Timothy

18God always keeps his word. In the same way, what we said to you was not yes and no at the same time.

But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.

19We told you about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Silvanus, Timothy, and I told you about him. He was never yes and no. In him the answer is always yes.

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.

NoteSilvanus is another name for Silas. He was Paul's friend and traveled with him to teach about Jesus.

20God has made many promises. In Jesus, all of them are yes. So we say Amen, which means yes, this is true. This brings honor to God.

For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

NoteAmen is a word people said at the end of a prayer. It means "yes, this is true."

1This letter is from Paul and Timothy. They serve Jesus Christ. It is for God's people in the town of Philippi. It is also for their church leaders and their helpers.

Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

NotePaul traveled to many towns and told people about Jesus. He wrote this letter to friends far away. Philippi was a town in Greece. The King James calls them "saints," which just means God's people. Church leaders and helpers took care of the group.

2We pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you. We pray they will give you peace.

Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

NoteThe King James starts with "Grace be unto you." Grace means God being kind to us as a gift. Nobody has to earn it.

19I hope the Lord Jesus will let me send Timothy to you soon. Then I will hear how you are doing, and that will cheer me.

But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.

NoteThe King James spells the name "Timotheus." That is the old way of writing Timothy. Timothy was a young helper who traveled with Paul.

20I have no one else who thinks like I do. He truly cares about how you are doing.

For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.

21Everyone else is looking after their own plans. They are not looking after what Jesus Christ wants.

For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.

22You know Timothy has proved himself. He worked beside me like a son helps his father. Together we told the good news about Jesus.

But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.

NoteThe King James word "gospel" means good news. Here it is the good news about Jesus.

23So I hope to send him to you very soon. First I must see what happens to me here.

Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.

NotePaul was locked up in prison when he wrote this letter. He did not know yet if he would be set free.

24And I trust the Lord that I will come to you soon myself.

But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.

1This letter is from Paul and from Timothy our brother. God wanted Paul to be an apostle of Jesus Christ, a messenger Jesus sent out.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,

NotePaul traveled to many towns and told people about Jesus. He wrote letters to help those people after he left. This is one of his letters. Timothy was his young helper and friend.

2It is for God's people in the town of Colosse. They belong to Christ and stay true to him. We pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you kindness and peace.

To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

NoteColosse was a small town in the land we now call Turkey. The King James calls the people there "saints." That word simply means people who belong to God. "Grace" means a kind gift that nobody has to earn.

1This letter is from Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy. We write to the church in the city of Thessalonica. A church is a group of people who follow Jesus. You belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus give you kindness and peace.

Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

NotePaul, Silvanus, and Timothy were friends who traveled together. They went from city to city telling people about Jesus. Thessalonica was a busy city by the sea in Greece. Paul had visited there, then wrote this letter to his friends. A letter was the only way to send news that far.

1So we could not stand it any longer. We decided to stay behind in the city of Athens by ourselves.

Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;

NoteAthens was a large city in Greece. Paul, who wrote this letter, was there. He was writing to his friends far away in a city called Thessalonica. The King James says "we could no longer forbear." Forbear meant to wait and put up with it.

2We sent Timothy to you. He is our brother, and he serves God with us. He helps us tell the good news about Christ. We sent him to make you strong and to cheer you up in your trust in God.

And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:

NoteTimothy was a young helper who traveled with Paul. The King James calls him "our brother." That did not mean they had the same mother. Believers called each other brother and sister because they felt like family. "The gospel of Christ" means the good news about Jesus. Christ is a title. It means the special king God promised to send.

3We did not want anyone to be shaken by these hard times. You know that hard times are part of what God has planned for us.

That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.

NoteThe "hard times" were real trouble. People were being unkind and even cruel to those who followed Jesus.

4When we were with you, we told you ahead of time. We said that people would treat us badly. That is just what happened, and you know it.

For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

NoteThe King James says "tribulation." That old word means being hurt or treated badly by others.

5That is why I could not wait any longer. I sent Timothy to find out if you still trusted God. I was afraid the tempter had somehow tempted you. Then all our hard work would have been for nothing.

For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.

Note"The tempter" is a name for the devil. It means the one who tries to talk people into doing wrong.

6But now Timothy has come back to us from you. He brought us happy news about your trust in God and your love. He said you always remember us in a kind way. He said you want very much to see us. We want to see you too.

But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:

NoteThe King James says "charity." Today that word means giving money to help people. In 1611 it simply meant love.

7So, brothers and sisters, your trust in God made us feel better. Even in all our troubles and pain, we were cheered up because of you.

Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:

Note"Brethren" is an old word for brothers. Paul is talking to the whole group of believers, men and women.

8Now we really feel alive, if you keep standing strong in the Lord.

For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

Note"Stand fast" means to keep standing and not fall over. Paul means they kept trusting God even when it was hard.

1This letter is from Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy. They write to the church in Thessalonica, the group of people there who follow Jesus. That group belongs to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

NotePaul traveled to many cities and told people about Jesus. Silvanus and Timothy were his friends and helpers. Thessalonica was a big city by the sea. Here the word church means a group of people, not a building.

2We pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you. We pray they will give you peace.

Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

NoteLetters long ago started with a hello like this one. Paul is wishing them good things from God.

1This letter is from Paul. He is an apostle of Christ Jesus, a messenger Jesus sent out. God our Savior told him to do this. Christ Jesus is our hope.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;

NotePaul traveled from town to town telling people about Jesus. A Savior is someone who rescues people. The King James calls him "our Saviour," spelled the old way.

2It is for Timothy, my true child in the faith. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.

Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

NoteTimothy was not really Paul's son. Paul taught him about Jesus, so he called him his child. Grace means a kind gift you did not earn. Mercy means being kind instead of punishing.

3When I left for Macedonia, I asked you to stay in Ephesus. I wanted you to tell certain men there to stop teaching wrong things.

As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

NoteEphesus was a big city where many people had believed in Jesus. Macedonia was a land far away, across the sea. Paul went there and left Timothy behind to help.

4Tell them to stop caring about made-up stories and long family lists. Those things only start arguments. They do not help God's work, which comes through faith.

Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

NoteA family list tells who was born from whom, like a long family tree. Some teachers made up stories about these old names and argued about them.