Limitless Word
These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
1 Timothy 3:14 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly;
  • BSB Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these things
  • NKJV These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly;
  • NASB I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long;
  • NLT I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon,

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Paul writes hoping to visit Timothy soon. It shows his pastoral care and the personal heart behind these instructions.

Overview

Paul tells Timothy he hopes to come shortly, yet writes in case of delay. The letter is meant to guide the church even in Paul's absence. His words reflect both apostolic authority and genuine relational concern.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 9

  • 1 Cor 11:34And 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.
  • Phlm 1:22But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
  • 2 Cor 1:15–17And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;
  • 2 Jn 1:12Having 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.
  • Heb 13:23Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.
  • 3 Jn 1:14But 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.
  • 1 Th 2:18Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
  • 1 Tim 4:13Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
  • 1 Cor 16:5–7Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia.

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — 1 Timothy videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on 1 Timothy 3:14YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on 1 TimothyMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

There is 'one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all' — the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh.

How 1 Timothy 3:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.