1 Timothy 6 · Robertson's Word Pictures
1Under the yoke (upo zugon). As slaves (doulo, bondsmen). Perhaps under heathen masters (1Pe 2:18 ). For the slave problem, see also Phm 1; Col 3:22; Eph 6:5; Tit 2:9 . See Mt 11:29 for Christ's "yoke" (zugon, from zeugnum, to join).
Their own masters (tous idious despotas). That is always where the shoe pinches. Our "despot" is this very Greek word, the strict correlative of slave (doulos), while kurios has a wider outlook. Old word only here, Tit 2:9; 2Ti 2:21; 1Pe 2:18 for human masters. Applied to God in Lu 2:29; Ac 4:24,29 and to Christ in 2 Peter 2:1 .
The name of God (to onoma tou theou). See Ro 2:24 . If the heathen could say that Christian slaves were not as dependable as non-Christian slaves. Negative purpose with ina me and present passive subjunctive (blasphemeta).
2Let not despise them (me kataphroneitosan). Negative imperative active third plural of kataphroneo, to think down on. See 4:12. He must not presume on the equality of Christian brotherhood not allowed by the state's laws. Some of these Christian slaves might be pastors of churches to which the master belonged. For the difficulty of the Christian master's position, see 1Co 7:22; Phm 1:16 .
But rather (alla mallon). Render the Christian Master better service.
They that partake of the benefit (o tes energesias antilambanomeno). For euergesias (genitive case after participle) see Ac 4:9 , only other N.T. example of this old word. Present middle participle of antilambano, old verb, to take in turn, to lay fast hold of, in N.T. only here, Lu 1:54; Ac 20:35 .
3Teacheth a different doctrine (eterodidaskale). See 1:3 for this verb, present active indicative here in condition of first class.
Consenteth not (me prosercheta). Also condition of first class with me instead of ou. Proserchoma (old verb, to come to, to approach, with dative) is common enough in N.T. (Heb 4:16; 7:25 , etc.), but in the metaphorical sense of coming to one's ideas, assenting to, here only in N.T., but is so used in Philo and Irenaeus (Ellicott).
Sound words (ugiainousin logois). See 1:10 for ugiaino.
The words of our Lord Jesus Christ (tois tou kuriou emon Iesou Christou). Either subjective genitive (the words from the Lord Jesus, a collection of his sayings in Lock's opinion like 5:18; Ac 20:35 , at least in the Spirit of Jesus as Ac 16:7; 1Co 11:23 ) or objective genitive about Jesus like 2Ti 1:8; 1Co 1:18 .
According to godliness (kata eusebeian). Promoting (designed for) godliness as in Tit 1:1 .
4He is puffed up (tetuphota). Perfect passive indicative of tuphoo, for which see 3:6.
Knowing nothing (meden epistamenos). Present middle participle of epistama. Ignorance is a frequent companion of conceit.
Doting (noson). Present active participle of noseo, to be sick, to be morbid over, old word, only here in N.T.
Disputes of words (logomachias). Our "logomachy." From logomacheo (2Ti 2:14 ), and that from logos and machoma, to fight over words, late and rare word, here only in N.T. See Plato (Tim. 1085 F) for "wars in words" (machas en logois).
Whereof (ex on). "From which things."
Surmisings (uponoia). Old word from uponoeo, to surmise, to suspect (Ac 25:18 ), only here in N.T. All these words are akin (envy, phthonos, strife, eris, railings or slanders, blasphemia), all products of an ignorant and conceited mind.
5Wranglings (diaparatriba). Late and rare (Clem. of Alex.) double compound (dia, mutual or thorough, paratriba, irritations or rubbings alongside). "Mutual irritations" (Field).
Corrupted in mind (diephtharmenon ton noun). Perfect passive participle of diaphtheiro, to corrupt, genitive case agreeing with anthropon (of men) and retaining the accusative ton noun.
Bereft of the truth (apesteremenon tes aletheias). Perfect passive participle of apostereo, old verb (1Co 6:8 ) with the ablative case after it (aletheias).
A way of gain (porismon). Late word from porizo, to provide, to gain. Only here in N.T. "Rich Christians." Predicate accusative with eina (indirect assertion) in apposition with eusebeian, the accusative of general reference.
6With contentment (meta autarkeias). Old word from autarkes (autos, arkeo) as in Php 4:11 . In N.T. only here and 2Co 9:8 . This attitude of mind is Paul's conception of "great gain."
