Five Faithful Sayings
From the Pastoral Epistles

Unique within the Pastoral Epistles is an interesting phrase used by the Apostle Paul, "This is a faithful saying..." (1 Tim. 1:15; 3:1; 4:9; 2Ti 2:11; Titus 3:8, NKJV). In these five passages, Paul introduces foundational truths which are critical to the Christian worker. These include:

1. The reality of my sin and God's great mercy.
(1 Tim. 1:15-16)

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. (1 Tim 1:15-16, NKJV)

Paul clearly understood the mission of Jesus Christ -- to save sinners. He also saw his own hopeless condition in sin apart from Christ. Moreover, he realized the awesome mercy that was extended to him, "the chief of sinners." Paul remembered how he had persecuted the church of Jesus Christ, even approving the execution of Christians (Acts 8:1; 22:20). Though the pain of his previous sin was a heavy burden, Paul rejoiced in the greatness of God's mercy toward him. He purposed in his heart to forget that which was past and forgiven and press forward in his ministry (Phil. 3:13-14). Here he notes in this first "faithful saying" that God's mercy was shown to the likes of him to demonstrate the patience of God in withholding divine judgment in order to save sinners. Paul's conversion also provides an example to future believers of the marvelous grace of God.

For the christian worker, the key truth is to remember from whence you came -- so that you can identify with those who need Christ as much as you. Paul urged Timothy to contend with the troublemakers -- to fight the good fight. The fight was not with the people but with their doctrine! Our struggle is not beat up the lost but to save them through the gospel of Jesus Christ! This means we must not isolate ourselves from those who are different from us -- the poorer, and the richer, the socialites and the social outcasts, the sick and the well, those who agree and the antagonistic, the obedient and the rebellious, even the "sinners" (NKJV). The Christian worker is to make a difference in this world by reaching all people with the good news of forgiveness through Jesus Christ our LORD.

2. The noble desire to serve as a pastor.
(1 Tim. 3:1)

This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. (1 Tim 3:1, NKJV)

In the second of his faithful sayings, Paul states that one who desires to be a pastor desires a good work. Many are quick to criticize a pastor and attempt to confine his work to the pews of the church. But Paul rightly notes that the work of a bishop is a good thing to desire, a good work to be performed. The position is one which is to be honored among the congregation (1 Tim. 5:17). In so doing, the congregation will lift up in praise one who is called by God to lead a people of praise (1 Pet. 2:9).

A noble task requires a noble character. Paul goes on in this chapter to describe the qualifications for a bishop. One who desires the good work of overseeing the church must be:

...blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (1 Tim 3:2-7, NKJV)

With the number of prominent Christian leaders falling into moral and spiritual turpitude -- Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Bakker, Robert Tilton, and David Hocking to name just a few -- the office of pastor has gotten smeared unfairly. It is a noble task. It is to be greatly desired and admired. The work is a hard, thankless job. A believer who seeks the LORD's will and accepts the call to pastor is following after a very good work. Every believer should lift up in prayer and public support their own pastor, for he is engaged in a good work.

3. The profit of godliness even under persecution.
(1 Tim. 4:8-10)

For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. (1 Tim 4:9-10, NKJV)

Of the five sayings, this particular one is not obvious as to which saying Paul considers to be the faithful saying. Either verse 8 or verse 10 could qualify. Earle writes that "the consensus of commentators is that this refers to the preceding statement (verse 8)" (Thomas, Earle, Hiebert. The Expositor's Bible Commentary: 1,2 Thessalonians, 1,2 Timothy, Titus. Zondervan Publishing House: Grand Rapids, Michigan. Copyright 1996. p. 147). Yet the popular NIV translation determines verse 10 to contain the faithful saying by making the first part of verse 10 parenthetical: "This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God" (1 Tim. 4:9-10, NIV). Lea evaluates this as follows:

Guthrie agrees with the NIV translation and suggests that the weighty subject matter of v. 10 makes it a more likely candidate...Most other interpreters (Fee, Ward, White) feel that the saying is a reference to the content of v. 8. Fee clarifies the issues when he indicates that the nature of the saying of v. 8 is more epigrammatic, while the statement of v. 10 is actually a reflection on the latter part of v. 8. He locates the "saying" as the latter part of v. 8. This is the better option. (Thomas D. Lea & Hayne P. Griffin, Jr. The New American Commentary: 1, 2 Timothy, Titus. Broadman Press: Nashville, Tennessee. Copyright 1992. p. 135)

The young pastor Timothy is being exhorted in this passage of Scripture to exercise himself in pursuit of godliness. There are many worthy pursuits in this life. But some pursuits -- specifically arguing about the profane topics or old-wives tales -- are to be rejected (1 Tim. 4:7). Physical training is important to enhance the health and vitality of the body. Paul does not minimize this. Yet, it pales in comparison to spiritual training -- godliness -- which will enhance the health and vitality of the whole person ("profitable for all things") in this life and for eternity (1 Tim. 4:8). Godliness would include the disciplines of Bible study, prayer, obedience, and the exercising of spiritual gifts.

