John Gill

As I urged you on my departure to Macedonia, you should stay on at Ephesus to instruct certain men not to teach false doctrines

“As I besought thee to abide, still at Ephesus,.... Where it seems he now was, being left here by the apostle, and where he was desired by him to continue: when I went into Macedonia; not when he went his first journey there, for Timothy…”

I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy.

“Who was before a blasphemer,.... Of the name of Christ, contrary to which he thought he ought to do many things; and he not only blasphemed that name himself, calling him an impostor and a deceiver, but he compelled others to blaspheme it also, Act…”

And the grace of our Lord overflowed to me, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

“And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant,.... That is, the love of Jehovah the Father; so the Ethiopic version reads, "the grace of God"; of God the Father, since he is distinguished in the text from Jesus Christ.”

This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation,.... This is said, lest it should be thought strange, or scarcely credible, that so great a sinner should be saved; as well as to give a summary of the glorious Gospel the apostle was intrusted…”

Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

“Now unto the King eternal,.... This doxology, or ascription of glory to God, on account of the grace bestowed upon the apostle, may be considered, either as referring to all the three divine Persons, Father, Son, and Spirit, who are the one and only God…”

Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or dissension.

“I will therefore that men pray everywhere,.... In this declaration of the apostle's will concerning prayer, he only takes notice of "men"; not but that it is both the duty and privilege of women, as well as men, to pray in their houses and closets…”

but with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess to worship God.

“But (which becometh women professing god likeness),.... By which is meant not any particular grace, was it, the fear of God might be designed, and so the Syriac version renders it; nor the whole of internal religion only; nor the form of godliness, or the…”

I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; she is to remain quiet.

“But I suffer not a woman to teach, They may teach in private, in their own houses and families; they are to be teachers of good things, Tit 2:3.”

And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman who was deceived and fell into transgression.

“And Adam was not deceived,.... There is no need to say with interpreters, that he was not deceived first; and that he was not deceived immediately by the serpent, but by Eve; and that he is never said in Scripture to be deceived, as Melchizedek…”

Women, however, will be saved through childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

“Notwithstanding she shall be saved,.... Not Eve, though no doubt she is saved; since she had a sense of her sin, and shame for it, a revelation of the Messiah to her, and faith in him; see Gen 3:7.”

This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task.

“This is a true saying,.... Some think this clause belongs to the last verse of the preceding chapter; and then the sense is, this is a doctrine that is true, and to be believed, that there is salvation through the birth of a Son, or…”

An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

“A bishop then must be blameless,.... Or "an elder", as the Syriac version renders it; not that it can be expected that such an one should be entirely free from sin, or be blameless in the sight of God; but that he should be one…”

For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for the church of God?

“For if a man know not how to rule his own house,.... Which is an affair of less importance, and more easy to be done; not requiring so much resolution, prudence, care, and thought: how shall he take care of the church of God?”

He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same condemnation as the devil.

“Not a novice,.... Or one newly planted, the Arabic version adds, "in the faith"; meaning not a young man, for so was Timothy himself; but a young professor and church member; one that is lately come to the knowledge of the truth, and has just…”

Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.

“Moreover, he must have a good report of them which are without, That is, "without the church", as the Arabic version reads; for wicked men, though they dislike the principles and profession of godly ministers, and despise their office, yet cannot but speak well of…”

But reject irreverent, silly myths. Instead, train yourself for godliness.

“But refuse profane and old wives' fables,.... Either Jewish ones, the traditions of the elders; or those of the Gnostics, concerning God, angels, and the creation of the world; or those doctrines of demons, and which forbad marriage, and commanded abstinence from meats before mentioned…”

This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance.

“This is a faithful saying,.... A true one, and to be believed, that godliness has such promises annexed to it; see 1Pe 3:10. and worthy of all acceptation; by all godly persons, to encourage them to the exercise of godliness.”

To this end we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, and especially of those who believe.

“For therefore we both labour,.... Not in the word and doctrine, though they did; nor in the exercise of internal godliness, though there is a work in faith, and a labour in love; nor with their own hands, at their trades and business, to support…”

Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

“Let no man despise thy youth,.... Timothy was now a young man; some think he was about three and twenty years of age; but he might be older, and yet be so called.”

Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and to teaching.

“Till I come,.... To Ephesus; where the apostle hoped to be shortly, but was prevented; he afterwards came to Miletus, and sent for the elders of Ephesus thither, when he took his final leave of them.”

Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as to a father. Treat younger men as brothers,

“Rebuke not an elder,.... By whom is meant, not an elder in office, but in age; for elders by office are afterwards spoken of, and particular rules concerning them are given, 1Ti 5:17.”

older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

“The elder women as mothers,.... When they offend in any point, they are to be reasoned, and argued, and pleaded with, as children should with their mothers; see Hos 2:2 and are to be considered as mothers in Israel, and to be treated with great…”

Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

“Against an elder receive not an accusation,.... A charge of any crime: but before two or three witnesses; good sufficient ones, who are capable of well attesting the fact: a charge against a pastor of a church is not to be easily received; it should…”

Stop drinking only water and use a little wine instead, because of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

“Drink no longer water,.... Though it was commendable in him to keep under his body, as the apostle did, by abstemious living, and not pamper the flesh and encourage the lusts of it, and so preserve purity and chastity; yet it was proper that he…”

The sins of some men are obvious, going ahead of them to judgment; but the sins of others do not surface until later.

“Some men's sins are open before hand,.... Some men are such open and notorious sinners, that there is no need of any inquiry about them, or any examination of them; or any witnesses to be called to their character, in order to pass judgment concerning…”