1 Timothy 4:9-10 9The word is faithful and worthy of full acceptance. 10For towards this we labor and struggle, because we have hoped in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of believers.
Paul gives another faithful word (1:15; 31) that should captivate Timothy’s focus and help him be more effective in dealing with the problem of false teaching in Ephesus. The word could include what came before and/or, more likely, verse 10. This phrase serves as a pause for Timothy to consider the seriousness of what Paul is writing.
The part of verse 10 that captures our attention is the center: we have hoped in the living God. This statement summarizes everything else. The perfect tense of the verb (ēlpikamen) indicates that the spark of hope began at some point in the past and has continued to grow to this moment.
Hope always has an object or goal. The goal (towards this) was given in verse 8 as the promise of eternal life. Hope inspires us to work hard with our best effort and energy. The word struggle (agōnizometha) shows intensive effort, as in an athletic event, and giving one’s best in straining towards the finish line. Godliness does not happen accidentally but through personal discipline guided by the Holy Spirit. The mission Jesus gave us to reach the world is not easy and takes great effort.
Paul is not advocating a form of works righteousness, but what he writes here shows the human side of obtaining eternal life. Our faith must be active and shown through obedience in how we live. Hope in God provides the motivation (indicated with because, hoti) for all the great effort in being the people God wants us to be in this life and in preparation for the day of the Lord when all people will be judged.
The last statement that God is the savior of all people does not argue for universalism. God’s offer of salvation is given to all people, but only those who believe have hope. God is described as living for the second time (3:15) possibly because God is the only one who can provide eternal life. All other so-called “gods” and “goddesses” are only human made objects and have no power except to deceive. In this brief verse, Paul balances human effort and God’s gracious salvation. The link between the two is faith. Faith is worked out through obedience, indicated by living a godly lifestyle.
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