Was Timothy Saved?

My Husband and I have a question regarding 1 Timothy 4:16. What does it mean when Paul tells Timothy to persevere, because if he does, he would save himself? Timothy would already have been saved. Could you please explain this verse?

Q. My Husband and I have a question regarding 1 Timothy 4:16. What does it mean when Paul tells Timothy to persevere, because if he does, he would save himself? Timothy would already have been saved. The notes in my Bible explain that although we are saved at the time of conversion, salvation is a process. Could you please explain this verse?

A. Paul saw being born again as the first step in a life long process. It’s clear from passages like Romans 10:9, Ephes. 1:13-14, 2 Cor 1:21-22 and others that he knew we belong to God from the first moment of belief. But in 1 Cor. 9:24-27 he argued that we should no more be satisfied with that than the Olympic athlete is satisfied just to be in the race. We should press on toward victory over our sin nature. This is what he was urging Timothy to do.

I like the way some theologians separate salvation, the event, from sanctification, the process. It makes it easier to understand Paul’s letters by helping us see exactly what he’s referring to. Hebrews 10:14, which could have been written by Paul, says it nicely. “By one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.”

We’re saved by faith and have already been made perfect in God’s sight forever. Now, through the regenerative work of the Holy Spirit we’re being made holy, sanctified.

Of course Timothy was saved, or else Paul wouldn’t have installed him as a pastor. In chapter 4 he was encouraging him to go on toward sanctification, being set apart from the world for use by the Lord.