(b) Paul’s purpose is to build up the faith of the elect. This is the option followed by RSV, TEV, and some other translations (for example, TNT “to build up the faith”). This interpretation at least avoids the problems mentioned in (a) above (compare CEV “encourage God’s own people to have more faith”), and this is the interpretation recommended by this Handbook. For faith see 1 Tim 1:2, 4. Here it can be taken subjectively, referring to trust in and commitment to Jesus Christ, or objectively, referring
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