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    STUDIA THEOLOGIA%20CATHOLICA%20LATINA - Issue no. 1 / 2009  
         
  Article:   THANKSGIVING AS INSTRUMENT OF LEGITIMATION IN 1 TIMOTHY 1,12-17.

Authors:  ZAMFIR KORINNA. 		 
       
         
  Abstract:  A number of texts in the Pastoral Epistles, among these 1 Tim 1,12-17, are often regarded, in view of their apparent genre, as incorporating biographical details and/or references to Paul’s personal religious experience. Yet, when taking into account the pseudonymous character of these epistles and their overall concern with the preservation of sound doctrine, the establishing of a Pauline tradition, and the refutation of the opponents, it becomes obvious that such texts are part of a well-defined strategy. This is meant to establish the exquisite authority of contemporary church leaders by means of grounding their ministry in their succession to Paul, and ultimately in Paul’s commissioning by Christ. 1 Tim 1,12-17, on surface a thanksgiving, argues in fact that Paul has had faith in the gospel of Christ (the sound teaching), Christ has found him trustworthy and appointed him to his ministry. Paul’s authority comes from his being the first and typical subject of Christ’s saving act: salvation is actualized in Paul’s commissioning. His priority and the authority emerging from the topos of priority legitimizes “Timothy”, i.e. the contemporary church leaders, and implicitly the teaching and the rules established in the epistle and in the Pastoral corpus.

Keywords: Pastoral Epistles, 1 Timothy, Paul, sound doctrine, authority,
thanksgiving, ministry, legitimation. 		 
         
     
         
         
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