2 Timothy 1:11

Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) Whereunto I am appointed a preacher . . . .—Whereunto—that is, to preach the gospel referred to in the previous verse. (On these titles see 1Timothy 1:12; 1Timothy 2:7.) In all his deep humiliation, a solitary prisoner awaiting death, deserted by his friends, St. Paul, with solemn emphasis, rehearses the titles of dignity which, by his Master’s appointment, he possessed in the Christian Church. The poor prisoner, waiting his summons to a painful death, wished his last charge to go forth with all the authority of an Apostle, adding, however, in the next verse, that his present sufferings were entailed on him, owing to this very position in the Christian community to which his Master had called him.

Benson Commentary

2 Timothy 1:11-12. Whereunto — For proclaiming which good news; I am appointed a preacher — Κηρυξ, a herald; and an apostle — Invested with an extraordinary commission, and furnished with spiritual gifts to make me a successful teacher of the Gentiles — That is, of them chiefly. For which — Namely, my preaching to the Gentiles; I suffer these things — “By assigning his preaching salvation to the Gentiles through Christ, without obedience to the law of Moses, as the cause of his second bonds in Rome, he hath insinuated that the unbelieving Jews were active in getting him imprisoned, and tried for his life as a criminal.” — Macknight. Nevertheless — Though my condition may seem infamous; I am not ashamed — Either of my doctrine or of my sufferings. For I know whom I have believed — That is, whose word and promise I have credited, and to whom I have trusted all my important concerns: I know his power, and love, and faithfulness; and am persuaded, fully satisfied, he is able to keep that which I have committed to him — Την παραθηκην μου, my deposite, until that day — Of final retribution; meaning, undoubtedly, his immortal soul, or his whole person, soul and body. Thus Peter, (1 Peter 4:19,) Let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit the keeping of their souls to him, (or, as may be included, the preservation, or, if taken away, the restoration, of the life of their bodies,) in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator, who never did, and never will, deceive, or disappoint the hopes of any that trust in him.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

1:6-14 God has not given us the spirit of fear, but the spirit of power, of courage and resolution, to meet difficulties and dangers; the spirit of love to him, which will carry us through opposition. And the spirit of a sound mind, quietness of mind. The Holy Spirit is not the author of a timid or cowardly disposition, or of slavish fears. We are likely to bear afflictions well, when we have strength and power from God to enable us to bear them. As is usual with Paul, when he mentions Christ and his redemption, he enlarges upon them; so full was he of that which is all our salvation, and ought to be all our desire. The call of the gospel is a holy call, making holy. Salvation is of free grace. This is said to be given us before the world began, that is, in the purpose of God from all eternity; in Christ Jesus, for all the gifts that come from God to sinful man, come in and through Christ Jesus alone. And as there is so clear a prospect of eternal happiness by faith in Him, who is the Resurrection and the Life, let us give more diligence in making his salvation sure to our souls. Those who cleave to the gospel, need not be ashamed, the cause will bear them out; but those who oppose it, shall be ashamed. The apostle had trusted his life, his soul, and eternal interests, to the Lord Jesus. No one else could deliver and secure his soul through the trials of life and death. There is a day coming, when our souls will be inquired after. Thou hadst a soul committed to thee; how was it employed? in the service of sin, or in the service of Christ? The hope of the lowest real Christian rests on the same foundation as that of the great apostle. He also has learned the value and the danger of his soul; he also has believed in Christ; and the change wrought in his soul, convinces the believer that the Lord Jesus will keep him to his heavenly kingdom. Paul exhorts Timothy to hold fast the Holy Scriptures, the substance of solid gospel truth in them. It is not enough to assent to the sound words, but we must love them. The Christian doctrine is a trust committed to us; it is of unspeakable value in itself, and will be of unspeakable advantage to us. It is committed to us, to be preserved pure and entire, yet we must not think to keep it by our own strength, but by the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us; and it will not be gained by those who trust in their own hearts, and lean to their own understandings.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Whereunto I am appointed a preacher - That is, I am appointed to make these truths known; see the notes at Ephesians 3:7-8.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

11. Whereunto—For the publication of which Gospel.

I am appointed—Greek, "I was appointed."

preacher—Greek, "herald."

