1 Timothy 1:11

κατὰ τὸ εὐαγγέλιον, κ. τ. λ., refers to the whole preceding sentence and is not to be connected with διδασκαλίᾳ. only, which would necessitate τῇ κατὰ, κ. τ. λ. This reading is actually found in [257],* [258] , [259] , [260], Vg., Arm., quae est secundum, etc. Von Soden connects with δικαίῳ νόμος οὐ κεῖται.

[257] Codex Claromontanus (sæc. vi.), a Græco-Latin MS. at Paris, edited by Tischendorf in 1852.

[258] The Latin text of Codex Claromontanus (sæc. vi.), a Græco-Latin MS. at Paris, edited by Tischendorf in 1852.

[259] The Latin version of Codex Augiensis (sæc. ix.), a Græco-Latin MS., at Trinity College, Cambridge, edited by Scrivener in 1859. Its presents the Vulgate text with some modifications.

[260] The Latin text of Codex Boernerianus (sæc. ix.), a Græco-Latin MS., at Dresden, edited by Matthæi in 1791. Written by an Irish scribe, it once formed part of the same volume as Codex Sangallensis (δ) of the Gospels.

Inasmuch as unsound teaching had claimed to be a εὐαγγέλιον (Galatians 1:6), St. Paul finds it necessary to recharge the word with its old force by distinguishing epithets. εὐαγγέλιον had become impoverished by heterodox associations. The gospel with which St. Paul had been entrusted was the gospel of the glory of the blessed God. Cf. “the gospel of the glory of Christ,” 2 Corinthians 4:4. The gospel concerning the glory, etc., which reveals the glory. And this glory, although primarily an attribute of God, is here and elsewhere treated as a blessed state to which those who obey the gospel may attain, and which it is possible to miss (Romans 3:23; Romans 5:2; Romans 15:7. See Sanday and Headlam on Romans 3:23). The phrase is not, as in A.V., an expansion of “The gospel of God,” Mark 1:14, etc., “the gospel of which God is the author,” τῆς δόξης being a genitive of quality = glorious. (Compare Romans 8:21; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Ephesians 1:6; Ephesians 1:18; Colossians 1:11; Colossians 1:27; Titus 2:13).

μακαρίου : Blessed as an epithet of God is only found here and in 1 Timothy 6:15, where see note. Grimm compares the μάκαρες θεοί of Homer and Hesiod. But the notion here is much loftier. We may call God blessed, but not happy; since happiness is only predicated of those whom it is possible to conceive of as unhappy.

ὃ ἐπιστεύθην ἐγώ : This phrase occurs again Titus 1:3. Cf. Romans 3:2; 1 Corinthians 9:17; Galatians 2:7; 1 Thessalonians 2:4. St. Paul does not here allude to his particular presentation of the gospel, as in Galatians 2:7; nor is he thinking specially of God's goodness to him in making him a minister, as in Romans 15:16; Ephesians 3:8; Colossians 1:25; he is merely asserting his consistency, and repudiating the charge of antinomianism which had been brought against him.