5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: 6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; 7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. 8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; 9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; 11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. (1 Timothy 1:5-11 KJV)
Warning Against False Teachers
The apostle instructs Timothy on how to guard against Judaizing teachers and others who mixed fables and endless genealogies with the gospel. He explains the purpose of the law and the glory of the gospel.
The law is meant to promote love, for love is the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:10). The end of the commandment is love (Romans 13:8). The main purpose of God’s law is to engage us to love God and one another. Whatever weakens our love toward God or our neighbor defeats the purpose of the commandment. The gospel, which commands us to love even our enemies and do good to those who hate us (Matthew 5:44), does not set aside this law of love; instead, it strengthens it. Scripture tells us that even if we had every gift but lacked love, we would be nothing more than sounding brass or a clanging cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1). Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).
Those who claimed knowledge of the law but used it as a pretext to oppose the gospel and divide the church failed to fulfill its purpose, which is love—love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith. To maintain holy love, our hearts must be purified from sinful desires. Love must arise from a good conscience, one that is kept without offense before God and others (Acts 24:16). It must also be accompanied by genuine faith—faith that is sincere and without hypocrisy.
Some teachers had strayed from this purpose. They became argumentative and prideful, desiring to be teachers of the law though they did not understand what they were saying or the matters they claimed to teach. Such confusion in the church is not new; it existed from the beginning. When ministers or believers depart from the law of love, they fall into “vain jangling”—empty and useless talk. Religious quarrels of this sort are unprofitable and often harmful, yet many people’s religion consists of little else. Those who engage in such disputes are often the most eager to be regarded as teachers, though they are ignorant of the truths they profess to explain.
The law itself is good if one uses it lawfully (1 Timothy 1:8). The Jews had misused it as a weapon to oppose the gospel and as a means of self-righteousness. Though the law cannot justify, it still has a rightful use: to restrain sin and to reveal what is right and wrong. The misuse of the law does not cancel its true use; rather, we must return it to its proper purpose. While believers are not under the law as a covenant of works, it remains a valuable guide for moral conduct. It teaches us what is sinful and what is required of us.
The law is not made for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels (1 Timothy 1:9). If a person perfectly kept the law, righteousness would indeed come by it (Galatians 3:21). But because all have sinned, the law exists to restrain evil and reveal transgression. The grace of God changes hearts, but the law’s threats may restrain evil actions. The law primarily serves to correct the wicked and to maintain social and moral order. Paul lists examples of those for whom the law is made—people who violate the second table of the commandments: those who dishonor their parents, murderers, adulterers, those who practice homosexuality, slave traders, liars, and perjurers—and for any other act contrary to sound doctrine (1 Timothy 1:9-10).
Some interpret this as a reference to civil government, which must also make and enforce laws against such evils. But in the spiritual sense, this list shows that the law exposes sin and condemns behavior contrary to the gospel.
Paul then highlights the glory and grace of the gospel: “According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God” (1 Timothy 1:11). God is called “the blessed God” because He is infinitely happy in Himself and perfect in all His ways. The gospel is “glorious” because it reveals the majesty, grace, and wisdom of God far more clearly than creation or providence. The glory of God shines most brightly in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6).
Paul regarded it as a great honor and privilege that this glorious gospel was entrusted to him. The gospel’s content and terms of salvation are determined by God alone; no human authority can alter them. But the preaching of the gospel has been entrusted to the apostles and ministers of Christ. The ministry, therefore, is a sacred trust. “It is required in stewards that a man be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2). Ministers are not lords over the faith of others but stewards of the mysteries of God.
This trust is glorious because the gospel itself is glorious. It is a message of divine grace and eternal salvation, committed to human messengers for the good of the world. The responsibility is immense, for God’s glory and people’s souls are bound up in it. What a high calling this is—and how much grace ministers need to be found faithful in such a sacred trust!