1 Timothy 2:4

2:4 since he wants ¹  all people ²  to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

1 Timothy 2:6

2:6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, revealing God’s purpose at his appointed time. ³ 

1 Timothy 3:4

3:4 He must manage his own household well and keep his children in control without losing his dignity. ⁴ 

1 Timothy 3:11

3:11 Likewise also their wives ⁵  must be dignified, not slanderous, temperate, faithful in every respect.

1 Timothy 4:4

4:4 For every creation of God is good and no food ⁶  is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.

1 Timothy 5:20

5:20 Those guilty of sin ⁷  must be rebuked ⁸  before all, ⁹  as a warning to the rest. ¹⁰ 

[2:4]  ¹ tn Grk “who wants…” (but showing why such prayer is pleasing to God).

[2:4]  ² tn Grk “all men”; but here ἀνθρώπους (anqrwpous) is used generically, referring to both men and women.

[2:6]  ³ sn Revealing God’s purpose at his appointed time is a difficult expression without clear connection to the preceding, literally “a testimony at the proper time.” This may allude to testimony about Christ’s atoning work given by Paul and others (as v. 7 mentions). But it seems more likely to identify Christ’s death itself as a testimony to God’s gracious character (as vv. 3-4 describe). This testimony was planned from all eternity, but now has come to light at the time God intended, in the work of Christ. See 2 Tim 1:9-10; Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7 for similar ideas.

[3:4]  ⁵ tn Grk “having children in submission with all dignity.” The last phrase, “keep his children in control without losing his dignity,” may refer to the children rather than the parent: “having children who are obedient and respectful.”

[3:11]  ⁷ tn Or “also deaconesses.” The Greek word here is γυναῖκας (gunaika") which literally means “women” or “wives.” It is possible that this refers to women who serve as deacons, “deaconesses.” The evidence is as follows: (1) The immediate context refers to deacons; (2) the author mentions nothing about wives in his section on elder qualifications (1 Tim 3:1-7); (3) it would seem strange to have requirements placed on deacons’ wives without corresponding requirements placed on elders’ wives; and (4) elsewhere in the NT, there seems to be room for seeing women in this role (cf. Rom 16:1 and the comments there). The translation “wives” – referring to the wives of the deacons – is probably to be preferred, though, for the following reasons: (1) It would be strange for the author to discuss women deacons right in the middle of the qualifications for male deacons; more naturally they would be addressed by themselves. (2) The author seems to indicate clearly in the next verse that women are not deacons: “Deacons must be husbands of one wife.” (3) Most of the qualifications given for deacons elsewhere do not appear here. Either the author has truncated the requirements for women deacons, or he is not actually referring to women deacons; the latter seems to be the more natural understanding. (4) The principle given in 1 Tim 2:12 appears to be an overarching principle for church life which seems implicitly to limit the role of deacon to men. Nevertheless, a decision in this matter is difficult, and our conclusions must be regarded as tentative.

[4:4]  ⁹ tn Grk “nothing.”

[5:20]  ¹¹ sn As a continuation of v. 19, this refers to elders who sin, not to sinning believers more generally.

[5:20]  ¹² tn Or “censured.” The Greek word implies exposing someone’s sin in order to bring correction.

[5:20]  ¹³ tn “Before all” probably refers to the whole congregation, not just all the elders; “the rest” is more likely to denote the remaining elders.

[5:20]  ¹⁴ tn Grk “that the rest may have fear.”