The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Timothy — Section 103

1.. work for others. It debare him from seeking gain by unworthy means. It may eall upon him to make liberal contributions from his income for benevolent objects. It 111&y brin<:! him into a position in which his health is injured. It may call upon him to give up all his goods, and even life itself. Yet it is true that it has the promise of this I 1fe. "Although Go~ h9:th not promi~ed to load the godly man with affluence of worldly thmfl:s; not to put b1m mto a splendid and pompous garb; not to dispense to him that which may serve for pampering the flesh or gratifying wanton fancy; not to exempt 1,im from all the inconveniences to which human nature and the worldly state are sub- ject; yet bath he promised to furnish him with whatever is needful or convenient for him, in due meRsure and season, the which he doth best understand. His care will not be wanting to feed us and clothe us comfortably, to protect us from evil, to prosper our good un<lertakings." He has promised that, if we seek first the kinudom of God all things that pertRin t.o this life shall be added thereto. With Christ, he has promised to give us ,'11 things. H~ has promised that all things will work together for good to those that love God. It 1s the godly who et.and in a right relation t-o this life. They put the right value upon it. They regard all that they receive as a gift from God, as what they are unworthy of, as what may be tRken away from them, as what they ought to be !IT"ateful for, RS what they are faithfully to use for God. (2) Its profitableness/or tlu life t-0 CO'IM. "And of that which is to come." If the godly man has the true enjoyment even of this life, t.o him especially belongs the life to come with its incom- parably greater blessings. He has the inheritance uncorruptible, undefiled, never-fading. He has an exceeding, even an eternal, weight of glory. He ha~ the beatific vision of God, the satisfaction of awaking with God's likeness. Formula of confirmation. " Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation." This calls attention to what has gone before as deserving of our best consideration. II L UPBEARING HOPE. "For to this end we labour and strive, because.we have our hope set 011 the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially or them that believe." With a view especially to the promised life to come, the apostle placed himself at worldly disadvantage. Instead of consulting his ease, he toiled. Instead or consulting his popularity, he suffered reproach, as the true reading is. Under this he was home up by hope, which was set, not on a dead idol which could do nothing, hut on the living God who could do all things for him. He who was able to fulfil his promise was also disposed. He is designated "the Saviour of all men." '!'here is a universality in hie benevolence. He willeth that all should be saved. And what he has .performed in Christ has been for all men. He has provided satisfaction for the sin of all men. He has entered into a covenant on behalf of all men. He has procured competent aids for all men. He has thus made all men salvabi"les, capable of salvation, and sal'llfJ'lldos, that should be saved, though all men are not in effect saved. "As he that freely offtirs a rich boon is no lees to be accounted a benefactor and liberal, although his gift be refused, than if it were accepted; as he that opens a prison is to be styled a deli,·erer, although the captive will not go forth; as he nhat ministers an effectual reroeuy, although the patit:nt will not use it, deserves the honour and thanks due to a physician; so iii God, in respect of what he haM performed for men and offered to them, t.o be worthily deemed and thankfully acknowledged Saviour, although not all men, yea, although not one man, should receive the designed benefit." Wl,ile this is trw·, he is the Saviour specially of them that believe. He is our Saviour before we bt:I ieve, but it is when we believe that we realize in our personal experience all that he is aud has done for us. It is by hoping in him as our Saviour, peculiarly, that we are boroe up under toils and reproe.ches.-R. F. Vera. 11-16.-Directwns to Timothy. I. DIBECTION FOUNDED 01'1 PRECEDING CON· TEX:T. "These things command an.d teach." What was enjoined on him he was to hold up before the commUiiity over which he presided at Ephesus. He was to command, or bold up before them, an authoritative standard of conduct. This was to be charac- teristically gvdliness; not a working on the mere human ground, but a bringing God into connection with the life, cherishing proper feelings towards him, and observing hiH rules. He was also to teach, or hold up belore them, revealed views of truth. While laying dowa faith as the eonditiou of llll.lvation. be was not t.o forget to set forth God aa the Saviour of all men. OR, IV, 1-16.] THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY. 93