In this view, verse 10 seems to augment Paul's affirmation of this faithful saying. The reason we exercise toward godliness is not just for the profit we personally gain, but because of our faith in the living God. It is He who granted mercy to sinners and provided salvation to anyone who would call on the LORD Jesus Christ. Because of His great mercy to us, we "labor and suffer reproach" (NKJV). Godliness, though it takes time and energy, is a worthy exercise in light of the greatness of God's love and mercy in Christ.

4. The faithfulness of God and His servants.
(2 Tim. 2:11-13)

This is a faithful saying: for if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, he also will deny us. If we are faithless, he remains faithful; he cannot deny Himself." (2 Tim 2:11-13, NKJV)

The fourth of Paul's faithful sayings reads like a hymn from the early church. It contains two positive affirmations and two negative exhortations about believers. Paul uses the pronoun "we" which includes himself in the context. Believers are reminded that when we die to self, we then really live. As Paul wrote to the church at Galatia, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal 2:20, NKJV). Believers are also reminded that the life of a believer is one which endures to the end by faith. (Matt. 10:22; 1 John 5:4-5) There is reward for living in Christ and "enduring all things for the sake of the elect" (2 Tim. 2:10, NKJV).

Contrasting the positives are the stern exhortations which follow. The first notes that if we "deny" Christ, He will deny us. Some have used this verse as a proof text that one can lose one's salvation. But this contradicts the abundant teaching in the New Testament that salvation results in eternal life -- not conditional life (John 3:16,5:24; Rom. 6:23). In light of Paul's clear teaching on the rewards for faithfulness in the preceding two statements, and his explanation of the believer's judgement in 1 Cor. 3, it may suggest the loss of reward for a life which denies the reality of Christ within a believer. A more likely possibility is that Paul is pointing out the reality of belief -- it is borne out in the life of the believer. The present tense of the word "deny" suggests an habitual life of denial. Such a life is the life of an unbeliever by definition (1 John 3:6-10). This also echoes the word of Jesus Christ: "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven" (Matt 10:32-33, NKJV). In the following statement, Paul points out that the life of denial, the life of faithlessness, cannot circumvent God's faithfulness to His word. "The LORD knows those who are His" (2 Tim. 2:19, NKJV). Those who deny Jesus Christ and are faithless are not His own. God will be faithful to bring about judgement to those who deny Him for "He cannot deny Himself" (1 Tim. 2:13, NKJV). God cannot violate His character; He is perfectly just and will be perfectly just at the day of judgement.

5. The continuing need for good works.
(Titus 3:8)

This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. (Titus 3:8, NKJV)

Having made the glorious good news of salvation by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ and not by works (Titus 3:3-7), Paul exhorts Titus with this earnest truth about the relevance of good works. Those who have trusted in the LORD Jesus Christ have been saved for the specific purpose of good works (Eph. 2:10; James 2:14-17). That Paul must "affirm constantly" indicates that believers are prone to wander from this truth without continuing exhortation. Most Christians would agree with that assessment from experience alone. Paul notes that our good deeds are not merely for rote obedience to God. Nor are they just for the benefit of the recipients, though the world certainly benefits from the good works of the saints. No, they are "good and profitable" to all believers. In other words, good works are good for YOU. Obedience according to faith has its own reward in the believer -- an assurance that comes from doing the right thing, from pleasing God, and from helping others.

So the five faithful sayings in the Pastoral Epistles present us with foundational truths for any minister:

To understand the reality of my sin and God's great mercy (1 Tim. 1:15-16).
To appreciate how noble is the calling of a pastor (1 Tim. 3:1).
To pursue the profit of godliness even under persecution (1 Tim. 4:8-10).
To affirm that the faithfulness of God is reflected in His servants (2 Tim. 2:11-13).
To continue the life of faith through good works (Titus 3:8).

An extended study of each of these "faithful sayings" will bear much fruit in the minister's personal devotion to Christ and in his kingdom work.

Five Faithful SayingsFrom the Pastoral Epistles

1. The reality of my sin and God's great mercy. (1 Tim. 1:15-16)

2. The noble desire to serve as a pastor. (1 Tim. 3:1)

3. The profit of godliness even under persecution. (1 Tim. 4:8-10)