Reading Timothy and Titus With John StottPrøve

Abundant Grace

Paul now writes about himself and the gospel that has been entrusted to him. He retells the story of his conversion and commissioning, sandwiching it between two paeans of praise (the second to come in verse 17).

In particular Paul mentions three related blessings. First, “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength.” It is striking that he refers to the inner strength Christ has given him even before he specifies the ministry for which he needed to be strengthened. The appointment would have been inconceivable without the equipment. Second, he thanks Christ “that he considered me trustworthy.” This cannot mean that Jesus Christ trusted Paul because he perceived him to be inherently trustworthy; Paul’s fitness or faithfulness was due rather to the inner strength he had been promised. Third, he thanks Christ for “appointing me to his service.” While Christian service takes many forms, Paul clearly refers to his commissioning as apostle to the Gentiles.

Paul gives further substance to his thanksgiving by reminding Timothy what he had been, how he received mercy, and why God had mercy on him. He uses three words to describe what he had been: “a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man.” Perhaps the apostle intends to portray an ascending scale of evil from words (of blasphemy) through deeds (of persecution) to thoughts (of deep-seated hostility). When he opposed the gospel, he “acted in ignorance and unbelief.” He is not saying that his ignorance established a claim on God’s mercy (or mercy would no longer be mercy, nor would grace be grace), but only that his opposition was not open-eyed and willful.

Humanly speaking, there was no hope for someone as malicious and aggressive as Paul was. But he was not beyond the mercy of God.

To mercy Paul adds grace, which “was poured out on me abundantly.” Grace overflowed like a river at flood stage, which bursts its banks and irresistibly carries everything before it. What the river of grace brought with it was not devastation but blessing, in particular “the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” Grace flooded with faith a heart previously filled with unbelief and flooded with love a heart previously polluted with hatred. No wonder Paul’s life is permeated with thanksgiving, not only for his salvation but also for the privilege of having been made an apostle of Christ.

From Reading Timothy and Titus with John Stott by John Stott with Dale and Sandy Larsen.