1st Timothy Chapter 1

From The Open Bible Project

Paul's First Letter to Timothy

1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and Christ Jesus our hope;

• (1) First of all, he affirms his own free vocation and also Timothy’s, that the one might be confirmed by the other: and in addition he declares the sum of the apostolic doctrine, that is, the mercy of God in Christ Jesus apprehended by faith, the end of which is yet hoped for.

1:2 to Timothy, my true child in faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

• (a) There is as much difference between mercy and grace, as is between the effect and the cause: for grace is that free good will of God, by which he chose us in Christ, and mercy is that free justification which follows it.

1:3 As I urged you when I was going into Macedonia, stay at Ephesus that you might command certain men not to teach a different doctrine,

• (2) This whole epistle consists in admonitions, in which all the duties of a faithful pastor are plainly set out. And the first admonition is this, that no innovation is made either in the apostle’s doctrine itself, or in the manner of teaching it.

1:4 neither to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which cause disputes, rather than God's stewardship, which is in faith--

• (3) The doctrine is corrupted not only by false opinions, but also by vain and curious speculations: the declaration and utterance of which can help our faith in no way.
• (b) He makes note of one type of vain question.

1:5 but the goal of this command is love, out of a pure heart and a good conscience and unfeigned faith;

• (4) The second admonition is, that the right use and practice of the doctrine must be joined with the doctrine. And that consists in pure charity, and a good conscience, and true faith.
• (c) Of the Law.
• (d) There is neither love without a good conscience, nor a good conscience without faith, nor faith without the word of God.

1:6 from which things some, having missed the mark, have turned aside to vain talking;

• (5) That which he spoke before generally of vain and curious controversies, he applies to those who, pretending a zeal of the Law, dwelled upon outward things, and never made an end of babbling of foolish trifles.

1:7 desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say, nor about what they strongly affirm.

• (6) There are none more unlearned, and more impudent in usurping the name of holiness, than foolish babblers, who reason fallaciously.

1:8 But we know that the law is good, if a man uses it lawfully,

• (7) The taking away of an objection: he does not condemn the Law, but requires the right use and practice of it.

1:9 as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

• (8) He indeed escapes the curse of the Law, and therefore does not abhor it, who fleeing and avoiding those things which the Law condemns, gives himself with all his heart to observe it: and he does not make a vain babbling of outward and curious matters.
• (e) And such a one is he, whom the Lord has endued with true doctrine, and with the Holy Spirit.
• (f) To those who make an art, as it were, of sinning.

1:10 for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave-traders, for liars, for perjurers, and for any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine;

1:11 according to the Good News of the glory of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

• (9) He contrasts fond and vain babbling with, not only the Law, but the Gospel also, which does not condemn, but greatly commends the wholesome doctrine contained in the commandments of God. And therefore he calls it a glorious Gospel, and the Gospel of the blessed God, the power of which these babblers did not know.
• (10) A reason why neither any other Gospel is to be taught than he has taught in the Church, neither after any other way, because there is no other Gospel besides that which God committed to him.

1:12 And I thank him who enabled me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he counted me faithful, appointing me to service;

• (11) He maintains of necessity his apostleship against some that did find fault with his former life, debasing himself even to hell, to advance only Christ’s only, with which he abolished all those his former doings.
• (g) Who gave me strength, not only when I had no will to do well, but also when I was wholly given to evil.

1:13 although I was before a blasphemer, a persecutor, and insolent. However, I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

• (h) These are the meritorious works which Paul brags of.

1:14 The grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

• (12) He proves this change by the effects, because he who was a profane man, has become a believer: and he that did most outrageously persecute Christ, burns now in love towards him.

1:15 The saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

• (13) He turns the reproach of the adversaries upon their own head, showing that this singular example of the goodness of God, contributes greatly to the benefit of the whole Church.
• (i) Worthy to be believed.

1:16 However, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first, Jesus Christ might display all his patience, for an example of those who were going to believe in him for eternal life.

1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

• (14) He breaks out into an exclamation, even because of the very zeal of his mind, because he cannot satisfy himself in amplifying the grace of God.
• (k) See John 17:3

1:18 This instruction I commit to you, my child Timothy, according to the prophecies which led the way to you, that by them you may wage the good warfare;

• (15) The conclusion of both the former fatherly admonitions, that is, that Timothy striving bravely against all stops, being called to the ministry according to many prophecies which went before of him, should both maintain the doctrine which he had received, and keep also a good conscience.
• (l) By the help of them.

1:19 holding faith and a good conscience; which some having thrust away made a shipwreck concerning the faith;

• (m) Wholesome and sound doctrine.
• (16) Whoever does not keep a good conscience, loses also by little and little, the gift of understanding. And this he proves by two most lamentable examples.

1:20 of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I delivered to Satan, that they might be taught not to blaspheme.

• (17) Those who fall from God, and his religion, are not to be endured in the Church, but rather ought to be excommunicated.
• (n) Cast out of the Church, and so delivered them to Satan.
• (o) That by their pain they might learn how serious it is to blaspheme.