1 Timothy 4:10 - printer-friendly

Survey of the Letters of Paul: 1 Timothy 4:10

1 Timothy 4:10
For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

Let us begin with the Barclay Commentary for verses 6-10

ADVICE TO A SERVANT OF CHRIST
1 Timothy 4:6–10

If you lay these things before the brothers, you will be a fine servant of Jesus Christ, if you feed your life on the words of faith, and the fine teaching of which you have been a student and a follower. Refuse to have anything to do with irreligious stories like the tales old women tell to children. Train yourself towards the goal of true godliness. The training of the body has only a limited value; but training in godliness has a universal value for mankind, because it has the promise of life in this present age, and life in the age to come. This is a saying which deserves to be accepted by all. The reason why we toil and struggle so hard is that we have set our hopes on the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, and especially of those who believe.

THIS passage is closely packed with practical advice, not only for Timothy but for any servant of the Church who is charged with the duty of work and leadership.

(1) It tells us how to instruct others. The word used for laying these things (hupotithesthai) before the brothers is significant. It does not mean to issue orders but rather to advise, to suggest. It is a gentle, humble and modest word. It means that teachers must never dogmatically and belligerently lay down the law. It means that they must act rather as if they were reminding people of what they already knew or suggesting to them, not that they should learn from them, but that they should discover from their own hearts what is right. Guidance given in gentleness will always be more effective than bullying instructions laid down with force. It is possible to lead people when they will refuse to be driven.

(2) It tells us how to face the task of teaching. Timothy is told that he must feed his life on the words of faith. No one can give out without taking in. Those who teach must be continually learning. It is the reverse of the truth that when people become teachers they cease to be learners; each day they must come to know Jesus Christ better before they can bring him to others.

(3) It tells us what to avoid. Timothy is to avoid pointlesstales like those which old women tell to children. It is easy to get lost in side issues and to get entangled in things which are at best embellishments. It is on the great central truths that people must constantly feed their minds and nourish their faith.

(4) It tells us what to seek. Timothy is told that, as athletes train their bodies, so Christians must train their souls. It is not that bodily fitness is despised; the Christian faith believes that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. But Paul is pleading for a sense of proportion. Physical training is good, and even essential; but its use is limited. It develops only part of an individual, and it produces only results which last for a short time, for the body passes away. Training in godliness develops the whole person in body, mind and spirit, and its results affect not only time but eternity as well. Christians are not athletes of the gymnasium, they are the athletes of God. The greatest of the Greeks recognized this. The Athenian orator Isocrates wrote: ‘No ascetic ought to train his body as a king ought to train his soul.’ ‘Train yourself by submitting willingly to toils, so that when they come on you unwillingly you will be able to endure them.’

(5) It shows us the basis of the whole matter. No one has ever claimed that the Christian life is an easy way; but its goal is God. It is because life is lived in the presence of God and ends in his still nearer presence that Christians are willing to struggle so hard. The greatness of the goal makes the toil worth while. ~Barclay Commentary

This verse is primarily broken into four phrases:

1] Fore therefore we both labour and suffer reproach.
2] Because we trust in the living God.
3] Who is the Saviour of all men.
4] specially of those that believe.

Each part is a lesson in itself. My overall sense of the commentaries is that they are capturing meaning of words but slightly missing the meaning at the spiritual level. This is a rather complex statement Paul is making to Timothy. Just previous in the text Paul is strongly admonishing Timothy to teach truth and to keep false doctrine out of the church, out of the teaching, and out of the lives of the congregation. He says in verse 6 that a good minister, and therefore all true members of the Body of Christ are "nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine."

In verse 7, we are to refuse all false doctrine [from wives tales to the secret knowledge of the Gnostics] and to exercise ourselves rather unto godliness. In verse 9, Paul says that what he has just stated is a faithful saying and worth of all acceptation. All members must accept the fact that we avoid false doctrine and favor, in its place, true doctrine and the invoking of the power of the Holy Spirit producing godliness...us becoming like Christ and conforming to His image and thinking.

