Shipwreck
Where there is a lack of any of these necessary things, we are swerving from the course, though there be "good words and fair speeches." There is not the power of the Spirit of God, "for they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ." A writer of a former generation used the expression, "Too much sail will upset the ballast less boat.”
In the latter part of this chapter (1 Tim. 1:18-20), we have an illustration of the result of such a course-shipwreck. "Holding faith" refers to what has been committed to the Church, as in the latter part of verse 4. It is a little more clear in the JND translation. "Which bring questionings rather than further God's dispensation, which is in faith.”
In verse 20 we have two men brought before us, Hymeneus and Alexander, who, evidently allowing their minds to work in connection with what had been revealed, made shipwreck. From what is said of them here, we could gather that they were those who truly had been born again, as we are told that the discipline was for the purpose of their learning not to blaspheme. Their course was the very opposite of girding up the loins of the mind, according to 1 Peter 1:13 and 2 Cor. 10:5, "Casting down imaginations [or reasoning]... and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." These two men, then, had evidently gone on in a way that ruined them for being vessels suited for the public testimony of the Lord. They possibly could be salvaged, but for the present they were a hindrance and as such to be avoided.
The mention of "shipwreck" brings to mind very vividly a scene off the coast of England in the Strait of Dover. There were several wrecks of small war vessels, with parts of their superstructures above the water even at high tide. Some of them were German vessels, some English, and some American. Their positions were shown on the map at that point, and their names given so that they were well-known. It was necessary in steering a vessel in those waters to avoid them and to steer a course around them, as in Rom. 16:17. There was the danger of the tide sweeping one into them with damage resulting, not only from collision with them, but a hidden danger of possible explosions from unexploded shells, bombs, or torpedoes still on board.
We are told in 2 Tim. 3:5 that there are some from whom we are to turn away. So we are to steer our courses around those who have made shipwreck of the faith.
Getting back to 1 Tim. 1:18, we have mentioned, "This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy." I believe that the expression "this charge" is the same as in verse 3, and also the same as "commandment" in verse 5. It is rendered "enjoin" and is used seven times in this epistle-chapter 4:11; 5:21; 6:13, 17. When we see the different ways in which it is used, we begin to realize something of the solemnity of what is here brought before us.