1 Timothy 2: Timothy 2:1-8

Transcription

1 1 Timothy 2:1-2 1 Timothy 2:1-Paul Urgently Requests Specific Detailed Requests, Reverential Prayers, Intercessory Prayers, Thanksgivings On Behalf Of All People 1 Timothy 2:1-8 1 Timothy 2:1 begins a new section in the epistle which ends in 1 Timothy 3:16. In this section, the apostle Paul addresses the proper conduct of the church in Ephesus. He begins this section by urgently requesting that the Ephesian church offer up to the Father requests, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving on behalf of all people. The purpose was so that they might lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity (2:1-2). He instructs them in verses 3 and 4 that doing this is good and acceptable in the sigh of God our Savior who desires all men to be saved and to come to an experiential knowledge of the truth. In verses 5 and 6, the apostle teaches that Jesus Christ is the mediator between God and sinful man since He gave Himself up as a ransom for all of sinful humanity. Then in verse 7, Paul instructs the Ephesian church that he was appointed a preacher and an apostle, as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth, thus he wanted the men in Ephesus to pray. He closes the paragraph in verse 8 by reiterating his urgent request in verse 1 to pray. It is clear from Paul s teaching in this first paragraph in chapter two, which is contained in verses 1-7 that prayer supports Paul s universal mission to the world. Paul s statements in this paragraph address the problem with the Judaizers and those who adhere to their teaching in Ephesus since this group sought to exclude the Gentiles. If you recall, in chapter one, the problem with some Ephesian pastors in Ephesus is that they fell for the deception of the Judaizers, Consequently, they were teaching false doctrine as a result of being occupied with Jewish myths and useless genealogies. They should have been fulfilling their stewardship of administrating the household of God by studying, teaching, praying and setting an example of Christ-like conduct. Therefore, the danger of the adhering to the teaching of the Judaizers is that it would hinder the church s mission to the Gentiles of the world. The church would then repeat the failure of the nation of Israel who rejected the Gentiles and did not evangelize them. So urgently requesting prayer for all people, Paul is calling the church in Ephesus back to their mission to the world. Some expositors have verse 8 as beginning the second paragraph even though it mentions prayer. They believe that this verse is connected to verses 9-15, which address the conduct of women in contrast with the men whose conduct he mentions in verse 8. However, the grammar of verse 8 makes clear that his statement in 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 1

2 verse 8 is summarizes his thoughts in the first seven verses of the chapter. In verse 8 he opens the verse with the inferential conjunction oun, which introduces a statement that summarizes verses 1-7. Therefore, verse 8 is connected to verses 1-7 since it summarizes these verses. But it is clear that Paul is addressing the conduct of men in verse 8, which stands in contrast to his comments regarding the conduct of women in the church for the rest of the chapter. Thus, verse 8 not only closes the first paragraph but it also introduces the second because it is dealing with the conduct of men in conjunction with the conduct of the women in the congregation. 1 Timothy 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. 7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 8 Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension. (NASU) This first paragraph in verses 1-8 can be divided into five sections. The first is in 1-2a, which contains Paul s urgent request to pray for all people. The second is in verses 3 and 4 and teaches that prayer for all people is based upon the fact that it is God s will that all people saved. The third is contained in 5-6a, which teaches that God s will to save everyone in the human race is demonstrated by the fact that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to give His life as a ransom for all of sinful humanity and to be the Mediator between God and all of sinful humanity. The fourth appears in verse 7, which reveals that Paul s spiritual gift and authority is directly tied to God s will to save all men through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. The fifth and final section is a summary statement as we noted. Though this first paragraph does address the conduct of public worship in the church in Ephesus, its purpose is really to get the church back on track with their mission to communicate the gospel to every human being on earth. It was designed to attack the attitude and teaching of the Judaizers and those who adhere to their teaching that sought to exclude the Gentiles from God s plan of salvation. Thus, the growth of the church in numerical terms, not to mention in character terms is tied to Paul s statements in this first paragraph. Now, since this first paragraph concerns itself with prayer, we can also divide accordingly. In verse 1, Paul speaks of the priority that prayer is to have in the church and follows this up by noting the different aspects of prayer. He closes the 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 2

