1Ti 1:18-20 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Tim 1:18-20: 1:18-20 Paul continues his charge to Timothy (1:3-11 ), who is to draw upon available resources, remain faithful, and consider two bad examples. The church (also part of the audience; see 1 Timothy Book Introduction, “Literary Genre”) should expect Paul’s delegate to do these things. 1:18 the prophetic words spoken about you earlier: This was probably at Timothy’s commissioning (see 4:14 ; 2 Tim 1:6 ; cp. Acts 13:2-3 ).

Summary for 1Tim 1:18-20: 1:18-20 ^a Paul continues his charge to Timothy (1:3-11 ^b), who is to draw upon available resources, remain faithful, and consider two bad examples. The church (also part of the audience; see 1 Timothy Book Introduction, “Literary Genre”) should expect Paul’s delegate to do these things. 1:18 ^c the prophetic words spoken about you earlier: This was probably at Timothy’s commissioning (see 4:14 ^d; 2 Tim 1:6 ^e; cp. Acts 13:2-3 ^f).
1:19 ^g See also 1:5-6 ^h; 6:20-21 ⁱ; 2 Tim 2:15-18 ^j. Conscience is viewed as a kind of gyroscope; keeping your conscience clear (or good) means ensuring that it is not destroyed (see study note on 1 Tim 4:2).
1:20 ^k Hymenaeus and Alexander might have been elders in Ephesus (see also 2 Tim 2:17 ^l; 4:14 ^m; cp. Acts 19:33 ⁿ; 20:29-31 ^o).

• Paul handed them over to Satan by removing them from the church, the realm of the Spirit’s oversight (see also 2 Tim 2:25-26 ^p; Job 2:6 ^q; Matt 18:17-20 ^r; 1 Cor 5:2-5 ^s; 2 Cor 2:5-11 ^t).

• blaspheme God: They attacked and defamed the true Good News, and thus God himself (see 1 Tim 1:13 ^u; cp. 6:1 ^v; Titus 2:5 ^w; 2 Pet 2:2 ^x).