Now I write these things unto you, not that I know there are any such persons among you; nay, indeed I hope that God will never permit any such report to reach my ears, He "who spared not His Son for the sake of His holy Church." But foreseeing the snares of the wicked one, I arm you beforehand by my admonitions, as my beloved and faithful children in Christ, furnishing you with the means of protection against the deadly disease of unruly men, by which do ye flee from the disease [referred to] by the good-will of Christ our Lord. Do ye therefore, clothing yourselves with meekness, become the imitators of His sufferings, and of His love, wherewith He loved us when He gave Himself a ransom for us, that He might cleanse us by His blood from our old ungodliness, and bestow life on us when we were almost on the point of perishing through the depravity that was in us. Let no one of you, therefore, cherish any grudge against his neighbour. For says our Lord, "Forgive, and it shall be forgiven unto you." Give no occasion to the Gentiles, lest "by means of a few foolish men the word and doctrine [of Christ.] be blasphemed." For says the prophet, as in the person of God, "Woe to him by whom my name is blasphemed among the Gentiles."
1 Timothy 2:6
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Commentaries
Do not wonder that the whole world was redeemed, for it was no mere man but the Only-begotten Son of God who died for it. The sin of one man, Adam, availed to bring death to the world; if by one man's offense death reigned for the world, why should not life reign all the more "from the justice of the one?" If Adam and Eve were cast out of paradise because of the tree from which they ate, should not believers more easily enter into paradise because of the Tree of Jesus? If the first man, fashioned out of the earth, brought universal death, shall not he who fashioned him, being the Life, bring everlasting life? If Phinees by his zeal in slaying the evildoer appeased the wrath of God, shall not Jesus, who slew no other, but "gave himself a ransom for all," take away God's wrath against man?
Source: Catechetical Lecture 13:2
Was Christ then a ransom for the Heathen? Undoubtedly Christ died even for Heathen; and you cannot bear to pray for them. Why then, you ask, did they not believe? Because they would not: but His part was done. His suffering was a "Testimony," he says; for He came, it is meant, "to bear witness to the truth" of the Father, and was slain. Thus not only the Father bore witness to Him, but He to the Father. "For I came," He saith, "in my Father's name." And again, "No man hath seen God at any time." And again, "That they might know Thee, the only true God." And, "God is a Spirit." And He bore witness even to the death. But this, "in due time," means, In the fittest time.
"He gave himself a ransom," he saith, how then was He delivered up by the Father? Because it was of His goodness. And what means "ransom"? God was about to punish them, but He forbore to do it. They were about to perish, but in their stead He gave His own Son, and sent us as heralds to proclaim the Cross. These things are sufficient to attract all, and to demonstrate the love of Christ.
"He gave himself a ransom," he saith, how then was He delivered up by the Father? Because it was of His goodness. And what means "ransom"? God was about to punish them, but He forbore to do it. They were about to perish, but in their stead He gave His own Son, and sent us as heralds to proclaim the Cross. These things are sufficient to attract all, and to demonstrate the love of Christ.
Source: Homily on 1 Timothy 7
who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.
who gave himself as a ransom for all, and of the Greeks. Therefore, he died for all, but you do not endure to pray? Note then the phrase, "who gave himself." For this is against the Arians, who say that he was delivered up unwillingly. But what is the price of redemption? Nature was unwilling to perish, but Jesus gave Himself for it.
the testimony. That is, through the testimony the Son became a ransom. The interpreter now says this means that the testimony is called a ransom, that is, the passion. For He came to bear witness to the truth. He testified by what He did, that He Himself is Christ, the Son of God, even to death. For He also revealed the Father, and introduced the true doctrine and the true and angelic life, given at the proper time, He says. That is, when people were suitably disposed toward faith. Thus Clement of Alexandria in the seventh "Hypotyposes."
at the proper time. Through the testimony, he gave himself, he says, as a ransom. Through the testimony, that is, through the passion (for in it he bears witness to the goodness of the Father that he gave both himself and the Son. But they did not cease their hostility toward him, but even crucified the Son. And that he wishes to fulfill the promises to them, but they do not want it), in proper time, he says, having been prefigured and predestined by the holy and blessed Trinity.
who gave himself as a ransom for all, and of the Greeks. Therefore, he died for all, but you do not endure to pray? Note then the phrase, "who gave himself." For this is against the Arians, who say that he was delivered up unwillingly. But what is the price of redemption? Nature was unwilling to perish, but Jesus gave Himself for it.
the testimony. That is, through the testimony the Son became a ransom. The interpreter now says this means that the testimony is called a ransom, that is, the passion. For He came to bear witness to the truth. He testified by what He did, that He Himself is Christ, the Son of God, even to death. For He also revealed the Father, and introduced the true doctrine and the true and angelic life, given at the proper time, He says. That is, when people were suitably disposed toward faith. Thus Clement of Alexandria in the seventh "Hypotyposes."
at the proper time. Through the testimony, he gave himself, he says, as a ransom. Through the testimony, that is, through the passion (for in it he bears witness to the goodness of the Father that he gave both himself and the Son. But they did not cease their hostility toward him, but even crucified the Son. And that he wishes to fulfill the promises to them, but they do not want it), in proper time, he says, having been prefigured and predestined by the holy and blessed Trinity.
Source: COMMENTARY ON 1 TIMOTHY
And for the Gentiles. Truly He died for all — will you then not agree to pray for them? Pay attention to the expression: "who gave Himself." This is against the Arians, who said that He was given up against His will. What does "ransom" mean? Creation was bound to perish, but He gave Himself for it.
That is, through the witness the Son became a redemption. Or, explaining this, the apostle now says: by redemption I mean the witness, that is, His suffering. For He came to witness to the truth even unto death. He revealed the Father, the true teaching, and He Himself led a truly angelic life.
That is, through the witness the Son became a redemption. Or, explaining this, the apostle now says: by redemption I mean the witness, that is, His suffering. For He came to witness to the truth even unto death. He revealed the Father, the true teaching, and He Himself led a truly angelic life.
Source: Commentary on 1 Timothy
Above, he said that God wills that all men be saved, and he proved this on the side of God, who is one for all men; and on the part of Christ, who is the one mediator. Now he proves it from testimony: first, of other witnesses; second, of himself, at to which I am appointed.
He says, therefore: who gave himself a redemption for all. But did it suddenly come to God's mind, who had chosen to save the Jews alone, also to save the whole world? He rejects this when he says that his testimony is in due times. As if to say: this law is not something sudden, but something attested to from of old by the law and by the prophets: you are my witnesses (Isa 44:8); to whom all the prophets give testimony (Acts 10:43). It has been confirmed, namely, by its fulfillment through the showing forth of signs and the preaching of the apostles in due times, i.e., when these things were predetermined to occur: all things have their season (Eccl 3:1). Or the testimony of the apostles has been confirmed at the appointed time: you shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8).
He says, therefore: who gave himself a redemption for all. But did it suddenly come to God's mind, who had chosen to save the Jews alone, also to save the whole world? He rejects this when he says that his testimony is in due times. As if to say: this law is not something sudden, but something attested to from of old by the law and by the prophets: you are my witnesses (Isa 44:8); to whom all the prophets give testimony (Acts 10:43). It has been confirmed, namely, by its fulfillment through the showing forth of signs and the preaching of the apostles in due times, i.e., when these things were predetermined to occur: all things have their season (Eccl 3:1). Or the testimony of the apostles has been confirmed at the appointed time: you shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8).
Source: Commentary on 1 Timothy