Note, most passage quotations are out of the ESV.
This is the start of (hopefully) ongoing series on Timothy. I have been studying this book and have been intrigued by Paul’s emphasis on the purity and stability of the man of God. Before, I had always taken this book to be somewhat of an “instruction booklet” to Timothy on how to run his ministry. As I delved in a bit deeper, it seems to me that Paul was really honing in on Timothy himself. Yes, there are specific instructions on the running of the church in the later chapters, but chapter 1 really seems to be directed towards Timothy. Paul saw Timothy as his “true child in the faith” (1.2), and he did not want Timothy to fall.
Twice Paul mentions his “charge” to Timothy (1.5 and 1.18). There’s a phrase found in verse 5 that is mirrored somewhat in verse 19 that I want to concentrate on. Paul says “the aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
Definitions
The aim of Paul’s charge is love. In the KJV, this is translated “charity.” According to Strong, the definition is “brotherly love, affection, good will, benevolence.” The aim of all of our work as ministers of God’s grace should be love, affection to those around us. If our work is motivated by anything else, if love is not part of our actions, we are nothing but a “clanging cymbal,” we are “nothing” and “gain nothing” (I Corinthians 13.1-3). Our aim must be love. If the man of God does not act in love, Satan can use his message to offend and push outsiders away from the Gospel.
If our aim is love, the basis, the foundation of our lives must be “a pure heart (rather than one filled with sinful desires), a good conscience (rather than one laden with guilt), and a sincere faith (rather than pretense and hypocrisy)” (quoted from the ESV Study Bible). If the man of God has blemish, Satan can destroy him. If he has guilt, Satan can undermine him. If he is not solidly cemented in his faith, Satan can cause him to doubt.
One of Strong’s definitions of “pure” is “free from corrupt desire, from sin and guilt.” Our focus should be wholly on God and our walk with Him. Yes, we still have the old man and Satan attacking us, but our hearts must be “free… from sin and guilt.” We must be pure.
Our conscience must be held “upright, honorable.” Satan cannot be able to knock us down. All of us have sin in our lives, yes, but all of us have been freed from that sin through Christ! Look at who is writing this: Paul tormented the church. If anyone had an excuse to remain on the sidelines, it was Paul. But God carried him above his past sin and guilt as an example to us. Paul was pure, Paul had a “good conscience,” and so can we if we take God at His Word.
Lastly, our faith must be “sincere.” The KJV uses the word “unfeigned.” Strong defines this word as “undisguised.” Our faith must be firmly planted in God’s Word. We have all heard of “men of God” falling by the wayside, and often the faith of these men were “disguised.” They were fake; against their outward appearance, they were not trusting in God. We need to make sure our faith is in God and His Son, not only for our salvation, but also for our daily growth and dependance.
An Example
Paul lists some unnamed and named examples of those who do not walk according to his charge. I won’t delve into these verses in detail, but I think they should at least be mentioned. In verses 6-7, Paul says, “certain persons, by swerving from these , have wandered into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.”
If we do not check our aim, heart, conscience, and faith against God’s word, this is one direction in which we may sadly go. How many of us know that guy who rambles dogmatically about who-knows-what, trying to prove wrong any who disagrees with him. Often, it is not enough for him to win the argument, but he has to paint all who oppose him as someone who is not right with God. This man’s aim is not love, his aim is to win.
Another direction we can go in is like those who “by rejecting this… have made shipwreck of their faith” (1.19). “Hymenaeus and Alexander” are two such individuals who Paul had to “hand over to Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.” Whether they followed their unpure heart, or whether they let their conscience go bad, or whether their faith wavered to this point, they had fallen.
Conclusion
Please check your heart, conscience, and faith. Please make sure your aim is love. I think Paul started this letter talking about these four things because he knew that all the instruction he was about to give is based in these four things. Really, all of our lives descend from our heart, conscience, and faith. All of our actions are determine by our aim in life.
I hope this was an encouragement to you. Studying this passage has been a challenge to me, and I hope God uses my ramblings for at least some good in your life.
Good thoughts and a needed reminder.