1 Timothy 1:20 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

Bible Comments

(18) В¶ This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; (19) Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: (20) Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Paul having, in the recollection of his wonderful conversion, in some measure departed from the subject he was before speaking of, concerning the law, and the Gospel, (1 Timothy 1:8-11.) now returns to it, and gives charge to his beloved Timothy, how he should preach Christ, and Christ only, agreeably to the prophecies, which Timothy, who had been taught in them, well understood, as referring to Christ. And he points to the strong assurances of faith, and a good conscience, both God the Spirit's gift; which some who have made a profession, but who never felt the power, had relinquished. Reader! what a beautiful distinction this forms, (and I take occasion by the way to remark it), between the blessed work of God the Spirit in regeneration, from whence come faith and a good conscience; and the mere profession of Christ, taken up for the moment, from hearsay, not heart-felt knowledge, and put down again from the same cause!

This Hymeneus is the same as spoken of 2 Timothy 2:17-18. And Alexander is most likely to be the Copper-smith. 2 Timothy 4:14. Paul's delivery of them to Satan, seems to have been for correction. We have a similar passage, 1 Corinthians 5:5. to the notes on which I refer.

1 Timothy 1:18-20

18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.