Beginning
with this verse 12 and going through verse 17 we
enter a new passage or line of thought in the
letter. It is a passage of joy, thanks and
acknowledgement. Paul is speaking for himself but
every word he utters here are the words we should be
uttering on a continual basis. These are the same
joys and thanks we are to be giving. These are the
same acknowledgments we are to declare. Doing so will
bring all of us to the Christ level in all things.
Clearly this is what Paul is encouraging and tasking
Timothy with doing. This is God using this
communication between Paul and Timothy to speak to
us.
As one can read in the Barclay commentary on this
passage, Paul is giving thanks to Jesus Christ for
four things:
1] He thanked Jesus because Jesus chose him.
2] He thanked Jesus because Jesus trusted him.
3] He thanked Jesus because Jesus had appointed him.
4] he thanked Jesus because Jesus hand empowered
him.
On point number 1, we too thank Christ for choosing
us for any duty in the church and, of course we
thank God for calling us to the Salvation Process in
the first place [John 6:44].
On point number 2, the idea might be more clear if
we use the word, "entrust" and say that God, through
Christ is entrusting us with duties, positions and
tasks in the Salvation Process and church.
Here is a commentary statement to the whole passage
[verses 12-17]:The apostle knew that he would
justly have perished, if the Lord had been extreme
to mark what was amiss; and also if his grace and
mercy had not been abundant to him when dead in sin,
working faith and love to Christ in his heart. This
is a faithful saying; these are true and faithful
words, which may be depended on, That the Son of God
came into the world, willingly and purposely to save
sinners. No man, with Paul's example before him, can
question the love and power of Christ to save him,
if he really desires to trust in him as the Son of
God, who once died on the cross [stake],
and now reigns upon the throne of glory, to save all
that come to God through him.
~Matthew Henry commentary
Note: The Matthew Henry gets a
little fancy here in the wording but the meaning
should be clear to us. God has a holistic plan
of salvation for all of mankind despite the fact all
of mankind deserves death forever. Paul is
showing himself as the chief sinner of [looking
ahead to verse 15] and therefore being
our example of what our attitude is to before both
God the Father and Jesus Christ for we, like Paul
see ourselves as that chief sinner and rightly so.
Let us see what the commentaries say for verse 12:
And I thank Christ Jesus our
Lord - The mention of the gospel 1Timothy
1:11, and of the fact that it was committed to him,
leads the apostle to express his gratitude to him
who had called him to the work of preaching it. The
Lord Jesus had called him when he was a blasphemer
and a persecutor. He had constrained him to leave
his career of persecution and blasphemy, and to
consecrate himself to the defense and the
propagation of the gospel. For all this, though it
had required him to give up his favorite projects in
life, and all the flattering schemes of ambition, he
now felt that praise was due to the Redeemer. If
there is anything for which a good man will be
thankful, and should be thankful, it is that he has
been so directed by the Spirit and providence of God
as to be put into the ministry. It is indeed a work
of toil, and of self-denial, and demanding many
sacrifices of personal ease and comfort. It requires
a man to give up his splendid prospects of worldly
distinction, and of wealth and ease. It is often
identified with want, and poverty, and neglect, and
persecution. But it is an office so honorable, so
excellent, so noble, and ennobling; it is attended
with so many precious comforts here, and is so
useful to the world, and it has such promises of
blessedness and happiness in the world to come, that
no matter what a man is required to give up in order
to become a minister of the gospel, he should be
thankful to Christ for putting him into the office.
A minister, when he comes to die, feels that the
highest favor which Heaven has conferred on him has
been in turning his feet away from the paths of
ambition, and the pursuits of ease or gain, and
leading him to that holy work to which he has been
enabled to consecrate his life.
~Barnes Notes
Note:
Remember that Paul is speaking from personal
experience here but the concept remains the same for
every firstfruit God has ever called regardless of
duty, of position and/or task. Anytime you
read of Paul speaking specifically to the ministry,
I want you to apply his thought processes [which
are inspired by God] to your own duty,
position and/or task and every firstfruit is thus
called.
