These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
Write I unto thee, hoping - i:e., 'though I hope to come unto thee' (1 Timothy 4:13). As his hope was not confident (1 Timothy 3:15), he provides for Timothy's lengthened superintendence by the preceding rules to guide him. He now gives general instructions to him as an evangelist having a "gift" (1 Timothy 4:14).
Shortly, х tachion (G5032)] - 'sooner,' namely, than is presupposed in the preceding directions. (See 'Introduction.') This verse best suits the theory that this letter was not written after Paul's visit and departure from Ephesus (Acts 19:1-41; Acts 20:1-38), when he resolved to winter at Corinth, after passing the summer in Macedonia (1 Corinthians 16:6), but after his first imprisonment at Rome (Acts 28:1-31); probably at Corinth, where he might think of going on to Epirus before returning to Ephesus (Birks).