Paul wraps up chapter one with a short phrase that doesn’t seem to be of much consequence. But as we unpack it, we see that there is a lot going on in this verse. It’s the final piece of the of his encouragement to Timothy in this chapter to stand strong. Take a look at it in 1 Timothy 1:20:

There are three phrases in this verse that bear a look.

The first phrase mentions two men who have shipwrecked their faith: Hymenaeus and Alexander. Who were these two men? There’s not a lot of information to go on, but the name Hymenaeus is mentioned again in 2 Timothy 2:17, where his error is mentioned: he apparently taught that the resurrection was already past. He probably spiritualized it, and related it to a person’s conversion, perhaps even denying a bodily resurrection. Whatever the case, it was serious.

Alexander is the other man mentioned. This is a pretty common name, listed again in Acts 19 and in 2 Timothy 4:14. It’s not clear if either of these other two mentions refer to the same man Paul is talking about in this passage.

What seems to be certain is that these two men were probably leaders in the area Timothy was working, perhaps even elders in the church. That makes their errors significant.

In the middle of the first chapter of 1 Timothy, Paul seems to get distracted from the direction of his instructions to Timothy, and breaks into spontaneous worship. We finished memorizing that last week. Now, in verses 18-19, he gets back on track with the direction he was giving his young protege.

The word here that is translated as “instruction” is the same Greek word that is used in verses 3 and 5, where is is translated as “command.” This connects the two passages very clearly. Paul’s concern is that Timothy endure whatever circumstances may come so that he can fulfill the ministry that God has placed him there to accomplish.

Why is Paul so concerned about this young man? Because of the prophecies surrounding Timothy, quite possibly the ones Paul refers to in 4:14, when he mentions Timothy’s commission and the Spirit-bestowed gifts he received when the elders laid they hands on him.

Paul wants Timothy to stand firm, so that he can “fight the good fight.” Paul’s use of strateia here forms images of military strategy and tactics in preparation for battle. In fact, it’s the root for our English word “strategy”.

In order to fight the good fight, Timothy must hold on to faith and a good conscience. Both of these, along with a pure heart, Paul has already mentioned in verse 5. Ignoring these will result in spiritual shipwreck; and in fact, he will go on to mention two men who have done just that in the next verse, which we will examine next week.

Paul’s concern here is for Timothy. But his words ring true for all of us. Holding on to faith and a good conscience are two of the necessary tools we must have to fight the good fight ourselves. Our conscience, for example, is the compass that directs our life. Without a good conscience, it will be too easy for us to drift off course and away from the direction God would have us go. Paul’s instruction to Timothy to hold on to these things is good advice for us as well.

Fight the good fight.

Hold on to faith.

Hold on to a good conscience.

Don’t shipwreck your own faith by rejecting these.

Hold on to them.

What helps you hold on to your faith and a good conscience? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

One of the things I love about Paul’s writings is his propensity for bursting into spontaneous doxologies. And that’s exactly what he does in this week’s passage. It’s only one verse this week, found in 1 Timothy 1:17:

Because of God’s mercy, as Paul has reflected in the previous few verses, Paul feels the need to burst into this brief statement of worship in his letter to Timothy. He describes God in several different ways in this brief sentence.

• King Eternal – Paul expresses not just the eternal nature of God, but his majesty. This phrase could be easily translated as “king of the ages.” Not a huge difference, but it conveys a subtle difference.
• Immortal – Literally, this word conveys the idea of “incorruptible.”
• Invisible – God is unseen, and we must accept him by faith, and not sight. Paul uses this descriptive term elsewhere as well, such as Romans 1:20 and Colossians 1:15.
• The Only God – This phrase brings to mind the Shema, in Deuteronomy 6:4. There is no other to whom this glory is due.

On account of these characteristics of God, Paul concludes that all “honor and glory” are due to him, and him alone, for all of time and beyond. No other is worthy to receive any of God’s glory and honor. Paul’s passion leads you to conclude that he is almost as jealous for all glory and honor to be given to God as God himself is.

So should we be.

Amen.