3 verse by noting the objective of prayer. In verses 3 and 4, the apostle presents the reason for urgently requesting that the Ephesian pray. Then, in verses 5-7, he presents the basis for the urgent prayer request. Lastly, the paragraph closes in verse 8 with the proper attitude that the Ephesians were to have in prayer. Paul s Urgent Request For Prayer For All People 1 Timothy 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men. (NASU) Inferential Statement Then is the inferential conjunction oun (οὖν) (oon), which resumes Paul s previous train of thought in 1 Timothy 1:12-17 after his parenthetical remarks in 1 Timothy 1:18-20 and is introducing a statement that is the result of an inference from his statements in 1 Timothy 1: Review of 1 Timothy 1: Now, in 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Paul presents his personal testimony to argue that salvation is through mercy and grace and power and not through adherence to Jewish myths and genealogies based upon the Law. His example stands in stark contrast to these unidentified pastors who sought to be teachers of the Law. Paul s point in this subsection is that the sinner is not justified by adherence to the Law but by God s grace, mercy and power. Verse 12 presents the work of Christ in Paul s life. Verse 13a presents the apostle s sin and 13b presents God s mercy in dealing with his sin, which brought faith and love in Christ Jesus (verse 14). Verse 15a presents the work of Christ on behalf of Paul and then a reference to his sin again in 15b. Verse 16 presents the purpose for God treating him with mercy, namely to demonstrate the Lord s patience as an example for those who will believe in Him for eternal life. In verse 17, the apostle praises the Lord for this mercy and grace that are expressions of His love. The theme of this paragraph is the true nature of the gospel as seen through Paul s conversion. It is based upon God the Father s grace policy and mercy, which are expressions of His attribute of love and which policy was manifested through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ. Thus, God s plan is not based upon occupation with myths and genealogies that are based on the Law, which serves to refute and rebuke these unidentified pastors. In fact, using his personal testimony, Paul contrasts unbelief and faith so as to refute those 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 3

4 emphasizing the Law. Faith in Christ for eternal life saves the sinner and not adherence to the Law. This paragraph is also a reminder to these unidentified pastors that they too were saved on the same basis and not based upon observance of the Law. Thus, Paul is attempting to bring these pastors back to their senses. So in this paragraph Paul is presenting eyewitness testimony that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior of sinners and in fact, saved him, the worst of all sinners. The content of the gospel is Jesus Christ and His redemptive work for all mankind. This is tied to Paul s statements in 1 Timothy 2:1-7. He wants the Ephesians to pray for all mankind to be exposed to the gospel because God desires all men to be saved through faith in His Son Jesus Christ. Towner writes, In the critique of the opponents that has been launched, Paul s testimony serves several purposes. First, to authenticate his position as an apostle he provides the personal history behind the claim just made about entrustment with the gospel. As he does this, he sets his ministry strategically into the salvationhistorical drama of the outworking of God s promises to the Gentiles. Second, he offers his experience of salvation as a proof of the gospel he preaches. Third, his story establishes the priority of faith in salvation (and implicitly reduces any function of the law to that discussed above). (Towner, Philip H., The Letters to Timothy and Titus; page 135; William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Grand Rapids, MI, 2006) Therefore, Paul s statements in 1 Timothy 1:12-17 are directly tied to his statements in 1 Timothy 2:1-7, which expresses Paul s Spirit inspired desire that the Ephesians pray for all men since God desires all men to be saved through faith in His Son Jesus Christ. 1 Timothy 1:12-17 is the heart of the argument of the epistle since it teaches the Ephesians and in particular these certain pastors in that city that the proclamation of the Law does not have the power to transform the sinner into an obedient child of God. Rather, only the gospel could do such a thing and Paul could testify to this fact. So he is in effect saying that only the gospel is the power of God for salvation. Only the gospel could transform a wicked sinner like Paul into an obedient child of God and compel him to proclaim it to both Jew and Gentile and even suffer for it. Thus, Paul commands the Ephesians in 1 Timothy 2:1-7 to pray for all men since it is the Father s will that all men exercise faith in His Son Jesus Christ to be delivered from eternal condemnation and receive eternal life. In 1 Timothy 1:12, Paul shares with Timothy and the Ephesian church that he thanks the Lord Jesus Christ who strengthens him because he considered Paul faithful by appointing him to serve. In this verse Paul is employing the figure of asyndeton in order to emphasize this statement. This would encourage Timothy in that he too was considered faithful by the Lord in putting him into service and will 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 4

5 empower him as well in dealing with this difficult problem in Ephesus. It also emphasizes that the Lord Jesus Christ saved him and not obedience to the Law. 1 Timothy 1:12 I continually possess gratitude to the One who empowered me, namely Christ, who is Jesus, our Lord because He considered me for Himself as faithful by appointing me for Himself for the purpose of service. (My translation) I continually possess gratitude to the One who empowered me, namely Christ, who is Jesus, our Lord expresses Paul s attitude of gratitude to the Lord for saving him and appointing him as an apostle. It indicates that Paul was always thinking about his salvation and the circumstances in which he was saved and the means by which he was saved. He was continually reminded of it because he was such a wicked sinner. The casual clause because He considered me for Himself as faithful presents the reason why Paul was grateful to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a reference to the Lord Jesus Christ s sovereign decision in eternity past to select Paul as an apostle and which decision was based upon His omniscience. It refers to the fact that in eternity past the Lord knew from His omniscience that Paul would be a faithful servant in communicating the gospel. Thus, Paul s faithfulness was a potential yet to be realized. Verse 12 teaches that in eternity past the Lord Jesus Christ selected Paul to be an apostle because He knew from His omniscience that Paul would be a faithful steward of the gospel. The fact that the Lord considered him faithful does not mean that Paul merited his salvation since he makes clear in verses that he was a blasphemer and a persecutor of the church and an arrogant man. Yet, he was treated with mercy by the Lord and grace. Therefore, this appointment was based upon the Lord s grace policy, which is an expression of His attribute of love. So this does not mean that because the Lord knew that Paul was a trustworthy, He appointed him to ministry. After his conversion, the Lord Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit empowered Paul to serve as an apostle and thus to be a faithful steward of the gospel. Thus Paul possessed an attitude of gratitude to the Lord because He strengthened Paul through the power of the Holy Spirit to be faithful in exercising his spiritual gift of apostleship and communicating the gospel. So the emphasis is not that Christ foresaw that in spite of his sin Paul would prove himself faithful. Rather, the emphasis is that the Lord s omnipotence transformed Paul s life. Not only His grace and mercy but also His omnipotence transformed the life of the apostle Paul in that he went from a blasphemer and persecutor of the church and an arrogant person to a faithful servant of the gospel. This would refute those pastors in Ephesus who were emphasizing the Law. The Law did not have the power to save or transform the life of the sinner but could 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 5

