamelessly until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he shall cause to be seen in its own time — the blessed and only Sovereign — the Ruler of those ruling, and Lord of those lording, 16 the only One possessing immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no one of persons has seen, nor is empowered to see; to
whom be eternal honor and power. Amen.
17 Command the rich not to be haughty in the current age, nor to place hope upon the uncertainty of riches, but upon the living God — the One richly providing all for our enjoyment — 18 to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and sharing, 19 squirreling away for themselves a good foundation for the future so that they can lay hold on life eternal.
20 O Timothy, protect that thing committed to your charge, turning yourself away from the profane, fruitless disputations and opposing views of Gnosticism — that falsely called “knowledge,” 21 which some, claiming it for themselves, have missed their mark concerning the Faith. Grace be with you. Amen.
What Can be styled Pseudo-Paul consists of sections excised out of 1st Timothy that were inserted by another hand pretending to be Paul (an act called pseudepigraphy). This listing presents eleven observations that show the sections below to be false:
1.) The lists of qualifications given for church officers and widows, and admonitions for others not in office, are more comprehensive and complex, and of a later date, which, when taken together, amount to a high level of legalistic, graceless rules and regulations which do not take a person’s humanness into account, and which, when compared to the simple list in Titus, are indications of a much later structure of church polity being imposed by the writer at a time well beyond the life of the apostle Paul (cf. all of Pseudo-Paul with Titus 1:5-9 and 2:1-10).
2.) Titus is told to appoint elders; Pseudo-Paul has the position being an ambitious desire to be sought after rather than it being a calling (cf. 3:1 with Tit. 1:5).
3.) Deacons purchase their public standings (3:13).
4.) Widows become disqualified for support if not having fulfilled certain criteria regarding functions, duties and age qualifications (5:10).
5.) A contradiction exists in the section regarding elders where Timothy is told not to rebuke an older man in 5:1, and then in 5:20 he is told to rebuke elders publicly.
6.) Women are oppressed as a membership sub-class in violation and opposition to the eight revealed scriptures which indicate otherwise (Judges 4:4; 2nd Kings 22:14-20; 2nd Chronicles 34:20-28; Acts 18:24-28; Acts 21:8-9; Philip. 4:2-3; Gal. 3:28-29; Rom. 16:1); and they are chauvinistically told to be silent in church contrary to 1st Corinthians, and that they will be saved through childbirth (2:11-15) which in itself has no saving efficacy.
7.) Timothy’s gift is here said to be of a prophetic laying on of hands of the presbyters rather than of the hands of the apostle Paul (cf. 4:14 with 2nd Tim. 1:6).
8.) There is the assertion that Paul is speaking truth and is not a liar, right in the middle of a place where his calling is being described, which is totally out of character with Paul, who should not have to find it necessary to say such a thing to Timothy who has worked with him closely from the start and knows him extremely well (2:7).
9.) If this were two different letters unintentionally mixed together, then there would be one more each of a greeting and a closing; there is not.
10.) The overall language employed is a dead-giveaway that the writer has no intimate personal knowledge of Timothy whatsoever.
11.) And lastly, Timothy would not have been left alone to implement all of these new charges by himself apart from Paul’s personal presence if he were initially ignorant of church polity. Ideally Timothy would have competently known all of these things already through training and experience before being left alone to police a body of believers in Paul’s absence, making these admonitions unnecessary.
1st Timothy Un-shuffled
Pseudo-Paul
1. 1st Tim. 3:14-16
2. 1st Tim. 2:1-3:13
3. 1st Tim. 5:1-16
4. 1st Tim. 6:1-2b
5. 1st Tim. 5:17-23
6. 1st Tim. 4:11-16
[3:14-16. 14 I am writing these instructions to you, hoping to come to you shortly; 15 but if I am delayed, these are so that you might know how it is necessary to conduct oneself in God’s house, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth. 16 And admittedly without dispute, great is the initiation of godliness: God was manifested in flesh, he was vindicated in Spirit, he was seen by messengers, he was preached among Gentiles, he was believed on in the world, he was taken up in glory.
