1 Timothy 1:18-20 -- Prophecies once made

To catch up on our adventure through 1 Timothy, click here and read from the bottom post up.

1 Timothy 1:18-20 (NIV):

"Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme."

The phrase "in keeping with the prophecies once made about you" is intriguing. Refer also to 1 Timothy 4:14.

Apparently, at some point the elders had laid their hands on Timothy to pray for him and a prophecy came from that, directing the course of Timothy's life in the church and helping him to discover his gifts.

Paul says that he gives Timothy the instruction in this letter (1 Timothy) in keeping with those prophecies from the elders. Why? So that he may:

1. fight the good fight,
2. hold onto faith, and
3. hold onto a good conscience.

Paul is giving Timothy some tools and some great advice to help him in his leadership of the church.

He says that some have rejected these three things and, in so doing, have shipwrecked their faith.

He gives us two examples of these people: Hymenaeus and Alexander. We know really very little about Alexander. This verse might imply that he was an associate of Hymnenaeus. We know they were both blasphemers.

Hymenaeus is also discussed in 2 Timothy 2:17-18. There we see that he was a false teacher, teaching that the resurrection had already occurred.

Paul says he handed them both over to Satan, meaning that he had removed them from the fellowship of the church. This was an act of discipline and correction, in hopes that they would see their error and repent.

The idea of shipwrecking your faith is a great word picture. They've shipwrecked because they have rejected faith and a good conscience. This verse is similar to verses 5-6, where they wandered away from love, a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. They have wandered off course and shipwrecked their faith. And the implication is that they have also shipwerecked the faith of their followers.