Being Faithful To Our Appointment (1:12-20)
Neal Pollard
Having laid out for Timothy the who, what, and why of teaching God’s Word, Paul turns more personal. He makes it clear that one does not have to have a spotless past or even be free of present struggle to be useful to God. One does have to be “faithful” (12). The word “faithful” means “being worthy of belief or trust; trustworthy” (BDAG, 820). What does Paul say is involved in that?
Being faithful means serving (12). The word translated “service” here is from the word that gives us “deacon” (found in 1 Timothy 3:8) and is also translated “ministry” (2 Tim. 4:5). Notice it is His service and He provides the resources like strength to do what He appoints us to do. God opens the doors and, through His Word, guides us in how to walk through them.
Being faithful means being an example (13-17). While one needs more of a testimony than “I once was horrible but now I’m saved,” there is obviously value in having the humility to share with others the transforming power of God and His gospel. As Paul describes Him in verse 17, His perfect attributes make Him the only one worthy of eternal “honor and glory.” Paul points to his pre-Christian life as one that was the opposite of faithfulness. He was faithful to his flawed fanaticism, but in so doing was unfaithful to God’s will. He “was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent” (13). He was the foremost of sinners (15). But through His obedient submission to Jesus’ command (cf. Acts 22:16), in Paul Jesus Christ could then “display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life” (16). Let people see the change Christ has made in your life, your speech, your attitude, your deeds, your life. They will come to understand that this is a power beyond your own ability to produce, as you remain faithful to your work and role in His house.
Being faithful means reliable (18-20). As implied above, faithfulness is synonymous with reliability. Paul illustrates that here. Timothy was entrusted with a charge concerning service from Paul (18). He was to be a dependable soldier on the spiritual battlefield (18). How? Reflecting back to what he said in verse 5, Paul admonishes Timothy to be “holding faith and a good conscience” (19). Then, he illustrates faithfulness through contrast. Hymenaeus and Alexander rejected faithfulness and “made shipwreck of their faith” (19). Apparently, they misused their words (their ministry?) to do what was characteristic of Paul’s pre-Christian life. They spoke evil against the faith (20). God is depending on you to be trustworthy, one He can count on to promote His cause.
Each of us possess a gift (Rom. 12:6-8) for the good of the kingdom (Eph. 4:16). It is essential for one entrusted to be trustworthy (1 Cor. 4:2). That’s Paul’s message to his spiritual son.
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