After giving
instructions concerning those who supposed that “gain is
godliness” to Timothy who was Paul the apostle's young “son
in the faith” , Paul directed his words toward Timothy himself.
He told him to “fight the good fight of faith” and to “lay
hold on eternal life”. Paul knew and declared that Timothy was
“called, and had professed a good profession before many
witnesses.”, and in
chapter six and verse thirteen of his letter to Timothy, Paul issued
a “charge” to Timothy and shared concerning one with “a
good confession” where we read:
I give you
charge in the sight of God, who quickens all things,
The verse begins, “I
give you charge in the sight of God, who quickens all things,...”
Paul began
with the Greek phrase “paraggellō
soi paraggellō” which
interpreted is
“I give” or
“transmit a message along from one to another, to declare,
announce, to command and order” “you”
which is a reference to Timothy “a message from one to another,
declare, announce, command, and order”. In other words, I “charge
you” with a “charge”
“in the sight”
which means “before or in that place which is before, or over
against, opposite, any one and towards which another turns his eyes:”
“of God” which is
the “Godhead, trinity which consists of God the Father, God the
Holy Spirit and God the Holy Ghost”. Paul added, “who
quickens” or “produces, begets, causes,
makes and restores to life” “all things”
which refers to “each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone and
everything both individually and collectively”. It was and is God
Almighty through whom all living things exist, and it is before this
creator God Paul “charges”
Timothy with his “charge”.
The
verse continues, “...and before
Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;”
Not only
does Paul “charge”
Timothy “in the sight of God”,
but he added, “and before Christ”
or “in the sight of the anointed Messiah of the living God”
“Jesus”
which means “Jehovah is Salvation”. Paul continued with a
testimony of Jesus when he wrote, “who
before” or
“over, across from or against” “Pontius”
which means “of the sea” “Pilate”
or “armed with a spear”“and refers to “the
sixth Roman procurator of Judah who crucified Christ” “witnessed”
or “affirmed that one has seen or heard or experienced something,
or that he knows it because taught by divine revelation or
inspiration and gave a good testimony and report of”“a
good confession” which means “a
beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing,
precious, useful, suitable, commendable, admirable profession”.
Paul's “charge” to
Timothy was also before Jesus Christ who preceded both Paul and
Timothy in giving His “good confession”
before “Pontius Pilate”
the Roman procurator of Judah.
While we
meditate upon Paul's words, we should remember that we are in the
middle of Paul's “charge” which is completed in the next
verse. However, let us imagine ourselves being “charged”
before the same witnesses as Timothy. To think that we were being
challenged for anything before “God the Father” and “Jesus
Christ His Son” would be greatly intimidating. Yet, Paul knew
the seriousness of the “charge” he was about to outlay.
Let us allow ourselves to be as though we were before, (which we
actually are and sometimes forget), the throne of God with Jesus
sitting at His right hand and watching us. Do we have fear, awe,
respect and reverence before them? If we do, we understand how
important it is that we receive Paul's “charge” to Timothy
as our own, and may the Lord Jesus help us to know the gravity of
Paul's words.
Next
time Paul tells Timothy to “keep this commandment”, 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.
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