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"A form of words, howe'er so sound,
Can never save the soul.
The Holy Ghost must give the wound,
And make the wounded whole."
Such however is not a good comment upon the passage before us. Hupotuposis occurs
in two places only, one referring to the form of sound words (II Tim. 1: 13), the apostle's
teaching; the other to the pattern to believers (I Tim. 1: 16), the apostle's experiences.
"Brethren", said the apostle, "be imitators together of ME, and mark those who walk
according to MY example" (Phil. 3: 17).
Hupotuposis means the preliminary draft before the finished plan. When, for
example, an engine is designed, the engineer does not set out as to the number of cogs is
all-sufficient for the hupotuposis. When the rough sketch is complete, other hands
may finish the details up to the last line, but in essence they never exceed by one
hair's-breadth the original design. Paul received the dispensation of the mystery as a
sacred trust, a good deposit, direct from the ascended Christ. The knowledge of this
sacred trust enabled the apostle to hold on his way against all opposition, against the
heart-breaking spectacle of all in Asia forsaking him, and of those whom he was at last to
give his life's blood leaving him to stand alone.
" `Nevertheless', said he, `I know whom I have believed'." (II Tim. 1: 12).
" `Notwithstanding', said he, `the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me, that
BY ME the teaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear'."
(II Tim. 4: 17).
We cannot avoid the singular insistence of Paul upon himself as the appointed channel
of this precious truth, and it is this complete and unique testimony that is ours, in our turn
and according to our measure, to hold fast, to make known, to teach and to adorn. The
Gnostics claimed to be the ones with whom knowledge had been deposited. The apostle
sets over against this assumption of knowledge falsely so-called the facts of his
stewardship, and urges Timothy to give heed to, to guard, to teach that only.
Here is the impregnable position of the steward of God to-day. He has but one service
to render, one stewardship to fulfil. The pattern of his walk, the form of his doctrine, is
already settled. He follows Paul as Paul followed Christ. Because he holds fast the
pattern of sound words as defined by Paul, traditionalism will call him a Paulite. Let him
say with the apostle, "None of these things move me". Through good report or evil
report, through honour and dishonour, with open pulpits or barred and bolted doors, let
him yield in subjection to those who would mutilate the sacred truth entrusted NOT FOR
AN HOUR. In the light of these things let us read over again the opening words of the
"Charge".
"Charge some that they teach no other doctrine . . . . . than the dispensation of God in
faith" (I Tim. 1: 3, 4).