2:1-15. 1 Therefore, I first of all am exhorting that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings are to be made for all men: 2 for kings and all those that are in authority, so that we can lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved, and to come to a full knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one Mediator betwixt God and men — a man, Christ Jesus — 6 the One having given himself as a ransom on behalf of all — the testimony in its own time 7 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle — I am speaking truth in Christ, I do not lie — a teacher of Gentiles in faith and truth.
8 Therefore, I want the men to pray in every place lifting up consecrated hands without anger and doubting. 9 Likewise the women also, adorning themselves in modest apparel with propriety and discretion, not with braids or gold or pearls or expensive clothing, 10 but with that which is suitable for women professing godliness with good works. 11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. 12 Also I do not allow a woman to teach, nor to have authority over a man, but to exist in silence. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived had come to be in transgression. 15 But she will be saved through childbirth if she stays in faith and love and consecration with self-control.
3:1-13. 1 The Word is faithful. If any aspire to a position of an overseer, he desires a good work. 2 Therefore, it behooves the overseer to be blameless, a husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, well-mannered, loving strangers, teaching skillfully, 3 not addicted to wine, not a tyrant, not greedy for base gain, but gentle, peaceful, not a lover of money, 4 running his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence 5 (for if one knows not how to run his own house, how will he care for God’s church?) 6 not a young plant, lest being puffed up, he fall into a devil’s judgment. 7 Also it behooves him to have a good testimony among those outside, lest he fall into reproach and a devil’s snare.
8 Deacons likewise are to be reverent, not two-faced, not being given to much wine, not greedy for base gain, 9 keeping the initiation of the Faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let these then be first approved, then being irreproachable, let them serve as deacons. 11 Their wives likewise are to be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all. 12 Let deacons be husbands of one wife, controlling children and their own houses well. 13 For those having served well as deacons attain to a good standing for themselves, and great confidence in that faith with Christ Jesus.
5:1-16. 1 Rebuke not an older man sharply, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters in all purity.
3 Honor those widows who actually are widows. 4 But if a certain widow has children or grandchildren, first let them learn to show piety to their own house and repay their parents, for this is acceptable before God. 5 Now the actual widow having been bereaved has then set her hope upon God, and continues night and day in supplications and in prayers. 6 But the one living for pleasure has died living; 7 yet command these so that they might be blameless. 8 However, if anyone is not providing for his own, and more specifically those of his household, he has denied the Faith, and worse: he is an unbeliever. 9 Let a widow be enrolled having attained not less than sixty years of age, a wife of one man, 10 recommended by good works, if she raised children, if she lodged strangers, if she washed saint’s feet, if she relieved the afflicted, if she diligently followed every good work.
11 But refuse younger widows, for whenever they grow wanton against the Christ they want to marry, 12 having judgment because they have primarily set aside the Faith, 13 and at the same time they also learn idleness, going about house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies speaking the improper. 14 Therefore, I want younger widow-women to marry, to bear children, to manage the house, to yield no opportunity to the Adversary for reproach. 15 For some have already turned aside after Satan. 16 If any believing man or believing woman has widows, let them relieve them, and let not the Church be burdened in order that it may relieve the actual widows.
6:1-2b. 1 As many as are slaves under a yoke, let them esteem their own masters worthy of all honor so that the Name of God and the doctrine may not be reviled. 2 And those having believing masters, let them not despise them, for they are brothers; but rather, let them serve as slaves, for those receiving the benefit are faithing and beloved.
5:17-23. 17 Let the elders that have ruled well be esteemed worthy of double honor, more specifically those laboring in language and teaching. 18 For the scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox treading out grain,” and “The worker is worthy of his wages.” 19 Accept not an accusation against an elder except by two or three witnesses. 20 Rebuke those sinning in the presence of all in order that the rest also may have fear. 21 I charge before the God and Lord, Jesus Christ, and the chosen messengers, that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing according to partiality. 22 Lay hands on no one hastily, nor share in other’s sins. Keep yourself pure. 23 Drink polluted water no longer, but utilize a little wine on account of your stomach and your frequent sicknesses.
4:11-16. 11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise your youth, but become a model for the faithful in word, in behavior, in love, in attitude, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come attend to reading, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Neglect not the gift within you which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of hands of the leadership. 15 Carefully ruminate upon these; exist within these so that your progress may be evident among all. 16 Take heed to yourself and to the teaching. Continue them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those hearing you.]