1 TIM 1:18 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, orange:accusative/object, cyan:dative/indirect object, magenta:vocative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT This command I am placing before you, my child, Timothy, according to the earlier prophecies about you, that in them you might fight the good fight,

UST Timothy, you are like my son. I have told you to do certain things because they fit with what people previously prophesied about you. I have told you to do those things so that, as those people prophesied, you will serve God well, as a soldier obeys a commanding officer.

BLB I commit to you this charge, Timothy, my child, according to the prophecies going before as to you, that by them you might wage the good warfare,

AICNT This command I entrust to you, child Timothy, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, so that by them you may wage the good warfare,

OEB This, then, is the charge that I lay on you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with what was predicted of you – Fight the good fight in the spirit of those predictions,

WEBBE I commit this instruction to you, my child Timothy, according to the prophecies which were given to you before, that by them you may wage the good warfare,

WMBB (Same as above)

MSG ^(15-20)Here’s a word you can take to heart and depend on: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. I’m proof—Public Sinner Number One—of someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy. And now he shows me off—evidence of his endless patience—to those who are right on the edge of trusting him forever.
  Deep honor and bright glory
  to the King of All Time—
One God, Immortal, Invisible,
  ever and always. Oh, yes!
I’m passing this work on to you, my son Timothy. The prophetic word that was directed to you prepared us for this. All those prayers are coming together now so you will do this well, fearless in your struggle, keeping a firm grip on your faith and on yourself. After all, this is a fight we’re in.

NET I put this charge before you, Timothy my child, in keeping with the prophecies once spoken about you, in order that with such encouragement you may fight the good fight.

LSV I commit to you this charge, child Timotheus, according to the prophecies that went before on you, that you may war in them the good warfare,

FBV These are the instructions I want to give to you, Timothy, my son, following the prophecies that brought you this far,[fn] so you can fight the good fight!

1:18 The Greek is ambiguous—it could refer to prophecies about Timothy, or that Timothy followed the prophecies…

TCNT This charge I entrust to yoʋ, Timothy, my child, according to the prophecies once made about yoʋ, so that by them yoʋ may fight the good fight,

T4T Timothy, you are like [MET] a son to me. So, ◄based on/in accordance with► what someone previously ◄prophesied/told what God revealed to them► about you, I am instructing you to strongly oppose those who teach false doctrines. You should oppose them like [MET] a soldier ◄fights strongly against/opposes► those who attack his countrymen.

LEB ¶ I am setting before you this instruction, Timothy my child, in accordance with the prophecies spoken long ago about you, in order that by them you may fight the good fight,

BBE This order I give to you, Timothy my son, in harmony with the words of the prophets about you, so that by them you may be strong, fighting the good fight,

Moff I transmit these instructions to you, Timotheus my son, in accordance with what the prophets said who first directed me to you; fight the good fight on these lines,

Wymth This is the charge which I entrust to you, my son Timothy, in accordance with the inspired instructions concerning you which were given me long ago, that being equipped with them as your armour you may be continually fighting the good fight,

ASV This charge I commit unto thee, my child Timothy, according to the prophecies which led the way to thee, that by them thou mayest war the good warfare;

DRA This precept I commend to thee, O son Timothy; according to the prophecies going before on thee, that thou war in them a good warfare,

YLT This charge I commit to thee, child Timotheus, according to the prophesies that went before upon thee, that thou mayest war in them the good warfare,

Drby This charge, [my] child Timotheus, I commit to thee, according to the prophecies as to thee preceding, in order that thou mightest war by them the good warfare,

RV This charge I commit unto thee, my child Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that by them thou mayest war the good warfare;
(This charge I commit unto thee/you, my child Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee/you, that by them thou/you mayest/may war the good warfare; )

SLT This proclamation I set before thee, child Timothy, according to the gifts of prophecy led before upon thee, that thou in them mightest war the good warfare;

Wbstr This charge I commit to thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mayest war a good warfare;

KJB-1769 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
(This charge I commit unto thee/you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee/you, that thou/you by them mightest/might war a good warfare; )

KJB-1611 This charge I commit vnto thee, sonne Timothie, according to the prophesies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest warre a good warfare,
(This charge I commit unto thee/you, son Timothie, according to the prophesies which went before on thee/you, that thou/you by them mightest/might war a good warfare,)

