1 Timothy 1:19
<< 1 Timothy 1:19 >>
New International Version (©1984)
holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith.

New Living Translation (©2007)
Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.

English Standard Version (©2001)
holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith,

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

International Standard Version (©2008)
with faith and a good conscience. By ignoring their consciences, some people have destroyed their faith like a wrecked ship.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
In faith and in good conscience, for those who have rejected this from themselves have been emptied of faith,

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Some have refused to let their faith guide their conscience and their faith has been destroyed like a wrecked ship.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made it shipwreck:

American King James Version
Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

American Standard Version
holding faith and a good conscience; which some having thrust from them made shipwreck concerning the faith:

Douay-Rheims Bible
Having faith and a good conscience, which some rejecting have made shipwreck concerning the faith.

Darby Bible Translation
maintaining faith and a good conscience; which last some, having put away, have made shipwreck as to faith;

English Revised Version
holding faith and a good conscience; which some having thrust from them made shipwreck concerning the faith:

Webster's Bible Translation
Holding faith and a good conscience; which some having put away, concerning faith have made shipwreck:

Weymouth New Testament
holding fast to faith and a clear conscience, which some have cast aside and have made shipwreck of their faith.

World English Bible
holding faith and a good conscience; which some having thrust away made a shipwreck concerning the faith;

Young's Literal Translation
having faith and a good conscience, which certain having thrust away, concerning the faith did make shipwreck,

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Holding faith - Fidelity to the cause in which you are enlisted - as a good soldier should do. This does not mean, as it seems to me, that Timothy should hold to the system of doctrines revealed in the gospel, but that he should have that fidelity which a good soldier should have. He should not betray his trust. He should adhere to the cause of his master with unwavering steadfastness. This would include, of course, a belief of the truth, but this is not the leading idea in the phrase.

And a good conscience - see the notes, Acts 23:1. A good conscience, as well as fidelity, is necessary in the service of the Redeemer. A good conscience is that which is well informed in regard to what is right, and where its dictates are honestly followed.

Which some having put away - That is, which good conscience some have put from them, or in other words, have not followed its dictates. The truth thus taught is, that people make shipwreck of their faith by not keeping a good conscience. They love sin. They follow the leadings of passion. They choose to indulge in carnal propensities. As a matter of course, they must, if they will do this, reject and renounce the gospel. People become infidels because they wish to indulge in sin. No man can be a sensualist, and yet love that gospel which enjoins purity of life. If people would keep a good conscience, the way to a steady belief in the gospel would be easy. If people will not, they must expect sooner or later to be landed in infidelity.

Concerning faith - In respect to the whole subject of faith. They are unfaithful to God, and they reject the whole system of the gospel. "Faith" is sometimes used to denote the gospel - as faith is the principal thing in the gospel.

Have made shipwreck - There is an entire destruction of faith - as a ship is wholly ruined that strikes on a rock and sinks.


Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Holding faith - All the truths of the Christian religion, firmly believing them, and fervently proclaiming them to others.

And a good conscience - So holding the truth as to live according to its dictates, that a good conscience may be ever preserved. As the apostle had just spoken of the Christian's warfare, so he here refers to the Christian armor, especially to the shield and breastplate; the shield of faith, and the breastplate of righteousness. See on Ephesians 6:13, etc., (note), and 1 Thessalonians 5:8 (note).

Which some having put away - Απωσαμενοι· Having thrust away; as a fool-hardy soldier might his shield and his breastplate, or a mad sailor his pilot, helm, and compass.

Concerning faith - The great truths of the Christian religion.

Have made shipwreck - Being without the faith, that only infallible system of truth; and a good conscience, that skillful pilot, that steady and commanding helm, that faithful and invariable loadstone; have been driven to and fro by every wind of doctrine, and, getting among shoals, quicksands, and rocks, have been shipwrecked and ingulfed.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Holding faith, and a good conscience..... By "faith" is meant, not the grace of faith, but the doctrine of faith, a sense in which it is often used in this epistle; see 1 Timothy 3:9 and the "holding" of it does not intend a mere profession of it, and a retaining of that without wavering, which is to be done by all believers; but a holding it forth in the ministry of the word, in opposition to a concealing or dropping it, or any part of it; and a holding it fast, without wavering, and in opposition to a departure from it or any cowardice about it and against all posers: to which must be added, a good conscience; the conscience is not naturally good, but is defiled by sin; and that is only good, which is sprinkled by the blood of Christ, and thereby purged from dead works; the effect of which is an holy, upright, and becoming conversation; and which seems to be chiefly intended here, and particularly the upright conduct and behaviour of the ministers of the Gospel, in the faithful discharge of their work and office: see 2 Corinthians 1:12.

