Discovery Box1 Timothy 1:3-7 
Context1:3 As I urged you when I was leaving for Macedonia, stay on in Ephesus 1 to instruct 2 certain people not to spread false teachings, 3 1:4 nor to occupy themselves with myths and interminable genealogies. 4 Such things promote useless speculations rather than God’s redemptive plan 5 that operates by faith. 1:5 But the aim of our instruction 6 is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. 7 1:6 Some have strayed from these and turned away to empty discussion. 1:7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or the things they insist on so confidently. 8
1 map For location see JP1 D2; JP2 D2; JP3 D2; JP4 D2.
2 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.
3 tn Grk “to teach other doctrines,” different from apostolic teaching (cf. 1 Tim 6:3).
4 sn Myths and interminable genealogies. These myths were legendary tales characteristic of the false teachers in Ephesus and Crete. See parallels in 1 Tim 4:7; 2 Tim 4:4; and Titus 1:14. They were perhaps built by speculation from the patriarchal narratives in the OT; hence the connection with genealogies and with wanting to be teachers of the law (v. 7).
5 tc A few Western
tn More literally, “the administration of God that is by faith.”
sn God’s redemptive plan. The basic word (οἰκονομία, oikonomia) denotes the work of a household steward or manager or the arrangement under which he works: “household management.” As a theological term it is used of the order or arrangement by which God brings redemption through Christ (God’s “dispensation, plan of salvation” [Eph 1:10; 3:9]) or of human responsibility to pass on the message of that salvation (“stewardship, commission” [1 Cor 9:17; Eph 3:2; Col 1:25]). Here the former is in view (see the summary of God’s plan in 1 Tim 2:3-6; 2 Tim 1:9-10; Titus 3:4-7), and Paul notes the response people must make to God’s arrangement: It is “in faith” or “by faith.”
6 tn Grk “the instruction,” referring to orthodox Christian teaching and ministry in general, in contrast to that of the false teachers mentioned in 1:3-4.
7 tn Grk “love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
8 tn The Greek reinforces this negation: “understand neither what they are saying nor the things they insist on…”
