1 Timothy 1:19

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Timothy 1:18-20

1:18-20 I entrust this charge to you, Timothy lad, because it is the natural consequence of the messages which came to the prophets from God, and which marked you out as the very man for this work, so that, in obedience to these messages, you may wage a fine campaign, maintaining your faith and a good conscience all the time; and there are some who, in matters of the faith, have repelled the guidance of conscience, and have come to shipwreck. Amongst them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Timothy 1:18-20

What then is entrusted to Timothy? He is despatched to fight a good campaign. The picture of life as a campaign is one which has always fascinated men's thoughts. Maximus of Tyre said: "God is the general; life is the campaign; man is the soldier." Seneca said: "For me to live, my dear Lucilius, is to be a soldier." When a man became a follower of the goddess Isis and was initiated into the Mysteries connected with the goddess' name, the summons to him was: "Enrol yourself in the sacred... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Timothy 1:18-20

The passage closes with a stern rebuke to two members of the Church who have injured the Church, grieved Paul, and made shipwreck of their own lives. Hymenaeus is mentioned again in 2 Timothy 2:17 ; and Alexander may well be the Alexander who is referred to in 2 Timothy 4:14 . Paul has three complaints against them. (i) They had rejected the guidance of conscience. They had allowed their own desires to speak with more persuasiveness than the voice of God. (ii) They had relapsed into... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Timothy 1:19

Holding faith, and a good conscience ..... By "faith" is meant, not the grace of faith, but the doctrine of faith, a sense in which it is often used in this epistle; see 1 Timothy 3:9 and the "holding" of it does not intend a mere profession of it, and a retaining of that without wavering, which is to be done by all believers; but a holding it forth in the ministry of the word, in opposition to a concealing or dropping it, or any part of it; and a holding it fast, without wavering, and in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 1:19

Holding faith - All the truths of the Christian religion, firmly believing them, and fervently proclaiming them to others. And a good conscience - So holding the truth as to live according to its dictates, that a good conscience may be ever preserved. As the apostle had just spoken of the Christian's warfare, so he here refers to the Christian armor, especially to the shield and breastplate; the shield of faith, and the breastplate of righteousness. See on Ephesians 6:13 , etc.,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 1:19

Verse 19 19Having faith and a good conscience I understand the word faith to be a general term, denoting sound doctrine. In the same sense he afterwards speaks of “the mystery of faith.” (1 Timothy 3:9.) And, indeed, the chief things demanded from a teacher are these two: — that he shall hold by the pure truth of the gospel; and next, that he shall administer it with a good conscience and holiest zeal. Where these are found, all the others will follow of their own accord. From which some... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 1:1-20

St. Paul was about to commit extensive powers in the Church to Timothy. It was therefore necessary that lie should define clearly the source of his own authority. This he does very distinctly. He was an apostle according to the commandment of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence his power to delegate authority to his son Timothy, and hence the duty of the Church to submit to Timothy's ruling. Among the powers committed to Timothy was that of ordaining bishops and deacons by the laying on of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 1:19

Thrust from them for put away , A.V.; made shipwreck concerning the faith for concerning faith have made shipwreck , A.V. Thrust from them. The addition "from them" is meant to give the force of the middle voice as in Acts 7:39 , A.V. The verb ἀπώθομαι occurs Acts 7:27 , Acts 7:39 ; Romans 11:1 , Romans 11:2 . It is a strong expression, implying here the willful resistance to the voice of conscience. The form ἀπωθέω , - έομαι is found, Acts 13:46 , and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 1:19

"Some have made shipwreck." Words sound differently to different men. Language is a "word-picture," and we must see the facts before we understand the word. Paul chooses a metaphor applied to character, which is so terrible when applied to disasters at sea. Many a beautiful vessel has arrested the gaze of admiring spectators as she spread her sails to the favoring breeze, and breasted the waters like a thing of life. But, on another shore, her shivered timbers and her shattered prow have been... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Timothy 1:19

Holding faith - Fidelity to the cause in which you are enlisted - as a good soldier should do. This does not mean, as it seems to me, that Timothy should hold to the system of doctrines revealed in the gospel, but that he should have that fidelity which a good soldier should have. He should not betray his trust. He should adhere to the cause of his master with unwavering steadfastness. This would include, of course, a belief of the truth, but this is not the leading idea in the phrase.And a... read more

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