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1:1 Paul, an apostle of
Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our
Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; 1:2 Unto Timothy,
my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father
and Jesus Christ our Lord.
1:3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into
Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other
doctrine, 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies,
which
minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in
faith: so do.
1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and
of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: 1:6 From which some
having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; 1:7 Desiring to
be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor
whereof they affirm.
1:8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; 1:9
Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for
the
lawless and
disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for
unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers,
for manslayers, 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves
with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if
there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; 1:11
According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was
committed to my trust.
1:12 And I thank
Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that
he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 1:13 Who was
before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained
mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
1:14 And the grace of our
Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and
love which is in Christ Jesus.
1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus
Christ might shew forth all
longsuffering, for a pattern to them which
should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise
God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1:18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the
prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a
good warfare; 1:19 Holding
faith, and a good conscience; which some
having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: 1:20 Of whom is
Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they
may learn not to blaspheme.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
1 Timothy
Book: 1 Timothy
Chapter: 1
Overview:
The
Apostle salutes
Timothy.
(1-4) The design of the
Law as
given
By Moses.
(5-11) Of his own
Conversion and
Call to the
apostleship.
(12-17) The obligation to maintain
Faith and a good
Conscience.
(18-20)
1-4 Jesus Christ is a
Christian's
Hope; all our hopes of
eternal
Life are built upon him; and
Christ is in us the
Hope of
Glory. The
Apostle seems to have been the means of
Timothy's
Conversion; who served with him in his ministry, as a dutiful
son with a loving
Father. That which raises questions, is not
for edifying; that which gives occasion for doubtful disputes,
pulls down the
Church rather than builds it up.
Godliness of
Heart and
Life can only be kept up and increased,
By the
Exercise of
Faith in the truths and promises of
God, through
Jesus Christ.
5-11 Whatever tends to weaken
Love to
God, or
Love to the
brethren, tends to defeat the
End of the commandment. The design
of the
Gospel is answered, when sinners, through
Repentance
towards
God and
Faith in
Jesus Christ, are brought to
Exercise
Christian Love. And as believers were righteous persons in
God's
appointed way, the
Law was not against them. But unless we are
made righteous
By Faith in
Christ, really repenting and
forsaking
Sin, we are yet under the
Curse of the
Law, even
according to the
Gospel of the blessed
God, and are unfit to
share the holy happiness of
Heaven.
12-17 The
Apostle knew that he would justly have perished, if
the
Lord had been extreme to
Mark what was amiss; and also if
his
Grace and
Mercy had not been abundant to him when dead in
Sin, working
Faith and
Love to
Christ in his
Heart. This is a
Faithful saying; these are true and
Faithful words, which may be
depended
On, That the
Son of God came into the world, willingly
and purposely to save sinners.
No Man, with
Paul's
Example
before him, can question the
Love and power of
Christ to save
him, if he really desires to trust in him as the
Son of God, who
once died
On the
Cross, and now reigns upon the
Throne of
Glory,
to save all that come to
God through him. Let us then admire and
praise the
Grace of
God our
Saviour; and ascribe to the
Father,
Son, and
Holy Ghost, three Persons in the unity of the
Godhead,
the
Glory of all done in,
By, and for us.
18-20 The ministry is a warfare against
Sin and
Satan; carried
On under the
Lord Jesus, who is the
Captain of our
Salvation.
The good hopes others have had of us, should stir us up to duty.
And let us be upright in our conduct in all things. The design
of the highest censures in the primitive
Church, was, to prevent
further
Sin, and to reclaim the sinner. May all who are tempted
to
Put away a good
Conscience, and to abuse the
Gospel, remember
that this is the way to make shipwreck of
Faith also.