Mr. D's Notes on I Timothy
Rev. Stanley L. Derickson Ph.D.
Copyright 2000

CHAPTER 11

A few years ago Faith and I traveled to California to be interviewed for a position in a Baptist church in a large city. My qualifications were adequate to the position, my doctrine was adequate to the beliefs of the church, my moral life was adequate to their standard. The pastor and one of the deacons were conducting the interview.

I believe it was the final question of the interview. The deacon settled into his chair with a very pensive look on his face and with slow and deliberate language asked me the following question. How do you view your efforts in this life and the reward that you expect in the next?

I was dumbfounded for an extended embarrassing moment. I could not really grasp his question, in light of the fact that I had never in my life thought about it. I looked at the floor, hummmmmmmmmeeeeedd for an extended time and finally honestly said, "I guess I've never thought about that before." He looked extremely puzzled.

Finally I began explaining to him of my feelings of my position before the Lord. I told him that when God reached down to touch my life, I felt that He owned me - that I would do anything that He requested of me. I had never done anything in my spiritual life to gain reward. I do because He did! He died on the cross for me - He paid the price that I might live - He made heaven a destination for me - why in the world would I worry about reward - if there are any it is only because He wants to do that for me.

To finish the story, though the ending does not relate to the passage - during the interview they had made it clear to me that they had someone in the organization that could handle the position without further expenditures. I told them that I would be glad to consider the position further, but that they already had the provision of God among them in my mind.

The two met for a time without my presence and they thanked us for driving out and spending time with them. They saw clearly that I was right in God's provision from their own group.

Please read I Timothy 2.5-7.

This text introduces us to many doctrines of the faith. I would just list a few for you and I don't mean this to be an exhaustive listing.

Unity of God
Mediatorship
Humanity of Christ
Deity of Christ
The Trinity
Man
Sin
Redemption
Salvation

Indeed, it is of interest that you can almost find within this text the ten major divisions of theology.

I. RECOURSE

As man without Christ we have no recourse. We are destined for the flames of hell. We have no choice, we have no option, we have no recourse. However, God has introduced one that is capable of giving us choice, giving us option, of giving us recourse. Christ Jesus allows us to have possibilities with God.

We continue on with the thoughts of verse four "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."

Verse five then comments on the one responsible for making verse four possible. "For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;"

One God speaks to the Father while mediator speaks of Jesus Christ His Son.

"One God" specifically identifies this as God the Father in heaven. He identifies Himself in Deut. 10.17 "For the LORD your God [is] God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:" Also see Psalm 136.2 "O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy [endureth] for ever. 3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy [endureth] for ever."

God knows that man has concocted many gods, but He also knows that He is God of all gods, no matter how powerful man makes his god, Almighty God is supreme in all ways.

One God declares the unity of God as well as the superiority of God. He is the one and only God that man must look to for salvation. He is the creator of all of mankind, and all of mankind is responsible to Him as their creator.

MacArthur mentions "One of the most fundamental teachings of Scripture is that there is one God (cf. Deut.4:35, 39; 6:4; Isa. 43:10; 44:6; 45:5-6, 21-22; 46:9; I Cor. 8:4,6). That runs counter to the pluralistic religiosity of our world, which rejects the concept of any exclusive religious truth. We are taught by the spirit of our age that the gods of the Christians, Jews, Moslems, Buddhists, and Hindus are to be charitably considered equally valid. If that were true, there would be many ways of salvation, and hence no need for evangelism. But since there is only one true God, then He is the One in whom all must believe to be saved." THE MACARTHUR NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARY I TIMOTHY; John MacArthur; Moody Press; Chicago; 1995; p 71.

I was reminded when reading this, of a letter that was sent by a Chicago ministerial group to the Southern Baptist Convention in 1999. The Southern Baptists were going to have a gathering in Chicago and during this gathering there was going to be some evangelism taking place.

The letter was to inform the Convention that the association was afraid their "we are saved - you are not saved" philosophy would cause problems within Chicago. They even went so far as to ask them to change their place of meeting. They indicated that evangelism might in fact incite hate crimes in the city.

They did not desire the division of the Gospel in their city! How sad that people calling themselves Christians do not want the gospel of Christ preached in their city.

On 1-7-00 Peter Jennings news a report was given that was very negative to the Southern Baptists. The Christian religion that wants all saved by their God is arrogant, was one comment.

The final thought was that the Baptists were proselytizing among the Jews and Muslims - this was made clear in a negative way.

They didn't mention that the Jews proselytize among Christians and Muslims nor that the Muslims are spending millions to reach the world - only that the Baptists were in error in their thinking.

The passage immediately introduces the need of man - the need to find some way to reach the Father - the gap that many speak of in evangelism. God and man are separated until some common ground is found to bring them together. Thus there is need of a mediator.

