The Jewish Annotated New Testament (286 page)

2.1
–13: Further exhortations to endurance. 3–6
: Three comparisons—
soldier
,
athlete
,
farmer
—make the point that perseverance and dedication to purpose are necessary to complete one’s task, no matter how arduous. Two of these themes are found in genuine Pauline epistles. On the former see 1 Cor 3.6. On the
athlete
, see 1 Cor 8.24. For a parallel Jewish text, see the description of the martyr Eleazar in 4 Macc 6.10.

7
:
The Lord will give you understanding
, see Prov 2.6.

8
:
Jesus Christ, raised … descendant of David
, a summary of belief: Jesus the Messiah, the resurrection, the royal ruler.

9
:
Chained
, see 1.16.

10
:
Elect
, Gk “chosen,” those in the community. In the Tanakh the people of Israel are the chosen; see, e.g., Deut 7.6; in the Second Temple literature of Qumran, the sect is implied; see, e.g., 1QS 4.22.
Eternal glory
, lit., “glory of the ages”; cf. Isa 54.8, “everlasting love” (Heb “
ḥ
esed ‘olam”).

11
–13
: A brief hymn encouraging endurance.

11
:
Saying is sure
, a phrase characteristic of the Pastoral Epistles (1 Tim 1.15; 3.1; 4.9; Titus 3.8).

2.14
1–26: Further warnings. 14
:
Wrangling
, arguing uselessly.

15
:
Worker … explaining the word of truth
, the task is to present established teaching clearly.

16
:
Profane chatter
, conversation about worldly concerns (see 1 Tim 6.20–21). Cf. also
m. Avot
3.14, “a fence around wisdom is silence,” based on earlier biblical Wisdom ideals (e.g., Prov 17.28).

17
–18
:
Gangrene
, the metaphor implies that the loss of believers through false teaching is the same as the loss of a limb from lack of blood.
Hymenaeus
, subject to criticism as a false teacher also in 1 Tim 1.20.
Philetus
, not otherwise mentioned.
Resurrection … already taken place
, apparently a form of apocalyptic belief maintaining that believers had already achieved their destiny in the present
resurrection
of the believers, not of Jesus.

19
:
Firm foundation
, see 1 Tim 6.19, where it is charitable giving; here it probably refers to scripture generally.
The Lord … who are his
, quotation from Num 16.5, concerning the rebellion of Korah the Levite and his followers against Moses. Although this is a direct quotation from LXX, this is another use of a Pauline theme; cf. 1 Cor 10.10.
Let everyone who calls
…, combining phrases from Isa 26.13; Job 36.10; Sir 17.26.

20
–21
:
Utensils … work
, whatever the material out of which the
utensils
are made, it is those who
cleanse themselves
who will become
ready for every good work
. The argument is against drawing conclusions on the basis of distinctions within the community.

22
:
Shun … pursue
, what “cleansing” means.
Pure heart
, see Ps 51.10 (Heb v. 12; LXX Ps 50.12): Heb “lebh tahor,” “clean heart” or “pure heart”; Gk “katharas kardias,” in LXX “kardian katharan,” “cleansed heart.”

24
–26
:
Lord’s servant
, anyone in the church. Right teaching and
gentleness
in
correcting opponents
may help them
escape from the snare of the devil
, here not wrong action but following incorrect teaching. See also
m. Avot
3.13, “Receive all men cheerfully”; also
m. Avot
4.3, “Despise no man … for there is not a man that has not his hour.”

3.1
–17: Endurance in the present and during the last days. 1–5
:
Last days
, the close of the present age and beginning of the reign of God. Moral depravity, an eschatological sign, suggests the end-times have begun.
Lovers of themselves … Avoid them
, a “vice list” of the characteristics that the outsiders were expected to exhibit, and those who remain faithful were to avoid. For other examples, see 1 Tim 1.9–10; Rom 1.29–31; 1 Cor 5.11; 6.9–10; Gal 5.19–21.

6
–9
: Warnings against false teaching.
Silly women
, the writer does not think women capable of leadership or intellectual activity (see 1 Tim 5.11–15).
Jannes and Jambres
, names given to Pharaoh’s magicians (Ex 7.11–12,22) in the CD (5.17–19); see discussion in the Introduction.

10
–17
: The writer testifies to his own exemplary experience, using a list of virtues (vv. 10–11), advice (vv. 12–13), and further exhortations (vv. 14–17).

11
:
Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra
, see Acts 13.14–14.23.

