1 Timothy 1:12

This parenthetical thanksgiving, which is quite in St. Paul's manner, is suggested by ὃ ἐπιστεύθην ἐγώ. Cf. 1 Corinthians 15:9 sqq., Ephesians 3:8.

χάριν ἔχω : see note on 2 Timothy 1:3. ἐνδυναμώσαντι : The aor. is used be cause the writer's thoughts pass back to the particular time when he received inward strength increasingly, Acts 9:22. In Philippians 4:13 the present participle is appropriate, because he is describing his present state. The word ἐνδυναμοῦσθαι is only found in N.T. in Paul and Acts 9:22. Is it fanciful to suppose that Luke's use of it in Acts was suggested by his master's account of that crisis? ὅτι : because. πιστόν : trustworthy, as a steward is expected to be, 1 Corinthians 4:2. See ref. There is as Bengel remarks, a touch of ἀνθρωποπάθεια, of anthropomorphism or accommodation, in πιστόν με ἡγήσατο. The Divine Master knew that His steward Paul would be trustworthy. Paul, not unnaturally, speaks as if God's apprehension of him were of the same relative nature as his own hope of final perseverance.

θέμενος εἰς διακονίαν : The fact that Christ employed Paul in His service was a sufficient proof of His estimate of him. διάκονος and διακονία are used in a general sense of St. Paul's ministry also in Romans 11:13; 1 Corinthians 3:5; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 2 Corinthians 4:1; 2Co 5:18; 2 Corinthians 6:3; Ephesians 3:7; Colossians 1:23; Colossians 1:25. Cf. 1Ti 4:6, 2 Timothy 4:5; 2 Timothy 4:11. The nature of it is exactly defined in Acts 20:24, “to testify the gospel of the grace of God”.