1 Timothy 6:13 - Exposition

I charge thee for I give thee charge , A.V.; of for before (in italics), A.V.; the for a , A.V. I charge thee . It has been well observed that the apostle's language increases in solemnity as he approaches the end of the Epistle. This word παραγγέλλω is of frequent use in St. Paul's Epistles ( 1 Corinthians 7:10 ; 1 Thessalonians 4:11 : 2 Thessalonians 3:4 , 2 Thessalonians 3:6 , 2 Thessalonians 3:10 , 2 Thessalonians 3:12 ; and above, 1 Timothy 3:1-16 ; 1 Timothy 4:11 ; 1 Timothy 5:7 ). In the sight of God , etc. (compare the adjuration in 1 Timothy 5:21 ). Who quickeneth , etc. The T.R. has ζωοποιοῦντος . The R.T. has ζωογονοῦντος , with no difference of meaning. Both words are used in the LXX . as the rendering of the Pihel and Hiphil of היָתָ . As an epithet of " God ," it sets before us the highest creative act of the Almighty as "the Lord, and the Giver of life;" and is equivalent to "the living God" ( Matthew 26:63 ), "the God of the spirits of all flesh" ( Numbers 16:22 ). The existence of "life" is the one thing which baffles the ingenuity of science in its attempts to dispense with a Creator. The good confession refers to our Lord's confession of himself as " the Christ, the Son of God ," in Matthew 27:11 ; Luke 23:1-56 . 3; John 18:36 , John 18:37 , which is analogous to the baptismal confession ( Acts 8:37 (T.R.); Acts 16:31 ; Acts 19:4 , Acts 19:5 ). The natural word to have followed μαρτυρεῖν was μαρτυρίαν , as above ὁμολογίαν follows ὡμολόγησας ; but St. Paul substitutes the word of cognate meaning, ὁμολογίαν , in order to keep the formula, ἥ καλὴ ὁμολογία .