Bshps This commaundement commit I vnto thee sonne Timotheus, accordyng to the prophesies which went before vpon thee, that thou in them shouldest fyght a good fyght:
(This commandment commit I unto thee/you son Timotheus, according to the prophesies which went before upon thee/you, that thou/you in them shouldest/should fight a good fight:)

Gnva This commandement commit I vnto thee, sonne Timotheus, according to the prophecies, which went before vpon thee, that thou by them shouldest fight a good fight,
(This commandment commit I unto thee/you, son Timotheus, according to the prophecies, which went before upon thee/you, that thou/you by them shouldest/should fight a good fight, )

Cvdl This commaundement commytte I vnto the (my sonne Timotheus) acordinge to ye prophecies which in tyme past were prophecied of the, that thou in them shuldest fighte a good fighte,
(This commandment commytte I unto the (my son Timotheus) according to ye/you_all prophecies which in time past were prophesied of them, that thou/you in them shouldest/should fight a good fighte,)

TNT This commaundement commit I vnto the sonne Timotheus accordynge to the prophisies which in tyme past were prophisied of the that thou in them shuldest fyght a good fyght
(This commandment commit I unto the son Timotheus accordinge to the prophisies which in time past were prophisied of the that thou/you in them shouldest/should fight a good fight )

Wycl I bitake this comaundement to thee, thou sone Timothe, after the prophecies that han be hertofore in thee, that thou traueile in hem a good trauel,
(I betake/give/grant this commandment to thee/you, thou/you son Timothe, after the prophecies that have be hertofore in thee/you, that thou/you travail in hem a good travel,)

Luth Dies Gebot befehle ich dir, mein Sohn Timotheus, nach den vorigen Weissagungen über dir, daß du in denselbigen eine gute Ritterschaft übest
(This/These commandment/command commands(v) I you/to_you(sg), my son Timotheus, after the previous prophecy(n)en above you/to_you(sg), that you(sg) in the_same a/one good Ritterschaft übest)

ClVg Hoc præceptum commendo tibi, fili Timothee, secundum præcedentes in te prophetias, ut milites in illis bonam militiam,[fn]
(This precept/rule commendo to_you, son Timothee, after/second they_will_precedees in/into/on you(sg) prophecys, as soldiers in/into/on to_them good military_service, )

1.18 Hoc præceptum. Postquam commemoravit quæ et quanta sint beneficia Patris et Christi erga peccatores, quomodo populum imbuat disciplina ecclesiastica ostendit.

1.18 This precept/rule. Postquam commemoravit which and how_much let_them_be benefits Father's and of_Christ towards sinners, how the_people imbuat discipline assemblies/churchestica he_showed.

UGNT ταύτην τὴν παραγγελίαν παρατίθεμαί σοι, τέκνον, Τιμόθεε, κατὰ τὰς προαγούσας ἐπὶ σὲ προφητείας, ἵνα στρατεύῃ ἐν αὐταῖς τὴν καλὴν στρατείαν,
(tautaʸn taʸn parangelian paratithemai soi, teknon, Timotheʼe, kata tas proagousas epi se profaʸteias, hina strateuaʸ en autais taʸn kalaʸn strateian,)

SBL-GNT Ταύτην τὴν παραγγελίαν παρατίθεμαί σοι, τέκνον Τιμόθεε, κατὰ τὰς προαγούσας ἐπὶ σὲ προφητείας, ἵνα ⸀στρατεύῃ ἐν αὐταῖς τὴν καλὴν στρατείαν,
(Tautaʸn taʸn parangelian paratithemai soi, teknon Timotheʼe, kata tas proagousas epi se profaʸteias, hina ⸀strateuaʸ en autais taʸn kalaʸn strateian,)

RP-GNT Ταύτην τὴν παραγγελίαν παρατίθεμαί σοι, τέκνον Τιμόθεε, κατὰ τὰς προαγούσας ἐπὶ σὲ προφητείας, ἵνα στρατεύῃ ἐν αὐταῖς τὴν καλὴν στρατείαν,
(Tautaʸn taʸn parangelian paratithemai soi, teknon Timotheʼe, kata tas proagousas epi se profaʸteias, hina strateuaʸ en autais taʸn kalaʸn strateian,)

TC-GNT Ταύτην τὴν παραγγελίαν παρατίθεμαί σοι, τέκνον Τιμόθεε, κατὰ τὰς προαγούσας ἐπὶ σὲ προφητείας, ἵνα στρατεύῃ ἐν αὐταῖς τὴν καλὴν στρατείαν,
(Tautaʸn taʸn parangelian paratithemai soi, teknon Timotheʼe, kata tas proagousas epi se profaʸteias, hina strateuaʸ en autais taʸn kalaʸn strateian, )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:18–20: Paul encouraged Timothy to persevere

In this section, Paul tried to encourage Timothy. He did not want Timothy to become discouraged because of the false teachers in Ephesus. So he reminded Timothy about the prophecies that people had spoken about him when the believers dedicated him as a pastor.

