1 Timothy 1:7

Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. Sample of their 'vain talk.' DESIRING - would-be teachers; not really so. THE LAW - the Jewish law (; ). The Judaizers in the letters to the Galatians and Romans made the works of the law necessary to justification, in opposition to Gospel grace. The Judaizers here corrupted the law with "fables" added on to it, subversive of morals as well as truth. Their error was not in maintaining the obligation of the law, but in ignorantly abusing it by fabulous and immoral interpretations. NEITHER WHAT THEY SAY, NOR WHEREOF - neither understanding their own asseverations nor the object about which they make them....

7_Wishing to be teachers of the law _He does not reprove those who openly attack the instruction of the law, but those who boast of belonging to the rank of teachers of it. He affirms that such persons have no understanding, because they harass their faculties to no purpose by curious questions. And, at the same time, he rebukes their pride by adding, — _Of what things they affirm_, for none will be found more bold in pronouncing rashly on matters unknown to them than the teachers of such fables. We see in the present day with what pride and haughtiness the schools of the Sorbonne pronounce their authoritative decisions. And on what subjects? On those which are altogether hidden from the minds of men — which no word of Scripture, and no revelation has ever made known to us. With greater boldness do they affirm their purgatory (15) than the resurrection of the dead. As to their contrivanc...

5-11 Whatever tends to weaken love to God, or love to the brethren, tends to defeat the end of the commandment. The design of the gospel is answered, when sinners, through repentance towards God and faith in Jesus Christ, are brought to exercise Christian love. And as believers were righteous persons in God's appointed way, the law was not against them. But unless we are made righteous by faith in Christ, really repenting and forsaking sin, we are yet under the curse of the law, even according to the gospel of the blessed God, and are unfit to share the holy happiness of heaven....

Verse 7. _TEACHERS OF THE LAW_] To be esteemed or celebrated as _rabbins_; to be reputed cunning in solving knotty questions and enigmas, which answered no end to true religion. Of such the rabbinical teaching was full. _UNDERSTANDING NEITHER WHAT THEY SAY_] This is evident from almost all the Jewish comments which yet remain. Things are _asserted_ which are either _false_ or _dubious_; words, the import of which they did not understand, were brought to illustrate them: so that it may be said, _They understand not what they say, nor_ _whereof they affirm_. I will give one instance from the _Jerusalem_ _Targum_, on Genesis 1:15: _And God made two great lights, and they were equal in splendour_ _twenty-one years, the six hundred and seventy-second part of an_ hour excepted: and afterwards the moon brough

DESIRING TO BE TEACHERS OF THE LAW - That is, to have the credit and reputation of being well versed in the law of Moses, and qualified to explain it to others. This was a high honor among the Jews, and these teachers laid claim to the same distinction. UNDERSTANDING NEITHER WHAT THEY SAY - That is, they do not understand the true nature and design of that law which they attempt to explain to others. This was true of the Jewish teachers, and equally so of those in the church at Ephesus, who attempted to explain it. They appear to have explained the law on the principles which commonly prevailed among the Jews, and hence their instructions tended greatly to corrupt the faith of the gospel. They made affirmations of what they knew nothing of, and though they made confident observations, yet they often pertained to things about which they had no knowledge. One needs only a slight acquaintan...

EXPOSITION 1 TIMOTHY 1:1 _Christ Jesus _for _Jesus Christ_,_ _A.V. and T.R.; _according to _for _by_,_ _A.V.; _Christ Jesus our hope _for _Lord Jesus Christ_,_ which is our hope_,_ _A.V. and T.R. For the inscription, comp. Romans 1:1, Romans 1:5; 1 Corinthians 1:1; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Galatians 1:1;...

DESIRING TO BE TEACHERS OF THE LAW,.... They were very fond of being called Rabbi, Rabbi, and styled doctors of the law, and of being thought to have skill in interpreting the law, and good talents in expounding it, and preaching upon it; which was now most in vogue, and gained the greatest applause, when the preaching of the Gospel was treated with contempt, not only by the unbelieving Jews, but by judaizing Christians, and carnal professors. UNDERSTANDING NEITHER WHAT THEY SAY, NOR WHEREOF THEY AFFIRM: they did not understand the law, the nature and end, the purity and spirituality, and perfection of it, which they were so fond of teaching, and went into many foolish and unlearned questions about it; see 2 Timothy 2:23, and which they as foolishly answered: these are the ignorant and unlearned men, who, notwithstanding their vain show of learning, and pretence to ski

1 Timothy 1:1. _Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;_ Christ is our hope; we have not a shadow of a hope apart from him. I remember, when on the Continent, seeing on a cross the words «Spes unica,» the unique, the only hope of man; and that is true of the cross of Christ, and of Christ who suffered on it, he is our hope. 1 Timothy 1:2. _Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord._ Notice the apostle's triple salutation, «Grace, mercy, and peace.» Whenever Paul writes to a church, he wishes «grace and peace»; but to a minister he wishes «grace, mercy, and peace.» Ah! we want mercy more than the average of Christians; we have

ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS I. CONCERNING DOCTRINE CHAPTER 1 _ 1. The salutation (1 Timothy 1:1)_ 2. The charge concerning false doctrine (1 Timothy 1:3) 3. The law, its use, and in contrast with grace (1 Timothy 1:5) 4. Exceeding abundant grace (1 Timothy 1:12) 5. The charge to Timothy, and the danger of shipwreck (1 Timothy 1:18) 1 Timothy 1:1 Paul writes as an apostle and mentions the fact t

(_b_) 1 Timothy 1:3. REMINDER OF PAUL'S VERBAL CHARGE. 1 Timothy 1:3. The False Teaching, and a Digression on the Law. Some years before, Paul had foretold that error would assail the Church in Asia (Acts 20:29 f.). His fear had now been realised. On his recent visit to Macedonia (Intro. § 5) he had already given Timothy instruction concerning it, and this he here renews. The authority of the errorists to teach is not disputed. Perhaps all Christian men could engage in teaching; Zahn, INT, ii. 96: it is the content of their doctrine that is challenged. This seems to have taken the forra of a speculative Judaism its exponents posed as teachers of the law dealing with legendary matter (_e.g._ the Haggadah)