1:3 As I urged you when I was leaving for Macedonia, stay on in Ephesus 1 to instruct 2 certain people not to spread false teachings, 3 1:4 nor to occupy themselves with myths and interminable genealogies. 4 Such things promote useless speculations rather than God’s redemptive plan 5 that operates by faith.
1:18 I put this charge 6 before you, Timothy my child, in keeping with the prophecies once spoken about you, 7 in order that with such encouragement 8 you may fight the good fight.
1 map For location see JP1-D2; JP2-D2; JP3-D2; JP4-D2.
2 tn This word implies authoritative instruction: “direct, command, give orders” (cf. 1 Tim 4:11; 5:7; 6:13, 17). See BDAG 760 s.v. παραγγέλλω.
3 tn Grk “to teach other doctrines,” different from apostolic teaching (cf. 1 Tim 6:3).
4 sn Myths and interminable genealogies. These myths were legendary tales characteristic of the false teachers in Ephesus and Crete. See parallels in 1 Tim 4:7; 2 Tim 4:4; and Titus 1:14. They were perhaps built by speculation from the patriarchal narratives in the OT; hence the connection with genealogies and with wanting to be teachers of the law (v. 7).
5 tc A few Western
7 sn This charge refers to the task Paul described to Timothy in vv. 3-7 above.
8 sn The prophecies once spoken about you were apparently spoken at Timothy’s ordination (cf. 1 Tim 4:14) and perhaps spoke of what God would do through him. Thus they can encourage him in his work, as the next clause says.
9 tn Grk “that by them you might fight…” (a reference to the prophecies which can encourage him in his work).