1 Timothy 1:1

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus”: The term “apostle” means literally “one sent forth”. Although Timothy already respects Paul's authority as an apostle, this authority is asserted because Paul is not just writing for Timothy's benefit, but for Christians in every age. His authority as an apostle is also stressed because of the presence of false teachers as Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3). Paul often started his letters stressing the above qualification (Romans 1:1; 1 Corinthians 1:1; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Galatians 1:1; Ephesians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; 2 Timothy 1:1; Titus 1:1).

1 Timothy 1:1 “According to the commandment”: The term “commandment” means “injunction, order”. “Paul means to say that he is an apostle under orders” (Robertson p. 560). “Could well mean, ‘in obedience to the command'” (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 89). 1. Paul was called by Jesus Christ Himself and given the definite command to preach to the Gentiles (Acts 9:4; Acts 9:20; Acts 22:10; Acts 26:16; Acts 13:2). 2. He is writing this letter to Timothy by the commandment of God and Christ as well. Paul was an apostle by order of God and Jesus and thus writes and preaches by their authority. He regarded himself as. messenger under orders and one who had definite authority (1 Corinthians 14:37).

1 Timothy 1:1 “God our Savior”: The Father planned our salvation (John 3:16).

1 Timothy 1:1 “And of Christ Jesus, who is our hope”: “The co-ordination of Father and Son as sources of his apostolic authority indicated that Paul held that Jesus Christ is divine, and this is shown by his paralleling Christ with God in this opening phrase” (Reese p. 3). Everything that is part of our hope is bound up with. relationship to Jesus Christ (Hebrews 6:18; Colossians 1:27). God is our Savior, but only those who come to Jesus have any hope of this salvation (Acts 4:12). “The word ‘hope' used in its Biblical sense conveys an element of absolute certainty, an element that often is lacking in the modern usage of the word, where ‘hope' is often not much more than just ‘wishful thinking'” (Reese p. 3).