1 Timothy 1:12

Faithful Ministry. Timothy is further reminded of St Paul's own Calling and Commission

12. This strong feeling quite accounts for the abruptness with which once again (after many other utterances of his own religious experiences) he claims -all the mercy" and acknowledges -all the sin," and offers -all the service." We must omit -and," reading with R.V. I thank him that enabled me, even Christ Jesus our Lord.

The whole paragraph which follows is the drawing out of all that came into his mind as he wrote the Gospel entrusted to me. The egoat the end of the verse, so emphatic, is ample connexion, especially when the first word of the new sentence is -Thanks": -To me even to me; Jesus Christ be praised; He gave me pardon, He gave me work, He gave me strength."

At the same time this statement of his own case is well fitted to carry on the two thoughts that have been in his mind, (1) the encouragement of Timothy to faithful ministry, (2) the saving and cheering power of the true doctrine compared with the condemning, despairing character of the law.

who hath enabled me The aorist tense has the balance of authority here, and refers to the strength given, with and at the time of the commission. I thank him that enabled me, rather than -hath enabled me."

faithful i.e. after the time of preparation that followed his Conversion, the years of retirement in Arabia and at Tarsus, a.d. 36 44, he was judged to be -trusty," -trustworthy"; Barnabas -brought him to Antioch" to be a -prophet and teacher," Acts 11:26; Acts 13:1, and then the Holy Spirit of Jesus said, -Separate me Saul and Barnabas for the work whereunto I have called them," Acts 13:2.

puttingme into the ministry Better appointing me for service. The present participle in English gives the exact force of the aorist here. -He shewed that He counted me faithful by giving me work."

As to diakonia, -ministering," -service," -ministration," -ministry," are used by R.V. in different places; the other passage where -service" is used being Hebrews 1:14, -ministering spirits sent forth to do servicefor the sake of them that shall inherit salvation." We may at any rate say that the noun could not have had, if we go by N. T. usage, so soon the formal meaning - the ministry," whatever definiteness the word diakonos, -minister, deacon," may have now obtained; see note, 1 Timothy 3:1; Int. pp. 15, 16, 18; App. C.