Doctrine in for Love (I Timothy 1:1-7)

The epistle opens with words that demand our attention, setting before us a foundation so steadfast that it has weathered the scrutiny and storms of time, "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord" (I Timothy 1:1-2).

In these verses, we find a declaration as firm as the apostle’s calling, and as broad in scope as the eternal purposes of God Himself.

There is a power, a divine authority that flows through Paul’s words here, tracing its origins to the very command of God—a command that is not a mere suggestion but an edict of heaven itself.

Paul calls himself an apostle not by choice, nor by chance, but by the commandment of "God our Saviour." We are called to serve by the commandment of "God our Saviour."

Paul knows that his purpose is not self-willed but divinely mandated, pointing us toward the infinite grace and boundless mercy of God, who has orchestrated history to bring forth His Son as the beacon of hope for a broken humanity.

As we reflect on this greeting, it is not just an ancient salutation; it is an invitation to consider the weight of this commission. Timothy is called “my own son in the faith,” a reminder of the relational fabric of Christian discipleship and community that binds us to Christ and each other.