Source edition
The New Testament in the original Greek. The text revised by. Brooke Foss Westcott, D.D. Fenton John Anthony Hort, D.D. New York. Harper and Brothers, Franklin Square. 1885.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This letter, written by the Apostle Paul to his young co-worker Timothy, focuses on maintaining the Christian faith and establishing proper order within the church at Ephesus. At the outset, Paul strongly urges Timothy to remain in Ephesus, oppose false teachings, and preserve a sound faith and good conscience. The letter then outlines instructions for public worship and details the necessary qualifications for church leaders, such as overseers and deacons. It warns against future deceptive teachers who advocate asceticism, while encouraging Timothy to train himself in godliness and serve as an exemplary leader despite his youth. In its latter half, practical guidelines are provided for interacting with various groups in the community, including elders and widows who require care. Finally, the epistle cautions against the greed for wealth and concludes with personal exhortations to Timothy to fight the good fight of faith.