1 Timothy 2:6

2:6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, revealing God’s purpose at his appointed time. ¹ 

1 Timothy 3:10

3:10 And these also must be tested first and then let them serve as deacons if they are found blameless.

1 Timothy 4:4

4:4 For every creation of God is good and no food ²  is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.

1 Timothy 5:19-20

5:19 Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it can be confirmed by two or three witnesses. ³  5:20 Those guilty of sin ⁴  must be rebuked ⁵  before all, ⁶  as a warning to the rest. ⁷ 

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¹ 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.

² tn Grk “nothing.”

³ sn An allusion to Deut 17:6, 19:15.

⁴ sn As a continuation of v. 19, this refers to elders who sin, not to sinning believers more generally.

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

⁶ tn “Before all” probably refers to the whole congregation, not just all the elders; “the rest” is more likely to denote the remaining elders.

⁷ tn Grk “that the rest may have fear.”