Then Paul utters this complex statement of what we are doing and what God is doing in His plan for mankind. Let us take each of the four parts in turn:

1] For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach:

For therefore we both labor - This verse was necessary to explain what he had before said; and here he shows that his meaning was not that the followers of God should enjoy worldly prosperity and exemption from natural evils; for, said he, it is because we exercise ourselves to godliness that we have both labor and reproach, and we have these because we trust In the living God: but still we have mental happiness, and all that is necessary for our passage through life; for in the midst of persecutions and afflictions we have the peace of God that passeth knowledge, and have all our crosses and sufferings so sanctified to us that we consider them in the number of our blessings. ~Adam Clarke

For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach - In making this truth known, that all might be saved, or that salvation was offered to all. The “labor” was chiefly experienced in carrying this intelligence abroad among the Gentiles; the “reproach” arose chiefly from the Jews for doing it. ~Barnes Notes

For therefore we both labour - Not in the word and doctrine, though they did; nor in the exercise of internal godliness, though there is a work in faith, and a labour in love; nor with their own hands, at their trades and business, to support themselves, and others; but by enduring hardships and afflictions, as stripes, imprisonment, weariness, pain, watchings, fastings, hunger, thirst, cold, and nakedness; see 2 Corinthians 11:23. ~John Gill

Quoted verse:
2 Corinthians 11:23
Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach - Animated by this promise. We both labour and suffer reproach - We regard neither pleasure, ease, nor honour. Because we trust - For this very thing the world will hate us. ~John Wesley

In Robertson's Word Pictures it gives "we labour" and "[we] strive" as Pauline words [words Paul uses] and references Colossians 1:29

Colossians 1:29
Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Notice the commentary on Colossians 1:29

Whereunto I also labour - See 1 Corinthians 15:10.

Striving - Greek agonizing. He taxed all his energies to accomplish this, as the wrestlers strove for the mastery in the Grecian games.

According to his working - Not by my own strength, but by the power which God alone can give; See 1 Corinthians 15:10. ~Barnes Notes

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.

In the People's New Testament for "We labor and suffer reproach" gives us to read 2 Corinthians 11:21-27. We have already looked at verse 23 above so this will give us the greater context of that verse.

2 Corinthians 11:21-27
21 I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.
22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

2] Because we trust in the living God:

Because we trust in the living God - This does not mean, as our translation would seem to imply, that he labored and suffered “because” he confided in God, or that this was the “reason” of his sufferings, but rather that this trust in the living God was his “support” in these labors and trials. “We labor and suffer reproach, for we have hope in God. Through him we look for salvation. We believe that he has made this known to people, and believing this, we labor earnestly to make it known, even though it be attended with reproaches.” The sentiment is, that the belief that God has revealed a plan of salvation for all people, and invites all people to be saved, will make his friends willing to “labor” to make this known, though it be attended with reproaches. ~Barnes Notes

Because we trust in the living God - for the accomplishment of the said promises, who has power, and therefore can, and is faithful, and therefore will, make good what he has promised; and since it is life he has promised, faith is the more encouraged to trust in him, since he is the living God, in opposition to, and distinction from, lifeless idols; he has life in himself, essentially, originally, and independently, and is the author and giver of life, natural, spiritual, and eternal, unto others. Wherefore there is good reason to trust in him for the fulfilling of the promises of the present and future life, made unto godliness. ~John Gill

Because we trust - For this very thing the world will hate us. ~ John Wesley

We trust in - Better is, "have set our hope on." See Romans 15:12 and 1 Peter 1:13

Romans 15:12
And again, Esaias [Isaiah in 11:10] saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.