From the Adam Clarke commentary...
I thank Christ - I feel myself under infinite
obligation to Christ who hath strengthened me, who
hath endued me with various miraculous gifts of his
Holy Spirit, and put me into the ministry, the
deaconship, the service of mankind, by preaching the
Gospel, for that he counted me - he knew that I
would be, faithful to the charge that was delivered
to me. ~Adam Clarke
The John Gill commentary...
And I thank Jesus Christ our
Lord - The subject
matter of this thanksgiving being the apostle's call
to the ministry of the word, and his furniture and
fitness for it, shows, that while others were fond
of being teachers, and called doctors of the law, he
esteemed it an high honour and special favour
bestowed upon him, that he was a preacher of the
Gospel; and that all his gifts and abilities for it
were not of himself, nor from men, but were owing to
the free grace of God, and favour of Christ;
wherefore he gloried not in them, as if he had not
received them, but gives Christ the glory of them,
and thanks to him for them, ~John Gill
The Jamieson, Fausset, Brown...
I thank — Greek, “I have (that is, feel) gratitude.”
~Jamieson, Fausset, Brown
Who hath enabled me -
Who has given me ability or strength for this
service. The apostle traced to the Lord Jesus the
fact that he was in the ministry at all, and all the
ability which he had to perform the duties of that
holy office. It is not necessary here to suppose, as
many have done, that he refers to miraculous power
conferred on him, but he makes the acknowledgment
which any faithful minister would do, that all the
strength which he has to perform the duties of his
office is derived from Christ; compare John 15:5
note; 1 Corinthians 15:10 note.
~Barnes Notes
John 15:5
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that
abideth in me, and I in him, the same
bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye
can do nothing.
Without me ye can do
nothing - The expression “without me”
denotes the same as separate from me. As the
branches, if separated from the parent
stock, could produce no fruit, but would
immediately wither and die, so Christians,
if separate from Christ, could do nothing.
The expression is one, therefore, strongly
implying dependence. The Son of God was the
original source of life, John 1:4. He also,
by his work as Mediator, gives life to the
world John 6:33, and it is by the same grace
and agency that it is continued in the
Christian. We see hence:
1. that to him is due all the praise for all
the good works the Christian performs.
2. that they will perform good works just in
proportion as they feel their dependence on
him and look to him. And,
3. that the reason why others fail of being
holy is because they are unwilling to look
to him, and seek grace and strength from him
who alone is able to give it.
~Barnes Notes
John 1:4
says...
In him was life; and the life was the light
of men.
John 6:33
says...
For the bread of God is he which cometh down
from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
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From the John Gill...
Who hath enabled me -
who gave him all his abilities for the preaching of
the Gospel, and all that strength to perform the
various parts of labour and service he was called
unto, and all that firmness, resolution, and
fortitude of mind he was endued with, to bear and
suffer what he did for the sake of Christ and his
Gospel. ~John Gill
Now the Jamieson, Fausset, Brown...
Who hath enabled me —
the same Greek verb as in Acts 9:22, “Saul increased
the more in strength.” An undesigned coincidence
between Paul and Luke, his companion. Enabled me,
namely, for the ministry. “It is not in my own
strength that I bring this doctrine to men, but as
strengthened and nerved by Him who saved me” [Theodoret].
Man is by nature “without strength” (Romans 5:6).
True conversion and calling confer power [Bengel].
~Jamieson, Fausset,
Brown.
Note: The word "confer"
means, "to bestow" or "to invest with."
Clearly God is investing all His power
and being into this plan that includes the Salvation
Process for all of us and ultimately all of mankind.
Acts 9:22
But Saul increased the more in strength, and
confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving
that this is very Christ.
Romans 5:6
For when we were yet without strength, in due time
Christ died for the ungodly.
