FOOTNOTES:

^a Traditionally, ‘to the office of bishop’ or ‘to the office of overseer.’ Very literally, it says ‘to oversight’ or ‘to supervision.’ It can also refer to ‘keeping watch over’ or ‘spectating’ or ‘examining’ (like a doctor with a patient), or ‘keeping an eye on’ (like a doctor with a patient), or ‘inspecting.’ It can have a sense of authority, but it can also have a range of other meanings more in line with helping or protecting or taking care of someone or something.

^b Traditionally, ‘good’

^c Traditionally, ‘bishop’ or ‘overseer.’

^d Traditionally, ‘above reproach.’ The word means having no reason for someone to correct or ‘reproach’ them.

^e Traditionally, ‘a man of one woman.’ There are several ways people have historically interpreted that phrase, including ‘married only once,’ ‘monogamous’ (rather than polygamous), and faithful to their wife. Having only one romantic/sexual partner at a time and not using women sexually seems to be the most likely option.

^f Traditionally, ‘temperate.’

^g Tradtionally, ‘self-controlled.’ However, this is a different word than the one found in Galatians 5. It has to do with the healthiness of one’s mind and ability to self-regulate emotions and one’s reactions to those emotions.

^h Traditionally, ‘respectable,’ but the word has to do with being self-managed. It is the same word that is translated as ‘arranged’ in 1 Timothy 2:9.

ⁱ Traditionally, ‘hospitable.’

^j Tradtionally, ‘not given to wine’ or ‘not a drunkard.’ The word literally does have ‘wine’ plus the prefix par-, which loosely shows an association, so those are not incorrect translations; however, it was often used of disorderly conduct even when alcohol was not involved. It’s much more about acting like an abusive or violent drunk, not about whether one drinks alcohol. In fact, the writer encourages Timothy to drink wine in 1 Timothy 5:23, which seems to suggest the problem is not the wine itself.

^k Or ‘violent’

^l Or ‘stands as a leader’ or ‘is a leader’ or 'stand as a protector' or 'stand as a champion.' In various ways, it means to ‘take responsibility for others,’ and most literally, it means to stand at the front, ahead of others (not in front of an audience but more like at the front of a procession).

^m The word here is echo, which has dozens of appropriate translations into English. The basic translation is ‘have’ or ‘hold,’ but it is used in many ways based on context. One of the appropriate translations is about taking care of people.

ⁿ Traditionally, ‘submission.’ This word is typically understood here to be about the children, but the grammatical construction modifies the verb: ‘looking after.’ It is describing the quality and character of looking after demonstrated by supervisors toward their own children. Jesus said that leaders would be servants of all, not lording it over others like the rulers of “other people groups.” Leading one’s children is no different.

^o Or ‘stands as a leader’ or ‘is a leader’ or 'stand as a protector' or 'stand as a champion.' In various ways, it means to ‘take responsibility for others,’ and most literally, it means to stand at the front, ahead of others (not in front of an audience but more like at the front of a procession).

^p “Newly planted” is a very literal translation. It’s not completely clear what it means, though ‘newly joined the body of Christ’ is a reasonable interpretation, though it seems to be about not having had time to fully learn the values and perspective of Christ yet, not simply being new.

^q Traditionally, ‘puffed up with pride’ or ‘puffed up with conceit’ or ‘become arrogant.’ While the delusion may be of their own grandeur, the Greek word tuphoo is more about confusion than arrogance.

^r Traditionally, ‘judgment’ or ‘condemnation.’ The word can mean any kind of decision, including a court ruling, but it is not the only meaning. It does not mean ‘punishment.’

^s Traditionally, ‘Devil.’ However, ‘devil’ is just the transfer of the letters from the Greek word diabolon, which means ‘slanderer’ or ‘false accuser.’

^t The words ‘the assembly’ are added for clarity. The Greek just reads, ‘among those outside.’

^u Or ‘crash into’ or ‘charge blindly into’

^v Traditionally, ‘deacons’; however, ‘deacon’ is just a transfer of the letters from the Greek diakonos, which means ‘servant’ or ‘server.’

^w Traditionally ‘given to much wine.’ The wording is not just about a habit or tendency. It’s specifically about being devoted to it, being intentional about prioritizing it over other parts of life.

^x This is the word diabolos, translated traditionally in most places as ‘devil’ (like in 1 Timothy 3:6-7) and meaning more like ‘slanderous’ or ‘falsely accusing.’

^y Traditionally, ‘temperate.’

^z or 'stand as a champion.' In various ways, it means to ‘take responsibility for others,’ and most literally, it means to stand at the front, ahead of others (not in front of an audience but more like at the front of a procession).

^aa Traditionally, ‘godliness.’ While the word eusebeia was often used to refer to reverence for a deity, it was not limited to that context and included other senses of treating people with respect, including examples of directing it toward one’s parents and toward one’s wife.

^bb The word angelos means ‘messenger,’ possibly used for spirit beings, but also used for human agents of God (or other people) and sometimes even for natural phenomena. It conveys the meaning of someone authorized to speak—or act—on behalf of another. If the reader wants to read these messengers (acting on God’s behalf) as celestial beings, great. If as humans, great. Of note, the text referred to prophets in verse 1, which seems likely to indicate that human prophets are the messengers in view; however, spirit-being messengers could also be in view. The word angelos, even for spirit-beings, is a job title, not a ‘species’ classification. The work of Michael S. Heiser is a great source of information on this topic.

^cc Traditionally, ‘Gentiles’

^dd Traditionally, ‘glory’