to which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am telling the truth in Christ, not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
Parallel Translations
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to which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am telling the truth in Christ, not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
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where vnto I am ordayned a preacher and an apostle: I tell the trueth in Christ and lye not beynge the teacher of the gentyls in fayth and veritie.
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Whereunto I am ordeined a preacher and an Apostle (I speake the trueth in Christ, and lie not) euen a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and veritie.
Cross-references (26)
Passages linked to 1 Timothy 2:7 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to him, “Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel.
- 2 Timothy 1:11 For this I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
- Romans 9:1 I tell the truth in Christ. I am not lying, my conscience testifying with me in the Holy Spirit
- Romans 15:16 that I should be a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of the Good News of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be made acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
- Ephesians 3:7-8 of which I was made a servant according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power. To me, the very least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
- Ecclesiastes 12:8-10 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All is vanity!” Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs. The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth.
- Romans 11:13 For I speak to you who are Gentiles. Since then as I am an apostle to Gentiles, I glorify my ministry;
- Galatians 1:16 to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I didn’t immediately confer with flesh and blood,
- Galatians 1:20 Now about the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I’m not lying.
- Galatians 2:9 and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, those who were reputed to be pillars, gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision.
- Psalms 111:7 The works of his hands are truth and justice. All his precepts are sure.
- Ecclesiastes 1:1-2 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem: “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
- Ecclesiastes 1:12 I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
- Ecclesiastes 7:27 “Behold, I have found this,” says the Preacher, “to one another, to find out the scheme
- John 7:35 The Jews therefore said among themselves, “Where will this man go that we won’t find him? Will he go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?
- Acts 14:27 When they had arrived, and had gathered the assembly together, they reported all the things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith to the nations.
- Acts 22:21 “He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you out far from here to the Gentiles.’”
- Acts 26:20 but declared first to them of Damascus, at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.
- Romans 10:14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a preacher?
- 2 Corinthians 11:31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, he who is blessed forever more, knows that I don’t lie.
- Galatians 3:9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham.
- 1 Timothy 1:11-12 according to the Good News of the glory of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. I thank him who enabled me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he counted me faithful, appointing me to service;
- 2 Peter 2:5 and didn’t spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood on the world of the ungodly;
- Acts 26:17-18 delivering you from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom I send you, to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
- Romans 1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the Good News of his Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you always in my prayers,
- Galatians 2:16 yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (14 sources)
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John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain 7 For which I have been appointed. That it…
7 For which I have been appointed. That it may not be thought that he makes rash assertions — as many are wont to do — on a subject which he did not well understand, he affirms that God had appointed him for this purpose, that he might bring the Gentiles, who had formerly been alienated from the kingdom of God, to have a share in the gospel; for his apostleship was a sure foundation of the divine calling. And on this account he labors very hard in asserting it, as there are many who received it with no small difficulty.
I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie. He employs an oath, or protestation, as in a matter of extraordinary weigh and importance, that he is a teacher of the Gentiles, and that in faith and truth These two things denote a good conscience, but still it must rest on the certainty of the will of God. Thus he means, that he preaches the gospel to the Gentiles, not only with pure affection, but also with an upright and fearless conscience; because he does nothing but by the command of God.
John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain Faithfully and sincerely: and by faith he meaneth wholesome…
Faithfully and sincerely: and by faith he meaneth wholesome and sound doctrine, and by truth, an upright and sincere handling of it.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an…
7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
Ver. 7. A teacher of the Gentiles] His Epistles therefore should be highly prized by us Gentiles, and diligently studied. St Peter admires them, 2Pe 3:15, and commends them to the Church’s reading. And because there are some things in them hard to be understood, and easy to be wrested from their right meaning, 2Pe 3:16, it was therefore grave advice that one gives young Christians, that they should begin at the latter end of St Paul’s Epistles, which treateth of points of practice. Since a corrupt life can never have a sound judgment.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Whereunto I am ordained a preacher; for the publishing…
Whereunto I am ordained a preacher; for the publishing and making known of which testimony of the Divine goodness and truth I am set, or appointed, 2Ti 1:11, ετεθην, a preacher, or a public officer to proclaim and make it known.
And an apostle; and am immediately called by Christ, and sent out upon that employment.
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I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not; I call Christ to witness that I speak nothing but what I know to be true. It is a phrase which hath, if not the form, yet the force of an oath; and was necessary in this case, for it was not easy to persuade the Jews that God had sent any to reveal the way of salvation to the Gentiles.
A teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity; and my special province was to teach the Gentiles, Act 9:15; 26:17; Gal 2:7-9; and to instruct them in the doctrine of faith and truth: or, I was set faithfully and truly to instruct the Gentiles.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
William Burkitt 1703 · Public Domain Observe here, 1. Our apostle declares his authority to…
Observe here, 1. Our apostle declares his authority to publish the gospel to the Gentiles, and his integrity in the publication of it: I was ordained an apostle, a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
Observe, 2. That according to St. Paul’s comission, he gave directions to all sorts of persons for the regular performance of their duty. And first concerning the duty of prayer: I will, that is God by me declares his will, that all men pray; that they pray every where, in the public assemblies, in their private families and apartments; lifting up the hands, in token of expecting to receive an answer from heaven. Lifting up holy hands; let their prayers be holy accompanied with faith and charity; without wrath and doubting; a peaceable heart is as necessary in prayer as a pure hand.
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’Tis in vain to ask in prayer the favour of God, with anger and revenge in our hearts against man; to pray with doubting is opposed to faith; to pray in wrath, is opposed to charity. As if the apostle had said, "Pray both in actual faith and love."
There must be faith in prayer, otherwise we cannot lift up holy hands without doubting: there must be love, otherwise we cannot lift up holy hands without wrath. Therefore, says the apostle, I will that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands wihtout wrath and doubting. He and his service must be holy, that will serve God acceptably.
William Burkitt's Expository Notes on the New Testament (1700–1703) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain I will therefore that men pray everywhere,.... In this…
I will therefore that men pray everywhere,.... In this declaration of the apostle's will concerning prayer, he only takes notice of "men"; not but that it is both the duty and privilege of women, as well as men, to pray in their houses and closets; but because he is speaking of public prayer in the church, which only belongs to men, he speaks only of them; and his will is, that prayer should be performed by them everywhere, or in any place, in any part of the world where they lived. Now was the prophecy in Mal 1:11 fulfilled, and now was the time come our Lord refers to, Joh 4:21. This seems to be said in opposition to a Jewish notion, that the temple at Jerusalem was the only place for prayer, and that prayer made elsewhere ought to be directed towards that. The Jews say (b), that
"there is no way for the prayer of the nations of the world to ascend, seeing the gates of heaven are only opened in the land of Israel.--And again, that the prayers without the land have no way to go up before the Lord, but the Israelites send them without the land opposite Jerusalem; and when they come to Jerusalem, from thence they remove and ascend above.--No prayer ascends above from that place in which it is made, till it come to the land of Israel, and from thence to Jerusalem, and from thence to the sanctuary, and then it ascends above.''
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They have also many rules concerning places of private prayer, as that care should be taken that it be not in a place where there is any filth; or any bad scent (c).
Lifting up holy hands; lifting up of hands was a prayer gesture among the Heathens (d), and so it was among the Jews (e). R. Simeon lift up his hands in prayer to the blessed God, and prayed his prayer. Yea, they (f) say,
"it is forbidden a man to lift up his hands above, except in prayer, and in blessings to his Lord, and supplications, as it is said, Gen 14:22 which is interpreted of lifting up of hands in prayer.''
And this was an emblem of the elevation of the heart in prayer to God, without which the former would be of little avail. It is an observation of the Jews (g), we have found prayer without lifting up of hands, but we never found lifting up of hands without prayer. And these hands must be holy and pure; there must be purity of heart, and cleanness of hands, or a freedom from any governing sin, which renders prayer unacceptable unto God; see Isa 1:15. The apostle alludes to a custom of the Jews, who always used to wash their hands before prayer;
"Then Holofernes commanded his guard that they should not stay her: thus she abode in the camp three days, and went out in the night into the valley of Bethulia, and washed herself in a fountain of water by the camp. And when she came out, she besought the Lord God of Israel to direct her way to the raising up of the children of her people.'' (Judith 12:7,8)
So it is said (h) of the Septuagint interpreters, that after the Jewish manner they washed their hands and prayed. The account Maimonides gives (i), is this:
"cleanness of hands, how is it done? a man must wash his hands up to the elbow, and after that pray; if a man is on a journey, and the time of prayer is come, and he has no water, if there is between him and water four miles, which are eight thousand cubits, he may go to the place of water, and wash, and after that pray. If there is between him more than that, he may rub his hands, and pray. But if the place of water is behind him, he is not obliged to go back but a mile; but if he has passed from the water more than that, he is not obliged to return, but he rubs his hands and prays; they do not make clean for prayer but the hands only, in the rest of prayers, except the morning prayer; but before the morning prayer a man washes his face, his hands and feet, and after that prays.''
But, alas! what does all this washing signify? Unless, as Philo the Jew (k), expresses it, a man lifts up pure, and, as one may say, virgin hands, to heaven, and so prays.
