1 Timothy 1:19 Holding on

1 Timothy 1:19 holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith.

Paul begins his first letter to his true son in the faith Timothy with greetings and a reminder that Timothy had been charged to stay in Ephesus and command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer nor devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things do not advance God's work, which is a matter of faith. Such false teachers have a great deal to say about the law but the law is only of any use when used properly – to attack sin and promote the gospel. Paul then gives thanks to God for saving him by his grace that he may serve, despite his great sins. Towards the end of Chapter 1 he urges Timothy, in verse 19, to hold on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith. So, positively Timothy must hold on to two things. First, faith, which is trust in God and belief in the things that are taught in the gospel. Second, a good conscience, which is one that reminds a man of his sins but knows that forgiveness is found in Christ. Negatively, Paul reminds Timothy that some have rejected these so suffering spiritual shipwreck. Paul ends the chapter with two known examples of such – Hymenaeus and Alexander, both of whom Paul had had to subject to church discipline or hand over to Satan. The shipwreck picture is very vivid. These men are like people in a storm at sea who have got rid of the compass and rudder and so are at the mercy of the waves and starting to go under. Their fate will be to sink to the very bottom. What a danger! Faith and a good conscience are vital in order to escape it.