Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

1 Timothy 4:10

Rec. text inserts καὶ before κοπιῶμεν with GKL; om. אACD2P and Vss.

ἀγωνιζόμεθα. So א*ACGK; ὀνειδιζόμεθα is read by אcD2LP and Vss. It is possible that ἀγωνιζόμεθα may be a correction suggested by Colossians 1:29; and Westcott and Hort give ὀνειδιζόμεθα a place in their margin.

ἠλπίκαμεν. So nearly all MSS.; but Westcott and Hort give a place in their margin to the aorist ἠλπίσαμεν, which is found in D2* 17. See note in loc.

10. εἰς τοῦτο γὰρ κ.τ.λ. The whole verse is explanatory of the motive and the aim of the γυμνασία or discipline of the body, as of all earthly struggle.

κοπιῶμεν. κόπος means ‘wearying fatigue,’ and κοπιάω ordinarily means ‘to be weary of.’ The word carries special allusion here to the training for athletic contests, a sense which it frequently bears, as e.g. at Philippians 2:16. It is used in Romans 16:6; Romans 16:12; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Galatians 4:11 of the daily work of an Apostle. The reading ἀγενιζόμεθα (see crit. note) is better supported than ὀνειδιζόμεθα of the received text; cp. Colossians 1:29 εἰς ὃ καὶ κοπιῶ�, and also [2 Clem.] § 7 οὐ πάντες στεφανοῦνται, εἰ μὴ οἱ πολλὰ κοπιάσαντες καὶ καλῶς�.

ἠλπίκαμεν. The perfect marks the continued ἐλπίς of the believer; we have set our hope. Cp. 1 Timothy 6:17 where ἐλπίζειν is again followed by ἐπί, with the dative, the preposition marking the ground of the hope (cp. Romans 15:12). See Hort on 1 Peter 1:13. For θεῷ ζῶντι see on 1 Timothy 3:15.

σωτὴρ πάντων�. See note on 1 Timothy 1:1; the phrase is found in Wis 16:7, διὰ σέ, τὸν πάντων σωτῆρα.

μάλιστα πιστῶν. μάλιστα is used just as at Galatians 6:10; Philippians 4:22, i.e. especially. There is, then, a special sense in which God is the Saviour of those who believe, as distinct from all men; it is only in those who believe that the Divine intention that all men should be saved (1 Timothy 2:4) can be completely fulfilled. For the same thoughts stated in the reverse order, see 1 John 2:2.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

1 Timothy 4:10

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