Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 13

Paul Commands Timothy to Fight for the Faith

1 Timothy 1:18-20 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. KJV

Paul wants to remind Timothy of the bad blood all around him aimed at our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ coming from the unbelieving Jews and the Gentile nations in every part of the known world at that time. This fact should cause him to not waiver in his faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, but instead to stand strong for the truth of the Gospel, so he writes these words to Timothy, "This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;" (1 Timothy 1:18) (KJV). Paul has now graduated from exhortations to giving brother Timothy direct orders as being one above him in authority as an Apostle. The English word 'charge' Paul uses at the beginning of this verse is used only a handful of times here in  the New Testament and it is translated by the Greek word paraggelia which means a mandate: - charge, command. The little English phrase 'I commit' is translated by the Greek word paratithēmi meaning by implication to deposit (as a trust or for protection).

Here the Apostle is resuming his command to brother Timothy that he gave to him with these words at the beginning of this letter in verse 3 when he said, "As I urged you when I was on my way to Macedonia, stay on where you are at Ephesus in order that you may warn {and} admonish {and} charge certain individuals not to teach any different doctrine, Nor to give importance to {or} occupy themselves with legends (fables, myths) and endless genealogies, which foster {and} promote useless speculations {and} questionings rather than acceptance in faith of God's administration {and} the divine training that is in faith (in that leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence)--Whereas the object {and} purpose of our instruction {and} charge is love, which springs from a pure heart and a good (clear) conscience and sincere (unfeigned) faith. But certain individuals have missed the mark on this very matter [and] have wandered away into vain arguments {and} discussions {and} purposeless talk." (1 Timothy 1:3-6) (Amplified Bible).

When Paul writes here of Timothy saying that I am doing this 'according to the prophecies which went before on thee', Paul is affirming what was testified to him concerning Timothy as it is written and recorded for us by Dr. Luke with these words, "And [Paul] went down to Derbe and also to Lystra. A disciple named Timothy was there, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer [she had become convinced that Jesus is the Messiah and the Author of eternal salvation, and yielded obedience to Him]; but [Timothy's] father was a Greek. He [Timothy] had a good reputation among the brethren at Lystra and Iconium." (Acts 16:1-2) (Amplified Bible). The little English phrase 'mightest war' is translated by the Greek word strateuomai which means figuratively to execute the apostolate (with its arduous duties and functions), to contend with carnal inclinations: - soldier, go to war. The little English phrase 'a good' is translated by the Greek word kalos meaning properly beautiful, but chiefly (figuratively) good (literally or morally), that is, valuable or virtuous (for appearance or use, that is, meet and worthy. The English word 'warfare' is translated by the Greek word strateia which means military service, that is, (figuratively) the apostolic career (as one of hardship and danger): - warfare.

In other words, the Apostle Paul is commanding brother Timothy and we believers today also to be strong and brave soldiers in the army of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ knowing that his/our walk as a Christian soldier was then and is now at all times filled with, fraught with, and full of danger lerking on all sides, but just as this same Apostle Paul wrote to the Church @ Corinth concerning our spiritual warfare, so was Timothy equipped then and so are we equipped now with the mighty weapons of our God Jesus Christ to wage the good warfare as it is written with these words to that Church @ Corinth, "For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh {and} using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow {and} destruction of strongholds, [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments {and} theories {and} reasonings and every proud {and} lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought {and} purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One), Being in readiness to punish every [insubordinate for his] disobedience, when your own submission {and} obedience [as a Church] are fully secured {and} complete." (2 Corinthians 10:3-6) (Amplified Bible).

