Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 18

Paul tells Timothy what Christ Jesus has called him to Be & Do

1 Timothy 2:7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an Apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. KJV

Immediately after Paul expounds, elaborates, or explains to Timothy the singularity, the unniqueness, the absolute one of a kind that is our God Jesus Christ, Paul turns to declare what God has made him now to be and called him now and for the rest of his earthly sojourning days to do with these words, "Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an Apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity." (1 Timothy 2:7) (KJV). The first English word Paul begins this verse with 'whereunto' is translated by the Greek word eis and it is a primary preposition meaning to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose. In other words, the former man Saul has now been changed and made into a new man Paul (2 Corinthians 5:17) with a completely and entirely different purpose and resolve in his earthly life and that being to declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ (the Gospel of Grace) to be the only way for sinful men and women to be made right with Almighty God, having all their sins forgiven (past sins, present sins, and future sins) and live eternally with Him in heaven.

The English word 'ordained' is translated by the Greek word tithēmi which means to place or to set in a position or to put into a position or more simply to appoint someone to a position. The English word 'preacher' is translated by the Greek word kerux meaning a herald, that is, of divine truth (especially of the Gospel): - preacher, that is, to herald (as a public crier), to proclaim or to publish. The English word 'apostle' is translated by the Greek word apostolos meaning a delegate; specifically an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ (“apostle”), (with miraculous powers): - apostle, messenger, he that is sent. In other words, the Apostle Paul was one that saw the Risen Christ in all His Majesty, Miraculousness, and Might. Paul also was commissioned, that is, given official approval by our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ to be an Apostle, to be a Preacher of the Gospel of Grace.

Paul himself wrote first to the Corinthian Church concerning his appointment or his assignment, "And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one prematurely {and} born dead [no better than an unperfected fetus among living men]. For I am the least [worthy] of the apostles, who am not fit {or} deserving to be called an apostle, because I once wronged {and} pursued {and} molested the Church of God [oppressing it with cruelty and violence]. But by the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not [found to be] for nothing (fruitless and without effect). In fact, I worked harder than all of them [the apostles], though it was not really I, but the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15:8-10) (Amplified Bible).

When Paul writes here these words, '(I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;)', he is once again asserting himself to be authentic, that is, one who is the complete opposite of the false apostles and deceitful workers who were going about prostituting the Word of God (2 Corinthians 2:17) for gain to enrich themselves at the expense of others without care or concern for their eternal welfare. The English word 'teacher' is translated by the Greek word didaskalos meaning an instructor (generally or specifically). The little English phrase 'of the Gentiles' is translated by the Greek word ethnos which means a race (as of the same habit), that is, a tribe; specifically a foreign (non-Jewish) one, that is, as we stated above it is all the people on the earth that are not Jews. When Paul says, 'in faith and verity', he means in 'The Faith' that is in Jesus Christ alone and the Gospel Truth which is only about our Lord Jesus Christ death, burial, and resurrection from the dead. In other words, the Apostle Paul had received a special and unique assignment form our Lord Jesus Christ that had not been given to any of the other Apostles at the time and that was to reveal this Gospel of Grace to the Gentile world in order that all men would have the opportunity to believe on Him and be eternally saved, that is, that this Gospel was not just for the Jew but also the Gentile.

It was to be proclaimed to the Jew first, but then Paul was saved and sanctified to now take the Gospel to the Gentile world just as he declared to the predominately Gentile Ephesian Church with these words, "[This mystery] was never disclosed to human beings in past generations as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles (consecrated messengers) and prophets by the [Holy] Spirit. [It is this:] that the Gentiles are now to be fellow heirs [with the Jews], members of the same body and joint partakers [sharing] in the same divine promise in Christ through [their acceptance of] the glad tidings (the Gospel). Of this [Gospel] I was made a minister according to the gift of God's free grace (undeserved favor) which was bestowed on me by the exercise (the working in all its effectiveness) of His power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints (God's consecrated people), this grace (favor, privilege) was granted {and} graciously entrusted: to proclaim to the Gentiles the unending (boundless, fathomless, incalculable, and exhaustless) riches of Christ [wealth which no human being could have searched out], Also to enlighten all men {and} make plain to them what is the plan [regarding the Gentiles and providing for the salvation of all men] of the mystery kept hidden through the ages {and} concealed until now in [the mind of] God Who created all things {by Christ Jesus.} [The purpose is] that through the Church the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety {and} innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the heavenly sphere." (Ephesians 3:5-10) (Amplified Bible).

"I am placed or constituted. The word 'ordain' has now acquired a technical signification, meaning to set apart solemnly to a sacred office by the imposition of hands; but it has not that meaning here. It does not refer to the manner in which he was set apart, or to any act of others in consecrating him to this work, but merely to the fact that he had been placed in this office, or appointed to it. He refers doubtless to the fact that the Lord Jesus had designated him to this work." Albert Barnes

"Or faith and truth. The combination only here. Paul has sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:8), and sanctification of the Spirit and faith of the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:13). The phrase must not be explained in true faith, nor faithfully and truly. It means that faith and truth are the element or sphere in which the Apostolic function is discharged: that he preaches with a sincere faith in the Gospel, and with a truthful representation of the Gospel which he believes." Vincent's Word Studies

"Paul was ordained a minister, to declare this to the Gentiles, that Christ is the one Mediator between God and men, who gave Himself a ransom for all. This is the substance of which all ministers are to preach, to the end of the world; and Paul magnified his office, as he was the Apostle of the Gentiles, Romans 11:13. Ministers must preach the truth, what they apprehend to be so, and they must believe it themselves; they are, like our Apostle, to preach in faith and verity, and they must also be faithful and trusty." Matthew Henry

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…