The Pauline Background of the Living God as Interpretive Context for 1 Timothy 4.10

Abstract

This article explores the meaning of 1 Tim. 4.10, with special attention paid to its use of the living God epithet which occurs in the latter part of the verse: 'for to this end we toil and strive because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people'. What is the particular significance of the living God in this context? In response to this question, most commentators rely on the insights of Martin Dibelius; however, little has been done to advance beyond Dibelius's insights and this is the purpose of this article. The discussion begins with an examination of the living God in its immediate literary context and is followed by a survey of the Pauline back ground of the living God, yielding the conclusion that the epithet in 1 Tim. 4.10 reflects a specific Pauline significance. Further, another issue is addreased: did the author of 1 Timothy borrow the living God from Paul's letters? Precisely what kind of Pauline background informs 1 Tim. 4.10? In response it will be argued that 1 Tim. 4.10 reflects a post-Pauline oral tradition of the living God, the kind of which is attested in the Acts of Paul.