234 linda l. belleville
the scope of 1 tim 2:5–6 is universal. although the pericope begins on
the Jewish monotheistic note εἷς γὰρ θεός, what follows shows that global
inclusivity versus Judaic exclusivity is intended. there is “one god” and
“one mediator” who mediates between a singular divinity (εἷς θεός) and
a plural humanity (ἀνθρώπων). the redemptive target is all embracing:
ὁ δοὺς ἑαυτὸν ἀντίλυτρον ὑπὲρ πάντων. But while the target audience is uni-
versal, the means is not. the route to redemption is wholly exclusive. the
ordinal εἷς comes first for emphasis; the role of mediator between god
and human beings is uniquely Christ’s. it is as the one (εἷς) mediator that
Christ gives himself ὑπὲρ πάντων.
the polemical focus of the pericope is to be noted. What precedes in
v. 4b and follows in v. 7 is based on the inclusive soteriology of vv. 5–6. Just
as god want all people to be saved (v. 4a), he also wants all to come to know
the truth (v. 4b εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν ἀληθείας ἐλθεῖν). first timothy 2:5–6 identifies
this truth as Christ giving himself “for all” and is immediately followed by
an exclamation, asserting the truth regarding Paul’s inclusive ministry as
“a teacher and apostle” of the non-Jews: “i speak the truth,” Paul asserts, “i
do not lie” (v. 7)—a clear indication of the polemical nature of 1 tim 2:4–6.
“i speak the truth” as a “teacher” and “apostle,” stand over against those
who teach that which is non-truth or “heterodoxy” (1:5), and have been
handed over to satan to be chastised and taught not to blaspheme (1:20).
A Hymnic Confession: 1 Timothy 3:16
first timothy 3:16 has generated a sizable number of specialized stud-
ies: ἐφανερώθη ἐν σαρκί, ἐδικαιώθη ἐν πνεύματι, ὤφθη ἀγγέλοις, ἐκηρύχθη ἐν
ἔθνεσιν, ἐπιστεύθη ἐν κόσμῳ, ἀνελήμφθη ἐν δόξῃ.65 the majority have been
concerned with the source and form of the text. source proposals include:
(1) a pre-Christian hymn that the author has taken up and applied to
Christ,66 (2) an aramaic source that can be reconstructed,67 (3) the same
source as eph 5:14,68 and (4) Paul himself.69
65 see Quinn and Wacker, Letters to Timothy, 318.
66 see, for instance, Barrett, Pastoral Epistles, 66; miller, Pastoral Letters, 78; Jeremias,
Timotheus und Titus, 27–34; Windisch, “Pastoralbriefe,” 213–38; Brox, Pastoralbriefe,
162–63.
67 see Quinn and Wacker, Letters to Timothy, 317–20.
68 see lock, Pastoral Epistles, 45.
69 see, for example, Johnson, Letters to Timothy, 236.