Fathers

1 Timothy 1

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Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ according to the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ our hope; to Timothy, my true child in faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. As I urged you when I was going into Macedonia, stay at Ephesus that you might command certain men not to teach a different doctrine, and not to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which cause disputes, rather than God’s stewardship, which is in faith— but the goal of this command is love, out of a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith, from which things some, having missed the mark, have turned away to vain talking, desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say, nor about what they strongly affirm. But we know that the law is good, if a person uses it lawfully, as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave-traders, for liars, for perjurers, and for any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine, according to the Good News of the glory of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. I thank him who enabled me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he counted me faithful, appointing me to service; although I used to be a blasphemer, a persecutor, and insolent. However, I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. The grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. The saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first, Jesus Christ might display all his patience for an example of those who were going to believe in him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. I commit this instruction to you, my child Timothy, according to the prophecies which were given to you before, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience, which some having thrust away made a shipwreck concerning the faith, of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan, that they might be taught not to blaspheme.

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What the Fathers say

1 Timothy 1:18

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

The office of a Teacher and that of a Priest is of great dignity, and to bring forward one that is worthy requires a divine election. So it was of old, and so it is now, when we make a choice without human passion, not looking to any temporal consideration, swayed neither by friendship, nor enmity. For though we be not partakers of so great a measure of the Spirit as they, yet a good purpose is sufficient to draw unto us the election of God. …

Homily on 1 Timothy 5 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Since he used the word "charge," and a charge is something commanding, he added: "my son Timothy." For I do not say this to you in a commanding way, but as to a son. He also said: "I commit," in order to explain the strictness of keeping, because what we have is not ours, but God's. Therefore, what He has granted, we must keep. "According to the prophecies previously made concerning you." The calling of teacher and priest, being great, requires a divine indication, so that a worthy person may receive this calling. …

Commentary on 1 Timothy ↗

Oecumenius

I entrust this command to you, Timothy, my child, according to the prophecies previously made about you, so that by them you may wage the good warfare. this command. It means careful observation. I entrust. As to a child, Paul says, I command, not according to any authority applying to masters. according to the prophecies previously. For the sake of emphasis it is placed there. …

Commentary On 1 Timothy ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

Then when he says, this precept, I commend to you, he instructs Timothy to keep certain things in mind: first, he reminds him of the task entrusted to him; second, he instructs him on its proper performance; third, he shows how to use it. He says, therefore: this precept, namely, to guard the end of the law, i.e., always cling to charity and not to Jewish fables, I commend to you, as a faithful trust, because that is how it has been entrusted to you. But how? …

Commentary on 1 Timothy ↗