|
1 Timothy 1:15-16
-- A Handbook on Paul's
Letters to Timothy
1.15
TEV,
RSV
The expression
The saying is sure occurs five
times in the Pastoral Letters (in addition to here, it occurs
also in 3.1; 4.9; 2 Tim 2.11; and Titus 3.8) but nowhere else in
the New Testament. The formula is used to emphasize not only the
importance but primarily the trustworthiness of the saying to
which it refers. In some of these occurrences it is not easy to
determine whether the formula refers to what precedes or to what
follows. In the present case, however, it clearly points to what
follows, namely, to the statement regarding the role of Christ
as savior of sinners. In order to make this clear, it may be
necessary in some languages to put the formula after the
statement, as indeed some translations have done (for example,
CEV ” ‘Christ Jesus
came into the world to save sinners.’ This saying is true, and
it can be trusted”). In some languages it will be helpful to say
“The following saying is true” or “The words that follow are
true …” Other languages may follow CEV’s model above and say
something like ” ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save
sinners.’ This is a saying that is true and we can trust (or,
place our hearts in) it.” The term for
saying
(literally “word”) is used in the Pastoral Letters in a variety
of ways, as, for example, a message from God (4.5), a synonym
for teaching or doctrine (4.6), actual speech (4.12), and
preaching (5.17). In the present case “word” refers to a
particular statement with a special content that needs to be
emphasized. Sure
translates the same word that is translated “faithful” in verse
12. The focus on each instance is on trustworthiness—in the
former case, of Paul, and in the present case, of the statement.
The trustworthiness of the statement is
further stressed and enhanced by the addition of the expression
worthy of full acceptance.
Worthy
describes something or someone as deserving of recognition
because of merit, value, or worth.
Acceptance conveys the idea of
believing something to be true and deserving to be recognized
and received; full
stresses the completeness of the recognition and reception of
the truth of the statement. TEV combines these elements
admirably: “to be completely accepted and believed.” One may
also express this as “that we can completely accept and believe”
or “that we can receive with no reservations, and can believe.”
The statement that follows is about
Christ Jesus
and his mission as Savior of sinners.
Came into the world
is perhaps a reference to the Incarnation;
world refers
not primarily to the created order (the universe) but to the
world of human beings; this part of the statement is quite
similar to John 1.14, “The Word became a human being and, full
of grace and truth, lived among us” (TEV).
Save can be
understood negatively as rescue from danger and positively as
restoration to a state of well-being in the present life as well
as preservation after death; furthermore, the term can be used
in a physical, moral, or spiritual sense. In the present context
the moral and spiritual sense seems to be in focus: through the
action of Christ, sinners are rescued from their bad moral and
spiritual condition and are given divine salvation or new life,
that is, life that is in accordance with God’s will.
Sinners are
people whose lives and actions are contrary to the will and law
of God. In some languages this clause will be rendered as
“Christ Jesus came into the world to free evil people from their
bad condition.” Furthermore, it will be more natural style in
certain languages to begin this verse with this statement; for
example, ”‘Christ Jesus came into the world to free sinners from
their evil condition!’ This saying is true.” However, it is also
possible to reverse the order of the clauses; for example,
“People have sinful hearts (or, minds), so they sin. But Christ
Jesus came to rescue them from their sinful condition.”
An example of these
sinners that
Christ Jesus came to save is Paul himself. He describes himself
as the foremost
of sinners; this is literally “first,” but not in a
chronological sense (that is, not the first one to commit sin)
but in terms of seriousness of sin, hence
foremost,
“worst” (TEV), or even “greatest.” The focus here is not on
Paul’s moral lapses or immoral conduct but on his rejection of
Christ that led him to become one of the greatest persecutors of
Christ’s followers. His description of himself as the
worst of
sinners expresses both his sense of helplessness because of his
rejection of Christ, and the greatness of Christ’s act of
bestowing on him new life that was completely undeserved and
unexpected.
Alternative translation models for this verse
are:
The following is (or, The words that follow
are) a true saying that we can receive with no reservations and
believe: Christ Jesus came into the world to free people who do
sinful things from their evil condition. I am the worst (or,
greatest) of such people.
Or:
“Christ Jesus came into the world to free
sinners from their evil condition!” This saying is true, and we
can trust it. I am …
1 Timothy 1.16.
1.16 TEV, RSV
The purpose of Paul’s being shown mercy is
now stated: it was not for Paul’s sake that he had received
salvation; rather it was for the purpose of showing how Christ
deals with sinners. If Christ can save the worst of sinners,
then he can save and does want to save any sinner.
The connective
but at the beginning of this
sentence can be interpreted as marking either contrast or
continuity. If the former, it marks the contrast between Paul’s
own opinion about himself as the worst sinner who is beyond any
help, and God’s graciousness toward him. If the latter, the
focus is on the reason for mercy being extended to Paul. The
sense of the passage is then something like “I am such a sinner
that I doubt very much whether I was worth saving at all. But
God (or Christ) has a special purpose in being merciful to me.”