Now Paul tells Timothy to grip the the truth of the Gospel of Christ, the Gospel of Grace with a bull dog or vice like grip letting nothing or no one persuade him/us into compromising that there are other ways or roads to salvation and to heaven, so he writes these words to him saying, "Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:" (1 Timothy 1:19) (KJV). Here is what was written of 'holding faith' by the JFB Commentary, "Keeping hold of 'faith' and 'good conscience' (1 Timothy 1:5); not 'putting the latter away as 'some.' Faith is like a very precious liquor; a good conscience is the clean, pure glass that contains it [Bengel]. The loss of good conscience entails the shipwreck of faith. Consciousness of sin (unrepented of and forgiven) kills the germ of faith in man [Wiesinger]." The little English phrase 'having put away' is translated by the Greek word apōtheomai meaning (to shove); to push off, figuratively to reject: - cast away, put away (from), thrust way (from). The little English phrase 'have made shipwreck' is translated by the Greek word nauageō meaning to be shipwrecked (stranded, “navigate”), literally or figuratively: - make (suffer) shipwreck.

Here is what was written of 'having put away' and 'have made shipwreck' by the JFB Commentary, "A willful act. They thrust it from them as a troublesome monitor. It reluctantly withdraws, extruded by force, when its owner is tired of its importunity, and is resolved to retain his sin at the cost of losing it. One cannot be on friendly terms with it and with sin at one and the same time. 'With respect to THE faith.' Faith is the vessel in which they had professedly embarked, of which 'good conscience' is the anchor. The ancient Church often used this image, comparing the course of faith to navigation. The Greek does not imply that one having once had faith makes shipwreck of it, but that they who put away good conscience 'make shipwreck with respect to THE faith.'" Paul informs Timothy of two such men that he knew personally to 'have made shipwreck' of their faith as he writes with these words, "Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme." (1 Timothy 1:20) (KJV). The little English phrase 'to blaspheme' is translated by the Greek word blasphēmeō meaning to vilify; specifically to speak impiously: - (speak) blasphemously, defame, rail on, revile, speak evil.

It is certain that Hymenaeus' blasphemy was to say and to teach others that the resurrection of believers had already past as it written by the Apostle Paul affirming this truth in his second letter to brother Timothy with these words, "And their teaching [will devour; it] will eat its way like cancer {or} spread like gangrene. So it is with Hymenaeus and Philetus, Who have missed the mark {and} swerved from the truth by arguing that the resurrection has already taken place. They are undermining the faith of some." (2 Timothy 2:17-18) (Amplified Bible). Some past and present Bible Commentators believe that 'Alexander' here spoken of by Paul is the coppersmith that did Paul much evil (2 Timothy 4:14-15), but I disagree, this Alexander who did Paul much evil cannot be a believer or a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ seeing that Paul says this concerning him, "Beware of him yourself, for he opposed {and} resisted our message very strongly {and} exceedingly." (1 Timothy 4:15) (Amplified Bible). I consider this Alexander here mentioned in this first letter to be the Alexander spoken of in the following documentation in the Book of Acts as written with these words, "Now some shouted one thing and some another, for the gathering was in a tumult and most of them did not know why they had come together. Some of the crowd called upon Alexander [to speak], since the Jews had pushed {and} urged him forward. And Alexander motioned with his hand, wishing to make a defense {and} [planning] to apologize to the people. But as soon as they saw him {and} recognized that he was a Jew, a shout went up from them as the voice of one man, as for about two hours they cried, Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" (Acts 19:32-34) (Amplified Bible).

"It was Paul's commandment to brother Timothy that he was to stand firm in the faith and resist anyone who would present and teach any different Gospel other than the Gospel of Grace that had saved him. Timothy was to hold fast to his confession of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ without waver, waffle, or withdrawal rebuking all who would upset the faith of others just as Paul wrote to him with these words in his second letter to him, 'The saying is sure {and} worthy of confidence: If we have died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny {and} disown {and} reject Him, He will also deny {and} disown {and} reject us. If we are faithless [do not believe and are untrue to Him], He remains true (faithful to His Word and His righteous character), for He cannot deny Himself. Remind [the people] of these facts and [solemnly] charge them in the presence of the Lord to avoid petty controversy over words, which does no good but upsets {and} undermines the faith of the hearers. Study {and} be eager {and} do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing {and} accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth. But avoid all empty (vain, useless, idle) talk, for it will lead people into more {and} more ungodliness.' (2 Timothy 2:11-16) (Amplified Bible)." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…