1 Timothy 1:12-20
12: I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service,
13: even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;
14: and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.
15: It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.
16: Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
17: Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
18: This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight,
18: This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight,
19: keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.
20: Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.
After Paul considered the strange doctrines, myths, and so on, that was contrary to the sound teaching of the gospel which he had been entrusted with, Paul took a moment to reflect on his own salvation and call into the ministry. He thanked the Lord for His grace in forgiving him of his former blasphemy, persecution of the saints, and violent aggressions (Acts 8:1-3). He also thanked Him for the strength to put him into service.
Paul said he was shown mercy because he acted ignorantly in unbelief. Not that his ignorance excused him, but God gave His mercy and demonstrated His perfect patience in him as an example, so others would believe in the Lord for eternal life. Paul admitted he was the foremost of sinners, yet the grace of the Lord was “more than abundant,” along with the faith and love he found in Christ. He rightly gave the eternal, immortal, invisible King—the only God—honor and glory forever.
Paul then finished the thought he began in verse three about his reason for leaving Timothy in Ephesus-- to instruct certain men not to teach the strange doctrines, or listen to the myths and endless genealogies. He entrusted this command to Timothy, and encouraged him to fight the good fight in accordance with the prophecies he’d previously received, and the gifts bestowed on him (1 Timothy 4:14).
He encouraged Timothy to keep faith and a good conscience, which some had not and had become shipwrecked in their faith as a result. He mentioned Hymenaeus (2 Timothy 2:17) and Alexander (2 Timothy 4:14-15) specifically, both of whom he said blaspheme. Paul’s handing them over to Satan may be similar to the excommunication of the one in 1 Corinthians 5:5. However, the purpose in this case was for them to be taught, in the other it was for the destruction of the flesh so the spirit would be saved in the day of the Lord. In either case, the hope was for them to return to the faith. This did occur in the Corinthian case (2 Corinthian 2:6-8), but it’s unclear whether Hymenaeus and Alexander were ever restored.
20: Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.
***
After Paul considered the strange doctrines, myths, and so on, that was contrary to the sound teaching of the gospel which he had been entrusted with, Paul took a moment to reflect on his own salvation and call into the ministry. He thanked the Lord for His grace in forgiving him of his former blasphemy, persecution of the saints, and violent aggressions (Acts 8:1-3). He also thanked Him for the strength to put him into service.
Paul said he was shown mercy because he acted ignorantly in unbelief. Not that his ignorance excused him, but God gave His mercy and demonstrated His perfect patience in him as an example, so others would believe in the Lord for eternal life. Paul admitted he was the foremost of sinners, yet the grace of the Lord was “more than abundant,” along with the faith and love he found in Christ. He rightly gave the eternal, immortal, invisible King—the only God—honor and glory forever.
Paul then finished the thought he began in verse three about his reason for leaving Timothy in Ephesus-- to instruct certain men not to teach the strange doctrines, or listen to the myths and endless genealogies. He entrusted this command to Timothy, and encouraged him to fight the good fight in accordance with the prophecies he’d previously received, and the gifts bestowed on him (1 Timothy 4:14).
He encouraged Timothy to keep faith and a good conscience, which some had not and had become shipwrecked in their faith as a result. He mentioned Hymenaeus (2 Timothy 2:17) and Alexander (2 Timothy 4:14-15) specifically, both of whom he said blaspheme. Paul’s handing them over to Satan may be similar to the excommunication of the one in 1 Corinthians 5:5. However, the purpose in this case was for them to be taught, in the other it was for the destruction of the flesh so the spirit would be saved in the day of the Lord. In either case, the hope was for them to return to the faith. This did occur in the Corinthian case (2 Corinthian 2:6-8), but it’s unclear whether Hymenaeus and Alexander were ever restored.
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