Day 5 - I Timothy 1:5

Daily Devotional Commentary on I Timothy

Our Highest Goal

1 Timothy 1:5

⁵Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith.

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he word “commandment” in verse 5 is from the Greek word parangeleis, which is the very same word translated “charge” in verse 3. In other words, Paul is now giving Timothy the goal or purpose of his “charge” to confront the false teaching in Ephesus. The goal of Timothy’s mission is love (agape) that flows from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith.

Love Is the Goal.

Paul’s goal for the church in Ephesus is in harmony with what Jesus taught and what Paul taught in other situations. Shortly before his crucifixion, in John 13:34, Jesus said to His disciples, A new commandment I give to you, that you love [agape] one another; as I have loved [agape] you, that you also love [agape] one another. Paul said, in Galatians 5:14, For all the law is fulfilled in one word, “You shall love [agape] your neighbor as yourself. Agape is the kind of love that does not demand its own way. Agape will sacrifice its own self-interests for the good of others and, if necessary, make the ultimate sacrifice and lay down its life for another.

Agape is selfless and is the opposite of pride which is selfish. False teaching finds a fertile field in pride and selfishness. God once said to me, “The stronghold of deception is pride.” It is no wonder, then, that Paul wants to see a restoration of agape (selfless love) in their midst, for this will undermine the false teaching that is rooted in self-centered pride.

From a Pure Heart

Paul wants this agape to flow out of a pure heart. In other words, he does not want a put-on, an act, a religious sham. He wants it to be real. In one sense agape cannot come from an impure heart, for then it would not be agape; for agape by its very nature is not self-serving. Nonetheless, Paul wants to make the point that their hearts must be cleansed of impure motives for agape to flow forth and reign in their midst.

From a Good Conscience

A good conscience means that we are not going against that internal moral compass that is operative in us and in every human being. A good conscience means that we do our best to live in harmony with our internal sense of right and wrong. In Acts 24:16 Paul says, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men. Paul is saying that agape must have a good conscience from which to flow.

From Faith Unfeigned

Unfeigned faith is faith that is sincere. It is faith that is not an act or a show. It is not hypocritical. It is faith that is genuine and real. In Galatians 5:6, Paul speaks of faith working through love. Here, he speaks of agape that is from sincere faith. Faith and love obviously work well together.

Make Paul’s Goal Your Goal

Paul’s goal for the church in Ephesus is God’s will for His people today. “Unselfish love, expressed from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith” should be the goal for ourselves and for all those to whom we minister. As Paul said to the believers in Corinth, Let agape (selfless love) be you highest goal (I Cor. 14:1; NLT)!

Prayer & Reflection

Oh Lord our God, break the hardness and self-centeredness from our hearts that your Spirit may flow freely through us. Make us conduits of your agape love dispelling the hate and darkness of this world and making Your salvation known to all people everywhere. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!