6 only condemn the sinner. Only the gospel had the power to save and to transform sinners (Romans 1:16-17). Paul s was faithful because the Lord empowered him to be so. Through the power of the Spirit, which the Lord Jesus provided him, Paul was faithful to the ministry the Lord gave him. The indwelling Spirit and the spiritual gift of apostleship enabled him to be faithful. In 1 Timothy 1:12, Paul is referring to the stewardship of time, talent and truth. By appointing me for Himself for the purpose of service refers to the Lord Jesus Christ appointing Paul to be an apostle and communicator of the gospel. It speaks of the manifestation in time at Paul s conversion the Lord s decision in eternity in considering him as faithful. It indicates that the Lord considered Paul faithful in eternity past by appointing him to serve as an apostle. It defines what Paul means when he says that the Lord considered him faithful. It answers the question as to how the Lord considered him faithful, namely, by appointing him to serve as an apostle. 1 Timothy 1:13 is connected to the thought in verse 12 and testifies to the magnitude of God s mercy and grace with respect to Paul. In this verse, Paul presents a three-fold description of himself prior to his conversion to Christianity. He describes himself as a blasphemer, a persecutor and an arrogant person. 1 Timothy 1:13a Even though I was characterized as being a slander as well as a persecutor and in addition, an insolent violent person. (My translation) Verse 13a is a concessive clause that is connected to Paul s thought in verse 12, which records Paul stating that he continually possessed an attitude of gratitude to the one who empowered him, namely the Lord Jesus Christ. He states that this gratitude was because the Lord, in eternity past considered him as faithful which manifested itself in time when the Lord appointed him as an apostle for the purpose of serving Him. Now, in verse 13a, Paul employs a concessive participle to teach his readers in Ephesus that the Lord considered him faithful in eternity past in spite of the fact that prior to his conversion he slandered the Lord, persecuting His church and was an insolent violent person towards the church. The first describes Paul defaming Jesus Christ s character and those who have faith in Him and are His disciples as a result of bitterness towards them. As a Pharisee, prior to his conversion to Christianity, Paul did not slander God knowingly as he says in the adversative clause of this verse he did so out of ignorance. However, nonetheless by slandering Jesus Christ unknowingly, He was slandering the Father and the Holy Spirit in the sense that the former was His Son and the latter was testifying that Jesus was the Son of God through His miracles and words William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 6

7 The second description of himself presents him as engaged in the act of persecuting the church prior to his salvation. The Lord tells Paul that his persecution of the church was in fact does against Him (Acts 9:4-5; 22:7-8; 26:14-15). This persecution, like all persecution of God s people in history, was inspired by Satan himself. The third and final description of Paul prior to his conversion indicates that he was a self-centered person who was violently cruel against the church. It says that he had no regard for others and specifically, no regard for the church or Jesus Christ. It implies that he possessed an attitude of superiority with regards to the church. This resulted in mistreatment of the church and violent acts against her as a result of his own revolt against the Lord Jesus Christ. This three fold description of himself in verse 13 serves a distinct purpose in that it magnifies God s grace and mercy toward Paul. He is presenting testimony that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior of sinners and in fact, saved him, the worst of all sinners. This would refute those pastors in Ephesus who were emphasizing Law and it would rebuke. It would also serve to remind them that like Paul they too were saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and not by obedience to the Law. Paul was transformed by faith in the gospel, which centered upon the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Law did not transform him into a faithful servant of Christ but the Lord s grace and mercy. Thus, Paul in verse 13 is setting up his readers and in particular those pastors who sought to be teachers of the Law that the proclamation of the Law does not have the power to transform the sinner into an obedient child of God. Rather, only the gospel could do such a thing and Paul could testify to this fact. It transformed him, the worst of all sinners. So he is in effect saying that only the gospel is the power of God for salvation. Only the gospel could transform a wicked sinner like Paul into an obedient child of God and compel him to proclaim it to both Jew and Gentile and even suffer for it. Following this concessive clause in verse 13 Paul employs an adversative clause in which the apostle reveals that though he was a slanderer, a persecutor and an insolent person, God treated him with mercy because he acted ignorantly in unbelief. 1 Timothy 1:13b But in direct contrast to this, I obtained grace because being in a state of rejection, I acted due to unbelief. (My translation) But in direct contrast to this, I obtained grace because being in a state of rejection, I acted due to unbelief is a strong adversative clause that presents a strong contrast with the previous concessive clause even though I was characterized as being a slanderer as well as a persecutor and in addition, an insolent violent person. The latter describes Paul s pre-conversion sinful character and the former describes the Lord s gracious character. Therefore, Paul 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 7

