1 Timothy 1:3 — The Urgent Need for Timothy in Ephesus: False Teachers

1 Timothy 1:3 The urgent need for Timothy in Ephesus: False teachers

UBSH 1Ti: 1 Timothy 1:3 Since the false teachers seemed to have Ephesus as their headquarters, Paul urged Timothy to stay on in Ephesus, an instruction that Paul had already given his young co-worker while Paul was on his way to Macedonia.

Arichea, D. C., & Hatton, H. (1995). A handbook on Paul’s letters to Timothy and to Titus (p. 14). United Bible Societies. Note: CS: The very first thing that Paul made note of is that Timothy was being urged by Paul to stay on in Ephesus and to instruct the false teachers. If Ephesus was their headquarters, this instruction has even more weight to the key purpose and goal of the command that Paul gave to Timothy. Tags: 1 Ti 1:3 Clipped: February 2, 2025

UBSH 1Ti: 1 Timothy 1:3 Charge (TEV “must order”) is the same word used in verse 1. Another way to express this clause is “you must demand that they stop …” The false teachers are simply referred to as certain people (TEV “some people”) but are not otherwise identified; it is therefore difficult to determine whether they were members of the Christian community or were outsiders. Timothy is exhorted to order these people not to teach any different doctrine. There are two pieces of information here: (1) certain persons are teaching different doctrines; and (2) Timothy should order them not to do so.

Arichea, D. C., & Hatton, H. (1995). A handbook on Paul’s letters to Timothy and to Titus (p. 14). United Bible Societies. Note: CS: Timothy must order, and he must demand. Tags: 1 Ti 1:3 Clipped: February 2, 2025

UBSH 1Ti: 1 Timothy 1:3 Alternative translation models for this verse are: As I urged you when I was traveling to the province of Macedonia, you must remain in the city of Ephesus. I want you to do this so that you can command certain people there to stop teaching false doctrines. Or: I want you to stay in the city of Ephesus. This is what I urged you to do when I was traveling to the province of Macedonia. Some people there in Ephesus are teaching false doctrines, and I want you to command them to stop doing this.

Arichea, D. C., & Hatton, H. (1995). A handbook on Paul’s letters to Timothy and to Titus (p. 15). United Bible Societies. Tags: 1 Ti 1:3 Clipped: February 2, 2025

UBSH 1Ti: 1 Timothy 1:18 1 Timothy 1:18 As already mentioned, charge is the same word used in verses 3 and 5. Commit entails the idea of entrusting or handing over something to someone for implementation and preservation. Timothy is addressed here intimately as my son, or more accurately “my child” (TEV, NRSV), since the Greek word for son is the generic word for any child. See further comments in verse 2. In accordance with may define the charge as agreeing with the prophetic utterances (so TEV, Phps) or may designate the act of committing the charge to Timothy as being in harmony with the prophetic utterances (so NEB, NIV). A

Arichea, D. C., & Hatton, H. (1995). A handbook on Paul’s letters to Timothy and to Titus (p. 39). United Bible Societies. Note: CS: This is the connection between 1 Timothy 1:3 and 1:18. Same word for charge or command and Paul is entrusting Timothy to implement Paul's command to the false teachers as an act of love for the souls of those who teach error. Tags: 1 Ti 1:18 Clipped: February 2, 2025

UBSH 1Ti: 1 Timothy 1:18 At any rate, Timothy is exhorted to use these prophetic utterances as weapons in the battle ahead. Inspired by them is literally “in them” or more probably “by them,” which describes these prophetic utterances as instruments or weapons both to be used (so TEV) and obeyed (so NRSV “by following them”). You may wage the good warfare is literally “you may fight the good fight” (so NRSV). There is a play on words in the Greek, since the word for “fight” in both instances is related to the word for “soldier.” This

Arichea, D. C., & Hatton, H. (1995). A handbook on Paul’s letters to Timothy and to Titus (p. 40). United Bible Societies. Note: CS: The fact that Paul is encouraging Timothy to fight the good fight, shows that this letter is about a battle in the church. 1 Timothy 1:18 is very much connected to 1:3. Tags: 1 Ti 1:18 Clipped: February 2, 2025

BCERVIVIII: Chapter 1 The false teachers who are disturbing the Church at Ephesus are not named. There is, perhaps, a ring of contempt in the expression “some,” but it seems more probable that the names were designedly omitted in this letter, which was intended to be a public document. The chief superintendent of the Ephesian community, doubtless, knew too well who were the mistaken men referred to.

