Section 1:3–18
Paul encouraged Timothy to continue doing the work that God gave him to do
Paragraph 1:3–7
1:3a
I serve: The word serve here refers to serving or working for God in a religious way. It might be better to use a word that means “worship.” For example, the Revised English Bible says:
I worship with a clear conscience.
1:3b
with a clear conscience: The phrase with a clear conscience can be understood as referring:
(1) only to Paul. “I serve God as my ancestors did. I serve him with a clear conscience.”
(2) to both Paul and his forefathers. “I serve God with a clear conscience. My ancestors also served God with a clear conscience.”
In most English translations, it is unclear whether the phrase with a clear conscience refers only to Paul or to both Paul and his forefathers. However, if possible in your language, translate in a way that people will understand the first interpretation. One reason for choosing interpretation (1) is that in this verse Paul was writing about his personal claim that he was an apostle. He was not necessarily claiming that his ancestors also had clear consciences.
a clear conscience: A person’s conscience is the part of a person that helps him know what is right and what is wrong to think or do. A conscience causes a person to feel ashamed or guilty if he does wrong, and makes him feel good when he does what is right.
Paul was implying that, although he was in prison, he was not there because he had committed a crime. On the contrary, he had been put in prison because he was trying to do what would please God. Paul was convinced that he had not done anything wrong. He did not feel guilty, so his conscience was clear.
forefathers: Another word for forefathers is “ancestors.” The word forefathers refers to a person’s relatives who were born before his parents and probably even before his grandparents.
1:3c
as I constantly remember you night and day in my prayers: This is a way of saying that Paul prayed very frequently and when he prayed, he always prayed for Timothy.
constantly: The Greek word that most English versions translate as constantly is emphasized in the Greek text. In the Display, this emphasis is shown by putting the word constantly before the verb “pray.”
night and day: Scholars differ as to whether the phrase night and day is connected to 1:3 or 1:4.
(1) Most English versions understand this phrase to belong to I constantly remember you… in my prayers in 1:3. For example, the New Living Translation (2004 Revision) says:
Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.
See also Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version, NET Bible, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version.
(2) A few translations have punctuated the sentence in such a way that this phrase belongs with “I long to see you” at the beginning of 1:4. For example, the Revised Standard Version says:
4As I remember your tears, I long night and day to see you,
See also Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English.
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) as do the majority of translations.
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