Day 10 - I Timothy 1:18-20

A Daily Devotional Study of I Timothy

Don’t Shipwreck the Faith

h 1 Timothy 1:18-20    h

¹⁸This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, ¹⁹having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, ²⁰of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

T

he word “charge” in verse 18 is the same Greek word (parangeleis) as “charge” in verse 3 and “commandment” in verse 5. In other words, the phrase this charge in verse 18 is referring to Timothy’s “charge” to confront the false teaching in Ephesus. This “charge” is in line with certain prophecies that were spoken over him, perhaps at the time of his baptism in the Spirit (2 Tim. 2:6) or maybe at the time of Paul’s departure from Ephesus. Paul wants Timothy to remember this and be encouraged in the difficult task at hand.

Maintain a Good Conscience

Paul again emphasizes the importance of faith and a good conscience. A person with a good conscience lives according to their internal sense of right and wrong. Our conscience may be sensitized by giving our attention to it and modified by our growth in knowledge and grace. It also may be seared or deadened by continually ignoring and violating it.

The Faith is of Utmost Importance

Paul says that some in Ephesus have rejected the notion of faith and a good conscience and have suffered shipwreck in the faith (NRSV). What has been shipwrecked is not their ability to believe God, but the gospel itself, which they have perverted. This is made clear by the definite article with the word “faith.” In other words it is the faith they have shipwrecked. As far as Paul is concerned, their shipwreck of the faith amounts to blasphemy.

Delivered Unto Satan

Paul singles out two particular leaders of the church in Ephesus who are responsible for this shipwreck of the faith and says, Whom I delivered unto Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. Roman Catholics view this passage as excommunication from the Church, outside of which there is no salvation and which is Satan’s domain. Those from a Brethren or Anabaptist background view this as the Ban wherein a sinning brother or sister is shunned by all other members until the offender repents. Today, some see this as an exercise of apostolic authority, although there is no evidence for this interpretation. Contrariwise, in 1 Cor. 5:5, a similar act was carried out by the entire Christian community in Corinth. Such an act could not be carried out glibly, but under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, in a spirit of humility, and in agreement with others who are spiritually minded.

Let’s Guard the Faith

This passage reminds me of Jude 3 where we are exhorted to earnestly contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. In other words, we must be diligent today to make sure the faith we profess is the faith of the New Testament and we must not allow the faith to suffer shipwreck in our lives or in the lives of others. We must guard the Faith.

Prayer & Reflection

O Lord our God, thank you for the Faith--that body of truth--that has come to us through the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ as found in the New Testament. May we, as Jude exhorted, be diligent in our day to contend for and guard the Faith that we have received. In Jesus’ name we pray! Amen!