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. (1 Timothy 1:18-20 KJV)
Fight the Good Fight
Here Paul charges Timothy to continue his ministry with courage and faithfulness (1 Timothy 1:18). The gospel is a sacred trust committed to ministers, who must apply it according to its true meaning and the design of its divine Author. Paul reminds Timothy of earlier prophecies that pointed to his calling and future usefulness in the ministry, which encouraged Paul to commit this charge to him.
The ministry is a form of warfare—a good warfare—against sin and Satan, under the banner of Jesus Christ, the Captain of our salvation (Hebrews 2:10). Ministers must engage in this battle with diligence and courage, despite opposition and discouragement. The prophecies previously spoken about Timothy should motivate him to fulfill his duty faithfully. In the same way, the good expectations others have of us should stir us to live up to our calling, “that by them you might fight the good warfare.”
Paul urges Timothy to hold firmly to both faith and a good conscience (1 Timothy 1:19). Those who cast away a good conscience soon make shipwreck of their faith. We must live according to the guidance of a renewed and enlightened conscience and keep it void of offense (Acts 24:16)—a conscience not corrupted by sin. This will help preserve sound faith, for “the mystery of the faith must be held in a pure conscience” (1 Timothy 3:9).
Paul then mentions two examples of those who abandoned both: Hymenaeus and Alexander. They had once professed the Christian faith but later rejected it. Paul says he delivered them to Satan—declaring them outside the fellowship of the church and under Satan’s domain. Some believe this included an extraordinary act of apostolic authority, allowing Satan to afflict them physically so that they might repent and learn not to blaspheme or oppose the doctrine of Christ.
The highest form of church discipline in the early church aimed not to destroy but to reform the sinner—“for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (1 Corinthians 5:5). Those who love and serve Satan are justly left to his power. Yet even through this, God can bring about repentance, showing that He can work through contrary means.
Those who reject a good conscience and make shipwreck of faith will not hesitate to fall into further sin, even blasphemy. Therefore, we must hold firmly to faith and a good conscience, for once we abandon them, we cannot tell where we will stop.