1 Timothy 1

After the unusual inscription of the epistle 3 the apostle declares that he had left Timothy at the Ephesus to take care that no strange nor vain doctrines should broached in the church 5 sheweth also what is rightened of the law 8 which is appointed not for righteous 11 but that the gospel of god was committed in trust unto him 13 whereof he propounds the brief contents with a relation of great grace which was showed him by Christ 17 for which he thanketh God 81and commands Timothy to adhere thereunto 20 testifies that Hymeneus and Alexander had made shipwreck of the faith whom he had therefore given unto Satan.

1. Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ according to the command of God our savior [so god the father is called elsewhere as Luke 1:47 1 Timothy 2:3 Titus 1:3 because he gives us salvation by Christ see 2Corinnthians 5.18c. others read of God the father and our saviour Jesus Christ] and of the Lord Jesus Christ who is our hope which we have of our salvation see Acts 4:12]

2. To Timothy my true son [that is my greatly beloved son as he speaks 2Timothy 1.2 for the Greek word gnesios or genuine is not opposite to untrue r bastard sons but signifies a special degree of Paul’s love towards and a special affection and reverence of Timothy towards Paul it is properly such a son as lively and representeth the nature and disposition of the father as he also calls Titus, Titus 13] in the faith[that is according to the common faith as he speaks Titus 1.3whereby Paul sheweth that he speaks not of natural birth but of supernatural whereby he had by the gospel gained him to Christ and brought him to common faith see 1Corinthians 4.14,15] grace [see hereof the beginnings of the other epistles of Paul]mercy peace be unto thee [this is a fruit of the grace of God for as by grace the eternal grace of our election is here fitly understood so by mercy the forgiveness of our sins through faith and by peace the quietness of our conscience in God is understood Romans 5:1 &c]from God our father and Jesus Christ our Lord

3. As I exhorted thee [or entreated]that thou shouldst abide at Ephesus when I traveled towards Macedonia [of this journey of Paul see Acts 20.1c] so I exhort thee still ]this or the like here must be necessary supplied from what goes before to make the sense perfect and here the end is expressed wherefore Paul left Timothy at Ephesus not to continue there always and to be bishop there as some think but for a while an evangelist and fellow laborer of the apostles to confirm the church against those who sought to bring in perverse doctrine as he speaks Acts 20:29 for that Timothy afterwards returned unto Paul appears from 2 Timothy 4:9,10,11] to charge some that they teach no other doctrine that is strange or perverse doctrine ]

4. Nor give themselves to sable sand endless genealogy[or to keep to sables have regard to sables although the Greeks also mingled many sables amongst their religious worship and genealogy of their gods nevertheless Paul seems here to have respect to some who came from Judaism and who joined their Talmudish sables and the endless genealogy with the word of God as they also sought to mingle the law with the gospel of all which things Paul here warns Timothy as he also expressly calls them Jewish sables Titus 1:14]which produce more contentious question then edifying of God [that is edification which is according to God others read dispensation of God as 1Corinthians 4.1]which is in faith.

5. But the end of the commandment [by the Greek word parangelia that is command ,charge or exhortation which is used here and verse 18 some understand the charge which Paul here lays upon Timothy whereof the end or scope is charity out of the pure heart c others by the word commandment understand the law of god which some sought as a reason to introduce besides the gospel of which the apostle teacheth that the right end or scope under the gospel must be love to God and our neighbor out of a pure heart not that the same law must be taught as some perversely urged it and this interpretation better agrees with the seventh other following verses] is charity [namely towards God and our neighbor Matthew 22:37&c] out of a pure heart [that is a sincere heart without hypocrisy]and out of good conscience [that is which is rightly and well informed of its actions out of Gods word and is renewed by the spirit of God Hebrews 9:14 see further the annotation on verse 19]and out of an unseighned faith [namely in Christ and redeemer whereby we are just before God and assured of grace towards us from for which saith these other gifts spring Romans 5:1 ,2 Galatians 5:6&]

6. from which [namely foregoing virtues and scopes] some bring turned aside [the Greek word signifies the turning aside or missing of the mark that is set before us] they turned themselves unto vain speaking [namely of the end of the law which they understood not but have brought in the law as a burden which neither we nor our father were able to bear as Peter speaketh Acts 15:10 and as the following verse declares]

7. Willing to be teachers of the law not understanding [namely as they ought] neither what they say nor what they affirm .

8. But we know that the law is good [namely in itself and being rightly understood as Romans 7:12 ,14 if] if anyone use it lawfully that is for such an end as it was given by God see Romans 10:4 Galatians 3:17]

9. And he that knoweth this that the law is not appointed for a righteous man [that is for those being justified by faith in Christ and sanctifies by his spirit gladly and willingly serve and obey God namely to condemn them or terrify them by its threatening power or to constrain them to obedience only for fear of punishment see Romans 6.41 and chapter 7.6]but for the righteous and obstinacy and for the ungodly and for sinners ]that is who make it their work to sin or go in sin with delight as Psalms 1:1 Job 9:31] for unholy and profane ones for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers for man slayers

10. For whoremongers for them that lie with men for men-stealers for liars for perjured ones and if there is any other contrary to sound doctrine [that is the doctrine of godliness the so called because it is perfect in itself and brings a man to his spiritual soundness se Psalms 19:8 &c 2Timothy 1.13]

11. According to the gospel of the glory of blessed God [that is according to the doctrine of the gospel wherein the glory of our savior is set forth] which is entrusted [that is imposed or committed unto me]

12. And I thank him who enabled me [that is hath given me power and fitness 2 Corinthians 3:5,6 or else has so strengthened me hither to that I saint not under the burden]namely Christ Jesus our Lord that he hath esteemed me faithfully [this must not be understood of any faithfulness which God foresaw in Paul before he had mercy upon him but whereunto he was come by God showing him mercy even as he declares 1Corinthians 7.25 and 2 Corinthians 4:1 1 Thessalonians 2:4] having put me into the ministry[namely of the apostleship]

13. Me before who was a blasphemer and a persecutor and an oppressor [or a reviler] but mercy was showed to me seeing I did it ignorantly[namely of the divinity and truth of the gospel as Acts 3:17 whereby he doth not excuse himself as if he had not therefore been liable to punishment before God and testifies the contrary of himself afterwards verse 15,16 as also in general 2Thessalonian 1.8 but gives hereby to understand that his sin was not his sin against the holy ghost done out of obstinacy and hatred of the known truth and therefore pardonable through the grace and merits of Christ in mine unbelief.

14. But the grace of our Lord was very abundant with faith and love [namely towards Christ and his gospel faith therefore is opposed to his former ignorance and love to his blasphemy and persecution] which is Christ Jesus [that is through the grace of Christ Jesus or in the state that is in Christ Jesus]

15. this is faithful word [that is certain and true word] and worthy of all acceptation that Christ came unto the world to save sinners of whom I am the chief [Gr the first that is of greatest namely in respect of my former blasphemy and persecution see also 1 Corinthians 15:9]

16. But therefore I obtain mercy [or God had mercy on me as verse 31] that is in me who am the chief Jesus Christ show all his long suffering [namely God in the gospel hath promised to exercise that he may bring sinners to repentance]

17. Now the king of ages [that is of all creatures as this word ages is taken in Hebrews 1:2 or who is from eternity and live to eternity the incorruptible and invisible the only wise god that is who is only wise of himself and perfectly as is he is also in such a good sense called only good Matthew 19:17] be honor and glory to all eternity [Gr in or unto eternity of etenities] amen

18. This commands commits I to thee [the Greek word signifies properly to commit ought to any man that a man lays up with him or gives him to keep] my own son Timothy that according to the prophecies which went before concerning thee [that is predictions for in the time of the apostle there were certain man of god separated unto the ministry of the gospel by the command of the holy ghost even as Paul and Barnabas were so sent forth Acts 13:2 or it was foretold concerning them by certain prophecies what should befall them as may be seen Acts 11:27,28and chapter 20.23 and chapter 21.11 of Timothy is also testified hereafter chapter 4.14]thou mightiest in the same [namely prediction or prophecies that is in those things which are foretold thee before hand] war the good warfare [which is understood not only of the labour diligence and conflict which is imposed upon all believers in their general calling but also on faithful teachers in special see 2 Timothy4.7,8]

19. Holding [Gr having that is keeping or holding fast] faith[that is the possession or doctrine of the true faith as appears by the oppositions of the blasphemies of Hymeneus and Alexander in the following verse [and a conscience [that is an upright conscience which all its action orders itself according to that whereof it is informed out of the word of God and not according to ambition or covetousness or other evil affection which may easily be judged by those that compare mans words with their actions]which[namely good or upright conscience] some having thrust away [that is not having regarded]have suffered shipwreck [that is fare fallen or fallen away a similitude taken from those who lose their goods by their shipwreck see afterwards chapter 4.1 [of the faith or about or about in concerning the faith tat is of true doctrine or possession of the faith as the following verse requires and as Paul further declares 2Timothy 2.17,18]

20. Amongst whom is Hymeneous and Alexander many think that this is the same Alexander taken of Acts 19:33 which nevertheless is not certain but seeing he is here joined with Hymeneus he must also have been guilty of the same errors and blasphemies whereof this Hymeneus is accused by Paul 2Timothy 2.18 namely the he denies the resurrection of the dead ]whom I have given up to Satan [namely of excommunication whereof see further exposition on 1Corinthians 5.5] that they might learn [that is might be think themselves better and come to acknowledgement of their errors which is the end of ecclesiastical discipline as Paul also testifies 1Corinthians 5.5and 2Thessalonins 3.14 or if they repented not they might do the church of God the less hurt and by their punishment might be an example to other blasphemies and seducers for the Greek word signifies to be taught and to be chastified]no more to blasphemy [that is to speak evil of wholesome doctrines or the truth of God as the same word blasphemy is also used concerning doctrine hereafter chapter 6.1 and Titus 2:5]