Survey of the Letters of Paul: 1 Timothy 1:5
1 Timothy 1:5Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. The end of the commandment is charity;” the main design or purpose of the command is to produce love; 1 Peter 1:9 -"Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.", the main design or purpose of faith is to secure salvation; Romans 14:9, “For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.". For this design or purpose. This is doubtless its meaning here. “The main design or object which the perfect obedience of the Law would accomplish, is accomplished by faith in Christ.” ~Barnes Notes |
Now the same phrase from the Adam Clark:
Now the end of the commandment is
charity - These genealogical questions lead
to strife and debate; and the dispensation of God
leads to love both to God and man, through faith in
Christ. These genealogical questions leave the heart
under the influence of all its vile tempers and evil
propensities; Faith in Jesus purifies the heart.
The paraphrase and note of Dr. Macknight on this
verse are very proper: “Now the scope of the charge
to be given by thee to these teachers is, that,
instead of inculcating fables and genealogies, they
inculcate love to God and man, proceeding from a
pure heart, and directed by a good conscience, and
nourished by unfeigned faith in the Gospel doctrine.
The charge here meant is that which the apostle
ordered Timothy to deliver to the teachers in
Ephesus; for he had said, 1Timothy 1:3 : I had
besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, that thou
mightest charge some: here he tells him what the
scope of this charge was to be.” ~Adam Clarke
Now the same phrase from the John Gill:
Now the end of the commandment is charity - By the
"commandment" may be meant, the order given to
Timothy, or the charge committed to him; see 1
Timothy 1:18 to forbid the teaching of another
doctrine, and to avoid fables and endless
genealogies; the end and design of which was to
cultivate peace, to maintain and secure brotherly
love, which cannot long subsist, when a different
doctrine is introduced and received; and to promote
godly edification, which is brought about by charity
or love, for charity edifies; but is greatly
hindered by speculative notions, fabulous stories,
and genealogical controversies and contentions: or
by it may be intended the ministration of the
Gospel, called the commandment, 1Timothy 6:14,
because enjoined the preachers of it by Christ; the
end of which is to bring persons to the obedience of
faith, or to that faith which works by love, to
believe in Christ, to love the Lord, his truths,
ordinances, people, and ways; or rather the moral
law is designed, which is often called the
commandment, Romans 7:8 since of this the apostle
treats in some following verses; the end and design,
sum and substance, completion and perfection of
which law are love to God, and love to one another;
see Matthew 22:36, which charity or love, when
right. ~John Gill
Summation on the first phrase:
The purpose of the Law and all the commands,
encouragements and concepts taught by New Testament
firstfruit teachers was that the Salvation Process
and, therefore, the church atmosphere must be one of
peace and not contention. Christ came in part
to put the Law back to its original purpose, which
is to point an individual to Godly concepts [fruits
of the Spirit or Spirit of the Law] and the
elements of the Salvation Process. This cannot
be accomplished when false doctrines, fables,
genealogies, self-serving brethren and contentions
are on the same stage with the elements of the
Salvation Process. There must be love, which
gives rise to peace in the mind of the firstfruit
and in the congregation of the church.
Is charity - [notice the 2nd and 3rd commentaries
included these two words in the first phrase of the
verse; Barnes Notes did not but handles it
separately] On the meaning of this word, see
notes on 1 Corinthians 13:1. ~Barnes Notes
1 Corinthians 13:1 - Though
I speak with tongues of men and of angels,
and have not charity, I am become as
sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. In the English word “charity,” therefore, there are now some ideas which are not found in the Greek word, and especially the idea of “almsgiving,” and the common use of the word among us in the sense of “candor” or “liberality in judging.” Neither of these ideas, perhaps, are to be found in the use of the word in the chapter before us [1 Corinthians 13]; and the more proper translation would have been, in accordance with the usual mode of translation in the New Testament, love. Tyndale in his translation, renders it by the word “love.” The “love” which is referred to in this chapter, and illustrated, is mainly “love to man” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. ...though there is no reason to doubt that the apostle meant also to include in the general term love to God, or love in general. His illustrations, however, are chiefly drawn from the effects of love toward people. It properly means love to the whole church, love to the whole world; love to all creatures which arises from true piety, and which centers ultimately in God - Doddridge. It is this love whose importance Paul, in this beautiful chapter, illustrates as being more valuable than the highest possible endowments without it. It is not necessary to suppose that anyone had these endowments, or had the power of speaking with the tongues of human beings and angels; or had the gift of prophecy, or had the highest degree of faith who had no love. The apostle supposes a case; and says that if it were so, if all these were possessed without love, they would be comparatively valueless; or that love was a more valuable endowment than all the others would be without it. Summary of this commentary in 1 Corinthians 13: What all this means is that the atmosphere in the church and the attitude of the firstfruit must be love and an outgoing concern for the Salvation Process each member has been called to. That is, we never want our actions, words or attitudes to harm or offend the Salvation Process the other brethren are going through. |
Now the second phrase of 1 Timothy 1:5...