8 is contrasting God s gracious character with that of Paul s sinful character before his conversion. The causal clause because being in a state of rejection, I acted due to unbelief presents the reason why Paul obtained grace from the Lord. Therefore, the clause is saying that Paul obtained grace from the Lord because being in a state of rejection, Paul acted due to unbelief. This unbelief is why he was a slanderer, a persecutor and a violent insolent person. He was in a state of rejecting the gospel and thus acted in unbelief prior to his conversion. He was in a state of rejecting the gospel resulting in unbelief because like the rest of unregenerate Israel Paul zealously pursued righteousness through obedience to the Law. His attempt to justify himself through obedience to the Law caused him to reject the gospel and as a result to not exercise faith in Jesus of Nazareth as Savior. He didn t see his need for Jesus because he was looking to himself to get right with God. Paul loved God but not on God s terms but on his own. This rejection and unbelief that led to his being a slanderer, persecutor and a violent insolent person qualified him to receive grace, which is for sinners with no merit whatsoever with a holy God. Grace is for the unworthy and undeserving who have no merit with God whatsoever. This is what Paul is saying in verse 13. Therefore, Paul s statements in verse 13 magnify God s grace policy. Thus, those pastors in Ephesus who sought to be teachers of the Law and did not understand the three-fold purpose of the Law would be rebuked since God s grace saved a terrible sinner like Paul and transformed him into an obedient child of God and not his obedience to the Law. In fact, his attempt to get right with God by obedience to the Law blinded him to his need for Jesus Christ as Savior! The Law did not have the power to save the sinner but only to condemn him. However, the gospel which expressed God s grace policy could since its message is about Jesus Christ and that His death and resurrection has delivered sinful humanity from sin, Satan and his cosmic system. Through faith in Him, which is based on God s grace policy, the sinner like Paul can be transformed into an obedient child of God. Therefore, when Paul says that he obtained grace because being in a state of rejection, he acted due to unbelief he wants to emphasize the Lord s grace policy towards him. Thus, he is not attempting with this statement to deny his unbelief was sinful since his sinful behavior was the direct result of his unbelief in the gospel. Rather, Paul s statement in verse 13 demonstrates to his readers that the gospel has the power to save even a person like himself who was violently opposed to Jesus Christ and His disciples in contrast to the Law, which can t. If you notice, Paul s unbelief is the reason for his deplorable conduct. They go hand in hand thus, when he says that he obtained grace because being in a state of 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 8

9 rejection, he acted due to unbelief he is in effect saying I obtained grace because of my sinful character since his sinful character was the direct result of his unbelief. Paul wants not only to magnify God s grace but also His power, the power that is in the gospel message. Thus, those pastors in Ephesus who taught false doctrine and sought to be teachers of the Law were failing to appropriate the power of God by rejecting the gospel. They were also hurting their flocks since the gospel presents how they can be delivered from the power of the sin nature. No wonder the conduct of these pastors was appalling since only the power of the gospel could transform them and their congregations into obedient children of God in contrast to the Law, which can t. Next, in verse 14, Paul emphasizes to his readers that the Lord s grace was infinitely more than sufficient to deal with his sinful character and conduct as expressed by means of his faith in the gospel resulting in his obeying the command love one another. He tells his readers that this faith and love was because of his union and identification with Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 1:14 In fact, the grace originating from our Lord was infinitely more than sufficient as expressed by means of faith resulting in love, which are because of my union with Christ who is Jesus. (My translation) 1 Timothy 1:14 advances upon and intensifies the preceding adversative clause in 1 Timothy 1:13 that Paul obtained grace. This is indicated by the fact that in the adversative clause in verse 13 Paul writes that he obtained grace from the Lord and now in verse 14 he says that this grace overflowed to him. So here in verse 14 he is giving the reader more information about what he means that he obtained grace by clarifying his statement in the adversative clause of verse 13. He is advancing and intensifying his statement that he obtained grace from the Lord. The meaning of the verb huperpleonazo is used to describe God s grace as being superabundant to Paul. This would indicate that the apostle seeks to be emphatic about the Lord s grace and intensify the idea that he obtained grace. The grace speaks of God s grace policy towards sinners from the perspective that it is unmerited favor. It is used to describe the Lord s grace policy in relation to Paul emphasizing that the Lord delivered him from his personal sins, the sin nature, Satan, his cosmic system, condemnation from the Law and eternal condemnation and blessed him from the perspective that it was all unmerited. Charis emphasizes that Paul did not earn or deserve this deliverance and blessing. Originating from our Lord indicates that this grace originates from the Lord Jesus Christ in accordance with the Father s will. That this expression refers to Jesus Christ and not the Father is indicated by the fact that in verse 12, which begins the paragraph, kurios is applied to Jesus Christ. Also, Jesus Christ is mentioned in verse 15 and in verse 16 as well. Nowhere is the Father mentioned anywhere in the paragraph. Thus, 1 Timothy 1:12-17 emphasizes Jesus Christ 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 9

