Preacher, Apostle and Teacher 1 Timothy 2:7

Paul declared to Timothy his “son in the faith” “there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” and Jesus “gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” At the exact appointed time, Jesus came and gave His life on the cross which paid our ransom from the bondage or “kidnapping” of sin. In chapter two and verse seven of his letter to Timothy, Paul shares how he was “ordained a preacher” “apostle” and “a teacher” where we read:

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 begins, “Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle,...” The word “Whereunto” means “into or towards” “I am ordained” or “set, put, placed, fixed or established” “a preacher” which refers to “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.” “A preacher” is known as “God's ambassador and the herald or proclaimer of the divine word.” Paul went on to add, “and an apostle”. The word “apostle” is “apostolos” and means “a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders”. It refers to ones who were “sent out ones” with specific directions and itinerary. Paul was not only established as “a herald and proclaimer” of the gospel of Jesus Christ, but he was also as “one sent out” with a specific mission to share it.

The verse goes on to say, “...(I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.” As though he needed to address his next statement with a qualifying one, Paul wrote parenthetically, “I speak” or “say, affirm, maintain and teach” “the truth” or “what is true and with candor of mind which is free from affection, pretense, simulation, falsehood or deceit” “in Christ” which refers to “the anointed Messiah and Son of God”. As a further declaration of his telling the truth, Paul wrote, “and lie not” which means “to not speak deliberate falsehoods and deceptions”. Paul then stated what he was telling the truth about, “a teacher” or “instructor and guide specifically to those things which pertain to God and the duties of man” “of the Gentiles” who were “people, tribes and nations who were not Jewish” “in faith” or “conviction of the truth of anything and belief;” “and verity” which means “what is true both objectively and subjectively in things appertaining to God and the duties of man.” It is “moral and religious truth”. Paul was commissioned as an instructor and guide to the Gentile people and nations, and it was Jesus Christ who gave him this authority.

While we consider Paul's words, let us wonder to what or to whom the Lord Jesus has commissioned us. Paul was made to be a “preacher, apostle and teacher”, and we are certainly glad he was, but what does the Lord have in mind for us as we live in this world? Are we as ones who are “sent out” with the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ? Are we to be “teachers” of others who do not know the ways of God and the duties of men? One thing is certain, we are to be those who act “in faith and verity”, and whatever the Lord calls us to be and do, let us be sure we hold true to “conviction of the truth both objectively and subjectively” in our lives.

Next time Paul tells men everywhere to pray, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.