Survey of the Letters of Paul: 1 Timothy 1:8
1 Timothy 1:8| Wherefore - So that. The conclusion to
which we come is, that the Law is not to be
blamed, though these are its effects under
existing circumstances. The source of all
this is not the Law, but the corrupt nature
of man. The Law is good; and yet the
position of the apostle is true, that it is
not adapted to purify the heart of fallen
man. Its tendency is to excite increased
guilt, conflict, alarm, and despair. This
verse contains an answer to the question in
Romans 7:7, “Is the law sin?” Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. Is holy - Is not sin; compare Romans 7:7. It is pure in its nature. And the commandment - The word “commandment” is here synonymous with the Law. It properly means what is enjoined. Holy - Pure. Just - Righteous in its claims and penalties. It is not unequal in its exactions. Good - In itself good; and in its own nature tending to produce happiness. The sin and condemnation of the guilty is not the fault of the Law. If obeyed, it would produce happiness everywhere. See a most beautiful description of the law of God in Psalm 19:7-11. ~Barnes Notes Continuing with this separate commentary on Romans 7:12, let us look at that reference to Psalm 19:7-11: Psalm 19:7-11 7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Note: These verses clearly explain how the law is good. |
Now to other commentaries on the first part of
verse 8, "But we know that the law is good."
But we know that the law is good - The law as given
by God, is both good in itself and has a good
tendency. This is similar to what the apostle had
asserted, Romans 7:12-16 : The law is holy; and the
commandment is holy, just, and good; see the note on
Romans 7:12, etc. ~Adam Clarke
Another one...
This one is rather wordy with just three sentences.
The first is 349 words long, the second 317 words
and the last 121 words. However, as we wade
through the text we will get a definite feeling for
what the Law really is.
But we know that the law is good -The apostle says
this to prevent an objection that might be made to
him, that seeing he bore so hard on such who were
fond of being teachers of the law, he was himself
against the law, and the preaching and proper use of
it; but this he would not have concluded, for he and
his fellow labourers in the ministry, and all true
believers know, from the Scriptures of truth, from
the agreement of the law with the Gospel, and from
their own experience, that the law is good, provided
it be used in a lawful way, and to lawful purposes:
and this is to be understood not of the ceremonial
law, which was now disannulled, because of the
weakness and unprofitableness of it, so that there
was no lawful use of that; but of the moral law,
which must needs be good, since the author of it is
God, who is only good; and nothing but good can come
from him: the law, strictly moral, is a copy of his
nature, transcribed out of himself, as well as with
his own hands; and is a declaration of his will, and
is stamped with his authority, and therefore must be
good: the matter of it is good, it contains good,
yea, great and excellent things; the matter of it is
honestly and morally good, as to love mercy, do
justice, and walk humbly with God: and it is
pleasantly good to a regenerate man, who loves it,
and delights in it after the inner man, and serves
it with his spirit; though the carnal mind cannot be
subject to it, but rejects it, and rebels against
it: and it is also profitably good; for though
obedience to it is not profitable to God, yet it is
to men; and though eternal life is not obtained
hereby, nor any reward given for keeping it, yet in
keeping it there is a reward; and that peace is
enjoyed, which the transgressors of it are strangers
to: it is good in the uses of it, both to sinners
and to saints.
To sinners it is useful for the knowledge of sin, to
convince of it, and bring them to a sense of it, and
concern for it, which is effectually done, when the
Spirit of God sets in with it, or brings this
commandment home to the heart; and if it has not
this use, it is sometimes a means of restraining men
from sin, which is the use of civil laws among men;
and if it has not this, it is of use however to
accuse men rightly of sin, and to pronounce justly
guilty before God for it, to curse them as they
deserve it, and to sentence to condemnation and
death: and to believers it is of use, though they
are not under it as in the hands of Moses, and as a
covenant of works, and are freed from its curse and
condemnation, and under no obligation to seek for
life and righteousness by it; to them it is of use,
to point out to them what is the will of God, and
what should be done, and not done; and it is a rule
of walk and conversation to them, as in the hands of
Christ; and is as a glass to them to behold their
own deformity, the impurity of their nature, the
plague of their own hearts, and the imperfection of
their obedience; by which they see the insufficiency
of their own righteousness, how far they are from
perfection, and what carnal creatures they are, when
compared with this law: and as this serves to put
them out of conceit with themselves, so it tends to
make Christ and his righteousness more lovely and
valuable in their esteem; who has wrought out a
righteousness as broad and as long as the law is,
and by which it is magnified and made honourable,
and has delivered them from its curse and
condemnation.