What do you do in your life to bring all glory and honor to God? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

One of the statements Paul uses frequently through out the Pastoral Epistles is the phrase “this is a trustworthy saying…” He uses it at least five times throughout the Pastoral Epistles, three of which are in 1 Timothy alone.

The first is found in this week’s passage, 1 Timothy 1:15-16:

Five times Paul uses this phrase, each time signifying that he is about to say something that is worth listening to. Here is the first example. The others are found in 1 Timothy 3:1, 1 Timothy 4:9, 2 Timothy 2:11, and Titus 3:8.

Each time Paul uses this, he then makes a statement that carries a lot of weight. It may be a phrase his readers would have been familiar with, maybe even part of a hymn or something frequently expounded upon in the sermons his readers have heard. Whatever the origin, the statement carries authority: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

Paul uses this phrase to emphasize two of the foundational elements of our faith, Christ’s birth and his death on the cross. By including both the incarnation and our redemption, Paul establishes his point that Christ came, and that he came to save.

But then he makes it personal by adding the extension onto the end of the phrase that he is the worst of sinners. This should be the attitude of us all. Christ came to save us, even though we don’t deserve it. Christ came to rescue us, even though we are sinners of the worst kind. Christ came to redeem us, in spite of our sin and failures.

But why?

Paul goes on to say that Christ’s act of mercy was to display his patience in us, so that others could see it and believe.

If God can be patient with Paul, or with me, and still extend his grace to Paul, or to me, then he can do so to anyone who decides to accept that forgiveness and step into eternal life.

And if that isn’t a reason to celebrate, I don’t know what is.

Have you ever thought about yourself being the chiefest of sinners? How does that make you feel? It brings a new appreciation of God’s grace, doesn’t it? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

For the past two weeks, Paul’s letter to timothy has been full of negativity, as he expounded on sin, and comparing what Timothy must face with the Ten Commandments. His purpose was to show that the point of the law is to reveal sin. At the end of that paragraph, however, he throws in a statement filled with worship.

In our passage for this week, he seems to expand on that statement, how God entrusted this precious message to him. Look at 1 Timothy 1:12-14.

First, Paul expands on his statement at the end of the previous paragraph, thankful that Christ gave him strength, found him faithful and trustworthy, and appointed him to Jesus’ service, in spite of his past.

You probably know as well as I do that Paul was once very oppressive to the message he now holds dear. He was a blasphemer, denying what God had accomplished through Jesus. he was a persecutor, striving to destroy Christianity. He was a violent man, capturing, imprisoning, torturing, and even watching the deaths of the followers of Christ. Each of these three descriptions seems to be harsher than the one before it.

But God decided to show Paul mercy. Why? Because he acted in ignorance and unbelief. Paul’s not minimizing his sins here, or trying to excuse his guilt. Rather, he acted as zealously as he could for the Jewish Law. The Old Testament made a distinction between those who sinned in ignorance and those who sinned intentionally and willfully. In Numbers 15:27-31, the Law makes a provision for the one who sinned in ignorance. Consequences were still necessary, but restoration was possible. But for the one who sinned intentionally, he was to be utterly cut off from his people, rejected completely.

Because of Paul’s ignorance of God’s work through Christ, he fell into the first group, explaining why he felt that God offered him mercy and forgiveness.

That grace had been poured out on him abundantly, igniting his own faith and love in Christ.

Paul studied the Law. He knew just how it revealed the sinfulness of man. He knew how it revealed his own sinfulness. And yet, he also rested in the fact that God’s mercy and grace were bigger. God’s forgiveness restored Paul, and made him fit for this ministry to which he was called.

Here’s the amazing thing: God has done the same thing for you and I. Our response should be the same as that of Paul. We should “thank Christ Jesus our Lord.”

How do you display your gratitude to Christ for choosing to use you? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Last week, we started memorizing a passage that we will complete this week. In this first chapter of 1 Timothy, Paul is addressing the need, the use, and the benefits and drawbacks of the Law. In the first verses of this section, he gives us the purpose of the law, and lets us know that the law is not for the righteous, but for the lawbreaker and rebel. He then starts to list several aspects of the lawless.