Spence, H. D. M. (n.d.). The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Timothy. In C. J. Ellicott (Ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (Vol. 8, p. 178). Cassell and Company, Limited. Note: CS: Timothy had knowledge of who the false teachers were, but because this was inspired Scripture the names of the deceived were ommitted. If the names had been included there would not have been ambiguity on whether all women could teach men; it would be known for sure that a false teacher, who was a woman, could not teach the man she was influencing. Tags: 1 Ti 1:3 Clipped: February 2, 2025

LCC NT: No Other Doctrine (1:3–11) Paul criticizes the false teachers and their interpretation of the OT law. He says they are trying to show that the law is made for the righteous, but Paul argues against this idea. Instead, he posits, the law exists to identify wickedness. Oppose False Teaching (1:3–7) Paul specifically describes what the false teachers are doing to the believers in Ephesus.

Mangum, D., ed. (2020). Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament (1 Ti 1:3–7). Lexham Press. Note: CS: This explains why elders are needed in Ephesus. Since the false teaching on the law is being spread by false teachers in the church, there must be godly leaders who are untainted by false teaching to shepherd the flock. Tags: 1 Ti 1:3–7 Clipped: February 2, 2025

IVPBBC NT: 1:3–11—Scripture Twisters 1:3. Timothy stayed in Ephesus while Paul traveled northward through Troas (2 Tim 4:13) and across into Macedonia. Paul here reminds the readers (1 Tim 1:2) that he authorized Timothy to act on his authority.

Keener, C. S. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary: New Testament (1 Ti 1:3). InterVarsity Press. Note: CS: Paul giving his authority to Timothy to act on the issue of false teaching and the fact that there was a particular woman teaching that would cause an issue for a young Timothy, is a very important part of the command that Paul gave Timothy to represent him. Tags: 1 Ti 1:3 Clipped: February 2, 2025

LRC 1Ti: The False Teachers The False Teachers The danger posed by false teaching within the church at Ephesus demanded Paul’s immediate attention. His first charge to Timothy after the letter’s greeting is that he should actively instruct people who have strayed into false teaching and correct their misunderstandings or misrepresentations of the gospel. Since Timothy’s authority to instruct these people is assumed, it is likely that the false teaching arose within the church itself, possibly even among the elders of the church (Towner 1994, 44).

Mangum, D., & Twist, E. T. (2026). 1 Timothy (D. Mangum & D. R. Brown, Eds.; 1 Ti 1:3–7). Logos Bible Software. Note: CS: The false teaching possibly rose even among the elders of the church. This supports Timothy's mandate to appoint elders who are blameless and not tainted by the false teaching. Tags: 1 Ti 1:3–7 Clipped: February 2, 2025

UBSH 1Ti: 1 Timothy 1:3 1 Timothy 1:3 As I urged you will be expressed in some languages “As I asked you very strongly,” or even idiomatically in others; for example, “As I pressed your heart to.”

Arichea, D. C., & Hatton, H. (1995). A handbook on Paul’s letters to Timothy and to Titus (p. 13). United Bible Societies. Note: CS: The strength of Paul's urging Timothy. Paul was pressing the heart of Timothy as his own heart was for those who had fallen into false teaching. Tags: 1 Ti 1:3 Clipped: February 2, 2025

UBSH 1Ti: 1 Timothy 1:3 Since the false teachers seemed to have Ephesus as their headquarters, Paul urged Timothy to stay on in Ephesus, an instruction that Paul had already given his young co-worker while Paul was on his way to Macedonia.

Arichea, D. C., & Hatton, H. (1995). A handbook on Paul’s letters to Timothy and to Titus (p. 14). United Bible Societies. Note: CS: Ephesus as a headquarters of false teachers. Tags: 1 Ti 1:3 Clipped: February 2, 2025

UBSH 1Ti: 1 Timothy 1:3 Charge (TEV “must order”) is the same word used in verse 1. Another way to express this clause is “you must demand that they stop …” The false teachers are simply referred to as certain people (TEV “some people”) but are not otherwise identified;

Arichea, D. C., & Hatton, H. (1995). A handbook on Paul’s letters to Timothy and to Titus (p. 14). United Bible Societies. Note: CS: Timothy must demand they stop. And women are not singled in 1 Tim1. Tags: 1 Ti 1:3 Clipped: February 2, 2025

UBSH 1Ti: 1 Timothy 1:3 As I urged you when I was traveling to the province of Macedonia, you must remain in the city of Ephesus. I want you to do this so that you can command certain people there to stop teaching false doctrines. Or: I want you to stay in the city of Ephesus. This is what I urged you to do when I was traveling to the province of Macedonia. Some people there in Ephesus are teaching false doctrines, and I want you to command them to stop doing this.

