1 Timothy 1 1

1 Timothy 1:1 kjv

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;

1 Timothy 1:1 nkjv

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,

1 Timothy 1:1 niv

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

1 Timothy 1:1 esv

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

1 Timothy 1:1 nlt

This letter is from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, appointed by the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus, who gives us hope.

1 Timothy 1 verses

1 Timothy 1 1 Meaning

1 Timothy 1:1 serves as a foundational declaration of apostolic authority and the divine source of Christian ministry. Paul, a chosen messenger, establishes his identity not by self-proclamation but by the explicit command of God, who is identified as the ultimate source of salvation, and of Christ Jesus, who embodies the eschatological hope for believers. This greeting firmly grounds the subsequent pastoral instructions in divine mandate and profound theological truths concerning the triune God's saving work and future promise.

1 Timothy 1 1 Context

First Timothy, like Titus and 2 Timothy, is a "pastoral epistle," addressed by Paul primarily to Timothy, a beloved disciple and fellow laborer. This initial verse serves as the customary Pauline epistolary greeting, but its theological weight is significant given the challenges Timothy faced in Ephesus. The broader context of 1 Timothy immediately dives into confronting false teachings and practices that were disrupting the church in Ephesus (1 Tim 1:3-7). By firmly establishing his apostleship as being by "the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope," Paul provides the foundational authority necessary to combat the erroneous doctrines and to set in order the governance and practice of the church, issues that dominate the rest of the letter. Historically, Ephesus was a significant city with diverse religious and philosophical currents, and the burgeoning Christian community there was susceptible to syncretistic ideas and unsound theological interpretations. Paul's authoritative and deeply theological opening served to remind Timothy and the church of the pure, divine source of their faith and the apostolic authority guiding them.

1 Timothy 1 1 Word analysis

• Paul (Παῦλος - Paulos): The self-identification immediately establishes the author. Though his birth name was Saul, he embraced "Paul," likely derived from a Latin cognomen meaning "small" or "humble," potentially symbolizing his humble service despite his grand apostolic calling, or simply his Roman citizenship. This name carries the weight of his transformative conversion from persecutor to proclaimer of Christ.

• an apostle (ἀπόστολος - apostolos): This term signifies "one sent forth with authority," an envoy or delegate. In the New Testament, it denotes a unique office given by Christ Himself (directly or indirectly by the Father through Christ), conferring foundational authority in teaching and church planting. Paul's insistence on this title (as in Gal 1:1-12) emphasizes that his message and ministry are not human inventions but a divine commission.

• of Christ Jesus (Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ - Christou Iesou): The genitive "of" indicates source or belonging. Paul's apostleship originates from Christ Jesus and serves His purpose. "Christ" (Χριστός - Christos) means "Anointed One" (the Greek equivalent of Hebrew Messiah), emphasizing Jesus' role as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. "Jesus" (Ἰησοῦς - Iesous) is the Greek form of the Hebrew "Joshua" (ישוע - Yeshua), meaning "Yahweh saves," indicating His saving mission (Matt 1:21).

• by the command (κατ’ ἐπιταγὴν - kat' epitagēn): This phrase is emphatic, stressing a divine injunction, an order or mandate, rather than a mere selection or agreement. It underscores the divine authority and necessity of his commission, leaving no room for human will or preference in his call to apostleship. This phrase uniquely appears in Paul's writings for his apostleship here and in Titus 1:3.

• of God our Savior (Θεοῦ Σωτῆρος ἡμῶν - Theou Sōtēros hēmōn): This designation highlights God the Father as the ultimate source of salvation. While salvation is wrought through Jesus Christ, the initiative and plan originate with God the Father. In Hellenistic literature, "Savior" was often applied to deities or rulers. Here, it reclaims that title for the one true God, setting Him apart. The "our" makes it personal to believers.

• and of Christ Jesus our hope (καὶ Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ τῆς ἐλπίδος ἡμῶν - kai Christou Iēsou tēs elpidos hēmōn): This parallel construction shows Christ Jesus as co-equal with God the Father in the command concerning Paul's apostleship, signifying His divine status. More importantly, Christ Jesus is the living embodiment and object of Christian hope (ἐλπίς - elpis). This "hope" is not a mere wish but a confident expectation and assurance of future salvation, resurrection, and eternal glory based on Christ's past work and future return (Titus 2:13, Col 1:27). This phrase uniquely presents hope as a person.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus": This common Pauline self-identification asserts his God-given authority for the message he is about to convey. It is a cornerstone of his apostolic defense and validates his teachings throughout his epistles.
  • "by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope": This full phrase is profoundly significant. It directly attributes Paul's apostolic calling to both God the Father and Christ Jesus, implicitly aligning their wills and demonstrating their co-working in salvation and commission. The pairing of "God our Savior" and "Christ Jesus our hope" concisely summarizes the central tenets of Christian theology: God's past and present saving action and Christ's future fulfillment of salvation. This formulation not only establishes Paul's authority but also the ultimate source and object of Christian faith.

1 Timothy 1 1 Bonus section

• The structure of 1 Timothy 1:1, listing both "God our Savior" and "Christ Jesus our hope" as sources of Paul's "command," provides early hints of the triune nature of God, implicitly demonstrating the unified will and operation of the Father and the Son in the divine economy of salvation and calling, setting a foundational theological understanding before diving into specific instructions.
• The title "God our Savior" in 1 Timothy is distinct and specific within Paul's corpus. It links God's character directly to the very purpose of His revelation through Christ, anticipating later passages in the pastoral epistles that emphasize salvation by grace and the transformative power of the gospel (e.g., Titus 2:11-14).
• The use of "our hope" as a person, Christ Jesus, instead of an abstract concept, underscores the intensely personal and relational nature of Christian faith. Hope is not placed in a creed or a future event in isolation, but in the living Christ who guarantees that future. This provides a steadfast anchor for faith in turbulent times, precisely what Timothy needed when confronting internal challenges.

1 Timothy 1 1 Commentary

1 Timothy 1:1 begins a letter from the apostle Paul to his spiritual son, Timothy, grounding Paul's authority in a divine, two-fold commission: from God as the ultimate "Savior" and from Christ Jesus as the very object of "our hope." This isn't merely a polite salutation but a declaration of the absolute authority behind Paul's words. He doesn't merely present advice, but God's authoritative truth to counter false teachings infiltrating the Ephesian church. By presenting God as the "Savior," Paul emphasizes the redemptive nature of the divine plan, contrasting it with humanistic philosophies or legalistic endeavors that might obscure the gracious act of salvation. Furthermore, identifying Christ Jesus as "our hope" points to the eschatological and personal nature of Christian expectation, ensuring that faith is rooted not in fleeting ideals but in the person of the risen Christ. This foundational verse sets the tone for the entire letter, providing a theological compass for navigating practical issues of church leadership, doctrine, and conduct, always pointing back to the character and purpose of the God who saves and the Christ who embodies our certain future.