1 Timothy 2:6 - Exposition

The testimony to be borne in its own times for to be testified in due time , A.V. τὸ μαρτύριον καιροῖς ἰδιοις . This phrase is somewhat obscure, and is differently explained. But the most literal rendering and the best sense seems to be: " The testimony , at its proper time, to which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle," meaning that the mediation and redemption of Jesus Christ was the subject-matter of that testimony which he Paul was appointed to bear at the proper time. τὸ μαρτύριον εἰς ὃ must be taken together, without any intervening stop. This accounts for the article τό . The exactly parallel place is Titus 1:1 , Titus 1:2 , as a close comparison of the two passages will show. A further proof of the identity of thought in the two passage's is the recurrence in both of the phrase, ἐπιγνωσις ἀληθείας . A ransom ( ἀντίλυτρον ); here only in the New Testament, but it is used perhaps by Symmachus in Psalms 48:9 (49., A.V.), where the LXX , have γὴν τιμὴν τῆς λυτρώσεως τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ , following the reading רקַיְ , instead of רקַיֵ as in the Hebrew text. " What means a ransom? They were about to perish, but in their stead he gave his Son, and sent us as heralds to proclaim the cross" (Chrysostom). The equivalent word in the Gospels is ἀντάλλαγμα . ἀντίλυτρον does ,at seem to differ materially in me, ulna from λύτρον , the common classical word for "ransom" ( i . e . redemption money), and used by our Lord of his own life given as a ransom for many. It is the price given as an equivalent for setting free the prisoner, or sparing the forfeited life; λυτρόω ( Luke 24:21 , etc.), λύτρωσις ( Luke 1:68 , etc.), λυτρωτής ( Acts 7:35 ), ἀπολύτρωσις ( Luke 21:28 ; Romans 3:24 , and passim ), have all the sense of "redeem," "redemption," and the like. In its own times. The notion of a time specially appointed for Christ's coming into the world is frequently dwelt upon in Scripture; e . g . Galatians 4:4 ; Ephesians 1:10 ; Hebrews 1:2 (camp. Acts 17:30 , Acts 17:31 ; 2 Corinthians 6:2 ). (See the same phrase, 1 Timothy 6:15 .)