1:18a

Timothy, my child, I entrust you with this command

¶ Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command
¶ Timothy, my son, what I am telling you to do

my child: This is a metaphor. When Paul called Timothy my child, he meant that Timothy was like a son to him and that he loved him like a father loves his son. See the comments on “my true son” in 1:2b.

In some languages it is not possible to call someone “my child” if he is not a biological child. If that is true in your language, you may be able to use a simile rather than a metaphor. For example:

You are like my real son.

Or you may prefer to use a more natural expression, such as “my dear [Timothy]” or “my beloved [Timothy].”

I entrust you with this command: Paul was commanding Timothy to correct those who were teaching wrongly. The same Greek word which means “entrust” or “commit” is also used in 1 Timothy 6:20 and 2 Timothy 2:2.

this command: Scholars interpret the phrase this command in several different ways. Two of the ways are:

Paul was referring to his command to Timothy in 1:3a–4a to correct the false teachers. For example, the NCV says:
Timothy, my child, I am giving you a command that agrees with the prophecies that were given about you in the past. (BSB, NCV, RSV, NIV, NJB, KJV, NET)
Paul was referring to his command in 1:18d to “fight the good fight.” For example, the NASB says:
This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight (NASB, GNT, GW)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the same word is used here as in 1:3 and 1:5.

1:18b

in keeping with the previous prophecies about you,

in accordance with what some prophets said to you when the Holy Spirit revealed to them what you would do.
agrees with what some elders have already told you about your ministry.

in keeping with the previous prophecies about you: If we consider what Jesus told Paul when Paul first started his ministry, it helps us to understand the kinds of things which Timothy may also have been told by prophets when he began his ministry. You can read what Jesus told Paul in Acts 9:15–16, 22:14–15, 22:21 and 26:16–18. Jesus told Paul the following (see Hendriksen p. 85): (a) Paul would have a special job of announcing God’s message, (b) some of the details of his job, (c) Paul would suffer, and (d) Jesus would always help him when he suffered. It could be that the prophetic messages which Timothy received were similar to these messages which Paul received, although the details were probably different. If these messages were similar, then Timothy needed to remember things like the following: (a) It was God himself who had called him to the job of proclaiming the gospel. Timothy did not get this job merely from some person’s idea or from his own imagination. (b) God himself promised to help him do that job. Consequently, as Timothy remembered the prophecies which people had spoken about him, he would want to continue to do his job in spite of difficulties. Paul was saying that what he was telling Timothy to do in this letter agreed with some prophecies that had been made about Timothy earlier. If Timothy did what Paul told him to, he would be doing what God, by means of the prophecies, had told him to do.

the previous prophecies about you: Paul was probably referring to the time (see 4:14b) when church leaders placed their hands on Timothy, prayed for him, and dedicated him as a pastor and special helper for Paul.

the previous prophecies: The word prophecies refers to special messages that the Holy Spirit gives to people.

1:18c

so that by them

I am telling you this so that what those prophets told you will encourage you

so that: Paul here told Timothy his purpose in reminding him about the prophecies.

by them: The pronoun them refers to the prophecies made about Timothy. Scholars interpret this in several ways:

Timothy was to remember the things that the prophets said in their message from God to him and be encouraged by it. For example, the NET says:
that with such encouragement… (NET, RSV, REB, NLT)
Timothy was to use what the prophets said (as a weapon against evil). For example, the GNT says:
Use those words as weapons… (BSB, GNT, GW)
Timothy was to obey what the prophets said. For example, the CEV says:
If you follow these instructions… (CEV, NIV, NRSV, NCV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Paul was probably telling Timothy to remember certain things. As Timothy remembered these things, he would be more likely to be faithful and “fight the good fight.”

