Bible Studies

Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 7

by Clifford Tate 
02/24/18
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Paul Gives Glory to God for His Grace Part 1

1 Timothy 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; KJV

You would think that immediately after Paul makes a list of offenses, that is, of sins that are against the Holiness of God the Father that he would begin to instruct Timothy or to lecture him on what he must do and how he must do it to keep these sins from entering into the Church of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, but instead the Apostle right away contemplates or reflects upon the grace of God to himself and gives Him thanks for it as he writes these words to Brother Timothy, "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;" (1 Timothy 1:12) (KJV). The Apostle Paul didn't see himself as someone special that our Lord Jesus Christ was fortunate to have in His Body, nor did he think of himself as better or greater than other sinners. Paul was humbled by the goodness, graciousness, and the grace of God that was granted to him a vile sinner. The little English phrase 'who hath enabled' is translated by one Greek word endunamoō which means to empower: - enable, to increase one in strength, be made strong.

In other words, Paul was not some super human being even though he had the intellect of someone having multiple PhD's. Paul was just a vile, vicious, and vulgar sinner just as everyone born into the human family is and he needed to have God (Jesus Christ our Lord) to reveal Himself to him just as every sinner on the earth does, for this is what Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church concerning just this, "Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking under the power {and} influence of the [Holy] Spirit of God can [ever] say, Jesus be cursed! And no one can [really] say, Jesus is [my] Lord, except by {and} under the power {and} influence of the Holy Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:3) (Amplified Bible). Paul was just as spiritually blind as any other sinner without Christ even though he was among the religious Jewish Rulers serving as a high ranking member of the Sanhedrin which was the supreme judicial and ecclesiastical council of ancient Jerusalem, yet Paul and every other Sanhedrin member was nothing but a lost sinner in the sight of God the Father whom they supposed themselves to be worshipping.

The Apostle Paul writes here to Brother Timothy that our Lord Jesus Christ Himself counted him faithful and the little English phrase 'he counted' that Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word hēgeomai which means to lead, that is, command (with official authority); figuratively to deem, that is, consider: - account, esteem, judge, suppose, think. In other words, Paul had been not only saved by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, but then He considered and esteemed Paul to be someone He (Christ) could trust with the task of expositing His Holy Word faithfully and without skewing it or softening it to be palatable, that is, acceptable to the sinful mind of humanity. Christ Jesus our Lord counted, considered, and commanded Paul to go forth and clarify the meaning of His Holy Word and the Gospel of Grace without compromise or without bending on the truth to gain popularity, position, or profit, just as Paul said to the Corinthian Church when he wrote these words of his own opinion and advice to them on marriage, "Now concerning the virgins (the marriageable maidens) I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion {and} advice as one who by the Lord's mercy is rendered trustworthy {and} faithful." (1 Corinthians 7:25) (Amplified Bible).

When Paul writes to Timothy the words, 'putting me into the ministry', he is simply saying that it was our Lord Jesus Christ Himself that appointed him into the service (for Him, for Christ) that he was then presently fulfilling by what he was doing and where he was going, just as our Lord Jesus said to Brother Ananias with these words, "But the Lord said to him, Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of Mine to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the descendants of Israel;" (Acts 9:15) (Amplified Bible) and likewise the Apostle Paul affirmed and confirmed this with these words he wrote to the Ephesian Elders shortly before his execution in Rome when he said, "And now, you see, I am going to Jerusalem, bound by the [Holy] Spirit {and} obligated {and} compelled by the [convictions of my own] spirit, not knowing what will befall me there--Except that the Holy Spirit clearly {and} emphatically affirms to me in city after city that imprisonment and suffering await me. But {none of these things move me;} neither do I esteem my life dear to myself, if only I may finish my course {with joy} and the ministry which I have obtained from [which was entrusted to me by] the Lord Jesus, faithfully to attest to the good news (Gospel) of God's grace (His unmerited favor, spiritual blessing, and mercy)." (Acts 20:22-24) (Amplified Bible).

"The Apostle breaks off into expressions of heartfelt thanks to God for the abounding grace which had overcome his former obstinacy and blindness. Only his ignorance could palliate his outrage and insult toward Christ, who was now the beloved object of his entire surrender." F. B. Meyer

"I feel myself under infinite obligation to Christ who hath strengthened me, who hath endued me with various miraculous gifts of His Holy Spirit, and put me into the ministry, 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." Adam Clarke

"Ministers, properly speaking, cannot make themselves ministers; for it is Christ's work, as King and Head, Prophet and Teacher, of His Church. Those whom He puts into the ministry He fits for it; whom He calls He qualifies. Those ministers who are no way fit for their work, nor have ability for it, are not of Christ's putting into the ministry, though there are different qualifications as to gifts and graces. Christ gives not only ability, but fidelity, to those whom He puts into the ministry: He counted me faithful; and none are counted faithful but those whom He makes so. Christ's ministers are trusty servants, and they ought to be so, having so great a trust committed to them. A call to the ministry is a great favour, for which those who are so called ought to give thanks to Jesus Christ: I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath put me into the ministry." Matthew Henry

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…