1 Timothy 1:4

1:4 nor to occupy themselves with myths and interminable genealogies. ¹  Such things promote useless speculations rather than God’s redemptive plan ²  that operates by faith.

1 Timothy 6:20

Conclusion

6:20 O Timothy, protect what has been entrusted to you. Avoid ³  the profane chatter and absurdities ⁴  of so-called “knowledge.” ⁵ 

1 Timothy 6:2

6:2 But those who have believing masters must not show them less respect ⁶  because they are brothers. Instead they are to serve all the more, because those who benefit from their service are believers and dearly loved. ⁷ 

Summary of Timothy’s Duties

Teach them and exhort them about these things. ⁸ 

1 Timothy 2:1

Prayer for All People

2:1 First of all, then, I urge that requests, ⁹  prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people, ¹⁰ 

1 Timothy 2:1

Prayer for All People

2:1 First of all, then, I urge that requests, ¹¹  prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people, ¹² 

1 Timothy 4:4

4:4 For every creation of God is good and no food ¹³  is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.

Titus 1:14

1:14 and not pay attention to Jewish myths ¹⁴  and commands of people who reject the truth.

Titus 3:9

3:9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, ¹⁵  quarrels, and fights about the law, ¹⁶  because they are useless and empty.

¹ 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).

² tc A few Western mss (D* latt Ir) read οἰκοδομήν (oikodomhn, “[God’s] edification”) rather than οἰκονομίαν (oikonomian, “[God’s] redemptive plan”), which is read by the earliest and best witnesses.

³ tn Grk “avoiding.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.

⁴ tn Or “contradictions.”

⁵ tn Grk “the falsely named knowledge.”

⁵ tn Or “think the less of them”; Grk “despise them,” “look down on them.”

⁶ tn Or “those who devote themselves to service are faithful and dearly loved” (referring to slaves who serve them).

⁷ tn Grk “these things teach and exhort.”

⁷ tn Or “petitions.”

⁸ tn Grk “all men”; but here ἀνθρώπων (anqrwpwn) is used generically, referring to both men and women.

⁹ tn Or “petitions.”

¹⁰ tn Grk “all men”; but here ἀνθρώπων (anqrwpwn) is used generically, referring to both men and women.

¹¹ tn Grk “nothing.”

¹³ sn Jewish myths were legendary tales characteristic of the false teachers in Ephesus and Crete. See parallels in 1 Tim 1:4; 4:7; and 2 Tim 4:4.

¹⁵ tn Cf. 1 Tim 1:4.

¹⁶ sn Fights about the law were characteristic of the false teachers in Ephesus as well as in Crete (cf. 1 Tim 1:3-7; Titus 1:10, 14).