7Brought into (eisenenkamen, second aorist active stem with first aorist ending, common in the Koine),
carry out (exenenkein, second aorist active infinitive). Note play on the prepositions eis- and ex-.
8Food (diatrophas). Plural, supports or nourishments (from diatrepho, to support). Old word, here only in N.T.
Covering (skepasmata). Plural, "coverings." Late word from skepazo, to cover. Here only in N.T.
We shall be content (arkesthesometha). First future passive of arkeo, to be content. Old word. See 2Co 12:9 . This is the autarkeia of verse 6.
There with (toutois). Associative instrumental case, "with these."
9Desire to be rich (boulomeno ploutein). The will (bouloma) to be rich at any cost and in haste (Pr 28:20 ). Some MSS. have "trust in riches" in Mr 10:24 . Possibly Paul still has teachers and preachers in mind.
Fall into (empiptousin eis). See on 3:6 for en -- eis and 3:7 for pagida (snare).
Foolish (anoetous). See Ga 3:1,3 .
Hurtful (blaberas). Old adjective from blapto, to injure, here alone in N.T.
Drown (buthizousin). Late word (literary Koine) from buthos (bottom), to drag to the bottom. In N.T. only here and Lu 5:7 (of the boat). Drown in the lusts with the issue "in destruction and perdition" (eis olethron ka apoleian). Not annihilation, but eternal punishment. The combination only here, but for olethros, see 1Th 5:3; 2Th 1:9; 1Co 5:5 and for apoleia, see 2Th 2:3; Php 3:19 .
10The love of money (e philarguria). Vulgate, avaritia. Common word (from philarguros, 2Ti 3:12 , and that from philos, arguros), only here in N.T. Refers to verse 9 (boulomeno ploutein).
A root of all kinds of evil (riza panton ton kakon). A root (riza). Old word, common in literal (Mt 3:10 ) and metaphorical sense (Ro 11:11-18 ). Field (Ot. Norv.) argues for "the root" as the idea of this predicate without saying that it is the only root. Undoubtedly a proverb that Paul here quotes, attributed to Bion and to Democritus (ten philargurian eina metropolin panton ton kakon), where "metropolis" takes the place of "root." Surely men today need no proof of the fact that men and women will commit any sin or crime for money.
Reaching after (oregomeno). Present middle participle of orego (see 3:1) with genitive es (which).
Have been led astray (apeplanethesan). First aorist passive indicative of apoplanao, old compound verb, in N.T. only here and Mr 13:22 .
Have pierced themselves through (eautous periepeiran). First aorist active (with reflexive pronoun) of late compound peripeiro, only here in N.T. Perfective use of per (around, completely to pierce).
With many sorrows (odunais pollais). Instrumental case of odune (consuming, eating grief). In N.T. only here and Ro 9:2 .
11O man of God (o anthrope theou). In N.T. only here and 2Ti 3:17 , there general and here personal appeal to Timothy. Cf. De 33:1; 1Sa 2:27 .
Flee (pheuge),
follow after (dioke). Vivid verbs in present active imperative. The preacher can not afford to parley with such temptations.
Meekness (praupathian). Late compound from praupathes, in Philo about Abraham, here only in N.T.
12Fight the good fight (agonizou ton kalon agona). Cognate accusative with present middle imperative of agonizo, Pauline word (1Co 9:25; Col 1:29 ).
Lay hold on (epilabou). Second (ingressive) aorist middle imperative of epilambano, "get a grip on." See same verb with genitive also in verse 19.
Thou wast called (eklethes). First aorist passive of kaleo as in 1Co 1:9; Col 3:15 .
The good confession (ten kalen omologian). Cognate accusative with omologesas (first aorist active indicative of omologeo, the public confession in baptism which many witnessed. See it also in verse 13 of Jesus.
13Who quickeneth all things (tou zoogonountos ta panta). Present active participle of zoogoneo (zoogonos, from zoos, geno), late word to give life, to bring forth alive, in N.T. only here and Ac 7:19 . See 1Sa 2:6 .
Before Pontius Pilate (ep Pontiou Peilatou). Not "in the time of," but "in the presence of."
Witnessed (marturesantos). Note martureo, not omologeo as in verse 12. Christ gave his evidence as a witness to the Kingdom of God. Evidently Paul knew some of the facts that appear in Joh 18 .
14That thou keep (teresa se). First aorist active infinitive of tereo, with accusative of general reference (se) in indirect command after parangello.
