Lexical Commentary on the Pastoral Epistles: First Timothy

by Rick Brannan

Publisher:

Appian Way Press

, 2016

Overview

To responsibly exegete the text of First Timothy, one must become familiar with the vocabulary. But examination of word meanings involves more than simply looking up words in a lexicon and choosing a gloss that seems appropriate.

Rick Brannan evaluates the vocabulary of the First Timothy in light of the New Testament, the Septuagint (LXX), the Apostolic Fathers, the works of Philo, the works of Josephus, the Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, and other material. Many commentaries and other works of exegesis mention material from these sources to provide background information or examples of word usage, duly noting references to such works in footnotes or endnotes. Brannan's work, however, provides full quotations (in translation) of the relevant references. Instead of relegating these citations to footnotes that are seldom if ever looked up, the cited text itself is reproduced for the reader to evaluate.

Key Features

• Presents a study on the vocabulary of First Timothy
• Examines meaning and intent in context
• Aims to evaluate word choice to inform exegesis

Praise for the Print Edition

Rick Brannan has produced a robust and rigorous exegetical introduction to First Timothy. This book is a great guide to the nuances of the Greek text that interpreters need to grapple with as they attempt to interpret this letter. Whether it is women “saved through childbirth” or how “you will save both yourself and your hearers,” Brannan shows you what you need to know as you wrestle with First Timothy.

—Dr. Michael F. Bird, lecturer in theology, Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia

Rick Brannan’s methodology for these word studies in First Timothy opens new semantic vistas because he takes into account the usage of the Greek words in contemporary Koine works like the Pseudepigrapha and Josephus. Furthermore, he illustrates the “effective” use of these lexemes in the Apostolic Fathers as well. He is careful not to be guilty of anachronism in the latter practice but simply illustrates how the word was understood in Christian literature written soon after the Pastorals. In some ways, this is a ground-breaking approach that deserves serious consideration by other commentators on the sacred text.

—Dr. William Varner, professor of Bible and Greek, The Master’s College

Product Details

• Title: First Timothy
• Author: Rick Brannan
• Series: Lexical Commentary on the Pastoral Epistles
• Publisher: Appian Way Press
• Print Publication Date: 2016
• Logos Release Date: 2016
• Pages: 333
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Bible. N.T. 1 Timothy › Commentaries
• Resource ID: LLS:LXCLCMMFRSTMTHY
• Resource Type: Bible Commentary
• Metadata Last Updated: 2026-06-08T20:35:25Z

About Rick Brannan

Rick Brannan is the Principal Data Architect of the Bible Aquifer, an openly-licensed repository of biblical resources available in several languages of wider communication (LWCs). The Bible Aquifer directly supports church-based groups translating the Bible into minority languages. He and his family live in Bellingham, Washington. Rick’s academic work spans Bible translation, early Christian literature, and Greek textual studies. He served as Managing Editor of the Lexham English Septuagint and was a key contributor to both the Lexham English Bible and The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition. He has translated the writings of the Apostolic Fathers and authored Greek Apocryphal Gospels, Fragments, and Agrapha, an introduction and translation of the apocryphal gospels.

His most recent book, Fragments of Christianity: Fragmentary Witnesses to Early Christian Liturgies, Hymns, Homilies, and Prayers, presents transcriptions, translations, and introductions to thirty early Christian papyri. He is currently writing the Shepherd of Hermas volume for the Baylor Handbook of the Apostolic Fathers and co-editing a forthcoming Lexham Press collection of Old Testament Pseudepigrapha in translation.

Through his independent imprint, Appian Way Press, Rick also explores the use of machine learning and machine translation to make early Christian writings accessible in modern English. Titles published there include the Appian Way Greek Readers series (such as First Apocryphal Apocalypse of John and Acts of Pilate and the Descent of Christ to Hades), new translations like the Pseudo-Clementine Homilies, and works of the early church such as Eusebius’s Preparation for the Gospel.