1Ti 1:3-20 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Tim 1:3-11: 1:3-11 Paul’s greetings are usually followed by thanksgiving or blessing to God; Greco-Roman letters often did the same. First Timothy and Titus probably do not include this because of their character as official letters authorizing a delegate (see 1 Timothy Book Introduction, “Literary Genre”). Instead, Paul first addresses his concern to silence the false teachers. 1:3 stop those ... contrary to the truth: Just as Paul had previously warned (Acts 20:29-31 ), false teachers came into the church in Ephesus ; this letter was written to help Timothy to deal with them.

Summary for 1Tim 1:3-11: 1:3-11 ^a Paul’s greetings are usually followed by thanksgiving or blessing to God; Greco-Roman letters often did the same. First Timothy and Titus probably do not include this because of their character as official letters authorizing a delegate (see 1 Timothy Book Introduction, “Literary Genre”). Instead, Paul first addresses his concern to silence the false teachers. 1:3 ^b stop those ... contrary to the truth: Just as Paul had previously warned (Acts 20:29-31 ^c), false teachers came into the church in Ephesus; this letter was written to help Timothy to deal with them.
1:4 ^d in endless discussion ... meaningless speculations: Paul might be dismissing their teaching as trivial, or he might be rejecting the fanciful nature of their interpretations (1:7 ^e; see also 2 Tim 4:3-4 ^f; Titus 1:14 ^g; 3:9 ^h; 2 Pet 1:16 ⁱ) and their justification of immoral behavior (1 Tim 1:8-11 ^j; 4:1-2 ^k, 7 ^l; see also Titus 1:15-16 ^m).

• spiritual pedigrees (literally endless genealogies): In Judaism, one’s genealogy established one’s spiritual pedigree; the false teachers might have been preoccupied with this. They were probably also exploiting Old Testament genealogies (Gen 2–4 ⁿ; 5:1-32 ^o) in fanciful interpretations of the law.

• which don’t help people live a life of faith in God (literally rather than a stewardship of God in faith): The Greek uses an important word (“stewardship,” “household management”) that has to do with the household (see 1 Tim 3:15 ^p); this phrase can be translated in a number of ways, such as faithfulness to God’s household management or faithfulness in managing God’s household.
1:5 ^q The purpose of my instruction: Paul seeks godliness that flows out of sound faith and renewal (see Titus 3:5 ^r; see also 1 Cor 13:1-13 ^s; Col 3:14 ^t).

• In 1 Timothy and Titus, all allusions to a clear conscience are in contrast to the false teachers’ dead consciences (e.g., 1 Tim 1:19 ^u; 4:2 ^v; Titus 1:15 ^w).
Summary for 1Tim 1:6-11: 1:6-11 ^x Paul now elaborates on the false teachers and turns their subject matter against them. 1:6 ^y Some people is probably a put-down, demoting the false teachers to a general class of opponents of the Good News (cp. Rom 3:8 ^z; 1 Cor 4:18 ^aa; 2 Cor 3:1 ^ab; Gal 1:7 ^ac).

• They were professing believers who had missed the whole point of the Good News and had turned away.
1:7 ^ad Their aspirations to be teachers of the law of Moses were ironic; their handling of the law was deficient in the light of the Good News, and they neither understood nor fulfilled the law (see 1:8-11 ^ae).
1:9 ^af the law was not intended for people who do what is right: As a general principle, the virtuous person needs no law. For Christians, a righteous life results from faith apart from the law (see Gal 5:16-26 ^ag; Eph 2:11-14 ^ah; Titus 2:11-14 ^ai; cp. Rom 8:1-17 ^aj; Jas 2:14-16 ^ak).
1:10 ^al This list portrays the ultimate tendencies of the false teachers’ teachings, their underlying spiritual state, and the superior righteousness of the Good News (see Matt 5:20 ^am; Gal 5:22-23 ^an).

• that contradicts the wholesome (or sound, healthy) teaching: See also 1 Tim 6:3-4 ^ao; 2 Tim 1:13 ^ap; 4:3 ^aq; Titus 1:9 ^ar, 13 ^as; 2:1 ^at, 8 ^au. This addition to the list is both a closing generalization and a powerful assertion. Righteousness is now defined more perfectly by the Good News than by the law, but law still speaks to all that is opposed to the Good News. The false teachers’ reliance on the law, therefore, underscores their departure from Paul’s teaching.
1:11 ^av Titus 2:11-14 ^aw gives a fuller version of Paul’s idea here.
Summary for 1Tim 1:12-17: 1:12-17 ^ax This expression of gratitude is a parenthesis from Paul’s charge to Timothy (1:3-11 ^ay, 18-20 ^az). Triggered by the mention of Paul’s role (1:11 ^ba), it gives perspective on the source of Paul’s thankfulness and provides a model for its readers. When talking about his own work, Paul directs glory to God and makes it plain that he is doing God’s work (see also 2 Cor 1:21-22 ^bb; 2:14-17 ^bc; 3:4-6 ^bd; 4:7 ^be; 12:9-10 ^bf).
1:15 ^bg This is a trustworthy saying: This expression occurs only in the letters to Timothy and Titus (1 Tim 3:1 ^bh; 4:8-9 ^bi; 2 Tim 2:11-13 ^bj; Titus 3:4-8 ^bk). These sayings are probably quotations from tradition that Paul has adapted to the current situation; here, in addition to the way the saying underscores the mercy shown to Paul, it probably corrects the false teachers. The emphasis of this saying falls on Christ’s entrance into history for the salvation of sinners, which was probably being marginalized by the false teachers, who emphasized law (1 Tim 1:7 ^bl), special knowledge (6:20 ^bm; cp. Titus 1:16 ^bn), and stipulations such as those in 1 Tim 4:3 ^bo (cp. Col 2:16-23 ^bp).
Summary for 1Tim 1:18-20: 1:18-20 ^bq Paul continues his charge to Timothy (1:3-11 ^br), 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 ^bs the prophetic words spoken about you earlier: This was probably at Timothy’s commissioning (see 4:14 ^bt; 2 Tim 1:6 ^bu; cp. Acts 13:2-3 ^bv).
1:19 ^bw See also 1:5-6 ^bx; 6:20-21 ^by; 2 Tim 2:15-18 ^bz. 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 ^ca Hymenaeus and Alexander might have been elders in Ephesus (see also 2 Tim 2:17 ^cb; 4:14 ^cc; cp. Acts 19:33 ^cd; 20:29-31 ^ce).

• 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 ^cf; Job 2:6 ^cg; Matt 18:17-20 ^ch; 1 Cor 5:2-5 ^ci; 2 Cor 2:5-11 ^cj).

• blaspheme God: They attacked and defamed the true Good News, and thus God himself (see 1 Tim 1:13 ^ck; cp. 6:1 ^cl; Titus 2:5 ^cm; 2 Pet 2:2 ^cn).