A Mediator is one which referees - acts between two parties in hope of reconciliation. Today we have in our court, labor, and insurance systems what we call arbitrators. The arbitrator brings the two sides together to see what can be done to resolve the differences.

You might remember in the book of Job - this was one of Job's desires - that a mediator be found to defend him.

Thayer mentions of the term "one who intervenes between two, either in order to make or restore peace and friendship, or form a compact, or for ratifying a covenant."

One of the questions that usually arises from this passage is, if we have Jesus Christ to reconcile us to God why bother trying to go through Mary, saints, angels or whatever as others do to get to God. If God sent His Son to be our go-between why would we seek others? This seems to me to be illogical.

I might introduce you to a new doctrine that is coming down the pike. The Roman church has for years mentioned that Mary is the mother of God. They now are taking this a step further. When the angel announced the coming child Jesus, she had the option of saying no - this is their interpretation - and because she said yes, she becomes the "co-redemtrix" of mankind. Had she said no, God's salvation plan could not have come to pass, thus she is just as much the savior of man as Christ.

The fact of the verse is that there is one God and one Mediator. No need for any other God, and no need for any other mediator. Indeed, this verse should give the theologian espousing the above doctrine a bit of a problem! ONE MEDIATOR, not two!

1:1-2 show Christ directly linked to God but not linked to man. Here we have a direct statement of His manhood.

"man Christ Jesus" This is a general term for an individual man or can be used of mankind. In fact within this verse we see both usages. "Men" is used as mankind, while man is used of Christ.

Not only is Jesus Christ God, but He is man! We won't take time to study the doctrine of the God-man, but let it suffice to say that Christ was just as much God as if He had never been man, and just as much man as if He had never been God.

II. RANSOM

2:6 "Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."

"Who" - (v5) Jesus

In John 10:18 Christ states that He laid down His life, no one took it. He gave Himself a ransom for all of mankind. This is how He became the mediator of v5. (Christ speaking of his life said "No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.")

"for all" Not just for the elect, but for all sinners - for all of mankind, even those that reject Him completely. This gives equal footing for praying for all mankind in the previous passage! Pray for ALL man because God wills that ALL be saved, and has provided a ransom for ALL men!

Not only His life, but Himself -- everything He was--life, thoughts, hopes and dreams.

Some suggest that He died for only the elect. This is untrue and a slight to the work of Christ, and the abilities of almighty God to accomplish that which He has purposed!

It is suggested in my mind that Christ did all that was required to bring all of mankind - every single one - to complete restoration to God. Their sin problems are totally taken care of in Christ's work - all they have to do is accept that work. This leaves them to stand before God only for rejecting the Christ that could have and would have saved them. I have not seen many authors that present this to their reader - in fact I have only seen one. I think many fear being labeled a universalist.

MacArthur quotes a man that agrees with my thought, but I am not sure MacArthur actually understood what the man meant. He quotes William G. T. Shedd ""The atonement is sufficient in value to expiate the sin of all men indiscriminately; and this fact should be stated because it is a fact. There are no claims of justice not yet satisfied; there is no sin of man for which an infinite atonement has not been provided....Therefore the call to 'come' is universal." (DOGMATIC THEOLOGY [reprint; Nashvile: Thomas Nelson, 1980], 2:482) THE MACARTHUR NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARY I TIMOTHY; John MacArthur; Moody Press; Chicago; 1995; p 72

The reason I question MacArthur fully understanding Shedd is that he states the following, "Christ's death was sufficient to cover the sins of all people...." Sufficient in my mind indicates there was enough there to cover all but that not all accepted, thus some were not covered.

The price was paid for everyone, but each soul through the centuries has had to pick up the merchandise. We must individually appropriate this salvation. Just because we're in a so-called Christian nation or in a Christian home, it does not mean we're automatically saved. We have to accept our salvation.

Ransom according to Thayer is "what is given in exchange for another as the price of his redemption, ransom." The term used indicates more than just the payment of a ransom, but indicates the substitution of someone else for the penalty - Christ gave Himself in our place on the cross. Christ was a substitute for our life on the cross.

He mentioned this concept himself as recorded by Matthew in 20:28 "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

He ransomed us he redeemed us, he purchased us - how do we relate to that concept as we live our lives? Do we live as if we are His, do we act as if we are His, do we treat others as if we are His - His in the sense of being totally His - at His total disposal - not at all at our own disposal?

"Due time" according to Thayer is "pertaining to one's self, one's own, belonging to one's self." This indicates that in due time relates to Christ's own timing of his ransom. The time of the cross was not an accident, it was a part of the overall plan of salvation. Not a month early or late, not a day early or late, not an hour early or late, not a minute early or late, not a moment early or late - right on time according to His plan.