10 throughout suggesting that the Father is not being referred to in verse 14 with the designation kurios, Lord but rather the Son. Was infinitely more than sufficient translates the verb huperpleonazo, which is in the emphatic position in verse 14 emphasizing that the Lord s grace policy was infinitely more than sufficient to meet his need, i.e. his pre-conversion problem with his sinful nature and conduct. This verb indicates that the Lord s grace more than solved Paul s pre-conversion problem with his sin nature and this sinful conduct that flowed from this sinful nature. It expresses the idea of infinity in the sense that the Lord s grace policy towards him was infinitely more than sufficient to deal with his sinful conduct and nature prior to his conversion. It refers to activity of the Lord Jesus Christ in imparting immeasurably great, indefinitely or exceedingly great, unbounded, unlimited, endless or immeasurable and inexhaustible spiritual benefits to Paul when he exercised faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. These blessings more than solved problem with Paul s sinful preconversion character and conduct. As expressed by means of faith resulting in love denotes that the Lord s grace was expressed in the life of Paul by means of his exercising faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ resulting in his exercising the love of God towards his fellow Christian and all men. Faith refers to Paul s faith and not the faith of our Lord Jesus since the context is presenting an implied contrast between Paul s pre-conversion sinful conduct with his post-conversion conduct. This contrast in turn is indicated by the fact that Paul is contrasting his pre-conversion character and conduct towards the Lord with the Lord s gracious character and conduct towards him. Love refers to Paul obeying the Lord Jesus command to love one another as He loves (John 13:34). The word does not refer to the Lord s love toward Paul. Rather, it refers to Paul s love toward the Lord and his fellow Christian and fellow human being since the context is presenting an implied contrast between Paul s pre-conversion character and his post-conversion conduct. This contrast is indicated by the fact that Paul is contrasting his pre-conversion conduct towards the Lord with the Lord s gracious character and conduct towards him. Faith and love are directly related to each other in that love flows from faith. In other words, faith in the Word of God will result in the believer loving his fellow believer and all men as the Lord loves all men. Paul s unbelief is the reason for his deplorable conduct. They go hand in hand thus, when he says that he obtained grace because being in a state of rejection, he acted due to unbelief he is in effect saying I obtained grace because of my sinful character since his sinful character was the direct result of his unbelief. Now, in verse 14, he says that the Lord s grace was infinitely more than sufficient to meet his need, i.e. his problem with his sinful behavior with the faith 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 10

11 and love which are in Christ Jesus. Faith and love parallel Paul s pre-conversion unbelief and sinful conduct. The Lord s grace was infinitely more than sufficient to meet his problem with sin in that faith in the Lord replaced unbelief in Him resulting in Paul loving his fellow Christian and all men in contrast to his preconversion slandering of the Lord and persecuting Him and being violent towards Him and His church. Thus, a grace oriented person is one who walks by faith in the Word of God and loves his fellow Christian since the latter flows or is the direct result of the former. Therefore, the conjunction kai is more than likely expressing a result meaning that love resulted from faith. The expression τῆς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ which are because of my union with Christ who is Jesus denotes that the Lord s grace policy toward Paul expressed itself in his life by means of faith and love which are because of his union and identification with Christ. It denotes why he exercised faith and operated in love in contrast to his pre-conversion unbelief and sinful behavior towards the church. Paul exercised faith in the Word of Christ, i.e. the gospel of Jesus Christ and obeying the Lord s command to love one another as Christ loves all men because he was in union with Christ and identified with Him in His crucifixion, His spiritual and physical deaths, burial, resurrection and session. His faith and love were the direct result of being in union with Christ and identified with Him. Then in verse 15, we noted the first of four trustworthy statements that appear in 1 Timothy. In this verse, Paul quotes an eternal spiritual truth or axiom concerning the purpose of the Son of God becoming a human being. He then appends a personal note that ties this principle back to his personal testimony. The apostle s point is clear to the Ephesians and these unidentified pastors that they should not be emphasizing the Law and specifically the Ten Commandments but rather the Lord s commandment to love one another as He loves. 1 Timothy 1:15 This saying is, as an eternal spiritual truth, trustworthy, indeed, worthy of full acceptance, namely that Christ, who is Jesus entered the human race in order to save sinners among whom I myself am the foremost. (My translation) The faithful saying that Christ came into the world to save sinners is the heart of the gospel and is an articulation of the gospel as well as an expression of Paul s apostolic authority. It is designed to rebuke and refute those pastors in Ephesus who sought to be teachers of the Law and taught false doctrine. It implicitly rejects the Law as the basis for eternal salvation and as the means of transforming the sinner into an obedient child and servant of God. This faithful saying in 1 Timothy 1:15 epitomizes what Paul has been saying in verses It expresses perfectly the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ and His 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 11

