(7a) For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle…
Let’s get the context again. Paul’s giving Timothy the charge to govern the flock of God according to the Gospel. Part of that charge is that Timothy lead the Church to pray – even for people who were persecuting the Christians. And that’s because salvation is all by God’s grace accomplished in Jesus’ death. There’s no such thing as being ‘closer’ to salvation than somebody else – since it’s not earned in any sense at all.
And he’s just said that Jesus’ giving himself as a ransom – his bloody death – was the testimony that God rescues all believers in Christ without distinction based on past sins, or nationality, or family, or whatever.
And so he says that it was for that that he was appointed a preacher and an apostle. That’s why he says later in the verse that he’s a teacher of the Gentiles, which can be translated ‘nations’ – or all non-Jews.
So Paul proclaims this message. It’s interesting that he passively says that he ‘was appointed.’ The way he phrases it, though, he’s not drawing attention to himself – but the appointment – and thus, the Appointer.
Just as God moved decisively to save all types of people in the cross, so he moved decisively so that the nations would hear about it. He appointed Paul, former blasphemer, to carry the message to the nations.
And that’s why Paul calls himself here an ‘apostle.’ That literally means ‘one who’s sent,’ and it can carry the connotation of being sent by a church or an employer or a parent to go do something.
However, here, it is clear that the one doing the sending is God himself – Christ himself. See Chapter 1 verse 1.
God gave testimony of his salvation spreading to every corner of the earth in the cross, accomplished salvation perfectly in the cross, and caused this salvation to be taught throughout the world – beginning with a guy who used to hate God.
And we’re the happy recipients of all that God did – so that we, in the nations, could receive that good news.
(7b) (I am telling the truth, I am not lying)
Paul for some reason here felt like he had to draw special attention to the fact that he wasn’t lying. That probably means that there would be doubt as to whether or not he was telling the truth.
Perhaps some would doubt his authority and not want to submit to it.
Perhaps some would doubt whether God could be so good.
So far as I can tell, the closest parallel to this phraseology is in Romans 9:1 – in which Paul says something so utterly and gloriously crazy, that he feels the need to emphasize his truthfulness.
And what is more gloriously crazy to us than the Gospel? Christ died for sinners. That’s nuts, by any human standard- Paul, I think here, wants to emphasize the reality that that indeed is reality. His apostleship is real because Christ is real.
And sometimes, I think we doubt. And if we don’t doubt, we ignore. Because the Gospel truly is beyond our comprehension – beyond anything we ever would have invented.
In a sense, Paul’s apostleship and the message about Jesus are inseparable. Did he ever use his authority to his own advantage? No. He suffered for it. He only used it to further the proclamation of the message about the glory of Christ.
Here, he wants us to see that this message is real. That God is real. That salvation is real.
(7c) …a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
We’ve already looked at the fact that God made Paul a messenger of the good news about Jesus’ death to the Gentiles.
What does he mean ‘in faith and truth’?
Paul could mean that his teaching is ‘as I trust God and teach true things.’ Or, he could mean, ‘I teach faithfully and truthfully’. Or, he could mean he teaches the Gentiles about faith (our response to God) and truth (God’s revelation to us).
I suppose I’m really asking the question – is Paul here describing his manner of teaching, or the subjects of his teaching?
In other words, is he describing himself – or his teaching?
Ultimately, Paul is not the subject of these verses. God is. God has appointed him to teach good news. God desired to spread the news to the nations and so he appointed Paul to do it- and he appointed Paul to be faithful – and he appointed Paul to teach the truth – so that we, the nations, might receive the truth.
I’m not sure exactly what Paul is modifying by the prepositional phrase ‘in faith and truth.’ However, I do know this, that God appointed all of this so that we could hear and receive the truth – and so be saved. And that’s true. Here, Paul wants to emphasize that it’s real and true.
In sum,
1) God appointed Paul to spread the good news
2) This was always a part of God’s plan to save the nations
3) We need to pay careful attention to these truths, not doubting or being indifferent
4) All of this is true!
5) And all of this is grace – and such as it is, our response should be love to and prayers for those who hate us
Prayer:
Father, you’ve loved us so much in giving us the Bible – in giving us, specifically, Gentiles, Paul. And his example. You forgive sinners on the basis of the cross alone apart from works. And so you’ve forgiven me. Thank you!
I admit that often my heart and mind don’t line up with the facts you’ve given to us. I’m sorry. Cleanse me from such sin so that I might see and understand and worship your glory. And in worshiping you, cause me to see how great your love is, and so love others.
Because Jesus died in my place, I ask for these things – Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment