Homilies on First Timothy — Homily 18

St. John Chrysostom

1. 0. Greeting

[[1 Timothy 6.13]]-16

I give you charge in the sight of God, Who quickens all things, and before Christ Jesus, Who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; that thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: which in his times He shall show, Who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only has immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; Whom no man has seen, nor can see; to Whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.

Again he calls God to witness, as he had done a little before, at once to increase his disciple's awe, and to secure his safety, and to show that these were not human commandments, that receiving the commandment as from the Lord Himself, and ever bearing in mind the Witness before Whom he heard it, he may have it more fearfully impressed upon his mind.

I charge you, he says, before God, Who quickens all things.

Here is at once consolation in the dangers which awaited him, and a remembrance of the resurrection awakened in him.

And before Jesus Christ, Who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession.

The exhortation again is derived from the example of his Master, and what he means is this; as He had done, so ought you to do, for for this cause He witnessed [[1 Peter 2.21]], that we might tread in His steps.

A good confession. What he does in his Epistle to the Hebrews, — Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest you be wearied and faint in your minds [[Hebrews 12.2]]-3 — that he now does to his disciple Timothy. As if he had said, Fear not death, since you are the servant of God, Who can give life to all things.

But to what good confession does he allude? To that which He made when Pilate asked, Are you a King? To this end, He said, was I born. And again, I came, that I might bear witness to the Truth. Behold, these have heard Me. [[John 18.37]] He may mean this, or that when asked, Are you the Son of God? He answered, You say, that I am (the Son of God ). [[Luke 22.70]] And many other testimonies and confessions did He make.

Ver. 14. That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.

That is, till your end, your departure hence, though he does not so express it, but that he may the more arouse him, says, till His appearing. But what is to keep the commandment without spot? To contract no defilement, either of doctrine or of life.

Ver. 15. Which in His times He shall show, Who is the blessed and only Potentate, King of kings, and Lord of lords, Who only has immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto.

Of whom are these things said? Of the Father, or of the Son? Of the Son, undoubtedly: and it