1 Timotius 2:7

2:7 For this I was appointed a preacher and apostle – I am telling the truth; ¹  I am not lying – and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

1 Timotius 4:1

Timothy’s Ministry in the Later Times

4:1 Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the later times some will desert the faith and occupy themselves ²  with deceiving spirits and demonic teachings, ³ 

1 Timotius 5:18

5:18 For the scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” ⁴  and, “The worker deserves his pay.” ⁵ 

1 Timotius 6:12

6:12 Compete well ⁶  for the faith and lay hold of that eternal life you were called for and made your good confession ⁷  for ⁸  in the presence of many witnesses.

[2:7]  ¹ tc Most mss (א* D² H 33^vid Ï) have ἐν Χριστῷ (en Cristw) after λέγω (legw) to read “I am telling the truth in Christ,” but this is probably an assimilation to Rom 9:1. Further, the witnesses that lack this phrase are early, important, and well distributed (א² A D* F G P Ψ 6 81 1175 1739 1881 al sy co). It is difficult to explain the shorter reading if it is not original.

[4:1]  ² tn Or “desert the faith by occupying themselves.”

[4:1]  ³ tn Grk “teachings of demons” (speaking of the source of these doctrines).

[5:18]  ⁴ sn A quotation from Deut 25:4.

[5:18]  ⁵ sn A quotation from Luke 10:7.

[6:12]  ⁶ tn This phrase literally means “compete in the good competition of the faith,” using words that may refer to a race or to a boxing or wrestling match: “run the good race” or “fight the good fight.” The similar phrase in 1 Tim 1:18 uses a military picture and is more literally “war the good warfare.”

[6:12]  ⁷ sn At some point in Timothy’s life, he publicly acknowledged Jesus as the resurrected Lord, perhaps either at his baptism or his ordination as a minister of the gospel. With this reminder of the historical moment of his good confession, Timothy is encouraged to remain steadfast in his faith and to finish his life as a minister in the same way it began (see G. W. Knight, Pastoral Epistles [NIGTC], 264-65).

[6:12]  ⁸ tn Grk “confessed the good confession.”