1:18d

you may fight the good fight,

to fight the good fight for the gospel.
to fight well in the same way that a good soldier fights hard in a battle.

fight the good fight: Timothy’s task was to proclaim the gospel and to correct false teaching. Paul wanted Timothy to continue to do this no matter how difficult it might become. He compared this to fighting. There are two ways to make this clearer. For example:

to fight well in the Lord’s battles (NLT)

you will fight like a good soldier (CEV)

In some languages, the phrase fight the good fight can only refer to physical fighting. If your language is like that, you may need to make it clear in you translation the way Timothy’s job was like fighting in a physical battle. For example, you could say:

contend for the truth of the gospel as a good soldier fights to win a war

Or you may have to translate without a comparison here, in order for Paul’s main point to be clear enough that people can understand it. For example:

continue to proclaim the gospel despite opposition

good fight: This has been interpreted in two ways:

It means to fight well; that is, bravely or expertly. For example, the GNT says “fight well.” (GNT, NJB, NLT, CEV)
It means that the fight was itself good; that is, just and right. When Timothy did his job to proclaim God’s message, he was fighting for a worthy principle or goal. GW says:
fight this noble war

Most English versions are ambiguous. If you must choose between these interpretations, it is recommended that you choose interpretation (1).

fight: The Greek word that the BSB translates as fight means “campaign” or “war,” not a single battle.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ταύτην τὴν παραγγελίαν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ταύτην τήν παραγγελίαν παρατίθεμαι σοί τέκνον Τιμόθεε κατά τάς προαγούσας ἐπί σέ προφητείας ἵνα στρατεύῃ ἐν αὐταῖς τήν καλήν στρατείαν)

Here, the phrase This command could refer to: (1) the command that Paul gave to Timothy in [1:3–5](../01/03.md) about staying in Ephesus and what to do there. Alternate translation: [The command that I have already told you about] (2) the instructions later in this verse about fighting the good fight. Alternate translation: [The following command]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

παρατίθεμαί σοι

Paul speaks of his command as if it were an object that he could physically put in front of Timothy. He means that he has given this command to Timothy. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable figure of speech or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [I am giving you] or [I am ordering you to follow]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τέκνον

child

Paul speaks of his close relationship to Timothy as though Timothy were his child. Paul means that he is Timothy’s spiritual father, and Paul loves Timothy in the way a father loves his child. See how you expressed the similar idea in [1:2](../01/02.md). Alternate translation: [who are like a child to me] or [my spiritual son]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τὰς προαγούσας ἐπὶ σὲ προφητείας

Here Paul implies that some people had given prophecies about Timothy sometime earlier. These prophecies may have been spoken before Timothy was born, before Timothy became a believer, or when Timothy officially joined Paul to proclaim the gospel. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make that idea more explicit. If possible, leave the exact timing of the prophecies unstated, as Paul does. Alternate translation: [the prophecies about you that people gave before] or [what some people prophesied about you some time ago]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐν αὐταῖς

by them

Here, the phrase in them could indicate that Timothy should fight the good fight: (1) as the prophecies indicated that he would. Alternate translation: [in line with them] or [just as they indicated,] (2) by means of the prophecies, which function like weapons in the fight. Alternate translation: [by means of them] or [with them as weapons] (3) with the prophecies as his motivation. Alternate translation: [by remembering them] or [encouraged by them]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

στρατεύῃ & τὴν καλὴν στρατείαν

˱you˲_˓may_be˒_warring & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ταύτην τήν παραγγελίαν παρατίθεμαι σοί τέκνον Τιμόθεε κατά τάς προαγούσας ἐπί σέ προφητείας ἵνα στρατεύῃ ἐν αὐταῖς τήν καλήν στρατείαν)

Paul speaks about Timothy serving God by preaching the gospel and by confronting false teachers as if he were fighting a good fight. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in simile form or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [as a soldier fights the good fight, you might preach and defend the gospel] or [you might preach and defend the gospel well]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τὴν καλὴν στρατείαν

Here, the phrase the good fight could indicate: (1) that someone is fighting well. Alternate translation: [the fight well] (2) that the fight is right or just. Alternate translation: [the just fight] or [the correct fight]

Parallel 1 TIM 1:18

Section 1:18–20: Paul encouraged Timothy to persevere

1:18a

1:18b

1:18c

1:18d

Parallel 1 TIM 1:18