Sayings of faith in Pastorals
"This is a faithful saying" (1Ti 1:15). "Faithful" signifies
sure, positive, true, trustworthy, reliable. In the Pastoral Epistles there are
five "faithful sayings"; the expression seems to indicate that they are sayings
which had become proverbial in the ecclesia at the stage of development implied
in the Pastorals (between 60 and 65 AD); and that they are either statements of
doctrine concisely expressed or else maxims of Christian conduct.
It is likely that "faithful saying" is an echo of the prayer
which traditionally followed the recital of the words, "Hear, O Israel: the Lord
our God, the Lord is One" (Deu 6:4). May these be our words, an "Amen" of assent
to the sound words of God:
"True and firm, established and enduring, right and faithful, beloved and
precious, desirable, and pleasant, revered and mighty, well-ordered and
acceptable, good and beautiful IS THIS THY WORD unto us
forever."
For in these words, whether he is quoting an established
ecclesial saying, a fragment of a Christian hymn or a doctrinal statement, the
Apostle relates it to the purpose he has in hand: the restraint of false
teaching and the edification of the ecclesia through the wise guidance of
responsible members. However he speaks, then, he speaks as the oracles of God;
and this God is faithful (1Co 1:9:10:13), having provided us sure words by which
to live.
Just as God was a God of truth, so the sayings of the Apostle
Paul bore the stamp of God, the stamp of faithfulness and authenticity (2Co
1:18,20). As we consider each of the "faithful sayings" of the Pastoral Epistles
separately we shall see their force and beauty. And we shall see the
characteristic way in which Paul uses them to express the teaching of him who
said to another apostle:
"Write, for these sayings are true and {b}faithful{\b}" (Rev
22:6).
Let us note the progression of the five faithful sayings, all
in the Pastoral epistles, which outline the process of salvation from Paul's
viewpoint:
- The beginning of our probation, with Christ's sacrifice for us,
effective through faith and baptism: "This is a faithful saying... that Christ
came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief" (1Ti 1:15,16).
- The
continuation of our good beginning, by working in the truth: "...If a man
desire the office of a bishop" (1Ti 3:1).
- Growing in the grace and
mercy and peace of Christ: "Godliness is profitable unto all things" (1Ti 4:8).
- Gradually striving and growing yet further, becoming dead to the
world and alive in Christ: "...If we be dead with him, we shall live with him"
(1Ti 2:11).
- And the conclusion of God's work of salvation in us --
life eternal: "...We should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life"
(Tit 3:7,8).
