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1 Timothy 1:1
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1 Paul, [Paulos] an apostle [apostolos] of Jesus [Iesous] Christ [Christos] by [kata] the commandment [epitage] of God [theos] our [hemon] Saviour, [soter] and [kai] Lord [kurios] Jesus [Iesous] Christ, [Christos] which [ho] is our [hemon] hope; [elpis] KJV-Interlinear
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope; NASB
The writer of this letter is Paul. Paul means, little or small, and though it probably referred to his physical presence, it is also a reference to his spiritual humility. Revered by all Christians as perhaps the one who made the most contribution to the New Testament, he is probably second only to Isaiah as far as the entire Bible is concerned.
Paul is referred to by those who did not particularly like him, as demeaning and unimpressive as an individual, 2 Cor. 10:10.
Paul was born into a Jewish family, Phil. 3:5, was a Roman citizen, Acts 22:25-28, was born with the name of Saul which was changed to Paul, Acts. 13:9.
He was raised in traditional orthodox fashion, circumcised on the eighth day, born of the tribe of Benjamin, a Pharisee, Phil. 3:5, fanatical and devout in Judaism, excelled among his peers, Gal. 1:14, was exuberant even in his participation in the death of Stephen, Acts 8:1, and the persecution of Christians in general, Acts 8:3, 9:1-2, 26:9-11.
While traveling to Damascus, Paul was confronted by Christ and converted to Christianity, Acts 9. Paul spent three years in solitary preparation then returned to Damascus proclaiming the gospel of Christ. He was run out of town, so to speak, and went to Jerusalem, where he was hesitantly received because of his former reputation, Acts 9:22-25, 2 Cor. 11:32-33.
Through the efforts of Barnabas, Paul was accepted, and went to Antioch, where he became one of the pastors in the church there. It was from that ministry that Paul launched his ministry to the gentiles, and thereby came to meet Timothy in due course, Acts 22:14-15, 26:16-18.
Paul is called an apostle, which means messenger, or to send off on a commission to do something as one's personal representative with credentials furnished, an envoy, an ambassador.
Many in the New Testament were called apostles, both of the original twelve as well as others, Barnabas, Acts 14:14, Epaphroditus, Phil. 2:25, Andronicus and Junius, Rom. 16:7, and James, Gal 1:19.
In a more restrictive definition of the term, only the original eleven plus Matthias and later Paul, who were selected by Christ Himself, or who were witness to Jesus personally, came into possession of the title.
Command, ‘epitage,’ here is one of authority, non-negotiable. For it is by this command from God that the content which we are about to read, becomes non-negotiable and mandatory on all believers. This term gives the authority of God, to the words of Paul within the context of this letter.
The command came from the source of God, ‘theos,’ the highest authority in existence, and above God there is no other authority. And this command is linked through the Savior, Jesus Christ, who by this association, makes Him co-equal with God, and therefore God Himself, Matt. 11:27, John 5:17-18, 10:30, 17:1-5,11,21-22, Psa. 18:46, 25:5, 27:9, Mic. 7:7, Hab. 3:18.
God the Father, authored the Divine plan, which was carried out by the Son, Jesus Christ.
And by the way, this father, son relationship is not a generational relationship, but one of chain of command or access and is designed to thwart human effort in mans attempt to approach the Father directly through the source of mans sins. Therefore, man can only approach God through the work of Christ, not through his (mans) own work from arrogance. This is the single most critical principle which separates Christianity from all other religions, cults, philosophies, etc. Christianity is a relationship with God, through Christ.
Jesus Christ is therefore the basis of our hope for eternal life and a life with God in heaven. Without Christ, there is no hope, no future, nothing, Col. 1:27, 1 Jn. 3:2-3 and references in our current study 1 Tim. 1:11, 14-17, 2:3, 4:10.
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