And this law is good as it is holy, in its author,
nature, and use; and as it is just, requiring just
things, and doing that which is just, by acquitting
those who are interested in Christ's righteousness,
and in condemning those that have no righteousness;
and as it is a spiritual and perfect law, which
reaches the spirit and soul of man, and is concerned
with inward thoughts and motions, as well as outward
actions; and especially the end of it, the
fulfilling end of it is good, which is Jesus Christ,
who was made under it, came to fulfil it, and has
answered all the demands of it: so that it must be
good, and which cannot be denied. ~John Gill
Now notice this short comment from the Jamieson,
Fausset and Brown...
But — “Now we know” (Romans 3:19; Romans 7:14).
Romans 3:19
Now we know that what things soever the law saith,
it saith to them who are under the law: that every
mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become
guilty before God.
Romans 7:14
For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am
carnal, sold under sin.
law is good — in full agreement with God’s holiness
and goodness. ~Jamieson, Fausset and Brown
Now the second part of the verse:
If a man use it lawfully - In a proper manner; for
the purposes for which it was designed. It is
intended to occupy a most important place, but it
should not be perverted. Paul asked only that it
should be used aright, and in order to this, he
proceeds to state what is its true design. ~
Barnes Notes
If a man use it lawfully - That is, interpret it
according to its own spirit and design, and use it
for the purpose for which God has given it; for the
ceremonial law was a schoolmaster to lead us unto
Christ, and Christ is the end of that law for
justification to every one that believes. Now those
who did not use the law in reference to these ends,
did not use it lawfully - they did not construe it
according to its original design and meaning.
~Adam Clarke
if a man use it lawfully - for if it is used in
order to obtain life, righteousness, and salvation
by the works of it, or by obedience to it, it is
used unlawfully: for the law does not give life, nor
can righteousness come by it; nor are, or can men be
saved by the works of it; to use the law for such
purposes, is to abuse it, as the false teachers did,
and make that which is good in itself, and in its
proper use, to do what is evil; namely, to obscure
and frustrate the grace of God, and make null and
void the sufferings and death of Christ. A lawful
use of the law is to obey it, as in the hands of
Christ, the King of saints, and lawgiver in his
church, from a principle of love to him, in the
exercise of faith on him, without any mercenary
selfish views, without trusting to, or depending on,
what is done in obedience to it, but with a view to
the glory of God, to testify our subjection to
Christ, and our gratitude to him for favours
received from him. ~John Gill
if a man — primarily, a teacher; then, every
Christian.
use it lawfully — in its lawful place in the Gospel
economy, namely, not as a means of a “’righteous
man” attaining higher perfection than could be
attained by the Gospel alone (1Ti_4:8; Tit_1:14),
which was the perverted use to which the false
teachers put it, but as a means of awakening the
sense of sin in the ungodly (1 Timothy 1:9, 1
Timothy 1:10; compare Romans 7:7-12; Galatians
3:21). ~Jamieson, Fausset and Brown
Let us next see references throughout the Bible to
this verse:
Deuteronomy 4:4-8
4 But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are
alive every one of you this day.
5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments,
even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should
do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.
6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your
wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the
nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and
say, Surely this great nation is a wise and
understanding people.
7 For what nation is there so great, who hath God so
nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things
that we call upon him for?
8 And what nation is there so great, that hath
statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law,
which I set before you this day?
Nehemiah 9:13
Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest
with them from heaven, and gavest them right
judgments, and true laws, good statutes and
commandments:
Psalm 19:7-10
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the
soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise
the simple.
8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the
heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever:
the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous
altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than
much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the
honeycomb.
Psalm 119:96-105
96 I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy
commandment is exceeding broad.
97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the
day.
98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser
than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers:
for thy testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the ancients, because I
keep thy precepts.
101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way,
that I might keep thy word.
102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou
hast taught me.
103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 Through thy precepts I get understanding:
therefore I hate every false way.
105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light
unto my path.
Psalm 119:127-128
127 Therefore I love thy commandments above gold;
yea, above fine gold.
128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning
all things to be right; and I hate every false way.
Romans 7:12-13
12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment
holy, and just, and good.
13 Was then that which is good made death unto me?
God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin,
working death in me by that which is good; that sin
by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
Romans 7:16
If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto
the law that it is good.
Romans 7:18
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,)
dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with
me; but how to perform that which is good I find
not.
Romans 7:22
For I delight in the law of God after the inward
man:
Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye
may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and
perfect, will of God.
Galatians 3:21
Is the law then against the promises of God? God
forbid: for if there had been a law given which
could have given life, verily righteousness should
have been by the law.