1 Timothy 4

1 Timothy 4:1

There follow Christian remembrances from several of Paul’s companions. Aristarchus, my fellow-prisoner. A Macedonian from Thessalonica (Acts 19:29 20:4 27:2). He accompanied Paul from Jerusalem to Rome. He is named in Philemon 1:24. And Marcus. The old companion of Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary tour (Acts 13:5,13). Sister’s son to Barnabas. It is now conceded that this should be, “Cousin to Barnabas”. Since in this year (probably A.D. 62) Mark attends Paul, it is inferred that Barnabas was dead. Concerning whom. Mark. Commandments. Commendations. Receive him. Perhaps these churches knew that at one time Paul had refused to have Mark in his company (Acts 15:38), and hence would not have received him cordially without such a commendation.

1 Timothy 4:2

And Jesus, which is called Justus. We only know of this man that, like Mark, he was a Jewish Christian, “of the circumcision”, and highly commended by Paul.

1 Timothy 4:3

Epaphras. He is thought to have founded the church at Colosse. See PNT Colossians 1:7. Who is [one] of you. A member of the Colossian church. Always labouring fervently for you in prayers. In his absence from you he continues to labor fervently for you in his prayers.

1 Timothy 4:4

Them [that are] in Laodicea. The sister city near at hand across the valley of the Lycus. And them in Hierapolis. Another city close at hand, in which a church had been planted. Probably Epaphras planted it also.

1 Timothy 4:5

Luke. The historian. Note that two, Mark and Luke, were both with Paul at this time. He was a Gentile. Demas. Named in Philemon 1:24. Named also, and not to his credit, in 2 Timothy 4:10.

1 Timothy 4:6

Nymphas. An inhabitant of Laodicea. The church which is in his house, “His” in the Common Version; “her” in the Vatican MS, but the best authority renders it “their house”; i.e., the house of Nymphas and his family. In the first century no church building existed, and the Christians met in private houses. A portion, at least, of those in Laodicea met in the house of Nymphas, and are greeted as “the church in their house” (Revised Version). See also Romans 16:5 1 Corinthians 16:19 Philemon 1:2.

1 Timothy 4:7

Likewise read the [epistle] from Laodicea. The Epistles addressed to these contiguous churches were for each other. Tychicus no doubt bore also a letter to the Laodiceans. Whether that letter was lost, whether it is the Epistle to the Ephesians, or whether the letter was a general letter to the churches of Asia, has been much discussed. My own opinion is that more than one copy of the Ephesian letter was made, one being delivered to the Ephesian church, and the other to the church at Laodicea. Space will not permit of a discussion upon this point.

1 Timothy 4:8

Archippus. He is named in Philemon 1:2. He had some important work, and was possibly a preacher.

1 Timothy 4:9

The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Paul dictated his epistles to an amanuensis (Romans 16:22), but was wont to add a salutation in his own hand (Galatians 6:11 2 Thessalonians 3:17 1 Corinthians 16:21). Remember my bonds. Three times this chapter he alludes to his chains, in Colossians 4:3,10,18. The thought is, “Be willing to suffer for the gospel even as I do”.

1 Timothy 4:11

He that doeth wrong. Whether master or slave. And there is no respect of persons. All will be required, and before Christ, all, master and slave, stand upon the same footing.

1 Timothy 4:12

Introductory Greetings SUMMARY OF I THESSALONIANS 1: Salutation. Thanksgiving for the Faith of the Thessalonians. Commendation for Spreading the Gospel. The Great Change in Their Lives. Paul, Silvanus, and Timotheus. Silvanus is the same as the Silas of Acts. We learn from Acts (chapters 15 to 18) that both Silas and Timothy attended Paul on the second missionary journey during which the Epistle was written. Paul does not speak of his apostleship in this salutation, as in later epistles, because at this early period the Judaizing Christians had not begun to spread doubts whether he was an apostle. In God the Father. Hence, separated from the Gentiles. (in] the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence, separated from the Jews. Grace [be] unto you, and peace. See PNT Romans 1:7.

1 Timothy 4:13

We. The plural, perhaps, is used because Silas and Timothy were joined in the greeting, but the Epistle is Paul’s, not the joint work of three persons. Give thanksto God. Almost all Paul’s letters begin with thanksgiving.

1 Timothy 4:14

Remembering without ceasing. He states reasons for thankfulness. Your work of faith. Works which result from faith. Labour of love. Toil for others caused by love for them and for Christ. Patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. Patient endurance of toil, hardship and persecution through a hope in Christ. Probably a hope that soon these would cease with the coming of Christ. The Thessalonians, as we learn, expected his speedy coming.

1 Timothy 4:15

Knowing . . . your election of God. That you are of the elect, the “chosen nation” (Psalms 33:12 1 Peter 2:9). All Christians were the elect, and the expression is another way of saying, “Knowing that you have become Christians”.

1 Timothy 4:16

For our gospel came not unto you in word only. God gave the spoken word power, the power of the Holy Spirit which dictated it. But also in power. Observe that the “power” is referred to the preachers. Ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. Ye know what was the life, the earnestness and the power of the Holy Spirit of us while we were preaching among you.