Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 39

Paul Instructs Timothy on being a Good Servant of our Lord Jesus Christ Part 3

1 Timothy 4:10-11 For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe. These things command and teach. KJV

Paul concludes this brief but well informative discourse to Brother Timothy concerning his being a good faithful servant to our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ with these powerful words that are true of every non-compromising, non-bending, or non-yielding Christian who will not succumb to the relentless pressure exerted by the devil upon them/us through the human instruments used by him to apostatize the visible church turning many of them into a mockery of what Christ true Church truly is, Paul writes this now to Timothy, "For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe." (1 Timothy 4:10) (Amplified Bible). When Paul writes here, 'for therefore we both labor and suffer reproach', first of all he is saying to this end or conclusion, that is, the end or conclusion of being a good faithful servant of Christ no matter what we do, these things speaking of himself and Timothy wanting to reassure him that he (Paul) has and is currently under the same pressure, problems, and persecution as Timothy because of both their stances for the truth of the Gospel of Christ.

The English word 'labor' Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word kopiaō which means to feel fatigue; by implication to work hard: - (bestow) labour, toil, be wearied. The little English phrase 'suffer reproach' used here by Paul is translated by the Greek word oneidezō which means to defame, that is, rail at, chide, taunt: - or disgrace. In other words, Paul declares to Timothy that both their lives (as faithful servants of Christ) have been and will continue to be marked by defamation, that is, abusive attacks on their character and  good name simply because of their stance for the truth of Christ being the One True and Only God and the acceptance and belief in the Gospel of Christ as the only way for sinful man to see heaven, for Paul spoke of his laboring and suffering for the truth of the Gospel of Grace with these words to the Colossian Church, "Him we preach {and} proclaim, warning {and} admonishing everyone and instructing everyone in all wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God), that we may present every person mature (full-grown, fully initiated, complete, and perfect) in Christ (the Anointed One). For this I labor [unto weariness], striving with all the superhuman energy which He so mightily enkindles {and} works within me." (Colossians 1:28-29) (Amplified Bible).

However, this railing and taunting, and shaming was not all that each of these men endured, for the Apostle Paul was literally stoned to death, beaten with rods, and imprisoned many times simply and only for preaching and proclaiming the Gospel everywhere he went, yet this was not a strange or foreign thing to Paul and he wanted young Timothy to be empowered, encouraged, and even energized by what he has witnessed Paul endure in order that he would always stand for the truth no matter what, remembering these words of our Lord Jesus when He said, "If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would treat you with affection {and} would love you as its own. But because you are not of the world [no longer one with it], but I have chosen (selected) you out of the world, the world hates (detests) you. Remember that I told you, A servant is not greater than his master [is not superior to him]. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word {and} obeyed My teachings, they will also keep {and} obey yours. But they will do all this to you [inflict all this suffering on you] because of [your bearing] My name {and} on My account, for they do not know {or} understand the One Who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin [would be blameless]; but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates Me also hates My Father." (John 15:18-23) (Amplified Bible). Here is what Matthew Henry had to say concerning suffering reproach, "Godly people must labor and expect reproach; they must do well, and yet expect at the same time to suffer ill: toil and trouble are to be expected by us in this world, not only as men, but as saints."

When Paul writes these words here to Timothy, 'because we trust in the living God', he means that their is no amount of shaming, threatening, or even physical violence that will dismay, demoralize, or discourage them/us from believing the truth of God and the truth of the Gospel, just as we remember the first disciples doing when they were threatened as documented for us by Dr. Luke, "But in order that it may not spread further among the people {and} the nation, let us warn {and} forbid them with a stern threat to speak any more to anyone in this name [or about this Person]. [So] they summoned them and imperatively instructed them not to converse in any way {or} teach at all in {or} about the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied to them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you {and} obey you rather than God, you must decide (judge). But we [ourselves] cannot help telling what we have seen and heard. Then when [the rulers and council members] had further threatened them, they let them go, not seeing how they could secure a conviction against them because of the people; for everybody was praising {and} glorifying God for what had occurred." (Acts 4:17-21) (Amplified Bible). The little English phrase 'we trust' is translated by the Greek word elpizō meaning to expect or confide: - have hope, trust.

The next little section of this verse has caused much confusion throughout many centuries and it has caused many to believe in the Universal Fatherhood of God to all men/women declaring that everyone will be saved or is already saved, it is these words, 'who is the Savior of all men'. Now the message Paul is here transmitting to Brother Timothy is not that God has saved all of humanity, for if that were the case then why would Paul have just written how much he labored and strived to declare the Gospel of Christ, for if God were already the Savior of all sinful men/women then Christ coming to the earth and dying on the Cross would have not been necessary, but it was and it remains the only way sinful men/women can ever be reconciled back to God. So, then what does Paul mean here with these words, 'who is the Savior of all men', he simply means that by virtue of Christ Incarnation and His living of a sinless life satisfying the perfection of God and His willingness to sacrifice His perfect sinless life (2 Corinthians 5:21) for humanities wicked sinful life by His death on the Cross (shedding His Blood) and then His resurrrection from the dead, God has provided a Sacrifice, a Savior for all men/women (John 3:16), but sinful men/women must believe the Gospel to receive the salvation that is on the table for all men/women, that is, only those that believe are actually saved and this belief is not just head belief, but a surrender and trusting in Jesus Christ as the only sacrifice for sin and as the only way to heaven (John 14:6). Paul then instructs Timothy with these words concerning all that he wrote earlier, "These things command and teach." (1 Timothy 4:11) (KJV). Here is what Adam Clarke had to say about this short and simple instruction to Timothy, "Let it be the sum and substance of thy preaching, that true religion is profitable for both worlds; that vice destroys both body and soul; that Christ tasted death for every man; and that He saves to the uttermost all them that believe in His name."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…