Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 68

Paul Encourages Timothy to Continue in the True Gospel Part 3

1 Timothy 6:13-14 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: KJV

Paul wants Timothy to have in his mind and his understanding how very sure, secure, and sound his confession and profession of his faith in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ truly is now for him as he continues his sojourn on the earth and how it will be for all eternity when he is in heaven with all we saints before the Throne of God the Father by writing these words to him saying, "I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;" (1 Timothy 6:13) (KJV). The little English phrase 'I give thee charge' is translated by the Greek word paraggellō which means to transmit a message, that is, (by implication) to enjoin: - to give command or to declare. The little English phrase 'in the sight' is translated by the Greek word enōpion meaning in the face of (literally or figuratively): - before, in the presence (sight) of, to. In other words, Timothy had made his confession of faith in the sight of many earthly witnesses, but now the Apostle Paul wants to remind him that their is another witness much Greater than all of those on the earth who have witnessed his profession of faith and that is God the Father who sees all things and knows all things everywhere in His Creation, for He is Omniscient (Infinitely wise) and Omnipotent (Having unlimited power), knowing all who truly belong to Him (2 Timothy 2:19). He (God the Father) is The One who gives life to all things (physical life and spiritual life), therefore, He is The One who has given to Timothy his spiritual life 'in Christ' and this is what the Apostle means by 'who quickeneth all things'. This little English phrase 'who quickeneth' is translated by the Greek word zōopoieō meaning to (re-) vitalize (literally or figuratively): - make alive, give life, quicken, just as it is written by this same Apostle Paul to the Ephesian Church with these words, "And you [He made alive], when you were dead (slain) by [your] trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1) (Amplified Bible).

It was our Lord Jesus Christ that also made this good confession before He was about to be crucified in the presence of Pontius Pilate as it is written and recorded for us by the Apostle John, "So Pilate went back again into the judgment hall and called Jesus and asked Him, Are You the King of the Jews? Jesus replied, Are you saying this of yourself [on your own initiative], or have others told you about Me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Your [own] people {and} nation and their chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?Jesus answered, My kingdom (kingship, royal power) belongs not to this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My followers would have been fighting to keep Me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, My kingdom is not from here (this world); [it has no such origin or source]. Pilate said to Him, Then You are a King? Jesus answered, You say it! [You speak correctly!] For I am a King. [Certainly I am a King!] This is why I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the Truth. Everyone who is of the Truth [who is a friend of the Truth, who belongs to the Truth] hears {and} listens to My voice." (John 18:33-37) (Amplified Bible). Here is what Adam Clarke had to say about this verse, "God, who is the fountain of life, and who is the resurrection; and who will raise thee up at the last day to a life of ineffable glory, if thou be faithful unto death. And should thy life fall a sacrifice to the performance of thy duty, all will be safe; for thy life is hid with Christ in God, and when He who is thy life shall appear, then shalt thou also appear with Him in glory! Thy kingdom is not of this world; remember that this good confession was made by thy Master before Pilate. Keep disentangled from all earthly things, live to and for God, and all will be well."

The Apostle Paul wants Timothy to treasure and store up these words written to him and guard them from neglect and from loss, therefore, he writes this to him in the very next verse, "That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:" (1 Timothy 6:14) (KJV). The little English word 'keep' Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word tēreō meaning as used here to guard (from loss or injury, properly by keeping the eye upon. The English word 'commandment' is translated by the Greek word entolē which means as used here injunction, that is, an authoritative prescription: - commandment, precept. The little English phrase 'without spot' is translated by the Greek word aspilos meaning as used here unblemished (physically or morally): - without spot, unspotted. The English word 'unrebukeable' is translated by the Greek word anepilēptos meaning as used here (by implication) inculpable: - blameless, unrebukeable. In other words, Paul is calling on Brother Timothy to be vigilant in his adherence, that is, his faithfulness to the truth of the Gospel of Christ, the Gospel of Grace guarding it in his inner man free from moral corruption or compromise of it being free in his mind/soul that he has stayed true to the true Gospel during his entire pilgrimage on the earth marching to his heavenly home.

When Paul writes these words at the end of this verse, 'until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ', he means until the 2nd Coming of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ to the earth to do away with sin, time, the devil, the beast, the false prophet, and all human beings who did not love His 2nd Coming to the earth and remain clothed with their sin and not clothed with His righteousness, just as our Lord Jesus declared to the Jews with these words during His earthly ministry before His death on the Cross, "Therefore He said again to them, I am going away, and you will be looking for Me, and you will die in (under the curse of) your sin. Where I am going, it is not possible for you to come. At this the Jews began to ask among themselves, Will He kill Himself? Is that why He says, Where I am going, it is not possible for you to come? He said to them, You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world (of this earthly order); I am not of this world. That is why I told you that you will die in (under the curse of) your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He [Whom I claim to be--if you do not adhere to, trust in, and rely on Me], you will die in your sins." (John 8:21-24) (Amplified Bible). Here is what Matthew Henry had to say concerning this verse, "Keep it as long as thou live, till Christ come at death to give thee a discharge. Keep it with an eye to His Second Coming, when we must all give an account of the talents we have been entrusted with,' Luke 16:2. Observe, The Lord Jesus Christ will appear, and it will be a glorious appearing, not like His first appearing in the days of His humiliation. Ministers should have an eye to this appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ in all their ministrations, and, till His appearing, they are to keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable. Mentioning the appearing of Christ, as one that loved it, Paul loves to speak of it, and loves to speak of Him who shall then appear. The appearing of Christ is certain (He shall show it), but it is not for us to know the time and season of it, which the Father has kept in His own power: let this suffice us, that in time He will show it, in the time that He thinks fit for it."

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…