1 Timothy 1
1:1 The fact that this letter clearly claims to be written by Paul is an important point. If a person denies Paul wrote 1 Timothy, this raises significant issues for his view of the reliability of the Scriptures.
1:2 Paul’s normal greeting in his letters was grace and peace. Some interpreters wonder at the addition of mercy here, but Paul often introduced topics in the opening of his letters that he would refer to later on. The reference to “mercy” prepares for the discussion of Paul receiving mercy in vv. 13,16.
1:3 At least one of Timothy’s purposes in Ephesus was to address the false teaching that was troubling the church. We are not given enough information to determine exactly what the false teaching was. The concern here is not so much the identity of the false teaching as its effect—“empty speculations” (v. 4) and “fruitless discussion” (v. 6). This is in direct contrast to the goal of apostolic instruction in v. 5.
1:4 Myths is a negative term used to characterize something as fanciful or untrue. Thus it is used here (and elsewhere in the Pastoral Epistles; 2Tm 4:4; Ti 1:14) to critique false teaching as the stuff of “fairy tales.” Genealogies seems to refer to speculative interpretations of the OT.
1:5-7 The goal of the false teachers was speculation. But the goal of all Christian teaching should always be love, even when confronting false teachers.
1:8 There is an important contrast here. The false teachers did not know what they were talking about (v. 7), but Paul and his coworkers (we) did know the truth about the law. Many Christians today think of the law as bad, but Paul clearly stated here that the law is good. Some have certainly misused the law (as the false teachers did), but the law itself was a gracious gift of God to Israel (Ps 119).
1:9-10 Paul stated that the law is not the basis for Christian living; rather, it works to expose sin. This is similar to his argument in Gl 5.
1:11 Sound doctrine is what flows out of the gospel itself.
1:12 Having just mentioned being entrusted with the gospel (v. 11), Paul gave thanks because Christ was willing to appoint him to service in spite of his past sins. Paul marveled that God considered him worthy of his trust, even though he had previously been unbelieving and untrusting (v. 13).
1:13-14 Paul’s ignorance was not the reason he had been shown mercy, as if ignorance excused sin or warranted mercy. The point is that his salvation was undeserved. He probably made this point to contrast with the false teachers. When Paul opposed Christ and persecuted the church in the past, he had not yet professed faith. These false teachers professed to follow Christ but still acted to undermine his influence. They were coming dangerously close to being cut off from God’s mercy (Mt 12:31-32; Mk 3:28-29; Lk 12:10; 1Jn 5:16).
1:15-16 The designation of certain sayings as trustworthy is a particular distinctive of 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus. Paul used this designation for emphasis. The apostle’s earlier statements may sound as if his salvation was due to his own faithfulness or his ignorance, but these two verses make it clear that Paul marveled at his conversion since he knew himself to be so bad. He was an example of what true instruction was supposed to accomplish. He had been the sort of person for whom the law was intended (1Tm 1:9-10). The result of the gospel in his life was not idle speculation but transformation.
1:17 Jonathan Edwards testified that this was the verse that brought him to Christ. Paul was amazed that such a God would stoop to save one such as him. Whether Paul’s praise here is of the Father or the Son is unclear, but it could be either. Doxologies also occur in the Pastoral Epistles in 6:16 and 2Tm 4:18.
1:18 The point here is that God had spoken through others to set Timothy apart for the task of ministry. The purpose of this assurance of divine call was to strengthen Timothy for the work (see note at 4:14).
1:19 The phrase shipwrecked their faith is strong language. It refers to someone who once professed faith but has now destroyed it, showing they were never truly converted.
1:20 Hymenaeus is mentioned in 2Tm 2:17-18 as teaching false doctrine about the resurrection. Delivered to Satan is a typical way of referring to excommunication, or being put out of the church (1Co 5:5). This language highlights the importance and protection of church membership since being put out of the fellowship makes a person more vulnerable to Satan.
