1:1 Paul, 1 an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of
God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, [which is] our hope;
(1) First of all, he affirms his own free vocation and also
Timothy's, that the one might be confirmed by the other:
and in addition he declares the sum of the apostolic
doctrine, that is, the mercy of God in Christ Jesus
apprehended by faith, the end of which is yet hoped for.
1:2 Unto Timothy, [my] own son in the faith: Grace, a mercy,
[and] peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
(a) There is as much difference between mercy and grace, as
is between the effect and the cause: for grace is that
free good will of God, by which he chose us in Christ,
and mercy is that free justification which follows it.
1:32 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I
went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that
they teach no other doctrine,
(2) This whole epistle consists in admonitions, in which all
the duties of a faithful pastor are plainly set out. And
the first admonition is this, that no innovation is made
either in the apostle's doctrine itself, or in the manner
of teaching it.
1:43 Neither give heed to fables and endless b genealogies,
which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which
is in faith: [so do].
(3) The doctrine is corrupted not only by false opinions, but
also by vain and curious speculations: the declaration and
utterance of which can help our faith in no way.
(b) He makes note of one type of vain question.
1:54 Now the end of the c commandment is d charity out of
a pure heart, and [of] a good conscience, and [of] faith
unfeigned:
(4) The second admonition is, that the right use and practice
of the doctrine must be joined with the doctrine. And that
consists in pure charity, and a good conscience, and true
faith.
(c) Of the Law.
(d) There is neither love without a good conscience, nor a
good conscience without faith, nor faith without the
word of God.
1:65 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto
vain jangling;
(5) That which he spoke before generally of vain and curious
controversies, he applies to those who, pretending a zeal
of the Law, dwelled upon outward things, and never made an
end of babbling of foolish trifles.
1:76 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding
neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
(6) There are none more unlearned, and more impudent in
usurping the name of holiness, than foolish babblers, who
reason fallaciously.
1:87 But we know that the law [is] good, if a man use it
lawfully;
(7) The taking away of an objection: he does not condemn the
Law, but requires the right use and practice of it.
1:98 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a e
righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the
ungodly and for f sinners, for unholy and profane, for
murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for
manslayers,
(8) He indeed escapes the curse of the Law, and therefore does
not abhor it, who fleeing and avoiding those things which
the Law condemns, gives himself with all his heart to
observe it: and he does not make a vain babbling of outward
and curious matters.
(e) And such a one is he, whom the Lord has endued with
true doctrine, and with the Holy Spirit.
(f) To those who make an art, as it were, of sinning.
1:119 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God,
10 which was committed to my trust.
(9) He contrasts fond and vain babbling with, not only the Law,
but the Gospel also, which does not condemn, but greatly
commends the wholesome doctrine contained in the
commandments of God. And therefore he calls it a glorious
Gospel, and the Gospel of the blessed God, the power of
which these babblers did not know.
(10) A reason why neither any other Gospel is to be taught than
he has taught in the Church, neither after any other way,
because there is no other Gospel besides that which God
committed to him.
1:1211 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath g
enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me
into the ministry;
(11) He maintains of necessity his apostleship against some
that did find fault with his former life, debasing himself
even to hell, to advance only Christ's only, with which he
abolished all those his former doings.
(g) Who gave me strength, not only when I had no will to
do well, but also when I was wholly given to evil.
1:13 Who was before a h blasphemer, and a persecutor, and
injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did [it]
ignorantly in unbelief.
(h) These are the meritorious works which Paul brags of.
1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant 12 with
faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
(12) He proves this change by the effects, because he who was a
profane man, has become a believer: and he that did most
outrageously persecute Christ, burns now in love towards
him.
1:1513 This [is] a i faithful saying, and worthy of all
acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save
sinners; of whom I am chief.
(13) He turns the reproach of the adversaries upon their own
head, showing that this singular example of the goodness
of God, contributes greatly to the benefit of the whole
Church.
(i) Worthy to be believed.
1:1714 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the
k only wise God, [be] honour and glory for ever and ever.
Amen.
(14) He breaks out into an exclamation, even because of the
very zeal of his mind, because he cannot satisfy himself
in amplifying the grace of God.
(k) )See Geneva "Joh 17:3")
1:1815 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according
to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by
l them mightest war a good warfare;
(15) The conclusion of both the former fatherly admonitions,
that is, that Timothy striving bravely against all stops,
being called to the ministry according to many prophecies
which went before of him, should both maintain the
doctrine which he had received, and keep also a good
conscience.
(l) By the help of them.
1:19 Holding m faith, and a good conscience; 16 which some
having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
(m) Wholesome and sound doctrine.
(16) Whoever does not keep a good conscience, loses also by
little and little, the gift of understanding. And this he
proves by two most lamentable examples.
1:20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; 17 whom I have n
delivered unto Satan, that they may o learn not to
blaspheme.
(17) Those who fall from God, and his religion, are not to be
endured in the Church, but rather ought to be
excommunicated.
(n) Cast out of the Church, and so delivered them to
Satan.
(o) That by their pain they might learn how serious it is to
blaspheme.