teacher of the Gentiles—(1Ti 2:7). He brings forward his own example in this verse and 2Ti 1:12, as a pattern for Timothy, as a public "preacher," an "apostle," or missionary from place to place, and a "teacher" in private instructing His flock with patient perseverance.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Whereunto I am appointed a preacher; for the publication of which gracious counsel and purpose of God thus made manifest by Christ’s coming, and of that life and immortality thus by the gospel brought to light, God hath appointed me as his crier;

and an apostle; and sent me immediately as his messenger to make publication of it;

and a teacher of the Gentiles; and hath made the instructing of the heathen my peculiar province, 1 Timothy 2:7.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Whereunto I am appointed a preacher,.... Both from eternity, in the counsel and purpose of God, Acts 9:15 and in time, by the church at Antioch, and the prophets in it, according to the express order of the Holy Ghost, Acts 13:2. And if ever there was a preacher of the Gospel, Paul was one; he preached purely, powerfully, publicly, constantly, boldly, and with all faithfulness and integrity:

and an apostle; that is, of the Gentiles, as follows, and as he elsewhere styles himself, Romans 11:13 for it does not run so smooth and easy to connect this with the word Gospel. In 2 Timothy 1:1, he is called the apostle of Jesus Christ, because he was sent by him; and here the apostle of the Gentiles, because, he was sent to them; and this by the same appointment, by which he became a preacher:

and a teacher of the Gentiles; though all the apostles, by their commission, were sent to teach all nations, or the Gentiles in the several parts of the world, as well as Jews; yet the apostle was eminently a teacher of them; his work chiefly lay among them; the Gospel of the uncircumcision, or the ministration of the Gospel to the uncircumcised Gentiles, was committed to him; and he was a teacher of them in faith and verity, as in 1 Timothy 2:7. The Alexandrian copy only reads, "and a teacher".

Geneva Study Bible

{5} Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

(5) That is, the Gospel which the apostle preached.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

2 Timothy 1:11. Εἰς ὃ ἐτέθην κ.τ.λ.] With these words the apostle turns to his office and his suffering in his office, in correspondence with μηδὲ ἐμὲ τ. δὲσμ. αὐτοῦ, 2 Timothy 1:8. The relative ὅ does not refer to the thoughts expressed in the previous verses, but to εὐαγγελίου: “for which,” i.e. in order to preach it. Comp. the parallel passages in 1 Timothy 2:7.

Expositor's Greek Testament

2 Timothy 1:11. εἰς ὃ ἐτέθην, κ.τ.λ.: See 1 Timothy 2:7, where these words are also found, and the note on 1 Timothy 1:11.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

11. whereunto I am appointed a preacher] Rather, for which I—remember—was appointed a herald. St Paul ‘magnifies his office’ here in the same terms as in 1 Timothy 2:7; but there to assert his authority for ruling, here to commend his example in suffering: see note.

Bengel's Gnomen

2 Timothy 1:11. Ἐθνῶν, of the Gentiles) Construe this not only with teacher, but also with preacher and apostle. There are three designations, preacher, apostle, teacher. I. A public preacher is one who may discharge his office even in one and the same place. II. An apostle goes about everywhere; but he would have fully satisfied the requirements of his apostolic office, if he had once for all declared his message. III. Teacher. Here we have in addition diligence and perseverance in teaching; from which arose suffering.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 11. - Was for am, A.V.; teacher for teacher of the Gentiles, A.V. and T.R. Was appointed (ἐτέθην); comp. 1 Timothy 1:12, θέμενος εἰς διακονίαν, "appointing me to the ministry;" and 1 Tim 2:7. A preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher (so also 1 Timothy 2:7). Teacher (διδάσκαλος) is one of the spiritual offices enumerated in 1 Corinthians 12:28 and Ephesians 4:11. It is surely remarkable that neither here nor elsewhere does St. Paul speak of any call to the priesthood in a sacerdotal sense (see Romans 1:1, 5; Romans 15:16; 1 Corinthians 1:1, etc.). 2 Timothy 1:11

Vincent's Word Studies

A teacher of the Gentiles (διδάσκαλος ἐθνῶν)

Omit of the Gentiles. Comp. 1 Timothy 2:7, from which the words were probably transferred when the three Epistles were jointly edited. Paul calls himself an apostle, and describes himself as preaching (κηρύσσων); but he nowhere calls himself διδάσκαλος a teacher, although he uses διδάσκειν to teach, of himself, 1 Corinthians 4:17; Colossians 1:28. He also uses διδαχή teaching, of matter given by him to the converts, Romans 6:17; Romans 16:17; 1 Corinthians 14:6. He distinguishes between the apostle and the teacher, 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11.