Without wrath and doubting; or reasoning, or disputation in a contentious way: the former of these, some think, has reference to "murmuring", as the Ethiopic version renders it, impatience and complaint against God in prayer, and the other to doubt and diffidence about being heard, and having the petitions answered; for prayer ought to be with praise to God, and faith in him: or rather "wrath" may intend an angry and unforgiving temper towards men, with whom prayer is made, which is very unbecoming; see Mat 5:23 and both that and doubting, or disputation, may have regard to those heats and contentions that were between the Jews and Gentiles, which the apostle would have laid aside, and they join together in prayer, and in other parts of public worship, in love and peace. Maimonides (l) says,
"men may not stand praying, either with laughter, or with levity, nor with confabulation, "nor with contention, nor with anger", but with the words of the law.''
And it is a saving of R. Chanina,
"in a day of "wrath", a man may not pray (m).''
(b) Shaare Ors, fol. 24. 2, 3. (c) Maimon. Hilchot Tephilla, c. 4. sect. 8, 9. (d) Apuleius de Mundo, p. 276. (e) Zohar in Exod. fol 4. 2. (f) lb. in Numb. fol. 79. 1. (g) T. Hieros. Taaniot, fol. 67. 2. (h) Arist. Hist. 70. p. 98. (i) Hilch. Tephilla, c. 4. sect. 2, 3. (k) De Charitate, p. 698. Vid. ib. de Victim. Offerent. p. 848. (l) Hilch. Tephilla, c. 4. sect. 18. (m) T. Bab. Erubin, fol. 65. 1.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 7. I am ordained a preacher] I am…
Verse 7. I am ordained a preacher] I am set apart, ετεθην, appointed. The word does not imply any imposition of hands by either bishop or presbytery, as is vulgarly supposed.
I speak the truth in Christ] As I have received my commission from him, so I testify his truth. I did not run before I was sent; and I speak nothing but what I have received.
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A teacher of the Gentiles] Being specially commissioned to preach the Gospel, not to the Jews, but to the nations of the world.
In faith and verity.] Faithfully and truly; preaching the TRUTH, the whole TRUTH, and nothing but the TRUTH; and this fervently, affectionately, and perseveringly.
Instead of ενπιστει, in faith, the Cod. Alexand. has εν πνευματι, in spirit. "A teacher of the Gentiles in spirit and truth."
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Whereunto - Greek, “Unto which;” that is, to the…
Whereunto - Greek, “Unto which;” that is, to the bearing of which testimony I am appointed.
I am ordained - Greek, “I am placed or constituted” - ἐτέθην etethēn. The word “ordain” has now acquired a technical signification, meaning to set apart solemnly to a sacred office by the imposition of hands; but it has not that meaning here. It does not refer to the manner in which he was set apart, or to any act of others in consecrating him to this work, but merely to the fact that he had been placed in this office, or appointed to it. He refers doubtless to the fact that the Lord Jesus had designated him to this work.
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A preacher and an apostle - see the 1Co 9:1-6 notes; Gal 1:11-12 notes.
I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not - That is, by Christ; or I solemnly appeal to Christ - a form of an oath; notes, Rom 9:1. Paul makes a solemn declaration similar to this in regard to his call to the apostleship, in Gal 1:20. For the reasons why he did it, see the notes on that verse. It is probable that there were those in Ephesus who denied that he could be an apostle, and hence his solemn declaration affirming it.
A teacher of the Gentiles - Specially appointed to carry the gospel to the Gentiles or the pagan; see the Rom 11:13 note; Gal 2:7 note.
In faith and verity - These words mean that he was appointed to instruct the Gentiles in faith and the knowledge of the truth.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain Whereunto--For the giving of which testimony.
Whereunto--For the giving of which testimony.
I am ordained--literally, "I was set": the same Greek, as "putting me," &c. (Ti1 1:12).
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preacher--literally, "herald" (Co1 1:21; Co1 9:27; Co1 15:11; Ti2 1:11; Tit 1:3). He recurs to himself, as in Ti1 1:16, in himself a living pattern or announcement of the Gospel, so here "a herald and teacher of (it to) the Gentiles" (Gal 2:9; Eph 3:1-12; Col 1:23). The universality of his commission is an appropriate assertion here, where he is arguing to prove that prayers are to be made "for all men" (Ti1 2:1).
I speak the truth . . . and lie not--a strong asseveration of his universal commission, characteristic of the ardor of the apostle, exposed to frequent conflict (Rom 11:1; Co2 11:13).
in faith and verity--rather, "in the faith and the truth." The sphere in which his ministry was appointed to be exercised was the faith and the truth (Ti1 2:4): the Gospel truth, the subject matter of the faith [WIESINGER].
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 7. Whereunto—Namely, to the testimony.
7. Whereunto—Namely, to the testimony.
A preacher, and an apostle—Literally, a herald, and a sent one.