12 apostles. This faithful statement also echoes the Lord Jesus teaching as recorded in the gospels (cf. Luke 19:10). Trustworthy is making the assertion about the statement Χριστὸς Ἰησοῦς ἦλθεν εἰς τὸν κόσµον ἁµαρτωλοὺς σῶσαι, Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, namely that it is trustworthy in the sense of being an accurate and faithful presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Indeed worthy of full acceptance is used of the statement that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners and describes it as having a relatively high degree of comparable worth or value or merit to the human race. It is making the assertion that the saying Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners is worthy or deserving of full acceptance by the entire human race. The expression refers to appropriating by faith the statement that Christ Jesus came into to the world to save sinners. The appositional clause namely that Christ, who is Jesus entered the human race is a reference to the incarnation of the Son of God. It thus speaks of the event when the Son of God became a human being in Bethlehem over two thousand years ago. In order to save sinners expresses the purpose of the incarnation. It is used of the act of the Lord Jesus Christ delivering the sinner from personal sin, the sin nature, Satan, his cosmic system, condemnation from the Law, spiritual and physical death and eternal condemnation through His voluntary substitutionary spiritual and physical deaths on the cross. This purpose clause indicates that Christ became a human being for the express purpose of saving sinners. The relative pronoun clause among whom I myself am the foremost emphasizes that Paul was the most prominent or foremost opponent of the Lord Jesus Christ and His church. It indicates that he was infamous in the church and in heaven. The word is reflecting the immensity of Paul s sin against the Lord Jesus Christ and His church. It underscores the grace of the Lord and the power of the gospel in which it can save and transform even those sinners like Paul who were foremost in stridently and violently opposing the Lord Jesus Christ and His church. So in verse 15, Paul is holding himself up as an example of the power of the gospel. He is an example of the power of Christ s spiritual and physical deaths to deliver sinners from spiritual and physical death, personal sins, the sin nature, the Devil and his cosmic system and eternal condemnation. He is holding himself as an example of the power of the gospel to transform a sinner into the image of Christ. The Law is impotent to save and transform the sinner. Only the gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to save and transform sinners and Paul is the greatest example of this since he was the most strident and famous of the church s enemies William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 12

13 Therefore, in verse 15, Paul is affirming the priority of the gospel with respect to the Law and the authority of this gospel. Then, in verse 16, the apostle Paul teaches that the Lord treated him according to His grace policy in order to demonstrate the extent of His patience for an example for all of those in the future who would trust in Him as Savior. In other words, if the Lord Jesus could save a terrible sinner like Saul of Tarsus who led the way in being violently opposed to Him and His church, then He can save anybody! 1 Timothy 1:16 But in fact, because of this, I obtained grace in order that through me, the foremost, Christ Himself, who is Jesus, could demonstrate for His own benefit the full extent of His patience for an example with respect to those who would in the future place their absolute confidence upon Him for eternal life. (My translation) This verse is an emphatic adversative clause, which emphasizes the contrast between Paul as the most prominent sinner and leading opponent of our Lord with that of the Lord s grace policy. It also presents the reason for the Lord treating Paul according to His grace policy. It indicates that because Paul was in fact the foremost opponent of our Lord and His church, the Lord treated him according to His grace policy. Because of Paul s pre-conversion status as the most strident opponent among men of the Lord Jesus Christ and His church, his conversion through faith in Jesus Christ would mark Paul out as the greatest illustration of God s grace in what it can do for the worst of sinners. Verse 16 also presents the purpose for the Lord treating Paul who was His most strident and violent enemy among men, according to His grace policy. The Lord treated Paul according to His grace policy in order to demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those sinners in the future who would trust in Him as Savior. If the Lord could save His worst and most violent opponent among men, he could save them! In this verse, Paul reveals that he was the agency by which the Lord could demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those sinners in the future who would trust in Him as Savior. By means of Paul s life and conversion experience, the Lord was demonstrating to sinful humanity that His grace policy can fundamentally change the most strident and violent of His opponents into arguably His greatest servant. Through Paul, the Lord wanted all of sinful humanity to know that His grace policy, which is an expression of His attribute of love, can change His worst enemy into His greatest servant. If the Lord was patient with Paul, He will be patient with anyone. Through Paul, the Lord is telling all of sinful humanity that there is no sin or sinner that can not be forgiven. If God can save His worst enemy, then He can save anyone! 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 13