1 Peter 1:13
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; ~Vincent's Word Studies

3] Who is the Saviour of all men:

Who is the Savior of all men - Who has provided salvation for the whole human race, and has freely offered it to them in his word and by his Spirit. ~Adam Clarke

Saviour — even in this life. This commentary then references verse 8 of this chapter where it says, "but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." ~Jamieson, Fausset and Brown

Who is the Saviour of all men - Preserving them in this life, and willing to save them eternally. ~John Wesley

Robertson's Word Pictures says: "for sōtēr applied to God as here. Not that all men “are saved” in the full sense, but God gives life (1 Timothy 6:13) to all (Acts 17:28).

1 Timothy 6:13
I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;

Acts 17:28
For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. ~ Robertson's Word Pictures

Now from the Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge a few scriptures showing that God is a physical Saviour here and now as well as the ultimate spiritual Saviour in the plan of Salvation:

The Saviour here and now:
Psalm 36:6
Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.

Psalm 107:2
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

The ultimate Saviour in the plan of Salvation:
1 Timothy 2:4
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

1 Timothy 2:6
Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

1 John 2:2
And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Now notice how the John Gill states this. This one should greatly define what "Saviour of all men" really means.

Who is the Saviour of all men - in a providential way, giving them being and breath, upholding them in their beings, preserving their lives, and indulging them with the blessings and mercies of life; for that he is the Saviour of all men, with a spiritual and everlasting salvation, is not true in fact. ~John Gill

What does it mean here, "is not true in fact"? It is making a distinction between what some might think the phrase means and what we know to be the truth. To a person without spiritual understanding, he might take, "[God] who is the Saviour of all men" to mean that no matter what, all men will be saved. You and I know this is not true. What it is saying is that ultimately the opportunity of Salvation is offered to all men. Clearly a goodly number will either reject it and/or fall from this process. So to say that God is the Saviour of all men is to say He is a being who brings the opportunity for Salvation to all men. Everyone will have their opportunity but it is not absolute assurance that all will necessarily see Salvation and the Kingdom of God. We see this confirmed in the fourth phrase of the verse.

4] Specially of those that believe:

Specially of those that believe - This is evidently designed to limit the previous remark. If it [the third phrase] had been left there, it might have been inferred that he would “actually save” all people. But the apostle held no such doctrine, and he here teaches that salvation is “actually” limited to those who believe [who enter and remain in the Salvation Process]. This is the specialty or the uniqueness in the salvation of those who actually reach [The Kingdom], that they are “believers." All people, therefore, do not enter [The Kingdom with eternal life], unless all people have faith [the Salvation Process]. ~ Barnes Notes with some editing by me

Specially of those that believe - What God intends for All, he actually gives to them that believe in Christ, who died for the sins of the world, and tasted death for every man. As all have been purchased by his blood so all may believe; and consequently all may be saved. Those that perish, perish through their own fault. ~Adam Clarke

Specially of those that believe - whom though he saves with an eternal salvation; yet not of this, but of a temporal salvation, are the words to be understood: or as there is a general providence, which attends all mankind, there is a special one which relates to the elect of God; these are regarded in Providence, and are particularly saved and preserved before conversion, in order to be called; and after conversion, after they are brought to believe in Christ, they are preserved from many enemies, and are delivered out of many afflictions and temptations; and are the peculiar care and darlings of providence, being to God as the apple of his eye: ~John Gill

Note: John Gill's use of language here might lose some but what he is saying is that there is eternal salvation for those that believe in addition to temporal salvation in the here and now for everyone. God is clearly working in the lives of every human who has ever lived. He offers temporal salvation to every human according to His will for the here and now. Notice how He preserved you between birth and your call to repentance, baptism and the receiving of the Holy Spirit. He is doing a specific work with all humans between their conception and their calling to the Salvation Process before the return of Christ, during the millennium or in the Second Resurrection. Interestingly the terrible hardships mankind has suffered throughout history and even death are part of that Providence and temporal Salvation. God uses everything in His plan and can use any element, even hardships, war, crimes, diseases, famines, earthquakes, hurricanes and physical death in that Work.

What is the ultimate outcome of all this?

1 John 5:10-13
10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.