Rose Murdock's Notes on The Epistles

1: Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope,  2: To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3: As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, 4: nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith.  5: But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6: For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion,  7: wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions. 8: But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9: realizing the fact that...

12: I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service,  13: even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; 14: and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.  15: It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.  16: Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.  17: Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 18: This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fi...

1: First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2: for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3: This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4: who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.  5: For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6: who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.  7: For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. ***  Paul gave specific direction as to what he entrusted Timothy to do in Ephesus. First, was that prayers be made for all, including kings and all who are in authority. The destruction of Jerusalem was getting close, and many Jews looked down upon those in authority as tensions rose. So...

8: Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension. 9: Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, 10: but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness. 11: A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. 12: But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. 13: For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. 14: And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 15: But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint. ***  Therefore—because Paul had just urged them to pray for those in authority—he instructed Timothy to have the men pray publicly—in every place—lifting up holy hands. Hands extended ...

1: It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.  2: An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,  3: not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.  4: He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity  5: (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), 6: and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.  7: And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. ***  An overseer was also called an elder. Sometimes referred to as bishop or presbyter elsewhere. It is a position of the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:28) not a ma...

8: Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, 9: but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10: These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. 11: Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things.  12: Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. 13: For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. 14: I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long;  15: but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. 16: By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the ...

1: But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2: by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3: men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. 4: For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; 5: for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer. 6: In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. 7: But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; 8: for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, ...

9: It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. 10: For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. 11: Prescribe and teach these things. 12: Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. 13: Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. 14: Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. 15: Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.  16: Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. ***  What Paul just said in the prior verses is a trustworthy sta...

1: Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, 2: the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity. 3: Honor widows who are widows indeed;  4: but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God. 5: Now she who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day. 6: But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives. 7:  Prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above reproach. 8:  But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. ***  Paul told Timothy how to relate to fellow believers of various ages. He had told him not to let a...

9: A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man,  10: having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work. 11: But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married, 12: thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge. 13: At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention. 14: Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach; 15: for some have already turned aside to follow Satan. 16: If any woman who is a believer has dependent ...

17: The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.  18: For the Scripture says, “YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” 19: Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. 20: Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning. 21: I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality. 22: Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin. 23: No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments. 24: The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins follo...

1: All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and our doctrine will not be spoken against. 2: Those who have believers as their masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are brethren, but must serve them all the more, because those who partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. Teach and preach these principles. 3: If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 4: he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, 5: and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. 6: But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 7: For we have brought noth...

11: But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. 12: Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13: I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14: that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15; which He will bring about at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16: who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen. ***  Paul told Timothy, as a man of God, to “flee from these things”—the things he just mentioned concerning the love of money—the snares and the evil which grows from the love...

17: Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18: Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19: storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed. 20: O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”— 21: which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you. ***  Possibly to bring clarification to his statement in verses 5-10 regarding those who desire to be rich and the love of money, Paul gave instructions to the rich, so as not to give the impression that possessing wealth is wrong in and of itself. He told Timothy to instruct the rich not to think they are better than those without wealth...

1: Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus, 2: To Timothy, my beloved son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3: I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day, 4: longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy. 5: For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.  6: For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7: For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. 8: Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, 9: who has saved us and called us ...

12: For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. 13: Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14: Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you. 15: You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16: The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains; 17: but when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me— 18: the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on that day—and you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus. ***  For the purpose of God revealed in Christ Jesus, Paul was appointed to his calling, and for this reason he endured persecution for the sake of the gospel, a...

1: You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2: The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3: Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4: No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. 5: Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. 6: The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. 7: Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. ***  "You therefore my son," Paul was encouraging Timothy to follow what he had taught him, not to forsake him as others had done, but to take what he had learned from Paul—the message of the gospel and sound doctrine—and entrust these things to faithful men who would also be able to ...

8: Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, 9: for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned.  10: For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory. 11: It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; 12: If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; 13: If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. ***  Paul encouraged Timothy to remember Jesus, the Messiah, descendant of David, as he had taught. Remember Him for He is--the one who saves us. He is the one worthy for Paul to suffer the hardship he did, so others may also obtain salvation in Christ. This life is temporary but our salvation in Him is eternal. Whatever hardship we suffer now will not last forever. P...

14: Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers.  15: Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.  16: But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, 17: and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,  18: men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some. 19: Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.” ***  Paul, having just spoken of enduring hardships for the sake of the gospel, and making the “trustworthy” statement that if we die with Him, we’ll live with Him; if we endure, we’ll reign ...

20: Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. 21: Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. 22: Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23: But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. 24: The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25: with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26: and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. ***  Paul used a “large house” with a variety of vessels as an example to show Timothy t...

1: But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2: For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3: unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4: treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5: holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. 6: For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses,  7: always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8: Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith. 9: But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes’s and Jambres’s folly was also. ***  In these verses Paul discussed the difficult...

10: Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, 11: persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!  12: Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13: But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.  14: You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them,  15: and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16: All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;  17: so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. ***  In contrast to what Paul just said about Jann...

1: I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3: For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,  4: and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5: But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 6: For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8: in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all w...

9: Make every effort to come to me soon; 10: for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 11: Only Luke is with me. Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service. 12: But Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13: When you come bring the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments. 14: Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15: Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our teaching. ***  Paul began closing the letter with personal instructions and comments to Timothy. He asked that he do his best to come see him soon and to bring the cloak, books, and parchments Paul left at Troas with Carpus. This stop in Troas would have been on Paul's way to Ephesus after he wrote 1 Timothy, and obviously before his arrest in Nicopolis. Paul called Timothy’s attention to certain...

16: At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them.  17: But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth. 18: The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 19: Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20: Erastus remained at Corinth, but Trophimus I left sick at Miletus. 21: Make every effort to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, also Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brethren. 22: The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you. ***  The first defense which Paul mentioned here, was the first charge of his second imprisonment. After Paul was released from his first imprisonment, a persecution came from Nero in Rome accusing Christians of setting Rome on fir...