14 In 1 Timothy 1:16, the noun makrothumia refers to the patience of the Lord Jesus Christ in the sense that He who is holy endures sinners and their sinful ways that are totally opposed to His holy character. The fact that sinners are not sent to the lake of fire forever immediately after sinning does not mean that the Lord is powerlessness but rather it demonstrates that He is patient. Every sinner would be in the lake of fire now, if God was not patient with them. The adjective hapas is modifying the noun makrothumia and means the full extent indicating that by saving Paul, the Lord was demonstrating the full extent of His patience. Paul was the extreme demonstration of the Lord s grace policy towards sinners since he led the rebellion and opposition to Him and His church. He was the Lord s greatest enemy among men. The prepositional phrase for an example indicates that the Lord s gracious treatment of Paul serves as an example to those sinners who in the future would trust in Jesus Christ as Savior. If the Lord could save His greatest enemy among men, He could save them. The word denotes that Paul would serve as the greatest example of His patience towards sinners since Paul was His greatest enemy among men. This prepositional phrase indicates that the Lord treated Paul according to His grace policy in order that He could demonstrate the full extent of His patience for the purpose of presenting an example to those sinners who would in the future trust in Jesus Christ for eternal life. With respect to those who would in the future place their absolute confidence upon Him for eternal life refers to those sinners in the future would trust in Jesus Christ for eternal life. It emphasizes not only the immediacy of Paul serving as an example for those sinners subsequent to him who would trust in Jesus Christ for eternal life but also it stresses the certainty of this taking place in the future or subsequent to Paul The phrase refers to the non-meritorious system of perception of placing one s trust or confidence in Jesus Christ as one s Savior. It refers to making the nonmeritorious decision to place one s absolute confidence in the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ and His substitutionary spiritual and physical deaths on the Cross in order to receive the gift of eternal life. For eternal life describes the nature of the life of God in the sense that it has no beginning and no end and is thus an ever present now. Eternal life is an attribute of God and transcends human life. The eternal life of God does not simply emphasize that it is a life that never ends but it is also a particular quality of life. It is a life in which the believer has knowledge of the Trinity in an experiential sense of personally encountering them through faith along in Christ alone and through the process of fellowship after conversion. This life is received by the sinner the moment they exercise faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior. This prepositional 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 14

15 phrase makes clear that the purpose of the sinner exercising faith in Jesus Christ as Savior is eternal life. 1 Timothy 1:16 serves as a rebuke to those pastors in Ephesus who were occupied with the Law and emphasized it with their congregations since it makes clear that the Law can never saved and transform sinners but only God s grace through faith in Christ Jesus can save the sinner. In fact, it can save and transform the worst enemy of Christ and the church, Paul! Only the gospel that centers upon Jesus Christ and proclaims that through faith in Him one can receive eternal life can save the sinner and transforms the worst of sinners and the worst enemy of the church and Christ into an obedient child of God. Only the gospel that proclaims the grace of God through faith in Christ can transform the worst enemy of Christ into His greatest servant. Thus, by these pastors in Ephesus emphasizing obedience to the Law and wasting their time being occupied with Jewish myths and useless genealogies served no purpose for the Lord, themselves or their congregations. Paul s personal testimony makes clear to the Ephesians and these pastors that the Law cannot save or transform the sinner into an obedient child of God but only the gospel can. Only grace through faith in Christ can save and transform the sinner, even the worst enemy of Christ, who was Paul! 1 Timothy 1:17 is a doxology that marks a transition from the previous paragraph in verses It is fitting for Paul to burst into a doxology of praise to the Father after sharing with his readers how the Lord Jesus Christ treated him according to His grace policy even though he was the worst enemy of our Lord among men. 1 Timothy 1:17 Now to the King throughout the ages, who is immortal, who is invisible, who is the one and only God for the benefit of whom will be honor as well as glory forever and ever. So it will be! (My translation) To the king is a reference to the Father. Paul bursts into a doxology of praise to the Father and not the Lord Jesus Christ because he is connecting the salvation that Jesus Christ provided with His substitutionary spiritual and physical deaths and resurrection as originating from the Father. The apostle wants to make clear that the Lord Jesus Christ did not provide salvation for sinners independently from the Father but in full compliance with the Father s plan from eternity past. The expression teaches that the Father is sovereign over history. It also indicates that the Father will be the recipient of glory and honor from those whom He saved through faith in His Son Jesus Christ. Throughout the ages refers to the fact that the Father is king or sovereign over history. He is ruler over the dispensations of history, past, present, future and eternal state William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 15

16 1 Timothy 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (NASU) Immortal describes the Father as not being subject to decay and death distinguishing Him as transcendent of His creatures. Invisible describes God s attributes as invisible. Though the Father cannot be seen by His creatures, the Son has revealed Him (John 1:18). The one and only God denotes that the Father is in a class by Himself or unique meaning that He is the one and only God and thus superior to the gods worshipped by the pagans. Honor refers to the recognition that the Father will receive from those sinners declared justified through faith in His Son Jesus Christ. It refers to their public acknowledgement of the Father for saving them based upon the merits of the object of their faith Jesus Christ. Glory refers to the adoring praise, honor, recognition and worshipful thanksgiving that will be directed towards the Father by both elect angels and regenerate human beings. Therefore, elect angels and regenerate human beings will be in eternity future giving the Father glory as expressed through adoring praise, honor, recognition and worshipful thanksgiving because He is the source, sustainer and ultimate goal of all things and is their redeemer and Savior. Forever and ever denotes the extent of time in which the Father will receive honor and glory from those sinners He has justified through faith in His Son. It stresses most emphatically the concept of eternality Amen emphasizes the certainty that God the Father will throughout eternity future receive from regenerate men and elect angels honor and glory. Review of 1 Timothy 1: Timothy 1:18-20 is parenthetical in the sense that it is interrupting the discussion in 1 Timothy 1:12-17, which emphasizes that the gospel and not the Law is the power of God for salvation and can transform the sinner into an obedient child of God and is centered upon the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. 1 Timothy 1:18 resumes the urgent request that Paul made of Timothy that appeared in verses Timothy 1:18 This command I at this particular time entrust to you Timothy, my spiritual child in accordance with the prophecies previously spoken about you in order that by means of them, you may continue to make it your habit of being engaged in spiritual combat, which is a noble combat. (My translation) This command refers to Paul s urgent request that is recorded in verses 3-5 to stop certain pastors in Ephesus from teaching false doctrine and being occupied 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 16

