Verse 14
14. write I . . . hoping—that is, "though I hope to come unto thee shortly" ( :-). As his hope was not very confident ( :-), 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 (1 Timothy 4:14).
shortly—Greek, "sooner," namely, than is presupposed in the preceding directions given to him. See my 1 Timothy 4:14- : on this verse. This verse best suits the theory that this First Epistle was not written after Paul's visit and departure from Ephesus (Acts 19:1-20) when he had resolved to winter at Corinth after passing the summer in Macedonia (1 Corinthians 16:6), but after his first imprisonment at Rome (1 Corinthians 16:6- :); probably at Corinth, where he might have some thoughts of going on to Epirus before returning to Ephesus [BIRKS].
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