That’s where we pick up with our passage this week. It’s found in 1 Timothy 1:10-11.

Paul’s list continues with several more descriptions. This list seems to be a refresher course on the Ten Commandments. Let’s take a look:

• Lawbreakers and rebels – You shall have no other gods before me (Commandment 1)
• Ungodly and sinners – You shall not have any idols (2)
• Unholy and irreligious – You shall not misuse the name of the Lord (3); Remember the Sabbath (4)
• Those who kill their fathers or mothers – Honor your father and mother (5)
• Murderers – You shall not murder (6)
• Adulterers and perverts – You shall not commit adultery (7)
• Slave traders – You shall not steal (8)
• Liars and perjurers – You shall not give false testimony (9)
• Any other thing – You shall not covet (10)

The last item in the list isn’t just a blanket statement, covering anything that Paul might have forgotten. It more likely stems from the fact that a covetous nature is hard to detect, so Paul doesn’t list a flagrant example.

All of this is blatantly, distinctly, in opposition to the sound doctrine found in the Gospel. So Paul’s point here is to show that the proper use of the law is to reveal to sinners the nature of sin, and display the salvation and rescue offered by the Gospel.

Paul saw this as his mission; he knew that God entrusted him with this crucial message.

And we have been entrusted with it as well. Our job is to point out the dead end of sin, and help others find the Way. It’s a huge responsibility. But God wouldn’t have handed it to us if he didn’t think we were capable.

Take heart. Be strong. Point out the hopelessness of a sinful life and direct people towards the salvation offered by the glorious Gospel.

Do you call out sin when you see it? Or do you ignore it, hoping someone else will take care of it? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve looked at how Paul addresses the problems with false teachers and the law. In this week’s passage, he seems to desire to clarify what he’s just stated. He doesn’t want any misunderstanding concerning these false teachers and their treatment of the law.

This week’s passage is found in 1 Timothy 1:8-9.

Paul is clear: the law is good because it reflects the will of God. The problem he’s addressing isn’t in the law itself; it’s in the ignorance of these false teachers who are perverting it for their own good. He makes this very clear with the phrase “if one uses it properly.” The purpose of the law is to make it clear that certain actions are wrong, to convict us of sin, such as the list he lays out in the next coupe of verses.

The law is designed to bring us to an awareness of sin. Its purpose is to restrain evil actions.

Paul lists several characteristics of evil in the next few sentences, part of which we’ll memorize next week.

He starts off with three pairs of adjectives. These seem to be descriptive in a relational way.

• lawbreakers and rebels – this is willful rebellion.
• the ungodly and sinful – people who live disobediently, allowing God no place in their lives.
• the unholy and irreligious – those who have no room for reverence or the sacred.

Many commentators have connected Paul’s list here and in the next few verses with the Ten Commandments, such as Homer A. Kent, in The Pastoral Epistles. These three seem to go hand in hand with the first four commandments: Having no other gods, creating graven images, taking God’s name in vain, and keeping the Sabbath. And in fact, verses 9 and 10 list more of Paul’s list, equating them to dishonoring parents (commandment number five), and murder (commandment number six).

Why is Paul giving such a close scrutiny of the law compared to these false teachers here? Because the law was not intended for the righteous; it was given for the sinner. The very essence of the gospel is that Christ died and bore the curse of the law for us. And we have died with him, leaving behind our ties to the law. We are now under grace.

If we were still under the law, then we should also bear the curse of the law. Otherwise the authority of the law dissolves and we have nothing. So the proper use of the law, Paul writes, is to apply it to sinners so that they are convicted of their sin, and see the need for the gospel and salvation which comes through Jesus.

Much of this jumps ahead into next week’s passage, because it’s impossible to separate Paul’s list of criminal activity from the resolution. It’s just easier to memorize in two segments. But don’t worry, while this week ends on a negative note, the good news is just around the corner.

Do you live as if you’re under the law, or under grace? What do you do to help you remember that fact? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.