A Torah Verse By Verse Commentary Of Paul's Epistles by Re'tzon Ha'El - HTML preview

Chapter 1 

V1 Paul was chosen personally by Yeshua the Messiah Acts 9:15-16. It was indeed, and still is the will of Elohim that we, who are the called of His Son Yeshua, and respond to this invitation to serve Him, following His commandments, are to inherit eternal life cf Jn 5:24; 6:40; 1 Jn 5:11-13; Jn 15:10.

V2 Timotheos Greek for ‘honouring Elohim was a Lycaonian, a city of Lystra in Asia Minor, being Paul’s protégé, fellow labourer and travelling companion, whose father was Greek and his mother a Jewess cf Acts 16:1-3. Note that he was circumcised in order to be seen to be upholding Torah, lest his attempts to preach to the Jews be deemed futile. If the law was abolished, as erroneously claimed, Paul would not have felt it prudent to carry out this procedure. Paul always wished grace, mercy, and peace upon the recipients of his epistles. We find this theme of grace and peace from Elohim being wished upon His people in the Tanakh/Old Testament cf Num 6:25-26. It is important to note that the Father and the Son are separate entities in the Triune Elohim-head, the Father being referred to in Paul’s epistles as Elohim, and Yeshua as our Master. The Holy Spirit is referred to as the Comforter cf Jn 14:15-17. The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and is the Spirit of Him and His Son Yeshua cf Jn 15:26; Gal 4:6; Rom 8:9,14.

V3 Paul served the same Elohim, Yehovah, as his forefathers i.e. the same Torah-giving Elohim. It would be inexplicable of him and contrary to scripture and to Paul’s beliefs for him to have not obeyed Torah. There is no evidence throughout the book of Acts that he contravened Torah cf Acts 23:1-3; 24:9-16; 25:7-8; 28:17. The suneidesis Greek for conscience is the soul as distinguishing between what is morally good and bad, prompting to do the former and shun the latter, commending one, condemning the other.

Only the Torah is the blueprint upon which we may distinguish good from bad. There is no other document in the whole Bible available for us to refer to. To have a good conscience requires us to walk in Elohim’s ways, following the commandments of His Son, and confessing our sins when we acknowledge them, in order for the conscience to remain katharos/ Greek for pure, clean cf Jn 15:10; 1 Jn 1:5-9. Note also that Paul prayed night and day. The day according to Elohim and as understood by all the characters in the Bible began in the evening and ended in the day cf Gen 1:5,8,13,19,23,31.

V4-5 A pure conscience stems out of anupokritos/unfeigned, sincere faith. Faith is defined in Joshua chapter 1, this being derived from comparing that chapter with Heb 11:1-3,30 which refers to the escapades of Joshua. It is interesting to note that the word faith does not appear in the book of Joshua, yet he is amongst the elders, who by it obtained a good report. Joshua 1:5-8 clearly defines these qualities of faith as being:

a. Chazaq/ heb for Strong, able to prevail 

b. Amats/ heb for of good courage, brave

c. Observing the Torah, which is the embodiment of Yeshua

d. Meditating day and night on the Torah which is to constantly be on our lips

This faith is to then make us:

a. tsalach/prosperous in spirit, soul and body and 

b. sakal/ heb for prudent, wise, circumspect and successful

This true quality of faith is rare to find in Christians, considering that the majority believe Torah has been abolished. Paul found great anticipatory joy in meeting again with Timothy, as this true faith had been instilled in him by his mother Eunice/good victory, having been passed down to her by her mother Lois/agreeable, as Torah required cf Deut 4:9-10; 6:6-7;11:18-19.

V6 This is evidence of elders in the church transferring gifts of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands, of which Paul did to Timothy. It is essential to learn from this verse that although the gifts of the Holy Spirit may reside in a Christian, they will remain dormant lest that receiver stir them up through action. Many a Christian are unaware of the overflowing abundance of power residing in their hearts, which can only be utilized by the exercising of the faith. We are to actively seek the captives to set them free through demonstration of power such as healing, casting out demons, prophesying, through exercising the faith given us, being strong, courageous and Torah observant for maximal effect cf Heb 5:12-14; Eph 6:16.

V7 Sophronismos/Greek translated sound mind also means self-control. Deilia/Greek for fear, cowardice leads to:

a. Doctrinal error

b. Rebellion

c. Destruction

Through renewal of our mind Rom 12:2, things of this world no longer concern us. By allowing the Holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts, to guide us into renewing our minds we gravitate towards following Elohim’s commandments which ultimately is the good and perfect  will of Elohim as inferenced from the following scripture: Rom 7:12; 1 Thes 4:3; Jn 7:17,19. Following the commandments of Elohim as Yeshua does, allows the Holy Spirit to continue dwelling in us Jn 15:10. Love, of which the Spirit of Elohim represents then casts out all fear cf 1 Jn 4:4,18.

a. Fear leads to doctrinal error and jeopardizes advancement in spiritual warfare cf Pro 29:25; Judges 7:3. Pastors, teachers and preachers must never step onto the pulpit if they are afraid of addressing doctrinal truth. This particularly pertains to those pastors who compromise the truth for the sake of conforming to errant denominational beliefs, in fear of being ostracized or even expelled for preaching biblical truth which causes offence cf Gal 2:11-12. 

b.  Fear leads to rebellion and stubbornness which are equated with witchcraft and idolatry, with grave consequences cf 1 Sam 15:23-24. 

c. Fear leads to destruction. Failing to do Elohim’s will ultimately results in His rejection of such an one, culminating in destruction of the soul i.e. being sent to hell cf Jer 38:19-20.

