College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
1 Timothy 1:8-11
b.
Misuse of the Law. 1 Timothy 1:8-11
Text 1:8-11
8 But we know the law is good, if a man use it lawfully, 9 as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and unruly, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for abusers of themselves with men, for menstealers, for liars, for false swearers, and if there be any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine; 11 according to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
Thought Questions 1:8-11
15.
In what sense can we say the law is good?
16.
How could the law be used unlawfully?
17.
How does the list of sins here given relate to the persons with whom Timothy was dealing?
18.
Why give such an extended list? Is there some particular significance in the grouping?
19.
Why have law at all if men are going to be unrighteous?
20.
What is the distinction between a manslayer and a murderer of fathers?
21.
What would be a modern name for Menstealers?; for abusers of themselves with men?
22.
Explain 1 Timothy 1:11 in context.
Paraphrase 1:8-11
8 I acknowledge indeed that the law of Moses is an excellent institution, if one use it agreeably to the end for which it was given.
9 Now we know this, that the law is not made for justifying a righteous man, but for condemning and punishing the lawless and disorderly, namely, atheists and idolaters; persons polluted with vice and who are excluded from things sacred, murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, those who slay others unjustly;
10 Fornicators and sodomites, man-stealers, liars, those who perjure themselves; and if any other practice be opposite to the doctrine which preserves the soul in health, the law was made to restrain and punish it.
11 This view of the law I give according to the glorious gospel of the infinitely and independently blessed God, with the preaching of which I am entrusted.
Comment 1:8-11
1 Timothy 1:8. Paul does not wish to create the impression that he has rejected the law of Moses. Some prejudiced Jews might so conclude by what he has just said. The law does indeed have a good purpose. It is not to serve as a source of name hunting. There is a play on words in this verse: use the law lawfully. These Jewish leaders were so proud of being law teachers, and at the same time in their practice they were actually unlawful.
1 Timothy 1:9-10. The true use of the law is now to be shown. Christians do not need the law. They serve a higher law: the law of love, and as a result are not affected by the prohibitions of the law of Moses. If these false teachers were teaching the law to the Christians in Ephesus, what Paul has written would indeed contradict their work. Why this long list of persons affected by the law? Maybe the law teachers were so completely ignorant of the law that they needed this elementary information. It could have been some of these teachers were practicing some of the sins here mentioned. In this case they would be condemned by the very subject they were teaching.
Commentators see a similarity in Paul's prohibitions here, to those of the Ten Commandments. Note this table of comparison as given by Homer Kent:
The first table of the Decalogue is covered in general terms:
Lawless and disobedient
1.
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Ungodly and sinners
2.
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
Unholy and profane
3.
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
4.
Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy.
By these three pairs of words the second table is covered more completely:
Father-smiters and mother-smiters
5.
Honor thy father and thy mother.
Murderers
6.
Thou shalt not kill.
Fornicators, Sodomites
7.
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Kidnappers
8.
Thou shalt not steal,
Liars, perjurers
9.
Thou shalt not bear false witness.
Any other thing.
10.
Thou shalt not covet. (Ibid. pp. 87, 88)
1 Timothy 1:11. The above information as to the proper use of the law is in perfect agreement to, and a part of, the Good News entrusted to Paul. The Gospel (or the Faith) would teach that sinners are to be brought under the judgment of God by the law. When they are thus shown to be guilty and condemned before God's righteous law, they will hear with eagerness the Good News that Christ died to save sinners. Such Good Tidings are described as being of the glory of the blessed God, or of the glorious gospel. The word glory could be understood as character; thus the Good News shows forth the character of God. Indeed it does: God is shown as one of infinite love and wisdom, that he himself might be just, and the justifier of him that hath faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:26)
Fact Questions 1:8-11
13.
Paul has not rejected the law; others have. Show how they have.
14.
Is the law misused in our teaching today? How? In what sense is the Christian free from the law?
15.
Why does Paul make reference to the Ten Commandments?
16.
Paul says the Gospel has something to say about the lawwhat is it?
17.
In what way does the Gospel manifest the character of God?