Without spot (aspilon). Late adjective (a privative, spilos, spot, Eph 5:27 ). In inscription and papyri.
Without reproach (anepilempton). See 3:2; 5:7 .
Until the appearing (mechr tes epiphaneias). "Until the epiphany" (the second epiphany or coming of Christ). Late word in inscriptions for important event like the epiphany of Caligula, in the papyri as a medical term. In 2Th 2:18 we have both epiphaneia and parousia. See Tit 2:13; 2Ti 1:10; 4:1,8 .
15In its own times (kairois idiois). Locative case. May be "in his own times." See 2:6. Clearly not for us to figure out.
Who is the blessed and only Potentate (o makarios ka monos dunastes). "The happy and alone Potentate." Dunastes, old word, in N.T. only here, Lu 1:52; Ac 8:27 (the Eunuch). See 1:11 for makarios.
The King of kings (o basileus ton basileuonton). "The King of those who rule as kings." Oriental title. So with "Lord of lords." See Re 10:16 .
16Who only hath immortality (o monos echon athanasian). "The one who alone has immortality." Athanasia (athanatos, a privative and thanatos), old word, in N.T. only here and 1Co 15:53f . Domitian demanded that he be addressed as "Dominus et Deus noster." Emperor worship may be behind the use of monos (alone) here.
Unapproachable (aprositon). See Ps 104:2 . Late compound verbal adjective (a privative, pros, iena, to go). Here only in N.T. Literary Koine word.
Nor can see (oude idein dunata). See aoraton in Col 1:15 and also Joh 1:18; Mt 11:27 . The "amen" marks the close of the doxology as in 1:17.
17In this present world (en to nun aion). "In the now age," in contrast with the future.
That they be not high-minded (me upselophronein). Present active infinitive with negative in indirect command after parangelle, "not to be high-minded." Only instance of the word save some MSS. of Ro 11:20 (for me upselaphrone) and a scholion on Pindar.
Have their hope set (elpikena). Perfect active infinitive of elpizo.
On the uncertainty of riches (ep ploutou adelotet). Literary Koine word (adelotes), only here in N.T. A "vigorous oxymoron" (White). Cf. Ro 6:4 . Riches have wings.
But on God (all' ep theo). He alone is stable, not wealth.
Richly all things to enjoy (panta plousios eis apolausin). "A lavish emphasis to the generosity of God" (Parry). Apolausis is old word from apolauo, to enjoy, in N.T. only here and Heb 11:25 .
18That they do good (agathoergein). Late word (agathos, ergo), in N.T. only here and Ac 14:17 .
Rich in good works (ploutein en ergois kalois). See Lu 12:21 "rich toward God" and Mt 6:19f. for "treasures in heaven."
Ready to distribute (eumetadotous). Late and rare verbal (eu, meta, didom). Free to give, liberal. Only here in N.T.
Willing to communicate (koinonikous). Old adjective, ready to share, gracious, liberal again. Only here in N.T. See Ga 6:6; Php 4:15 .
19Laying up in store (apothesaurizontas). Late literary word (apo and thesaurizo), only here in N.T. Same paradox as in Mt 6:19f. , "laying up in store" by giving it away.
Which is life indeed (tes ontos zoes). See 5:3 for ontos. This life is merely the shadow of the eternal reality to come.
20Guard that which is committed unto thee (ten paratheken phulaxon). "Keep (aorist of urgency) the deposit." Paratheken (from paratithem, to place beside as a deposit, 2Ti 2:2 ), a banking figure, common in the papyri in this sense for the Attic parakatatheke (Textus Receptus here, 2Ti 1:12,14 ). See substantive also in 2Ti 1:12,14 .
Turning away from (ektrepomenos). Present middle participle of ektrepo, for which see 1:6; 5:15 .
Babblings (kenophonias). From kenophonos, uttering emptiness. Late and rare compound, in N.T. only here and 2Ti 2:16 .
Oppositions (antitheseis). Old word (anti, thesis), antithesis, only here in N.T.
Of the knowledge which is falsely so called (tes pseudonumou gnoseos). "Of the falsely named knowledge." Old word (pseudes, onoma). Our "pseudonymous." Only here in N.T.
21Have erred (estochesan). First aorist active indicative of astocheo. See 1:6 for this word.
SECOND TIMOTHY
FROM ROME
PROBABLY EARLY AUTUMN OF 67 OR SPRING OF 68
2 Timothy 1