Journal: Tyndale Bulletin
Volume: TYNBUL 55:2 (NA 2004)
Article: ‘The Testimony About the Lord’, ‘Borne by the Lord’, or Both?
Author: Gregory A. Couser

TynBul 55:2 (2004) p. 295

‘The Testimony About the Lord’,
‘Borne by the Lord’, or Both?

An Insight into Paul and Jesus in the Pastoral Epistles (2 Tim. 1:8)

Greg A. Couser

Summary

Precisely what is Paul referring to in 2 Timothy 1:8 by τὸ μαρτύριον τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν? The lexical possibilities for τὸ μαρτύριον and the grammar of the phrase allow at least three possibilities. Three lines of investigation will be pursued: (1) a contextual and paradigmatic investigation to get at the meaning of τὸ μαρτύριον; (2) a more general investigation of the references to Christ in the Pastorals to see if there is any particular stress placed on the actual words and acts of Jesus; and (3) an enquiry into the structure of the immediate context of 2 Timothy 1:8 with a view to its implications for the meaning of the phrase in question. What we will suggest is that the above lines of enquiry at least suggest a plenary sense for the genitive construction. However, in the final analysis, it seems best to see the phrase simply as a reference to the testimony the Lord bore in his word and life to the saving plan of God.

1. Introduction

In 2 Timothy 1:8 Timothy is encouraged by Paul1 not to be ashamed of the ‘testimony of our Lord’ nor of Paul himself, ‘his (Christ’s)

TynBul 55:2 (2004) p. 296

prisoner’.2 The question before us in this paper is what exactly is Paul referring to by the ‘testimony of our Lord’ (τὸ μαρτύριον τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν)? The lexical possibilities for ‘testimony’ and the grammar of the phrase would suggest at least three possibilities. First, is this essentially equivalent to Paul’s declaration in Romans 1:16 that he was ‘not ashamed of the gospel’, such that τὸ μαρτύριον is essentially a synonym for ‘gospel’ and the genitive, τοῦ κυρίου, should be understood as objective? This would give the whole phrase the sense of, ‘don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord’ (i.e. the gospel). This would tend to suggest that Paul had in mind the apostolic summaries of the ministry and work of Christ that formed the content of the gospel.You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
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