1 Timothy 1:18-20

Renewing the Charge to a Young Preacher

Next, the inspired apostle renews the charge he gave Timothy in verse 3. Paul wrote to this young man he loved as a son and committed to him, as one gives money to a bank, the preaching of the truth in the face of many opponents. We do not know what the prophesies concerning Timothy were, but they likely resembled those made concerning Barnabas and Paul (Acts 13:1-3). The seriousness of the Christian's task can be seen in the numerous references to a war between Satan's forces and God's (1 Timothy 1:18; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Ephesians 6:10-17).

Once we have been trained in the faith, we should be able to follow our conscience. Paul says some failed to do as their conscience, which was directed by God's truth, dictated and thus made a shipwreck of their faith. Spiritual death is the ultimate end of such unless they can be brought to repentance (2 Timothy 2:24-26).

Paul gave two examples of Christians whose spiritual lives were in ruins. He said he had delivered Hymenaeus and Alexander to Satan, which reminds us of 1 Corinthians 5:1-5. The purpose of delivering one to Satan is to save them in the day of judgment. In this case, these two had to learn not to speak against God and the truth. Hymenaeus may be the man who said the resurrection was already past (1 Timothy 1:19-20; 2 Timothy 2:17-18).