17 with Jewish myths and useless genealogies. Instead, Paul wants them to be faithful administrating the household of God by teaching his gospel, which is sound doctrine and will result in the church at Ephesus obeying the command to love one another. I at this particular time entrust indicates that Paul was entrusting Timothy with a charge that he himself had received from the Lord and was passing along to Timothy to have these pastors in Ephesus stop being unfaithful and to get back to fulfilling their duties of proclaiming the gospel. It implies that Paul considers Timothy himself to be faithful and responsible enough to communicate this charge to these men and thus would be an encouragement to his young delegate. To you Timothy, my spiritual child expresses Paul s deep personal love and affection for Timothy. This is to encourage his young delegate. In accordance with the prophecies previously spoken about you indicates quite clearly that the content of these prophecies was related to the charge that Paul gave Timothy in verses 3-5, who is being here reminded of them by the former. Thus, these prophecies were not related to the identification of Timothy s spiritual gift of pastors-teacher or that he would be a faithful servant of the gospel and friend of Paul. The noun propheteia refers to those prophecies that were made about Timothy that undoubtedly spoke of what God would do through him in this situation in Ephesus. These prophecies thus could prompted Paul to leave Timothy in Ephesus and allowed him to go to Macedonia. 1 Timothy 4:14 mentions the prophecy made of Timothy at his ordination. However, this word in 1 Timothy 1:18 is in the plural and not the singular as in 4:14. This prepositional phrase indicates that the prophecies previously made about Timothy were in accordance with Paul s urgent request that Timothy order certain unidentified pastors in Ephesus to stop teaching false doctrine and being occupied with Jewish myths and useless genealogies and get back to administrating the household of God by being faithful to their duties. The purpose clause in order that by means of them, you may continue to make it your habit of being engaged in spiritual combat, which is a noble combat expresses the purpose for which Paul urgently requested that Timothy order certain unidentified pastors in Ephesus to stop teaching false doctrine and being occupied with Jewish myths and useless genealogies and get back to being faithful administrating the household of God. Therefore, Paul s urgent request that he made of Timothy when he was departing for Macedonia to order certain pastors in that city to stop teaching false doctrine and get back to being faithful in administrating the household of God by teaching his gospel was for the express purpose of encouraging him to fight the good fight. So the purpose of reminding him of this urgent request was to encourage Timothy in spiritual combat William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 17

18 You may continue to make it your habit of being engaged in spiritual combat indicates that Paul reminded Timothy of the charge that he issued to him before leaving Ephesus to get these pastors in line in order that he might continue to being engaged in spiritual combat with the kingdom of darkness. This word expresses the sense of urgency to Paul s request of Timothy to set these straight in Ephesus. It indicates that Timothy was about performing the task assigned to him and that Paul wanted him to continue with it. It expresses the concept of perseverance. Which is a noble combat describes the spiritual combat that Timothy was engaged as superior to combat in the natural realm since it is with a superior enemy and on behalf of a superior sovereign, Jesus Christ. It describes spiritual combat as of the utmost importance in life possessing outstanding qualities because it is on behalf of a superior sovereign king, Jesus Christ and against a superior enemy, Satan. It speaks of Timothy commission as of the utmost importance or the most important thing that he could do in life. In verse 19, Paul continues his thought from verse 18 by noting that Timothy is to continue making it his habit of possessing faith in his apostolic teaching resulting in a good conscience which some unfaithful pastors in Ephesus have rejected and thus suffered shipwreck of their faith. 1 Timothy 1:19 by continuing to make it a habit of possessing faith resulting in a conscience that is divine good in quality and character, which certain individuals because they themselves have rejected, have suffered shipwreck with regards to their faith. (My translation) This verse reminds Timothy as to the means by which he is to continue to engage the enemy in spiritual combat in order to experience victory. The participial clause by continuing to make it a habit of possessing faith resulting in a conscience that is divine good in quality and character indicates exercising faith in the Word of God is the means by which Timothy was to continue to engage the enemy in spiritual combat. It indicates also that he was already exercising faith in the Word of God. This clause refers to Timothy s post-conversion faith in the Word of God. Specifically, it speaks of his faith in Paul s gospel or apostolic teaching since in context Paul is instructing Timothy as to how he is to engage the kingdom of darkness in spiritual combat in contrast to certain unidentified pastors in Ephesus who suffered the shipwreck of their faith. It speaks of Timothy exercising absolute confidence in the Word of God in order to experience victory in spiritual combat. This post-conversion faith in the Word of God manifests itself in obedience to the Word of God and would thus be reflected in Timothy s conduct resulting in the production of Christ-like character in his life by the Spirit William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 18