1 Timothy 3:14
in 1 Timothy 3Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these things
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly;
KJV
These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
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This verse in 1 Timothy 3
Commentary
10 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly - That is, he hoped to come there to give instructions personally, or to finish, himself, the work which he had commenced in Ephesus, and which had been interrupted by his being driven so unexpectedly away. This verse proves that the apostle Paul did not regard Timothy as the permanent diocesan bishop of Ephesus. Would any Episcopal bishop write this to another bishop?
This site's exposition
I hope to come to you soon
Paul writes, I hope to come to you soon, so the letter stands in for a visit still planned. The verse is the hinge between the church-order instructions and the statement of the letter's purpose in verse 15.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
These things I write to you, hoping to come to you soon; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and …
"These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly. But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." That he may not plunge Timothy into dejection by giving him orders about such matters, he says, I write thus not as though I were not coming, but I will indeed come, still in case I should be delayed, that thou mayest not be distressed. And this he writes to him to prevent his being dejected, but to others in order to rouse them to greater earnestness. For his presence, though only promised, would have great effect. Nor let it seem strange that, though foreseeing everything through the Spirit, he was yet ignorant of this, and only says, I hope to come, but if I tarry, which implies uncertainty. For since he was led by the Spirit, and did not act from his own inclination, he was naturally uncertain about this matter.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Then when he says, these things I write to you, he presents the reason for all the above mentioned admonitions: first, he excludes a supposed reason; second, he states the true one, at but if I tarry; third, he assigns the reason, at which is …
Lest by giving him instruction concerning such matters he cast the disciple into grief, as though Paul would no longer see him, he says: I do not write this because I will no longer come; on the contrary, I will come. However, if it happens …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
38 ); for their church was but newly planted, they were afraid of undertaking the care of it, and therefore Paul left Timothy with them to set them in order. And here we have the character of a gospel minister, whose office it is, as a bishop, to preside in a particular congregation of Christians: If a man desires the office of a bishop, he desires a good work,
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3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
These things write I unto thee,.... Concerning the offices of bishops and deacons, their several qualifications, and the rules of judging of persons fit for such service: hoping to come unto thee shortly; at Ephesus. He could not tell whether he could come or not, and therefore makes no promise, but hoped he should; and since it was uncertain, he thought fit to write the above things for his instruction and use.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
As his hope was not very confident (1Ti 3:15), he provides for Timothy's lengthened superintendence by giving him the preceding rules to guide him. He now proceeds to give more general instructions to him as an evangelist, having a "gift" committed to him (1Ti 4:14). shortly--Greek, "sooner," namely, than is presupposed in the preceding directions given to him.
These things write I - That is: I write only these things; because I hope to come unto thee shortly.
The words behind it
9 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ταῦτά | tauta | These things | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| σοι | soi | to you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| γράφω | grapho | I am writing | G1125 → | |
| ἐλπίζων | elpizon | hoping | G1679 → | 31 times |
| ἐλθεῖν | elthein | to come | G2064 → | 628 times |
| πρὸς | pros | to | G4314 → | 700 times |
| σὲ | se | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἐν | en | with | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τάχει· | tachei | speed; | G5034 → |
ΤαῦτάThese things
tautaG3778 →1381 times
σοιto you
soiG4771 →2973 times
γράφωI am writing
graphoG1125 →
ἐλπίζωνhoping
elpizonG1679 →31 times
ἐλθεῖνto come
eltheinG2064 →628 times
πρὸςto
prosG4314 →700 times
σὲyou
seG4771 →2973 times
ἐνwith
enG1722 →2738 times
τάχει·speed;
tacheiG5034 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Thessalonians 2:18For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan obstructed us.
it leads to
- Romans 15:22
That is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.
- Romans 1:13
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, how often I planned to come to you (but have been prevented from visiting until now), in order that I might have a harvest among…
- Revelation 2:10
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful…
- Romans 15:22
Through
1 Timothy 4:13Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and to teaching.
it leads to
- Acts 6:4
and will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
- Titus 2:15
Speak these things as you encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.
- 2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.
- 1 Timothy 4:16
Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
- Acts 6:4
Through
1 Corinthians 11:34If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you come together it will not result in judgment. And when I come, I will give instructions about the remaining matters.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 11:21–22
For as you eat, each of you goes ahead without sharing his meal. While one remains hungry, another gets drunk.
- 1 Corinthians 11:21–22
Where this verse is studied
About 1 Timothy
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Timothy 11; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, COMMENTARY ON 1 TIMOTHY; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Timothy and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Timothy.