12
:
Persecuted
, a NT theme concerning apostolic witness (see e.g., Mt 5.11,44; 10.23; Lk 11.49; 21.12; Jn 15.20; Acts 7.52).

15
–16
:
Sacred writings … scripture
, the Septuagint.
Inspired by God
, lit., “God–inspirited” (Gk “theopneustos”; “pneuma” can mean “wind,” “breath,” or “spirit” [similar to Heb “rua
ḥ
”]), conveying right teaching, as shown in the list of what the writings are useful for. Although the characteristics, such as usefulness, are not exalted, this verse serves as the proof text for some who claim that the Bible is divinely inspired and thus inerrant. See also 2 Pet 1.20–21.

4.1
–18: Final exhortations. 1
:
Judge the living and the dead
, Jesus’ eschatological role (see Acts 10.42; 1 Pet 4.5).

2
–5
: The characteristics of sound teaching, necessary to counter the false teaching in
myths
. For the Pastorals, unlike Paul’s genuine epistles, the opponents are false teachers within the church rather than non-messianic pagans or Jews.
Itching ears
, insatiable curiosity.
Evangelist
, one who proclaims the “gospel” (Gk “euangelion”).

6
–8
: The writer, anticipating his martyrdom, presents himself as a sacrifice (Phil 2.17) and an athlete, who wins a
crown
(see 2.5; 1 Cor 9.25 and 4 Macc 6.10) when he finishes first in a
race
.

9
–10
:
Demas … Titus
, see Eph 6.21; Col 4.7,10,14; Titus 3.12; Philem 24.

11
:
Luke
, see Col 4.14; Philem 24; the book of Acts, written by the same author as the Gospel of Luke, presents the author as Paul’s companion.
Mark
, see Acts 12.12,25; 15.37,39; Col 4.10, Philem 24; 1 Pet 5.13. Papias of Hierapolis (ca. 70–155 CE) associates this Mark with the Gospel bearing his name.
Books
…
parchments
, both words mean “scrolls.”

14
:
Alexander
, see 1 Tim 1.20.

16
:
First defense
, the first opportunity the accused has to offer an explanation (Gk “apologia,” here rendered “defense”).

17
:
Gentiles might hear
, Paul regarded himself as the apostle to the Gentiles (see Rom 11.13; 15.16; Gal 2.8–9; Eph 3.8).
Lion’s mouth
, see Am 5.19; Dan 6.1–24.

4.19
–22: Concluding greetings. 19
:
Prisca and Aquila
, see Acts 18.2–3,18; Rom 16.3; 1 Cor 16.19.
Onesiphorus
, see 1.16–17.

20
:
Erastus
, see Acts 19.22; Rom 16.23. A man with the same name was the city treasurer of Corinth.
Trophimus
, see Acts 20.4–5; 21.29.

21
:
Eubulus … Claudia
, not mentioned elsewhere.
Linus and Claudia
, the fourth-century Christian “Apostolic Constitutions” identify Linus as Peter’s successor in Rome and Claudia as his mother. Apparently, there were a number of people with the writer, despite v. 11 above.

22
:
Your
is singular;
you
is plural.

1.1
–4: Salutation.
The longest opening of any Pastoral Epistle, the passage may have been intended to introduce all three letters.

1
:
Servant
, lit., “slave” (“doulos”),
of God
, a frequent title in Jewish literature; see 2 Sam 3.18; Jer 7.25; Ps 19.11,13; 27.9; Ezra 5.11; 9.11; Neh 1.6,11; and Jon 1.9 LXX.
Apostle
, “messenger,” is used seventy-nine times in the NT but only once in the LXX (I Kings 14.6).
God’s elect
alludes to the election of Israel (see Isa 65.9, which also links election to servanthood) although the LXX does not use the exact phrase; through faith and discipleship, Christ’s followers are “elect” (e.g., Mt. 22.14; Mk 13.20–27; Titus 1.1; 1 Pet 1.2; 2.9–10).
Knowledge of the truth
, God’s revelation through Christ; the phrase has an almost formulaic meaning in the Pastorals (1 Tim 2.4; 2 Tim 2.25; 3.7).
Godliness
, living in accordance with truth, an important virtue in both Hellenistic Jewish (Philo) and Gentile (Epictetus) literature.

2
:
Eternal life
, Dan 12.2;
Pss. Sol
. 3.12; and Wis 5.15 where it refers to the resurrection of the righteous.
Never lies
, God’s fidelity and honesty are central in the Jewish Scriptures (Num 23.19; 1 Sam 15.29).