V8 2 Tim 4:22 closes the epistle by informing us of Paul being brought before the tyrannical Emperor Nero, a second time. Nero had the spirit of antichrist, and some at the time believed him to be the antichrist prophesied in scripture. He brought much misery to the Christians, having condemned them as the enemies of the Roman empire, blaming them for the burning of Rome in July AD 64. It had become dangerous to be associated with the faith and especially to be known to be liaising with the elders of the ecclesia, of whom were considered troublesome.

For this reason, Paul exhorted Timothy to not be afraid, nor to forsake the gospel and Paul himself, but rather to tackle the afflictions and persecutions head on in the power of the Spirit of Elohim, which is more superior and capable of overcoming all manner of adversity. If this power of Elohim could make us hopeless sinners partakers of the gospel (which is a great miracle in itself), how much more likely it is for Elohim to succour us in times of affliction, which surely would be less of an effort than that spent in redeeming us from the kingdom of Satan, when we were yet sinners! We should not fear to be in any earthly prison, but rejoice instead in being prisoners of a righteous taskmaster Yeshua the Just. Suffering for the gospel, though daunting, should be embraced with joy, as this is surety of heavenly riches in return for having rattled the kingdom of Satan cf Matt 10:31-33; Mk 8:35-38.

V9 Sozo translated ‘saved’ in this instance should be rendered delivered. We are only saved at the very end of a successful Christian walk. Deliverance from the kingdom of Satan is the first stage in reconciliation with Elohim. This is achieved by simply having faith in His Son who shed His redemptive blood for all. The gospel needs to be preached first, for one to know who to call unto for deliverance. The delivered souls who respond to the call of Messiah are then justified and sanctified by the blood of Yeshua, for the Holy Spirit of truth to then lead one on a path of renewal of the mind, to conform to that of the Son of Elohim, unto salvation which awaits the overcomers. This whole plan was preordained before the foundation of the world, and our works prior to being redeemed and justified by faith are futile in bringing us onto the path that leads to salvation.

a. deliverance- Joel 2:32; Rom 10:13-15

b. Election unto justification- Rom 8:29-30; Eph 1:4-5; Tit 3:4-7; 1Cor 1:9; 1 Pet 2:9

c. Sanctification- 1 Cor 1:1-2; 6:11

d. Renewal of the mind-Rom 12:2

e. Salvation- 1 Pet 1:5,9.

V10 The whole plan of salvation ordained before the world began, manifested in the life, death and resurrection of Yeshua, who through this gospel accomplished the aforementioned mystery of Elohim which even Satan and his angels were not privy to cf 1 Cor 2:7-8; Heb 2:14-17.

V11 Paul was indeed ordained by Yeshua Himself in Acts 9:15 to spread the gospel to the Gentiles, in addition to kings and the children of Israel. His three main areas of service were:

a. Kerux/ translated preacher is Greek for herald or proclaimer of the divine word

b. Apostolos/ Greek for a delegate, ambassador or messenger of Messiah set forth with orders

c. Didaskalos/ Greek for Teachers who show men the way of salvation

V12 The present persecutions which Paul endured phased him not, as he had a complete understanding of the fleeting nature of this world, and the greater glory that awaited him in the afterlife cf Rom 1:16. Besides, he once had been a persecutor of the very faith which he now upheld and understood the blindness of the perpetrators thereof cf 1 Tim 1:13; Gal 1:13. He thoroughly trusted that Yeshua, whom he believed in, would guard that paratheke/Greek for special thing consigned to his keeping i.e. the gospel of truth,  ‘against that day’, which refers to the day which Yeshua would return in glory for the rewarding of the saints cf 2 Cor 5:9-10. This day Paul so greatly looked forward too, that it numbed the physical and mental wounds met by his earthly tormentors.

V13 Paul reiterated to Timothy to persevere through trial and tribulation, and be comforted by the words derived from hupotuposis/ Greek for an example or pattern of those who should hereafter believe. Paul paraphrased was saying to Timothy ‘cling on tightly to the gospel of truth in this time of affliction by the example of my conversation, that the same grace which I had obtained would not be wanting, also to those who should hereafter believe.’ This, Timothy was to do in faith and love not of man, but in Messiah Himself.

V14 Accordingly that parakatatheke/special thing consigned to Timothy’s keeping i.e. the gospel of truth, was Timothy to equally guard by the Holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts, as much as Yeshua had guarded it for Paul.

V15 Some Christians had feared so greatly the persecution of Nero against them as to have abandoned Paul, two examples being named as Phygellus/ Greek for little fugitive and Hermogenes/ Greek for born of Mercury. Both these names seemed to have foretold their nature of being anti-Christian. They represented the seed sown on stony ground Mark 4:5,16,17.

V16-17 Onesiphorus/ Greek for bringing profit, on the other hand never forsook Paul, but sought him instead in the midst of danger and risk of death, to assist him all he could. This conduct is becoming of true believers.

V18 Onesiphorus’ conduct had a good track record, having been loving of all saints at all times exemplified by his looking after Paul in Ephesus of which Timothy would have recalled. Paul fittingly wished him Elohim’s mercy in that day of the bema seat judgement of the saints at Yeshua’s return.