This latter interpretation is probably the more likely one and
is recommended by this Handbook.
I received mercy
translates an aorist passive, with God or Christ as the implicit
agent. (For God as agent see TEV; most other translations keep
the ambiguity of the text.) For
mercy see 1.2 and 1.13, and
comments. In those languages that do not use the passive voice,
one may follow TEV’s model making God the agent. Another way to
express this clause is “But God showed his mercy (or, kindness)
to me.”
For this reason
is literally “because of this” (compare
NRSV “for that very
reason”), referring not to what precedes but to what follows.
The reason why Paul received mercy is so that
in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might
display his perfect patience.
In me
is better interpreted in the sense of “in my case” (compare TEV
“in dealing with me”). Foremost
(TEV’s “the worst of sinners”) is the same word used in verse 15
and perhaps means the same thing, that is, not in terms of time
but in degree; however, in view of the mention of people who are
coming after, foremost
may also have the idea here as the first in a series. Regardless
of whether Paul is repeating his statement in verse 15 or is
conveying the idea of being the first in a series, a translation
something like TEV’s will be helpful. One may also express this
as “the person who has done more evil than anyone else.” So the
first part of the verse may be translated alternatively as “But
God showed his mercy to me. He did this for the following
reason: that through me (or, in dealing with me), a person who
has done more evil than anyone else, Christ Jesus …” or “But
since I was worse than anyone else, God had mercy on me” (CEV).
In languages that do not express comparatives in this way, one
may say, for example, “I have done much evil. No other person
has ever done evil like this.”
Display can
also be translated as “show” (TEV), or “prove” (compare
JB “Jesus Christ
meant to make me the greatest evidence”), “demonstrate” (compare
Phps “a demonstration
…”). Patience
includes not only the idea of never giving up hope in spite of
innumerable odds, but also the more positive notion of
continuous and determined effort to achieve a prescribed goal.
This patience
of Christ is described as perfect;
the Greek is literally “all (or every) patience,” which suggests
the idea of completeness or “all encompassing,” hence “full” (TEV),
“utmost” (NRSV); “inexhaustible” (JB), “unlimited” (NIV).
Patience
may also be expressed as “the ability to put up with [something]
for a long time,” “to have a soft heart toward,” or “to be
willing to wait.” The clause Jesus
Christ might display his perfect patience
may also be expressed as “Jesus Christ might show (or,
demonstrate) that he has unlimited patience toward me” or “that
Christ Jesus may show that, no matter what I do, he would be
patient with me.”
The purpose of Christ dealing patiently with
Paul is to give an example to those
who were to believe in him for eternal life.
The Greek word for example
occurs only here and in 2 Tim 1.13 (“pattern”) in the whole New
Testament, and literally refers to the line drawings or sketch
of an artist. As the Greek word indicates, Paul’s case is more
than an example; in fact it is the first instance of its kind
(compare NEB “the
first occasion”). As such it becomes the pattern and standard
for succeeding events of the same nature. But Paul’s case is by
no means a perfect example; in fact the verse is saying that his
case is like an incomplete sketch, in contrast to a complete
picture that would describe the case of those who come after
Paul. What the passage is trying to convey is that, if people
who come after Paul will come to know how Christ has dealt with
him, this will not only give them the hope that Christ can also
deal with them in an even more gracious way, but will actually
lead them to believe in Christ. (So CEV “He did this so that
others would put their faith in Christ and have eternal life.”)
One may also translate “He was patient with me like this so that
others might later see what he has done for me and believe in
him and receive eternal life.”
Believe in this context refers to
trust in and commitment to Jesus Christ.
In him is
literally “upon him”; there may not be a difference in meaning
with the more frequent expression “in him,” although in this
case Christ is implicitly compared to something, perhaps a
foundation or cornerstone, upon which faith is laid. As already
indicated, those who were to
believe refer to subsequent
Christians. Faith in Christ results in
eternal life;
this term contains both the elements of continuity (eternal,
unending) and quality (the life bestowed by Christ in accordance
with his promise). Eternal life
may also be expressed as “life that has no end,” “continuous
life,” and in some languages a verbal expression will be used;
for example, “and live forever” or “live without end.”
An alternative translation model for this
verse is:
But God showed his mercy to me. He did this
for the following reason: that through me, a person who has done
more evil than anyone else, Christ Jesus might demonstrate how
he would have patience with me no matter what I do. He was
patient with me like this so that others later would believe in
him and receive eternal life (or, live forever).
TEV
Today’s English Version
RSV
Revised Standard Version
CEV
Contemporary English Version
NRSV
New Revised Standard Version
NIV
New Internation Version
Arichea, D. C., & Hatton, H.
1995. A handbook on Paul's letters to Timothy and to
Titus. UBS handbook series; Helps for translators .
United Bible Societies: New York
|
