Fathers

1 Timothy 1

Tap a verse to read the Fathers. Press and hold, then drag, to make a card.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 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.

About · Privacy · Credits · Support VRSZ

What the Fathers say

1 Timothy 1:8

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully. Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man." The law, he seems to say, is good, and again, not good. What then? if one use it not lawfully, is it not good? Nay even so it is good. But what he means is this; if any one fulfills it in his actions; for that is to "use it lawfully" as here intended. But when they expound it in their words, and neglect it in their deeds, that is using it unlawfully. For such an one uses it, but not to his own profit. …

Homily on 1 Timothy 2 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

That is, if someone not only explains it in words but also fulfills it in deed. For whoever studies the ordinances of the law but does not fulfill them uses the law unlawfully. Or alternatively, the one who is led by it to Christ uses the law lawfully. The law, not having the power to guide or justify, directs the one seeking righteousness to Christ — and this is its purpose: so that the one who prefers Christ to the law uses the law lawfully, that is, as the law itself commands.

Commentary on 1 Timothy ↗

Oecumenius

And we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully. that the law is good. If it's anything other than this [that is, using it lawfully], it's not good. But who is the one who lawfully uses it? The one who is sent to faith through it. For the law does not have the power to justify, but it leads to Christ who is able to justify. For the one who fulfills it, not the one who interprets it, lawfully uses it.

Commentary On 1 Timothy ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

Then when he says, but we know that the law is good, he describes the status of the law in regard to two things: first, as to the goodness of the law; second, as to the end and intention of the lawgiver, at knowing this. He says, therefore: we know with certainty that the law is good and not evil, as some heretics claim: the law of the Lord is unspotted, converting souls (Ps 18:8); the law indeed is holy and the commandment holy, and just, and good (Rom 7:12). But it can happen that someone uses what is good in an evil manner. …

Commentary on 1 Timothy ↗