Arichea, D. C., & Hatton, H. (1995). A handbook on Paul’s letters to Timothy and to Titus (p. 15). United Bible Societies. Note: CS: Timothy's mandate to command these people to stop teaching false doctrine is very strong. Tags: 1 Ti 1:3 Clipped: February 2, 2025

ECB: Rein in False Teachers (1:3–7) Rein in False Teachers (1:3–7) Though a Pauline letter normally follows the greeting with an expression of thanksgiving, here it is deferred in favor of a statement which underlines the nature of the authority entrusted to Timothy. His charge is both negative, to repress false teaching (1:3), and positive, to strengthen the faith of the community (v. 5).

Perkins, P. (2003). Pastoral Epistles. In J. D. G. Dunn & J. W. Rogerson (Eds.), Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible (p. 1432). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. Note: CS: The fact that Paul jumps right in to the authority entrusted to Timothy rather than his usual type of beginning of a letter, shows his intense purpose to both stop the false teaching, but also to strengthen the church. His purpose is not primarily about decorum. Tags: 1 Ti 1:3–7 Clipped: February 2, 2025

NTC 1Ti-Tt: 1:3–11 Writing, then, to his trusted friend, Paul gives immediate expression to what he considers the most pressing necessity, namely, that Timothy by all means stay on duty at Ephesus in order to continue the battle for the truth. It is hardly necessary to point out that the apostle was not interested in Timothy’s mere staying in Ephesus, but in his remaining there in order to straighten out what was wrong.

Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles (Vol. 4, p. 56). Baker Book House. Note: CS: The most important thing is for Timothy to continue the battle for truth. Tags: 1 Ti 1:3 Clipped: February 2, 2025

1–2 Timothy & Titus: False Doctrine (1:3) False Doctrine (1:3)* Paul learned that certain men within the church were teaching false doctrines. Their probable position as leaders or elders in the church (see introduction and note) called for immediate action. Timothy was to command these individuals not only to stop teaching false doctrine but also to put an end to their speculative system of interpretation.

Towner, P. (1994). 1–2 Timothy & Titus (Vol. 14, 1 Ti 1:3). InterVarsity Press. Note: CS: Another commentary that says it is probable that the false teachers had positions as leaders or elders at the church at Ephesus.

Also: Notes: 1:3 On the nature of the false beliefs, see further the introduction and 2 Timothy 1:5; 2:18. It is implicit that those Timothy was to correct were at least members in the church; otherwise Timothy’s authority would have been of little use. Some may have been elders: we should not ignore the prediction of the defection of certain leaders in the Ephesian church, as recorded in Acts 20:17–35 (see Fee 1988:7-9).

Towner, P. (1994). 1–2 Timothy & Titus (Vol. 14). InterVarsity Press.

Tags: 1 Ti 1:3 Clipped: February 2, 2025

WSNT: Chapter 1 Some (τισὶν). Note the indefinite designation of the errorists, and comp. ver. 6; 4:1; 5:15, 24; 6:21. The expression is contemptuous. It is assumed that Timothy knows who they are. This is after the Pauline manner. See Gal. 1:7; 2:12; 1 Cor. 4:18; 15:12; 2 Cor. 3:1; Col. 2:4, 8.

Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament (Vol. 4, p. 202). Charles Scribner’s Sons. Tags: 1 Ti 1:3 Clipped: February 2, 2025

NETBFEN: Notes for 1:3 Notes for 1:3 4 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. 5 tn Grk “to teach other doctrines,” different from apostolic teaching (cf. 1 Tim 6:3).

Biblical Studies Press. (2006). The NET Bible First Edition Notes (1 Ti 1:2–3). Biblical Studies Press. Note: CS: Command, give orders Tags: 1 Ti 1:2–3 Clipped: February 2, 2025

BP:EWBCCG: Chapter One V 3–7: FAITHLESS FABLES Timothy is urged to stay in Ephesus in order to correct the teaching of fables which produces no faith.

Chrispin, G. (2005). The Bible Panorama: Enjoying the Whole Bible with a Chapter-by-Chapter Guide (p. 524). Day One Publications. Tags: 1 Ti 1:1–7 Clipped: February 2, 2025