1 Timothy 1:1

Apostolic Faithfulness

1, 2. Greeting

1. an apostle of Jesus Christ Read rather with the mss. an apostle of Christ Jesus, and again with a similar transposition and omitting -Lord," Christ Jesus our hope; as in 1Ti 1:12; 2 Timothy 4:1; Titus 1:4. Altogether, according to the best mss., the change should be made nine times in these epp. The name -Christ Jesus" is most frequently on the Apostle's lips in old age, occurring 22 times, while -Jesus Christ" is used but seven times, -our Lord Jesus Christ" but twice, see 1 Timothy 6:3. See further, Moule's Colossians, I. 1.

by the commandment of Better, by authority from; this phrase (1) recalls to English ears official titles and announcements; and (2) suits each of the seven passages in St Paul's epistles where it occurs, suggesting the commissiondelegated from the supreme power of God: it gives as here, so in Titus 1:3, the warrant for St Paul's laying down the rules of Church order, and the warrant therefore for Timothy and Titus doing the same under their delegated commission. It is a clear gain to use the same word in these passages and in Titus 2:15, -exhort, reprove, with all authority."

God our Saviour A new phrase in St Paul's language, three times used in this epistle and three times in ep. to Titus; cf. Jude, Jude 1:25; Jude 1:25; Jude 1:25: the corresponding phrase Christ our Saviourfour times in these epistles (previously in Ephesians 5:23 and Philippians 3:20, the word -Saviour" is used not as a title but in a statement, as predicate not attribute an evidently earlier stage), five times in the Second Epistle of St Peter. Fairbairn suggests with reason that this title is given to Godhere rather than to Christ -as a kind of counteractive to the false teaching"; this personal designation of God, as originating and carrying into effect the work of salvation, would indicate the true preservative against all arbitrariness in speculation and undue licence in practice.

Jesus Christ … our hope Again a token of the later apostolic age. Christ, who is at first in His own words -the Light," -the Way," -the Truth," -the Life," is (with still further appropriation of the abstract) in the epistles of the first captivity -our peace," Ephesians 2:14, -the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27, and now towards the days of the second captivity simply -our hope." This personification of the abstract has still further developed with the lapse of centuries, so that a modern writer can say,

O everlasting Health,

From which all healing springs,

Our Bliss, our Treasure, and our Wealth,

To Thee our spirit clings.