1 Timothy 3 · Verse 14

1 Timothy 3:14

These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
1 Timothy 3:14, King James Version

1 Timothy 3:14 in other translations

BSBAlthough I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these things
WEBThese things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly,
ASVThese things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly;
YLTThese things I write to thee, hoping to come unto thee soon,
DARBYThese things I write to thee, hoping to come to thee more quickly;
BBEI am writing these things to you, though I am hoping to come to you before long;
WebsterThese things I write to thee, hoping to come to thee shortly:

What does 1 Timothy 3:14 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
14. write I ... hoping--that is, "though I hope to come unto thee shortly" (1Ti 4:13). As his hope was not very confident (1Ti 3:15), he provides for Timothy's lengthened superintendence by giving him the preceding rules to guide him. He now proceeds to give more general instructions to him as an evangelist, having a "gift" committed to him (1Ti 4:14). shortly--Greek, "sooner," namely, than is presupposed in the preceding directions given to him. See my Introduction on this verse. This verse best suits the theory that this First Epistle was not written after Paul's visit and departure from Ephesus (Ac 19:1-20:38) when he had resolved to winter at Corinth after passing the summer in Macedonia (1Co 16:6), but after his first imprisonment at Rome (Ac 28:17-31); probably at Corinth, where he might have some thoughts of going on to Epirus before returning to Ephesus [Birks].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 14. These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly. That is, he hoped to come there to give instructions personally, or to finish, himself, the work which he had commenced in Ephesus, and which had been interrupted by his being driven so unexpectedly away. This verse PROVES that the apostle Paul did not regard Timothy as the permanent diocesan bishop of Ephesus. Would any Episcopal bishop write this to another bishop? If Timothy were the permanent prelate of Ephesus, would Paul have intimated that he expected soon to come and take the work of completing the arrangements there into his own hands? In regard to his expectation of going soon to Ephesus, 1Timm 1:3. Comp. the Introduction to the Epistle.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 14 These things write I - That is: I write only these things; because I hope to come unto thee shortly.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Timothy 3:14-16
The church is the house of God; he dwells there. The church holds forth the Scripture and the doctrine of Christ, as a pillar holds forth a proclamation. When a church ceases to be the pillar and ground of truth, we may and ought to forsake her; for our regard to truth should be first and greatest. The mystery of godliness is Christ. He is God, who was made flesh, and was manifest in the flesh. God was pleased to manifest himself to man, by his own Son taking the nature of man. Though reproached as a sinner, and put to death as a malefactor, Christ was raised again by the Spirit, and so was justified from all the false charges with which he was loaded. Angels ministered to him, for he is the Lord of angels. The Gentiles welcomed the gospel which the Jews rejected. Let us remember that God was manifest in the flesh, to take away our sins, to redeem us from all iniquity, and to purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These doctrines must be shown forth by the fruits of the Spirit in our lives.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 Timothy 3:14 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΤαῦτάTautaThese thingsG3778
σοιsoito youG4771
γράφωgraphōI am writingG1125
ἐλπίζωνelpizōnhopingG1679
ἐλθεῖνeltheinto comeG2064
πρὸςprostoG4314
σὲseyouG4771
τάχει·tacheispeed;G5034

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Timothy 3:14

  • Philemon 1:22

    But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

  • 1 Corinthians 11:34

    And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

  • 2 John 1:12

    Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:18

    Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

  • 1 Timothy 4:13

    Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

  • 3 John 1:14

    But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.

  • Hebrews 13:23

    Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.

  • 2 Corinthians 1:15-17

    And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit; And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judea. When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?

  • 1 Corinthians 16:5-7

    Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia. And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go. For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
hoping.
4:13; 1Co 11:34; 16:5-7; 2Co 1:15-17; 1Th 2:18; Phm 1:22; Heb 13:23
2Jo 1:12; 3Jo 1:14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Timothy 3:13

    For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

  • 1 Timothy 3:14

    These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:

  • 1 Timothy 3:15

    But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Read all of 1 Timothy 3

1 Timothy 3:14 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Esto te escribo con esperanza que iré presto á ti:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Je t’écris ces choses, espérant me rendre bientôt auprès de toi;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Dieses schreibe ich dir in der Hoffnung, bald zu dir zu kommen;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Hæc tibi scribo, sperans me ad te venire cito: