1:1 From Paul, 2 a slave 3 of God and apostle of Jesus Christ, to further the faith 4 of God’s chosen ones and the knowledge of the truth that is in keeping with godliness,
1:5 The reason I left you in Crete was to set in order the remaining matters and to appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. 1:6 An elder must be blameless, 6 the husband of one wife, 7 with faithful children 8 who cannot be charged with dissipation or rebellion. 1:7 For the overseer 9 must be blameless as one entrusted with God’s work, 10 not arrogant, not prone to anger, not a drunkard, not violent, not greedy for gain.
2:1 But as for you, communicate the behavior that goes with 14 sound teaching.
1 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.
2 tn Grk “Paul.” The word “from” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied to indicate the sender of the letter.
3 tn Traditionally, “servant” or “bondservant.” Though δοῦλος (doulos) is normally translated “servant,” the word does not bear the connotation of a free individual serving another. BDAG notes that “‘servant’ for ‘slave’ is largely confined to Biblical transl. and early American times…in normal usage at the present time the two words are carefully distinguished” (BDAG 260 s.v.). The most accurate translation is “bondservant” (sometimes found in the ASV for δοῦλος), in that it often indicates one who sells himself into slavery to another. But as this is archaic, few today understand its force.
4 tn Grk “for the faith,” possibly, “in accordance with the faith.”
5 tn The Greek text emphasizes the contrast between vv. 2b and 3a: God promised this long ago but now has revealed it in his own time.
6 tn Grk “if anyone is blameless…” as a continuation of v. 5b, beginning to describe the elder’s character.
7 tn Or “married only once,” “devoted solely to his wife.” See the note on “wife” in 1 Tim 3:2; also 1 Tim 3:12; 5:9.
8 tn Or “believing children.” The phrase could be translated “believing children,” but the parallel with 1 Tim 3:4 (“keeping his children in control”) argues for the sense given in the translation.
9 sn The overseer is another term for the same official position of leadership as the “elder.” This is seen in the interchange of the two terms in this passage and in Acts 20:17, 28, as well as in the parallels between these verses and 1 Tim 3:1-7.
10 tn Grk “as God’s steward.”
11 sn The overseer is another term for the same official position of leadership as the “elder.” This is seen in the interchange of the two terms in this passage and in Acts 20:17, 28, as well as in the parallels between these verses and 1 Tim 3:1-7.
12 tn Grk “as God’s steward.”
13 tn Grk “before eternal ages.”
14 tn Grk “say what is fitting for sound teaching” (introducing the behavior called for in this chapter.).