1 Timothy 1:18-20 – Battle on, no matter what

Timothy, we will discover, was by nature a timid, diffident and reticent person. His nature, coupled with the false teachers whom he was encountering, made it necessary for Paul to admonish him to go on in his task. So here in three verses, Paul issued the challenge for him to battle on.

He started by reminding him of the instruction to do the task entrusted to him. It was a command and not a request. And a command requires urgent obligation and Timothy was expected to act upon it. In this context, the command which Paul gave was probably the same as that described in verse 3, “… instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines ….”

By way of reminder, Paul also brought several matters into Timothy’s focus to encourage him to battle on. He reiterated the prophecies that were spoken over him. He was told that the instruction given to him was consistent with those prophecies that he had received. When were those prophecies given to Timothy? 2 Timothy 1:6-7 seem to suggest that there was an ordination ceremony. It was likely that at that service, those prophetic words were uttered over him. And here Paul was reminding him of the significance and importance of that service and those prophecies, to urge him to courageously hold on to the rein and fight on.

Next, Timothy was challenged to continue to keep faith. What did Paul mean by “… to keep faith …”? There are two ways to look at this. It could mean “to keep on trusting” or “to hold on to the body of truth taught in the Gospel.” Both interpretations are acceptable. Furthermore, Timothy was also told to maintain good conscience. Conscience is the moral arbiter which God has placed inside man. It helps to indicate whether a decision is right or wrong. When educated by God’s Word and His Spirit, it would indicate to a person whether a certain behavioral pattern is God-approved or not.

Paul went on to tell Timothy that there were people who refused to keep faith and good conscience, and consequently, they suffered shipwreck in their faith. To substantiate his point, he illustrated with the lives of Hymenaeus and Alexander. Paul said that he personally handed them over to Satan, meaning they were put out of fellowship with the body of believers or excommunicated. The last phrase, “… so that they may be taught not to blaspheme”, suggests that when they had learned their lesson, their fellowship to the body of believers could be restored.

Faith and conscience – two key elements in the fight of our spiritual battle. Faith keeps us holding on. Rightly educated conscience keeps us discerning.  Let’s stay in the battle holding on to faith and keeping a good conscience.