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1 Timothy 1:19

19 holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.

1 Timothy 1:19 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
English Standard Version (ESV)
19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith,
New Living Translation (NLT)
19 Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.
The Message Bible (MSG)
19 keeping a firm grip on your faith and on yourself. After all, this is a fight we're in.
American Standard Version (ASV)
19 holding faith and a good conscience; which some having thrust from them made shipwreck concerning the faith:
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
19 Some have refused to let their faith guide their conscience and their faith has been destroyed like a wrecked ship.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
19 having faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and have suffered the shipwreck of their faith.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
19 Then you will hold on to faith. You will hold on to a good sense of what is right and wrong. Some have not accepted these teachings. By doing that, they have destroyed their faith. They are like a ship that has sunk.

1 Timothy 1:19 Meaning and Commentary

1 Timothy 1:19

Holding faith, and a good conscience.
&c.] By "faith" is meant, not the grace of faith, but the doctrine of faith, a sense in which it is often used in this epistle; see ( 1 Timothy 3:9 ) ( 4:1 ) ( 5:8 ) and the "holding" of it does not intend a mere profession of it, and a retaining of that without wavering, which is to be done by all believers; but a holding it forth in the ministry of the word, in opposition to a concealing or dropping it, or any part of it; and a holding it fast, without wavering, and in opposition to a departure from it or any cowardice about it and against all posers: to which must be added, a good conscience; the conscience is not naturally good, but is defiled by sin; and that is only good, which is sprinkled by the blood of Christ, and thereby purged from dead works; the effect of which is an holy, upright, and becoming conversation; and which seems to be chiefly intended here, and particularly the upright conduct and behaviour of the ministers of the Gospel, in the faithful discharge of their work and office: see ( 2 Corinthians 1:12 ) ( Hebrews 13:18 ) ( 1 Timothy 3:9 ) .

Which some having put away;
that is, a good conscience; and which does not suppose that they once had one, since that may be put away which was never had: the Jews, who blasphemed and contradicted, and never received the word of God, are said to put it from them, ( Acts 13:46 ) where the same word is used as here; and signifies to refuse or reject anything with detestation and contempt: these men always had an abhorrence to a good conscience among men, and to a good life and conversation, the evidence of it; and at length threw off the mask, and dropped the faith they professed, as being contrary to their evil conscience: though admitting it does suppose they once had a good conscience, it must be understood not of a conscience cleansed by the blood of Christ, but of a good conscience in external show only, or in comparison of what they afterwards appeared to have: and, besides, some men, destitute of the grace of God, may have a good conscience in some sense, or with respect to some particular facts, or to their general conduct and behaviour among men, as the Apostle Paul had while unregenerate, ( Acts 23:1 ) and which being acted against, or lost, is no instance of falling from the true grace of God, which this passage is sometimes produced in proof of:

concerning faith have made shipwreck;
which designs not the grace, but the doctrine of faith, as before observed, which men may profess, and fall off from, and entirely drop and lose. Though supposing faith as a grace is meant, the phrase, "have made shipwreck of it", is not strong enough to prove the total and final falling away of true believers, could such be thought to be here meant; since persons may be shipwrecked, and not lost, the Apostle Paul was thrice shipwrecked, and each time saved; besides, as there is a true and unfeigned, so there is a feigned and counterfeit faith, which may be in persons who have no true grace, and may be shipwrecked, so as to be lost.

1 Timothy 1:19 In-Context

17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
18 Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well,
19 holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.
20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

Cross References 2

  • 1. ver 5; S Acts 23:1
  • 2. 1 Timothy 6:21; 2 Timothy 2:18
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