I had a professor in a Life of Christ class that took an hour to develop the thought of Christ coming at the specific point in history when it was most opportune. All things in the culture were perfect for the coming of the Lord. He went into the detail of the government, of the tremendous road building of the Romans and the easy spread of the Gospel to the world etc. He tied this with Gal. 4.4-5 "But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons."

What does "to be testified in due time" mean? Was this due time relating to Paul and his witness to the world? I would think this would be the thought, though there is certainly an application to us as we continue that ministry which Paul started. Christ picked His time to die, His time to begin the establishment of the church, and His time to begin His work with the gentiles.

The prime job of the pastor is tied into these verses. The job is winning souls for God. This is done in many ways by the pastor. Not only personally through preaching, counseling and witnessing but by teaching others to teach and witness of God's grace and salvation.

These verses also contain our own admonition as well as the pastors! We are all to be testifying of the Lord's grace in our lives and encouraging others to come to know the Lord.

We needed recourse, Christ gave Himself a ransom and now God desires a response.

III. RESPONSE

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."

The verse seems to relate to this whole concept of the past verses of the Gospel and importance of Christ.

"A preacher" is described as "a herald or messenger vested with public authority, who conveyed the official messages of kings, magistrates, princes, military commanders, or who gave a public summons or demand, and performed various other duties. In the NT God's ambassador, and the herald or proclaimer of the divine word." by Thayer.

"a teacher of the Gentiles" Paul always went to the Jews first in every town, and then when they rejected him he went to the Gentiles and most of the time was accepted.

This is also a clear declaration that God is interested in ALL mankind, not just the Jewish people. It is also clear that the Mediator was for ALL of mankind not just the Jewish people. It is also clear that prayers for all men was for ALL men, not just the Jewish community.

"For this I am" declares clearly that Paul's purpose in life was the declaration of the Gospel. The clear message of his life was the saving grace of Jesus Christ's death on the cross for the sin of all mankind.

"in faith and verity" Verity is the same Greek word translated truth earlier in the verse. The double usage of the word in such short a time would indicate emphasis. One must wonder what kind of stories were circulating about Paul that would move him to defend his trustworthiness so.

Paul declares his innocence of the problem of a lie elsewhere as well. Rom. 9:1 "I say the truth in Christ, I lie not...." See also II Cor. 11:31 "The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not."

Wow! What a mouthful of praise for God in this verse, and Paul calls it all up to support the fact that he is not lying to the reader!

This is an added emphasis to his authority as many false teachers had probably been attacking Paul's authority. Imagine his frustration of trying to prove himself correct. It has crossed my mind that Hymenaeus and Alexander of Chapter one may have been questioning Paul's teaching and that this may be why he was so emphatic on his authority and position.

Paul uses the phrase "lie not." A very brief phrase, but what an admonition. Honesty must be the standard. One lie and the reputation is that of a liar. This is not a proper pastoral reputation nor is it a proper Christian reputation.

I recently was given a website address of a man in California that was offering a CDROM with free Bible software and some books. The price was right - only 7.95 shipping - so I sent for one. I also posted the address on a couple of boards and informed some friends. I finally after several months received the cd and put it in the computer. The Bible software was not really Bible software. The software was a library program with a Bible text in it. You can search the Bible text but there were none of the helps and information that is always included in "Bible Software." The software that he included on the cd can be downloaded for free thus he was not offering anything of real value when he offered the Bible software.

One of my friends confronted the man by email and he denied that he had misled anyone. My friend emailed back exactly how he had mislead, and he again denied it.

This is a man that is in one of our major evangelical seminaries - this is how he is putting himself through seminary!

The minister of God should not lie. The Christian should not lie. John 8.44 might be of interest to you along this line of thought also. "Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."

"If the basis for prayer is the sacrifical work of Jesus Christ on the cross, then prayer is a most important activity in a church. Not to pray is to slight the cross! To pray only for ourselves is to deny the worldwide outreach of the cross. To ignore lost souls is to ignore the cross." "We pray for "all" because Christ died for "all" and it is God's will that "all" be saved. We must give ourselves to God to be a part of His worldwide program to reach people before it is too late." THE BIBLE EXPOSITION COMMENTARY; Warren Wiersbe; Victor Books; Wheaton; 1989; p 216.

Now I wouldn't want to put this passage on a level with the field of literature, but isn't this what the three Musketeers were all about? Their motto was one for all and all for one. Now I think the passage has a different slant than the Musketeers had, but the phrase fits well without text. One for all - the One God died for all that all might serve the One!

I trust that you will consider just what God's request might be of you in this area of being a ransomed soul owing its life to another. You are His. Not open for discussion, not open for rationalization, and not open for choice. He has every right to every breath you take, He has every right to every dollar you have, He has every right to every moment of time you have.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO USE YOUR BREATH, YOUR DOLLARS, YOUR TIME?