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Selected Verse: 1 Timothy 1:12 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| 1Ti 1:12 |
King James |
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
The honor done him in having the Gospel ministry committed to him suggests the digression to what he once was, no better (Ti1 1:13) than those lawless ones described above (Ti1 1:9-10), when the grace of our Lord (Ti1 1:14) visited him.
And--omitted in most (not all) of the oldest manuscripts.
I thank--Greek, "I have (that is, feel) gratitude."
enabled me--the same Greek verb as in Act 9:22, "Saul increased the more in strength." An undesigned coincidence between Paul and Luke, his companion. Enabled me, namely, for the ministry. "It is not in my own strength that I bring this doctrine to men, but as strengthened and nerved by Him who saved me" [THEODORET]. Man is by nature "without strength" (Rom 5:6). True conversion and calling confer power [BENGEL].
for that--the main ground of his "thanking Christ."
he counted me faithful--He foreordered and foresaw that I would be faithful to the trust committed to me. Paul's thanking God for this shows that the merit of his faithfulness was due solely to God's grace, not to his own natural strength (Co1 7:25). Faithfulness is the quality required in a steward (Co1 4:2).
putting me into--rather as in Th1 5:9, "appointing me (in His sovereign purposes of grace) unto the ministry" (Act 20:24). |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord - The mention of the gospel Ti1 1:11, and of the fact that it was committed to him, leads the apostle to express his gratitude to him who had called him to the work of preaching it. The Lord Jesus had called him when he was a blasphemer and a persecutor. He had constrained him to leave his career of persecution and blasphemy, and to consecrate himself to the defense and the propagation of the gospel. For all this, though it had required him to give up his favorite projects in life, and all the flattering schemes of ambition, he now felt that praise was due to the Redeemer. If there is anything for which a good man will be thankful, and should be thankful, it is that he has been so directed by the Spirit and providence of God as to be put into the ministry. It is indeed a work of toil, and of self-denial, and demanding many sacrifices of personal ease and comfort. It requires a man to give up his splendid prospects of worldly distinction, and of wealth and ease. It is often identified with want, and poverty, and neglect, and persecution. But it is an office so honorable, so excellent, so noble, and ennobling; it is attended with so many precious comforts here, and is so useful to the world, and it has such promises of blessedness and happiness in the world to come, that no matter what a man is required to give up in order to become a minister of the gospel, he should be thankful to Christ for putting him into the office. A minister, when he comes to die, feels that the highest favor which Heaven has conferred on him has been in turning his feet away from the paths of ambition, and the pursuits of ease or gain, and leading him to that holy work to which he has been enabled to consecrate his life.
Who hath enabled me - Who has given me ability or strength for this service. The apostle traced to the Lord Jesus the fact that he was in the ministry at all, and all the ability which he had to perform the duties of that holy office. It is not necessary here to suppose, as many have done, that he refers to miraculous power conferred on him, but he makes the acknowledgment which any faithful minister would do, that all the strength which he has to perform the duties of his office is derived from Christ; compare Joh 15:5 note; Co1 15:10 note.
For that he counted me faithful - This is equivalent to saying that he reposed confidence in me. It means that there was something in the character of Paul, and in his attachment to the Saviour, on which reliance could be placed, or that there was that which gave the assurance that he would be faithful. A sovereign, when he sends an ambassador to a foreign court, reposes confidence in him, and would not commission him unless he had reason to believe that he would be faithful. So it is in reference to all who are called by the Redeemer into the ministry. They are his ambassadors to a lost world. His putting them into the ministry is an act expressive of great confidence in them - for he commits to them great and important interests. Hence, learn:
(1) that no one ought to regard himself as called to the ministry who will not be "faithful" to his Master; and,
(2) that the office of the ministry is most honorable and responsible. Nowhere else are there so great interests entrusted to man. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Hath enabled (ἐνδυναμώσαντι)
An unclassical word, found in Paul and Acts. See Act 9:22; Phi 4:13. Three times in the Pastorals.
Counted (ἡγήσατο)
A common Pauline word.
Putting (θέμενος)
Better appointing. The participle defines counted me faithful. He counted me faithful in that he appointed, etc.
Into the ministry (εἰς διακονίαν)
Better, appointing me to his service. The conventional phrase "the ministry" gives a wrong impression. The term is general, covering every mode of service, either to God or to men. Διάκονοι ministers is used of the secular ruler, Rom 13:4. See also Co1 12:5; Co1 16:15; Co2 3:7, Co2 3:8; Eph 4:12, and on minister, Mat 20:26. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| I thank Christ, who hath enabled me, in that he accounted me faithful, having put me into the ministry - The meaning is, I thank him for putting me into the ministry, and enabling me to be faithful therein. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| I thank Christ - I feel myself under infinite obligation to Christ who hath strengthened me, ενδυναμωσαντι, who hath endued me with various miraculous gifts of his Holy Spirit, and put me into the ministry, διακονιαν, the deaconship, the service of mankind, by preaching the Gospel, for that he counted me - he knew that I would be, faithful to the charge that was delivered to me. |
24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.