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 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 tn Or more literally, “king of the ages.”
5 tc Most later witnesses (א2 D1 Hc Ψ 1881 Ï) have “wise” (σόφῳ, swfw) here (thus, “the only wise God”), while the earlier and better witnesses (א* A D* F G H* 33 1739 lat co) lack this adjective. Although it could be argued that the longer reading is harder since it does not as emphatically affirm monotheism, it is more likely that scribes borrowed σόφῳ from Rom 16:27 where μόνῳ σόφῳ θεῷ (monw sofw qew, “the only wise God”) is textually solid.
6 tn Grk “unto the ages of the ages,” an emphatic way of speaking about eternity in Greek.
7 tn Or “have a good reputation with”; Grk “have a good testimony from.”
8 tn Grk “the ones outside.”
9 tn Or “be trapped like the devil was”; Grk “fall into the trap of the devil.” The parallel in 2 Tim 2:26 supports the rendering given in the text.
10 tn Grk “they [the sins] follow after others.”