1 Timothy 1

1 Timothy 1:1

BY the commandment] Gr. according to the commandment.

our hope] Hope is here taken for the chief object of our hope, which is Christ, by whose merits we hope to obtain remission of our sins, and eternall life.

1 Timothy 1:2

own sonne] He calleth him his own sonne in the faith, either because he was a means and instrument whereby Christ was perfectly formed in Timothie; or because he served him as a sonne doth his father, viz. in the ministerie; or because he resembled the Apostle both in his preaching, and in his life, as a naturall sonne is like his father.

grace, mercy, and peace] Grace is the fountain from whence mercy and peace flow; for the free good-will of God, whereby he hath chosen us in Christ, procureth us mercy in the forgivenesse of sinnes, and by the apprehension of this mercy we have peace of conscience.

1 Timothy 1:3

at Ephesus] Gr. in Ephesus.

teach no other doctrine] The chief Pastours of the Church, who were endued with Apostolicall authoritie, as was Timothie, were to forbid any to preach, not onely doctrine that was contrary, but that which was beside that which the faithfull have received from the Apostles. Galatians 1:8-9.

1 Timothy 1:4

Neither give heed to fables] See Chap. 4. 7. and 6. 4. 2 Tim. 2. 23. Titus 1:14. and Titus 3:9. The doctrine of faith is corrupted, not onely by false opinions, but also by vain and curious speculations, which no way tend to godly edifying.

and endlesse] He calleth them endlesse, not because in the Genealogies there was no end, neither upwards, nor downwards; but because those of the Jews, who imbraced Christian religion, were so addicted to these Genealogies, that they might have a pretence of claiming kindred of Christ, that they made no end of drawing down their lines of descent from David, or from Abraham: or because the questions moved concerning Genealogies, by reason of the slender proof and ground they had for them, could receive no determination or end.

minister] Gr. exhibit, or, yeeld.

1 Timothy 1:5

Now] Or, But.

end of the Commandment] That is, the perfection and complement of the law, Romans 13:8. Or the main scope and drift of the Commandments of God, both in the Law and Gospel.

charitie, out of a pure heart] There is neither love without a good conscience, nor a good conscience without faith, nor faith without the Word of God.

1 Timothy 1:6

having swerved] Or, not aiming at.

1 Timothy 1:7

whereof they affirme] Or, concerning what things they undertake to make good, or confirme.

1 Timothy 1:8

if a man use it lawfully] Gr. Tec. shall use. The Law is given to excellent purpose, if we make such use of it as we ought, not seeking to be justified by the observation thereof, but to be directed by it in our obedience, as a perfect rule of life, and to be brought by it to Christ. Galatians 3:24.

1 Timothy 1:9

righteous man] The Law is not made for the coertion, restraint, condemnation, or punishment of the righteous, but of lawlesse and disorderly persons.

for sinners] Such as make sinne all their imployment and occupation. such as go on in their sinnes with pleasure and delight.

murderers of fathers] He setteth downe some of the most enormous sins, not as if the Law did not condemne as well all the rest, to the very least; but onely to convince those hypocriticall zealots of the Law, who were themselves obnoxious to horrible vices; such as they are, which the Apostle instancth in.

1 Timothy 1:10

men-stalers] Or, making slaves of men.

sound doctrine] Or, wholsome. That is, not tainted with heresie. Or, wholsome, that is, which brings health to the soul.

1 Timothy 1:11

glorious Gospel] Gr. Gospel of glory.

1 Timothy 1:13

injurious] Or, wrong-doer; or, contumelious traducer.

1 Timothy 1:15

a faithfull saying]〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a firme truth, a sure foundation, upon which we may build our belief.

Christ Jesus came into the world, &c.] See Matthew 9:13. Mark 2:17.

I am chief] Though Saint Paul were now a convert, and a Saint, yet he ranketh himself among the greatest sinners, in regard of his former life which had been stained with the foul sinnes of blasphemie against Christ, and persecution of the professors of the Gospel unto death.

1 Timothy 1:17

eternall] Gr. of ages, or, worlds.

for ever and ever] Gr. to worlds of worlds, or, ages of ages.

1 Timothy 1:18

by them] Gr. in them.

warre a good warfare] A good warfare; as a Christian, against the world, the flesh and the devill; as a faithfull Minister of the Gospel, against all false Apostles, and corrupters of the true faith. 2 Timothy 4:7.

1 Timothy 1:19

Holding faith] That is, the profession or doctrine of the true faith, as appears by the opposition to the blasphemings of Hymeneus and Alexander.

good conscience] An upright conscience, that directeth a man in all his doings to that whereof he hath been instructed out of the Word of God.

some having put away] Some whom God for giving reins to a licentious course of life, against the dictates of their owne conscience, hath punished, by taking away the light of his Spirit from them, that in the midst of their course they should lose their most precious spirituall merchandise, and be drowned in errour and heresie, after the manner of those who in a sea tempest suffer shipwrack.

1 Timothy 1:20

Hymeneus and Alexander] Some do hold this Alexander to be he of whom mention is made Acts 19:33. whereof there is no certainty; yet being joyned here with Hymeneus, it is most probable, that he was guilty of the same blasphemous heresie, for which Hymeneus is taxed, 2 Tim. 2. 18. viz. the denyall of the resurrection of the dead.

whom I have delivered unto Satan] By Ecclesiasticall excommunication; whereof see a further declaration upon 1 Corinthians 5:5.

learn not to blaspheme] That they may consider themselves better, and come to the acknowledgement of their errour, which is the end and scope of Ecclesiasticall discipline: Or, if they did not retract their errours, they might do lesse hurt to the Church, and by their punishment be a warning to other blasphemers and seducers; for the Greek word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, signifieth, not onely to be taught, but to be chastened and corrected.