The Passion Translation New Testament Masterpiece Edition (2020 edition) : with Psalms, Proverbs and Song of Songs (The Illustrated Passion Translation) (The Passion Translation (TPT))

by Brian Simmons

16Now, may the Lord himself, the Lord of peace, pour into you his peace in every circumstance and in every possible way. The Lord’s tangible presence be with you all.n

The Greek word atopos can also be translated “weird,” “irrational,” “absurd,” “disgusting.”

Or “undisciplined” or “lazy” or “not in battle order” or “not in your duty station.”

Or “not showing up for the war” (battle).

The passive Greek verb entropē means “to be turned” (around); that is, to be changed. This was not punishment but an attempt to draw wayward individuals into repentance and bring them back into restored fellowship with the church.

He was from the city of Lystra, the place where Paul was stoned to death and then raised from the dead (see Acts 14:19–20). It may have been that Timothy witnessed what happened to Paul and was converted through what he saw.

8We know that the moral code of the law is beautiful when applied as God intended,

19So Timothy, my son, I am entrusting you with this responsibility, in keeping with the very first prophecies that were spoken over your life, and are now in the process of fulfillment in this great work of ministry, in keeping with the prophecies spoken over you. With this encouragement use your prophecies as weapons as you wage spiritual warfare by faith and with a clean conscience.

Pray for all men with all forms of prayers and requests as you intercede with intense passion.

3If any of youa aspires to be an overseerb in the church; you have set your heart toward a noble ambition, for the word is true!

11And the womenm also who serve the church should be dignified,n faithful in all things,o having their thoughts set on truth, and not known as those who gossip.

16For the mystery of righteousness is beyond all question!q He was revealed as a human being, and as our great High Priest in the Spirit!r Angels gazed upon him as a man and the glorious message of his kingly rulership is being preached to the nations! Many have believed in him and he has been taken back to heaven, and has ascended into the place of exalted glory in the heavenly realm. Yes, great is this mystery of righteousness!

Some translations have “men,” however, the Greek word is not gender specific.

The word used here can mean “women” or “wives.” This may refer to women deacons. Phoebe is called a deacon in Rom. 16:1.

This is the only place where this phrase occurs in the New Testament. The “mystery of righteousness” (godliness) is Jesus Christ living within the believer. The word mystery (secret) is found twenty-seven times in the New Testament. We “must faithfully embrace the mysteries of our faith while keeping a clean conscience” (v. 9). Although Paul did speak Greek, his native language was Aramaic, which is difficult to translate into Greek. The Aramaic word used here for mysteries is ‘arza. This is the Aramaic word for a cedar tree. A cedar tree has deep, firm roots. So must our faith be rooted inside these mysteries.

2Hypocritical liarsc will deceive many, and their consciences won’t bother them at all!

4We know that all creation is beautiful to God and there is nothing to be refused if it is received with gratitude.

6If you will teach the believers these things, you will be known as a faithful and good minister of Jesus, the Anointed One. Nurture others in the living words of faith and in the knowledge of grace which you were taught.

The Aramaic can be translated “they will seduce with false appearances.”

23(If drinking the water causes you to have stomach ailments,p drink some wine instead.)

The Greek text literally means “bladder frequency.”

11Timothy, you are God’s man, so run from all these errors. Instead, chase after true holiness, justice, faithfulness, love, hope,g and tender humility. 12So fight with faith for the winner’s prize! Lay your hands upon eternal life, to which you were called and about which you made the good confession before the multitude of witnesses!h

20So, my son Timothy,n don’t forget all that has been deposited within you. Escape from the empty echoes of meno and the perversion of twisted reasoning.p

Paul uses an endearing variation of Timothy’s name; it could almost be read “Oh Timmy.” This translation includes the words, my son, to make this explicit.

The outward display of religion must not entice the passionate and hungry, turning them away from the truth of the gospel.

13But even if we are faithless, he will still be full of faith, for he never wavers in his faithfulness to us!h

16And avoid empty chatter and worthless words,j for they simply add to the irreverence of those who converse in that manner.

26This will cause them to redis-cover themselvesu and escape from the snare of Satan who caught them in his trap so that they would carry out his purposes.

Or “he will not be unfaithful to himself.”

The Greek text could be translated “avoid corrupt and useless speakers,” referring not to the words themselves, but to those who teach the flock.

