1 Timothy 1

1 Timothy 1:1-20 . ADDRESS: PAUL'S DESIGN IN HAVING LEFT TIMOTHY AT EPHESUS, NAMELY, TO CHECK FALSE TEACHERS; TRUE USE OF THE LAW; HARMONIZING WITH THE GOSPEL; GOD'S GRACE IN CALLING PAUL, ONCE A BLASPHEMER, TO EXPERIENCE AND TO PREACH IT; CHARGES TO TIMOTHY.

1. by the commandment of God--the authoritative injunction, as well as the commission, of God. In the earlier Epistles the phrase is, "by the will of God." Here it is expressed in a manner implying that a necessity was laid on him to act as an apostle, not that it was merely at his option. The same expression occurs in the doxology, probably written long after the Epistle itself [ALFORD] ( Romans 16:26 ).
God our Saviour--The Father ( 1 Timothy 2:3 , 4:10 , Luke 1:47 , 2 Timothy 1:9 , Titus 1:3 , 2:10 , 3:4 , Jude 1:25 ). It was a Jewish expression in devotion, drawn from the Old Testament (compare Psalms 106:21 ).
our hope--( Colossians 1:27 , Titus 1:2 , 2:13 ).

2. my own son--literally, "a genuine son" (compare Acts 16:1 1 Corinthians 4:14-17 ).
mercy--added here, in addressing Timothy, to the ordinary salutation, "Grace unto you ( Romans 1:7 , 1 Corinthians 1:3 , &c.), and peace." In Galatians 6:16 , "peace and mercy" occur. There are many similarities of style between the Epistle to the Galatians and the Pastoral Epistles as a leading object in writing, the correction of false teachers, especially as to the right and wrong use of the law ( 1 Timothy 1:9 ). If the earlier date be assigned to First Timothy, it will fall not long after, or before (according as the Epistle to the Galatians was written at Ephesus or at Corinth) the writing of the Epistle to the Galatians, which also would account for some similarity of style. "Mercy" is grace of a more tender kind, exercised towards the miserable, the experience of which in one's own case especially fits for the Gospel MINISTRY. Compare as to Paul himself ( 1 Timothy 1:14 1 Timothy 1:16 , 1 Corinthians 7:25 , 2 Corinthians 4:1 , Hebrews 2:17 ) [BENGEL]. He did not use "mercy" as to the churches, because "mercy" in all its fulness already existed towards them; but in the case of an individual minister, fresh measures of it were continually needed. "Grace" has reference to the sins of men; "mercy" to their misery. God extends His grace to men as they are guilty; His "mercy" to them as they are miserable [TRENCH].
Jesus Christ--The oldest manuscripts read the order, "Christ Jesus." In the Pastoral Epistles "Christ" is often put before "Jesus," to give prominence to the fact that the Messianic promises of the Old Testament, well known to Timothy ( 2 Timothy 3:15 ), were fulfilled in Jesus.