For that he counted me faithful - This is
equivalent to saying that he reposed confidence in
me. It means that there was something in the
character of Paul, and in his attachment to the
Saviour, on which reliance could be placed, or that
there was that which gave the assurance that he
would be faithful. A sovereign, when he sends an
ambassador to a foreign court, reposes confidence in
him, and would not commission him unless he had
reason to believe that he would be faithful. So it
is in reference to all who are called by the
Redeemer into the ministry. They are his ambassadors
to a lost world. His putting them into the ministry
is an act expressive of great confidence in them -
for he commits to them great and important
interests. Hence, learn:
(1) that no one ought to regard himself as called to
the ministry who will not be “faithful” to his
Master; and,
(2) that the office of the ministry is most
honorable and responsible. Nowhere else are there so
great interests entrusted to man.
~Barnes Notes
From the John Gill commentary...
For that he counted me
faithful - not that he was so antecedent to
the grace and gifts bestowed on him by Christ, or
that Christ foresaw that he would be so, and
therefore chose him for his service; but he counted
him faithful, having made him so by his grace, and
thus he kept him; faithfulness being a necessary
requisite and qualification for a Gospel minister,
he having a great trust committed to him, being made
a steward of the manifold grace and mysteries of
God:
putting me into the ministry
- The ministry of the word, the work of the
ministry, or preaching of the Gospel, the
dispensation or administration of it to the sons of
men; this he did not thrust himself into, nor take
this honour to, and of himself; nor was he put into
it by men, but was chosen to it of God, and called
unto it by the Spirit, and was placed in it by
Christ himself, who in person appeared to him, and
made a minister of him; see Romans 1:1 and Acts
13:2. The Arabic and Ethiopic versions read, "his
ministry", the ministry of Christ.
Romans 1:1
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an
apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
Acts 13:2
As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy
Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the
work whereunto I have called them.
~John Gill
The Jamieson, Fausset, Brown
for that — the main
ground of his “thanking Christ.”
he counted me faithful
- He foreordered and foresaw that I would be
faithful to the trust committed to me. Paul’s
thanking God for this shows that the merit of his
faithfulness was due solely to God’s grace, not to
his own natural strength (1 Corinthians 7:25).
Faithfulness is the quality required in a steward (1
Corinthians 4:2).
1 Corinthians 7:25
Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the
Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath
obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
1 Corinthians 4:2
Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be
found faithful.
putting me into —
rather as in 1 Thessalonians 5:9, “appointing me (in
His sovereign purposes of grace) unto the
ministry” (Acts 20:24).
1 Thessalonians 5:9
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to
obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
Acts 20:24
But none of these things move me, neither count I my
life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my
course with joy, and the ministry, which I have
received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of
the grace of God.
~Jamieson, Fausset, Brown
Finally verses as found in the Treasury
of Scriptural Knowledge
I thank Christ Jesus our
Lord:
John 5:23
That all men should honour the Son, even as they
honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son
honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
Philippians 2:11
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Revelation 5:9-14
9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy
to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for
thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy
blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people,
and nation;
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests:
and we shall reign on the earth.
11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many
angels round about the throne and the beasts and the
elders: and the number of them was ten thousand
times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that
was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom,
and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the
earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the
sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying,
Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto
him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb
for ever and ever.
14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and
twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that
liveth for ever and ever.
Revelation 7:10-12
10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to
our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the
Lamb.
11 And all the angels stood round about the throne,
and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell
before the throne on their faces, and worshipped
God,
12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom,
and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might,
be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
who hath enabled me:
1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his
grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain;
but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet
not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
2 Corinthians 3:5-6
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think
any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of
God;
6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new
testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for
the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for
thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my
infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon
me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in
reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in
distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak,
then am I strong.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth me.
2 Timothy 4:17
Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and
strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be
fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear:
and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
for that he counted me
faithful:
Acts 16:15
And when she was baptized, and her household, she
besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be
faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide
there. And she constrained us.
1 Corinthians 7:25
Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the
Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath
obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
Putting me into the
ministry:
1 Timothy 1:11
According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God,
which was committed to my trust.
Acts 9:15
But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a
chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the
Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Colossians 1:25
Whereof I am made a minister, according to the
dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to
fulfil the word of God. |