3But you need to be aware that in the final days the culture of society will become extremely fierce. 2People will be self-centered lovers of them-selvesa and obsessed with money. They will boast of great things as they strut around in their arrogant pride and mock all that is right. They will ignore their own families.b They will be ungratefulc and ungodly. 3They will become addicted to hateful and malicious slander.d Slaves to their desires, they will be ferocious, belligerent haters of what is good and right. 4With brutal treachery, they will act without restraint, bigoted and wrapped in clouds of their conceit. They will find their delight in the pleasures of this world more than the pleasures of the loving God. 5They may pretend to have a respect for God, but in reality they want nothing to do with God’s power. Stay away from people like these!

13But the evil men and sorcerersh will progress from bad to worse, deceived and deceiving, as they lead people further from the truth. 14Yet you must continue to advance in strength with the truth wrapped around your heart, being assured by God that he’s the Onei who has truly taught you all these things.

The Aramaic can be translated “men will look out only for themselves.”

Or “disloyal to their people.”

The Aramaic can be translated “rejecters of grace.”

Because this phrase is also the description of the devil (the accuser or slanderer), it could be translated “they will be devils.”

3For the time is coming when they will no longer listen and respond to the healing words of truth because they will become selfish and proud. They will seek out teachers with soothing words that line up with their desires, saying just what they want to hear. 4They will close their ears to the truth and believe nothing but fables and myths.c

In today’s culture, it is easy to say that we follow Christ, but our faith in him will be demonstrated by godly living. An understanding of truth will bring a demonstration of purity through our lives. God’s saving grace is the same grace that empowers us to live for him.

Right Living for the Sake of the Gospel. Right living (orthopraxy) and right believing (orthodoxy) go hand in hand in Paul’s letter to Titus. For when we believe in the gospel, and experience the joys of salvation, how else could we live other than in light of this mercy? One thing Paul emphasizes, however, is that the gospel’s grace actually trains us to live rightly. “This same grace,” says Paul, “teaches us how to live each day as we turn our backs on ungodliness and indulgent lifestyles, and it equips us to live self-controlled, upright, godly lives in this present age” (2:12). Paul also emphasizes the need for godly men and women within the church to come alongside others to teach them to live rightly. May our right believing never excuse wrong living. And may our right living be evidence of our right believing.

5The reason I stationed you in Cretef was so that you could set things in order and complete what was left unfinished,g and to raise up and appoint church eldersh in every city, just as I had instructed you.

7The overseer, since he serves God’s household,j must be someone of blameless character and not be opinionated or short-tempered. He must not be a drunkard or violent or greedy. 8Instead he should be one who is known for his hospitality and a lover of goodness.k He should be recognized as one who is fair-minded, pure-hearted, and self-controlled.

Or “ordain elders.” This is the Greek word presbyteros, which means “senior leaders.” These are church elders who would function as overseers, teachers, and shepherds of God’s flock. The same Greek word is used for women in 1 Tim. 5:2. Although generally assumed to be male in the cultural context of that day, there is nothing to indicate that presbyteros is gender exclusive. The church elder is called an “overseer” (or “bishop”) in v. 7, which indicates that both terms speak of the same office and are synonymous.

The Aramaic can be translated “one who nurtures goodness” (in others). We would say, “one who brings out the best in others.”

11God’s marvelous gracem has manifested in person, bringing salvation for everyone.n 12This same grace teaches us how to live each day as we turn our backs on ungodliness and indulgent lifestyles,o and it equips us to live self-controlled, upright, godly lives in this present age.p 13For we continue to wait for the fulfillment of our hope in the dawning splendorq of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus, the Anointed One.r 14He sacrificed himself for us that he might purchase our freedom from every lawless deed and to purify for himself a people who are his very own,s passionate to do what is beautiful in his eyes.

15So preach these truths and exhort others to follow them. Be willing to expose sin in order to bring correction with full authority,t without being intimidatedu by anyone.

Or “the blessed hope and glorious appearing.” The Greek word is epiphaneia (epiphany) and is a nominalized verb that means “a brightness shining all around.” It was through epiphaneia, the beautiful appearing of Christ as a baby, that a wonderful hope was brought to all the world. r2:13 Or “our great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ.” Note the four great truths of grace in vv. 11–13: (1) Grace is a person— “our great God and Savior, Jesus, the Anointed One.” (2) Grace brings salvation for all. (3) Grace educates us on how to live pure lives. (4) Grace brings a hope of the manifestation (appearing) of Christ. This is a hope worth waiting for.

9But avoid useless controversies,h genealogies,i pointless quarrels, and arguments over the law, which will get you nowhere.j

The Aramaic can be translated “offensive debates.”

The Aramaic can be translated “tribal traditions.”

(Onesimus means “useful” or “valuable.”