1 Timothy 3:1

Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons

3:1 This saying ¹  is trustworthy: “If someone aspires to the office of overseer, ²  he desires a good work.”

1 Timothy 1:15

1:15 This saying ³  is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” – and I am the worst of them! ⁴ 

1 Timothy 1:18

1:18 I put this charge ⁵  before you, Timothy my child, in keeping with the prophecies once spoken about you, ⁶  in order that with such encouragement ⁷  you may fight the good fight.

1 Timothy 1:16

1:16 But here is why I was treated with mercy: so that ⁸  in me as the worst, ⁹  Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life.

¹ tn Grk “the saying,” referring to the following citation (see 1 Tim 1:15; 4:9; 2 Tim 2:11; Titus 3:8 for other occurrences of this phrase).

² tn Grk “aspires to oversight.”

³ tn Grk “the saying,” referring to the following citation (see 1 Tim 3:1; 4:9; 2 Tim 2:11; Titus 3:8 for other occurrences of this phrase).

⁴ tn Grk “of whom I am the first.”

⁵ sn This charge refers to the task Paul described to Timothy in vv. 3-7 above.

⁶ 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.

⁷ tn Grk “that by them you might fight…” (a reference to the prophecies which can encourage him in his work).

⁷ tn Grk “but because of this I was treated with mercy, so that…”

⁸ tn Grk “in me first,” making the connection with the last phrase of v. 15.