Out of a pure heart - The love which is genuine must
proceed from a holy heart. The commandment was not
designed to secure merely the outward expressions of
love, but that which had its seat in the heart.
~Barnes Notes
Now from the John Gill:
out of a pure heart - which no man has
naturally; every man's heart is naturally impure;
nor can he make it pure; by the strength of nature,
or by anything that he can do: there are some that
are pure in their own eyes, and in the esteem of
others, and yet are not cleansed from their
filthiness, and are inwardly full of all manner of
impurity; though there are some that have pure
hearts, and they are such, who have clean hearts
created in them by the Spirit of God; who are
regenerated and sanctified by Him; whose hearts are
purified by faith; and who have their hearts
sprinkled from an evil conscience by the blood of
Christ; and who are not double minded, speak with a
heart and a heart, but whose hearts are sincere and
upright, and without hypocrisy; so that charity or
love, from such a heart, is love without
dissimulation, which is not in tongue and words
only, but in deed and in truth; it is an unfeigned
love, or loving with a pure heart fervently.
~John Gill
Let us look at some scriptures on this:
Acts 15:5-9
5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the
Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was
needful to circumcise them, and to command them to
keep the law of Moses.
6 And the apostles and elders came together for to
consider of this matter.
7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose
up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know
how that a good while ago God made choice among us,
that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word
of the gospel, and believe.
8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them
witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did
unto us;
9 And put no difference between us and them,
purifying their hearts by faith.
2 Timothy 2:19-26
19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure,
having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are
his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of
Christ depart from iniquity.
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels
of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of
earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he
shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet
for the master's use, and prepared unto every good
work.
22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow
righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that
call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid,
knowing that they do gender strifes.
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but
be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose
themselves; if God peradventure will give them
repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the
snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at
his will.
Titus 1:9-16
9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been
taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both
to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and
deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole
houses, teaching things which they ought not, for
filthy lucre's sake.
12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own,
said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts,
slow bellies.
13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them
sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and
commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them
that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure;
but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
16 They profess that they know God; but in works
they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient,
and unto every good work reprobate.
Now the same phrase from the John Gill
And of a good conscience; there is a conscience in
every man, that accuses or excuses, unless it is
cauterized or seared: but this conscience is
naturally evil and defiled, and does not perform its
office aright; either it takes no notice of, and is
not concerned about sin, and has no remorse for it,
or it takes notice of little things, and lets pass
greater ones, or speaks peace when destruction is at
hand: a good conscience is a conscience purified by
the grace of God, and purged from dead works by the
blood of Christ; under the influence of which a man
acts uprightly in the discharge of his duty, and
exercises a conscience void of offence towards God
and man; and charity, proceeding from such a
conscience, is of the right kind: and of faith
unfeigned; with which a man really, and from the
heart, believes what he professes; so did not Simon
Magus, and all other temporary believers, whose
faith is a feigned faith, a dead and inactive one;
whereas true faith is an operative grace, it is
attended with good works, and particularly it works
by love: and that charity or love, which springs
from faith unfeigned, is unfeigned love also, such
as answers the design, and is the substance of the
commandment. ~ John Gill
Now the last phrase of this verse:
And of faith unfeigned - Undissembled confidence in
God. This does seem to be intended specifically of
faith in the Lord Jesus, but it means that all true
love to God, such as this law would produce, must be
based on confidence in him. How can anyone have love
to him who has no confidence in him? Can we exercise
love to a professed friend in whom we have no
confidence? Faith, then, is as necessary under the
law as it is under the gospel. ~Barnes Notes
Remember the sermon on having the same
faith God has ["Tell
It to the Mountain"]. This phrase
is declaring that we must be in the process of
approaching or moving toward the same faith God has.
