You Know What?
Dear bro. Turner
Please comment on these passages: Rom. 8:28 (All Things), Eph. 5:23 (as regards reverence, and 1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6 (concerning laying on of Pauls hands, and what was the gift. Thanks in Advance. J.M.
Reply:
And far in advance, I fear. We are far behind on our queries, but will get to them as soon as possible.
With Whiteside, it seems to me the all things of Rom. 8:28 refers particularly to the things of the context: Christ our answer, His promises, our hope, Gods all-encompassing eye and ear, etc. Verse 29 begins For from hoti, so that. The connection is clearly to explained the called of vs. 28, and I think one would not be amiss to say that the all things were summed up in the planning, appointment, calling, justification and glorification next mentioned. Them that love— and the called are one and the same, so whatever the promise, it is to true saints only.
The word translated reverence in Eph. 5:33 (1(3) is used in 96 passages in N.T.; translated fear or afraid in all others. Sometimes it is used in the sense of reverential fear or respect (Lu. 1:50 Acts 10:2) and applied to God. (It is the Greek word used in the LXX in Psm. 111:9.) But it may also be used when reverence for a higher power is absent. In Eph. 5:33 a good compromise translation would be respect. (See Amplified N.T. for 10 other synonyms.) Context may place various intensities upon a given word as illustrated in this case. Let us look at all three passages which relate to Timothys case. In 1 Tim. 1:18 Paul commits a charge to him according to (kata) the prophecies which went before on thee. Then 1 Tim. 4:14 says, neglect not the gift in (en) thee, given to thee by (dia, by means of, through) prophecy, with (meta, accompanied by) the laying on of the hands of the presbytery (the elders). (Im quoting loosely, giving emphasis to prepositions.) In 2 Tim. 1:6 it is a gift in (en) thee, by (dia, by means of, through) the laying on of Pauls hands.)
Sometime earlier in Timothys career as a Christian, prophecies had been made re: his role which placed a great responsibility upon him. Then, or later, these or like prophecies had clearly indicated a great spiritual gift was to be his, the same being bestowed by the Apostle Paul, by means of the laying on of his hands. (Thus, the gift was by means of prophecy, by means of Pauls hands. Compare Acts 13:1-4 where the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Saul— and after this was done, accompanied by fasting, prayer, and the laying on of hands, we are told Saul — was sent forth by the Holy Spirit.) Such leads me to conclude that when Paul had bestowed the gift, in keeping with the prophecy, then the elders laid hands on Timothy as a sign of approval or sanction and fellowship of his work. (Cf. Acts 6:6, perhaps 1 Tim. 5:22)
The gift was in Timothy, not some imagined office in which Timothy was placed. I can not identify this gift, but assume it to be such as are named in 1 Cor. 12:4-11.