1 Timothy 2.6-8-Paul Reveals He Was Appointed A Herald, Apostle And Teacher To Proclaim Christ's Redemptive Work And Orders Ephesian Men To Pray
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Sunday March 27, 2011
1 Timothy: 1 Timothy 2:6-8-Paul Reveals He Was Appointed A Herald, Apostle And Teacher To Proclaim Christ’s Redemptive Work And Orders Ephesian Men To Pray
Lesson #43
Please turn in your Bibles to 1 Timothy 2:1.
The apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 2:6 continues his thought from verse 5 by teaching that Christ Jesus gave Himself as a ransom for each and every member of the human race revealing the Father’s purpose to save the entire human race at the appointed time.
1 Timothy 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. (NASU)
“Who gave Himself as a ransom for all” speaks of the doctrine of redemption and refers to the Lord Jesus Christ dedicating Himself to the specific purpose of canceling the sin debt of the entire human race.
It describes Jesus Christ’s spiritual and physical deaths on the cross as a substitutionary ransom for the benefit of each and every member of the human race.
“Redemption” refers to that aspect of Christ’s finished work on the Cross-that “purchased” all of humanity out of the slave market of sin and is appropriated by trusting in Jesus Christ as one’s Savior.
Redemption is one of the three major doctrines of Soteriology: (1) Redemption: inward (2) Reconciliation: manward (3) Propitiation: Godward.
Redemption results in the forgiveness of sins (Isa. 44:22; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; Heb. 9:12-15), is the basis of justification (Rom. 3:24) and delivers from the curse of the Law (Gal. 3:13; 4:4-6) and is the basis for sanctification (Eph. 5:25-27).
It is the basis for the eternal inheritance of believer (Heb. 9:15) and for the strategic victory of Christ in the angelic conflict (Col. 2:14-15; Heb. 2:14-15).
Redemption of the soul in salvation leads to redemption of the body in resurrection (Eph. 1:14) and is the ultimate status of regenerated human beings forever (Rom. 8:23; Eph. 4:30).
The Lord is the Redeemer of Israel (Ps. 78:35; Isa. 43:14; 44:24; 49:7; 54:5, 8; 60:16) and He is redeemer of the Church (1 Cor. 1:30; Gal. 3:13; Eph. 1:7, 14; Col. 1:14; Titus 2:14).
“Who gave Himself as a ransom for all” denotes not only that Christ’s spiritual and physical death were in place of the entire human race but also it indicates that they were for the benefit of the entire human race.
It teaches the “unlimited” or “universal” atonement and refutes those who adhere to a “limited” atonement.
The “limited” atonement doctrine contends that Christ died for only the elect or in other words, believers whereas the “unlimited” or “universal” atonement contends that Christ died for “all” men, all-inclusive, without exception and thus “without racial, sexual or social distinction.”
This doctrine states that Jesus Christ died for every sin committed by every single member of the human race-past, present and future (John 1:29; Rom. 5:6-8; 1 Tim. 4:10; Titus 2:11; 1 John 2:2).
“The testimony given at the proper time” teaches that Jesus Christ’s voluntary, substitutionary spiritual and physical death on the cross for the entire human race testified to the Father’s desire for each member of the human race to be saved.
In 1 Timothy 2:7, the apostle Paul writes that the Lord appointed him as a herald as well as an apostle for the express purpose of proclaiming Christ’s redemptive on behalf of all mankind.
He makes an emphatic declaration of truthfulness that he was also appointed to be a teacher of the Gentiles by means of doctrine, which is truth.
1 Timothy 2:7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. (NASU)
“For this I was appointed” answers the question as to “why’ Paul was appointed as a preacher, apostle and teacher of the Gentiles.
“A preacher” is the term kerux, which speaks of Paul’s ministry in relation to the unsaved since didaskalos which is used exclusively by Paul in his writings of a gift given to the church (1 Corinthians 12:28, 29; Ephesians 4:11).
The noun kerux denotes that he was appointed by the Lord Jesus Christ as His messenger or envoy to proclaim the gospel to sinful humanity.
It denotes that Paul was simply a messenger of Jesus Christ who was his sovereign authority.
This term kerux also implies that Paul’s gospel message did not express his own views but that he was spokesman for his master, Jesus Christ.
It indicates that Paul was commissioned by the Lord to deliver the gospel message and nothing else.
It means that Paul stuck exactly to the words given to him by the Lord and the orders of his master, Jesus Christ.
The word also indicates that Paul was under the protection of the Lord Jesus Christ, his sovereign.
Indeed, any action taken against Paul would bring down the wrath of the Lord since Paul is under the Lord’s protection.
The term speaks of the fact that Paul was dedicated to the service of Jesus Christ.
“Apostle” is the noun apostolos, which refers to the temporary spiritual gift of apostleship that held maximum authority in the church.
“I am telling the truth, I am not lying” is an emphatic declaration of truthfulness by Paul emphasizing his faithfulness in fulfilling the responsibilities that the Lord gave him with respect to the church in contrast to the apostate pastors in Ephesus who were not faithful.
“As a teacher of the Gentiles” describes Paul’s ministry as that of educating Gentile believers through the Word of God as to the character and nature of the Lord and His ways and will.
“Faith” is the noun pistis, which is used in an objective sense referring to the content of what Paul taught the Gentile churches or in other words as a description of the gospel.
It would refer to the gospel from the perspective of a body of doctrine or that which is believed by the church.
“Truth” is the noun aletheia, which refers to the truth of God in an objective sense as a body of knowledge containing the revelation of God’s character and nature, His ways and His will for His children.
Thus, Paul is saying that he taught the Gentile churches, which he established by means of doctrine (that which the church believes), which is truth in contrast to certain pastors in Ephesus who were not doing so.
1 Timothy 2:8 Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension. (NASU)
1 Timothy 2:8 is the direct result of an inference from Paul’s statements in 1 Timothy 2:1-7, thus Paul is saying that based upon my statements in verses 1-7, I want you Ephesians to intercede in prayer in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.
“I want the men in every place to pray” expresses an apostolic order to the Ephesian men to intercede in prayer to the Father on behalf of the entire human race.
Paul addresses the men here and not the women since they are to lead the church (1 Timothy 1:12; 3:2, 5; 4:11-16; 5:17).
“Lifting up holy hands” speaks of the manner in which Paul wants the Ephesian men to carry his order to intercede in prayer for the entire human race.
It speaks in metaphorical terms that the Ephesian men were to be in fellowship by having no unconfessed sin in their stream of consciousness and bringing their thoughts into obedience to the Spirit.
It denotes that they are holy inwardly with respect to their souls and outwardly with respect to their conduct or actions and speaks of them experiencing sanctification.
If they are not in fellowship, their prayers will not be answered.
If their souls are filled with sinful thoughts or their actions are sinful, their prayers for the unsaved will not be heard until they confess their sins to the Father (1 John 1:9) and stay in fellowship by obedience to the Spirit who speaks to the believer through the communication of the Word of God.
Thus, he wants the Ephesian men to be filled with the Spirit and to be walking by the Spirit.
In other words, he wants their souls to be totally and completely influenced, guided and directed by the Holy Spirit and as a result their words and actions, i.e. their conduct.
“Without wrath and dissension” indicates that the Ephesian men were to intercede in prayer to the Father for the unsaved by lifting up holy hands dissociating themselves from the practice of such sins since this would hinder answer to prayer because these sins result in the loss of fellowship with God (Matthew 5:22-23; 1 Peter 3:7).