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Truth… and lie not—Alford puts it rather strongly, that this intense self-affirmation by Paul is an old man’s repetition, by habit, of the necessary self-assertions against his opponents used in younger days, as in 2Co_11:31, and Rom_9:1, and in Galatians throughout: “These had almost become stock phrases.” The very obvious reply is, that such phrases do not occur in epistles which did not face the impugners of his apostleship, as Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. What called them forth now was the appearance of a new set of impugners, by whom he was, doubtless, posted as a liar, and against whom he is flinging, through Timothy, these indignant self-testimonials. Teacher… in Christian faith and divine verity, or truth.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 7. Whereunto] For the ministry of which, the True…
7. Whereunto] For the ministry of which, the True Testimony.
I am ordained] There is in the Greek an emphasis on ‘I,’ Whereunto I—remember—was appointed. St Paul is always filled with his special mission to proclaim the universality of the Gospel, and appropriately recals his commission as teacher of the Gentiles. Cf. Gal_2:9.
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I speak the truth in Christ] Here the words ‘in Christ’ have no sufficient authority, and have been introduced from Rom_9:1.
in faith and verity] Better, in faith and truth; see note on 1Ti_1:1; a teacher, not in politics or art, but in religion, its morals and doctrine; its spiritual life, that the soul may go out to God in faith that worketh by love and a good conscience; and its spiritual knowledge, that the historic facts revealed may be fully grasped, and the haze of false doctrine be dispelled.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (7) Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an…
(7) Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle . . .—Whereunto, or “for which witness.” To announce which witness—the witness being the suffering and the death of Christ—St. Paul was ordained an Apostle—the reference being entirely to what preceded.
I speak the truth . . . and lie not.—The warmth with which St. Paul here asserted his divinely conferred commission as preacher and Apostle, was not called out by any desire on his part to seize an occasion of asserting in the presence of his enemies, the false heretical teachers of Ephesus, his especial rank and prerogatives as an Apostle chosen and commissioned by the Most High. These fiery and earnest words had no private reference to him, St. Paul, or to his especial claims to be heard, but were uttered solely in view of the surpassing magnitude of the message with which he was charged—solely to bear a weighty and imposing testimony to the truth of his assertion, which so many were ready and eager to dispute—the assertion that the gospel of Jesus Christ was a message of glad tidings, was an offer of salvation, not to a people, but to a world.
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A teacher of the Gentiles.—This specifies more clearly the especial duties of his apostleship, not perhaps without some reference to the peculiar fitness which marked him out as the declarer of the divine will in respect to this gracious offer of redemption to the isles of the scattered countless Gentiles.
In faith and verity.—Better rendered, in faith and truth. These words specify the sphere in which the Apostle performed his great mission. The first, “in faith,” refers to St. Paul’s own personal faith in Jesus—the grand motive power of his life and work; the second, “in truth,” refers to the truth of Christianity—to the well-known facts of the gospel story. Or, in other words, St. Paul carried on his ceaseless labours, within gathering fresh and ever fresh strength from the exhaustless spring of his own loving, mighty faith in Jesus, and without appealing to the generally well-known incidents of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the truth of which all might test. In those days there were even many eye-witnesses of the Passion still living.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Was appointed for am ordained, A.V; truth for truth…
Was appointed for am ordained, A.V; truth for truth in Christ, A.V and T.R.; I lie for and lie, A.V; truth for verity, A.V I was appointed, etc. It is quite in St. Paul"s manner thus to refer to his own apostolic mission (see Rom_1:5 Rom_11:13 Rom_15:16; 1Co_1:1, 17 3:10; 2Co_5:18; Gal_1:1, etc.; Eph_3:2, Eph_3:8; and many other places) A preacher (khrux; as in. 2Ti_1:11) Soxate Mar_16:15, Preach the gospel" is Khru tolion; and in ver. 20, "They... preached everywhere" is "Ekhruxan pantacou; andruxon 2Ti_4:2, "Preach the word" is Kh togon; and generally it is the word rendered "preach." It combines the idea of authority in the preacher who is the authorized herald, (Rom_10:15) and publicity for his message (Mat_10:27; Luk_12:3) I speak the truth, etc. The reason for this strong asseveration of his office as the apostle of the Gentiles is not at first sight apparent. But it was probably made in view of the antagonism of the Judaizing teachers referred to in 1Ti_1:3, 1Ti_1:19, 20 (comp. Rom_11:13 Rom_15:15, Rom_15:16)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 7. Whereunto. To testify of this ransom. I am…
7. Whereunto. To testify of this ransom. I am ordained a preacher. Appointed a herald. See margin of Revision. An apostle. An apostle also, with the authority of an apostle. I speak the truth. The Judaizers denied his apostleship. Hence this special affirmation.
B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.