Thursday, September 24, 2015

1 Timothy 1:1-2




1&2 Timothy and Titus are known as the pastoral letters because they give instructions to Timothy and Titus concerning the pastoral care of churches. All three letters probably were written not long after the events of Acts 28.
                 

GREETINGS FROM PAUL

1 Timothy 1:1-2

1 Timothy 1:1  This letter is from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, appointed by the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus, who gives us hope. 1 Timothy 1:2  I am writing to Timothy, my true son in the faith. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.

Every greeting written in the bible usually has a purpose. We say hi, or hello or some other non-consequential thought. Not that we do not mean to be polite but there is no other reason for our greeting. With the apostles there always seems to be additional meaning.

Life Application New Testament Commentary
Apostle comes from the Greek word apostolos, meaning “one who is sent.”
Paul calls God our Savior. Paul used the phrase “our Savior” six times in the letters to Timothy and Titus Paul may have used this particular Greek word, soter, because, at the time, the cruel emperor Nero applied it to himself. The apostle would not have hesitated to repudiate Nero’s claim. Paul reminded his readers who the true Savior was. Paul calls Christ Jesus our hope. Our hope rests in Jesus Christ. He is the embodiment of our faith, the basis for our eternal life.
In the second verse he is handing over the responsibility to Timothy. This verse also contains the word MERCY. It appears like Paul knew the hardships coming and want mercy to be shown. There were people in Ephesus who were not teaching the truth and I am sure that they did not want a new face coming in and taking over the spotlight.  
Paul used grace and peace as a standard greeting in all of his letters. However, it is only in his letters to Timothy that he used mercy. “Mercy” carries with it the Old Testament picture of God’s loving-kindness. God’s mercy helps us day by day. Paul knew that Timothy was facing a difficult situation in Ephesus, so he added the word mercy to reassure Timothy of God’s protection and guidance. By using the phrase, God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord, Paul pointed to Jesus as a full person of the Godhead. Both God the Father and Christ the Lord are coequal in providing the resources of grace, mercy, and peace. Paul recognized the full deity of Jesus.

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