8 “Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.” (1 Timothy 1:8–11 (ESV)
Why did the LORD give His people the Mosaic Moral Law? The Apostle Paul answered this question in today’s text. Following a summary statement referring Timothy, and today’s reader of the text, to the previously mentioned false teachers (1:3-7), Paul set forth the purpose for the law of God. This moral law is often referred to as The Ten Commandments.
The apostle wrote, “…understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane.” He concisely explained God did not give the law for the righteous or the just. This was because no one is inherently righteous and just before the LORD (Psalm 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:10). Sinners need to be justified with an imputed, or credited, righteousness which is alien or outside of themselves (Gen. 15:1-6; Romans 4:1-25).
God gave the law to sinners so they would recognize their sin. This was why the Lord presently and personally laid down (κεῖται; keitai), set in place and caused to exist His righteous rules and standards.
The purpose of God’s law remains the same; to expose the sinner’s sin before the sinner. What kind of sinners does Paul refer? Paul provided a concise list. They are initially organized in three pairs. The law of God was for the lawless and disobedient. It was for the ungodly and sinners. It was also for the unholy and profane. The descriptive terms pertain to the sinner’s relationship with God contained in the first four of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-11).
Paul then addressed the law of God as it pertained to the sinner’s relationship with other sinners. These are the remaining six commandments of the ten.
First, God gave the law for those who strike their fathers and mothers. These are they who do not honor their father and mother. (Ex. 20:12; Eph. 6:1-3).
Second, God gave the law for murderers. These are they who commit premeditated murder and who are also angry with others (Ex. 20: 13; Matt. 5:21; 19:18; Rom. 13:9; Gen. 9:5).
Third, God gave the law for the sexually immoral, and men who practice homosexuality. These are they who deviate from God’s standard of a husband and wife in a committed heterosexual marriage (Gen. 1:26-27; 2:18-25; Ex. 20:14; Lev. 18:20; Deut. 22:22; Prov. 6:32; Matt. 5:27; I Cor. 6:9; Gal. 5:19; I Thess. 5:1-8; Heb. 13:4). This is a condemnation of the current LGBTQ+ movement.
Fourth, God gave the law for enslavers. These are they who are thieves (Ex. 20:15; Lev. 19:11; Matt. 19:18; Eph. 4:28; Rom. 13:9).
Fifth, God gave the law for liars and perjurers. These are they who do not tell, or live by, God’s truth (Ex. 20:16; 23:1; Prov. 19:5-9; 21:28; 24:28; Matt. 19:18).
Sixth, God gave the law for whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, The question of what is sound doctrine and what is not is answered by Paul’s statement in vs. 11. Sound doctrine is “in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.”
Entrusted (ἐπιστεύθην; episteuthen) is a derivative of the word faith. God entrusted Paul to be committed to, dependent upon, and to honor the gospel of glory of the blessed God.
“Paul’s yardstick for measuring what is and is not sound teaching, of course, was the message of God’s great good news in Christ with which he had been entrusted (cf. 1 Thes. 2:4; Titus 1:3), and which he had faithfully preached in Ephesus (cf. Acts 20:17–27).” [1]
John Calvin writes, ‘According to the gospel of glory. By calling it “the gospel of glory,” that is, “the glorious gospel,” he sharply rebukes those who labored to degrade the gospel, in which God displays his glory. He expressly says that it hath been entrusted to him, that all may know that there is no other gospel of God than that which he preaches; and consequently, that all the fables which he formerly rebuked are at variance both with the law and with the gospel of God.”
To guard God’s people begins with guarding God’s truth. God’s leaders must always be on their guard.
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] A. Duane Litfin, “1 Timothy,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 732.
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