There can be no doubt in God, Christ, the Word of
God or His plan and workings with us and all
firstfruits in the Salvation Process.
Now the Adam Clarke:
Of faith unfeigned - A faith not hypocritical. The
apostle appears to allude to the Judaizing teachers,
who pretended faith in the Gospel, merely that they
might have the greater opportunity to bring back to
the Mosaic system those who had embraced the
doctrine of Christ crucified. This Is evident from
the following verse. ~Adam Clarke
The same phrase from the Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
commentary:
faith unfeigned — not a hypocritical, dead, and
unfruitful faith, but faith working by love
(Galatians 5:6). The false teachers drew men off
from such a loving, working, real faith, to
profitless, speculative “questions” (1 Timothy 1:4)
and jangling (1 Timothy1:6). ~Jamieson, Fausset &
Brown
Now I want to finish with verses of the Bible
related to 1 Timothy 1:5...
For the end of the commandment...
Romans 10:14
How then shall they call on him in whom they have
not believed? and how shall they believe in him of
whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear
without a preacher?
Romans 13:8-10
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for
he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou
shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not
bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if
there be any other commandment, it is briefly
comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love
thy neighbour as thyself.
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore
love is the fulfilling of the law.
1 John 4:7-14
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of
God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and
knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is
love.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us,
because that God sent his only begotten Son into the
world, that we might live through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that
he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation
for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to
love one another.
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one
another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is
perfected in us.
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in
us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father
sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
For Charity...
1 Peter 4:7-9
7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye
therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
8 And above all things have fervent charity among
yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of
sins.
9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
2 Peter 1:2-8
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the
knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us
all things that pertain unto life and godliness,
through the knowledge of him that hath called us to
glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and
precious promises: that by these ye might be
partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the
corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your
faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance
patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to
brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they
make you that ye shall neither be barren nor
unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
For a pure heart...
Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right
spirit within me.
Jeremiah 4:14
O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that
thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain
thoughts lodge within thee?
Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see
God.
Matthew 12:35
A good man out of the good treasure of the heart
bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of
the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
2 Timothy 2:22
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness,
faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the
Lord out of a pure heart.
1 John 3:3
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth
himself, even as he is pure.
For a good conscience...
1 Timothy 1:19
Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some
having put away concerning faith have made
shipwreck:
Acts 23:1
And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men
and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience
before God until this day.
Acts 24:16
And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a
conscience void of offence toward God, and toward
men.
Romans 9:1
I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience
also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost [Spirit].
Titus 1:15
Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them
that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure;
but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
Hebrew 9:14
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through
the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to
God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve
the living God?
Hebrews 13:18
Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience,
in all things willing to live honestly.
1 Peter 3:16
Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak
evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed
that falsely accuse your good conversation in
Christ.
For faith unfeigned...
Mark 11:22 ...from the sermon, "Tell It to
the Mountain"
And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in
God.
1 John 3:23
And this is his commandment, That we should believe
on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one
another, as he gave us commandment.
Summery of the verse:
This verse is in contrast to verse four where we see
false teachers with false doctrines or member caught
up in elements giving rise to contention and strife
in the congregation. Paul is advocating and
encouraging how things should be in the church...the
ideal. This is accomplished in the heart of
each firstfruit working on a three part process:
1: Love from a pure heart.
2: of a good conscience
3: invoking the same faith God has
If we do these things individually, we will have
peace among the true firstfruits and be unhindered
in our personal and collective duties and work in
the Church of God.