12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13 For those who have served well as deacons aobtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
The Great Mystery
14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly;
15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and1 ground of the truth.
16 And without controversy great is the1 mystery of god1liness:
aGod was manifested in the flesh,
bJustified in the Spirit,
cSeen by angels,
dPreached among the Gentiles,
eBelieved on in the world,
fReceived up in glory.
aGod was manifested in the flesh,
bJustified in the Spirit,
cSeen by angels,
dPreached among the Gentiles,
eBelieved on in the world,
fReceived up in glory.
New King James Version®, Copyright© 1982, Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Book Notes:
Robertson's Book Notes (NT)
I Timothy
I Timothy
Assuming the Pauline authorship the facts shape up after this fashion. Paul had been in Ephesus (I Timothy 1:3) after his arrival from Rome, which was certainly before the burning of Rome in AD 64. He had left Timothy in charge of the work in Ephesus and has gone on into Macedonia (I Timothy 1:3), possibly to Philippi as he had hoped (Philippians 2:24). He wishes to help Timothy meet the problems of doctrine (against the Gnostics), discipline, and church training which are increasingly urgent. There are personal touches of a natural kind about Timothy's own growth and leadership. There are wise words here from the greatest of all preachers to a young minister whom Paul loved.