Which some having put away; that is, a good conscience; and which does not suppose that they once had one, since that may be put away which was never had: the Jews, who blasphemed and contradicted, and never received the word of God, are said to put it from them, Acts 13:46 where the same word is used as here; and signifies to refuse or reject anything with detestation and contempt: these men always had an abhorrence to a good conscience among men, and to a good life and conversation, the evidence of it; and at length threw off the mask, and dropped the faith they professed, as being contrary to their evil conscience: though admitting it does suppose they once had a good conscience, it must be understood not of a conscience cleansed by the blood of Christ, but of a good conscience in external show only, or in comparison of what they afterwards appeared to have: and, besides, some men, destitute of the grace of God, may have a good conscience in some sense, or with respect to some particular facts, or to their general conduct and behaviour among men, as the Apostle Paul had while unregenerate, Acts 23:1 and which being acted against, or lost, is no instance of falling from the true grace of God, which this passage is sometimes produced in proof of:

concerning faith have made shipwreck; which designs not the grace, but the doctrine of faith, as before observed, which men may profess, and fall off from, and entirely drop and lose. Though supposing faith as a grace is meant, the phrase, "have made shipwreck of it", is not strong enough to prove the total and final falling away of true believers, could such be thought to be here meant; since persons may be shipwrecked, and not lost, the Apostle Paul was thrice shipwrecked, and each time saved; besides, as there is a true and unfeigned, so there is a feigned and counterfeit faith, which may be in persons who have no true grace, and may be shipwrecked, so as to be lost.


Vincent's Word Studies

Holding (ἔχων)

Not merely having, but holding fast, as in 2 Timothy 1:13.

Faith and a good conscience (πίστιν καὶ ἀγαθὴν συνείδησιν)

The phrase good conscience is not in Paul, although συνείδησις is a Pauline word. The phrase appears once in Acts (Acts 23:1), and twice in 1 Peter 1 Peter 2:16, 1 Peter 2:21). In Hebrews evil (πονηρᾶς) conscience and fair (καλὴν) conscience; Hebrews 10:22; Hebrews 13:18. The combination faith and good conscience is peculiar to the Pastorals. Comp. 1 Timothy 3:9.

Which (ἥν)

Referring to God conscience.

Having put away (ἀπωσάμενοι)

The A.V. is not strong enough. Better, having thrust from them. It implies willful violence against conscience. Twice in Paul, Romans 11:1, Romans 11:2, and three times in Acts.

Concerning faith have made shipwreck (περὶ τὴν πίστιν ἐναυάγησαν)

Better, "concerning the faith made shipwreck." For a similar use of περὶ concerning, see Acts 19:25; Luke 10:40; 1 Timothy 6:21; 2 Timothy 2:18; 2 Timothy 3:8. It is noteworthy that περὶ with the accusative occurs only once in Paul (Philippians 2:23). Ναυαγεῖν to make shipwreck only here and 2 Corinthians 11:25. Nautical metaphors are rare in Paul's writings.


Geneva Study Bible

Holding {m} faith, and a good conscience; {16} which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

(m) Wholesome and sound doctrine.

(16) Whoever does not keep a good conscience, loses also by little and little, the gift of understanding. And this he proves by two most lamentable examples.


People's New Testament

1:19 Holding faith. Essential to every saint, and especially to a minister. Some, however, had swerved from the faith, and

made shipwreck. Faith is an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast (Heb 6:19).


Wesley's Notes

1:19 Holding fast faith - Which is as a most precious liquor. And a good conscience - Which is as a clean glass. Which - Namely, a good conscience. Some having thrust away - It goes away unwillingly it always says, Do not hurt me. And they who retain this do not make shipwreck of their faith. Indeed, none can make shipwreck of faith who never had it. These, therefore, were once true believers: yet they fell not only foully, but finally; for ships once wrecked cannot be afterwards saved.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

19. Holding-Keeping hold of "faith" and "good conscience" (1Ti 1:5); not "putting the latter away" as "some." Faith is like a very precious liquor; a good conscience is the clean, pure glass that contains it [Bengel]. The loss of good conscience entails the shipwreck of faith. Consciousness of sin (unrepented of and forgiven) kills the germ of faith in man [Wiesinger].

which-Greek singular, namely, "good conscience," not "faith" also; however, the result of putting away good conscience is, one loses faith also.

put away-a wilful act. They thrust it from them as a troublesome monitor. It reluctantly withdraws, extruded by force, when its owner is tired of its importunity, and is resolved to retain his sin at the cost of losing it. One cannot be on friendly terms with it and with sin at one and the same time.

made shipwreck-"with respect to THE faith." Faith is the vessel in which they had professedly embarked, of which "good conscience" is the anchor. The ancient Church often used this image, comparing the course of faith to navigation. The Greek does not imply that one having once had faith makes shipwreck of it, but that they who put away good conscience "make shipwreck with respect to THE faith."


Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

1:18-20 The ministry is a warfare against sin and Satan; carried on under the Lord Jesus, who is the Captain of our salvation. The good hopes others have had of us, should stir us up to duty. And let us be upright in our conduct in all things. The design of the highest censures in the primitive church, was, to prevent further sin, and to reclaim the sinner. May all who are tempted to put away a good conscience, and to abuse the gospel, remember that this is the way to make shipwreck of faith also.


1 Timothy 1:5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
1 Timothy 3:9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.
1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:21 which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you.
2 Timothy 2:18 who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.
Titus 1:9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

Cast Clear Conscience Conscious Faith Fast Good Holding Keeping Last Persons Regard Rejected Rejecting Relation Shipwreck Shipwrecked Suffered Thrust Well-Doing Wrong


Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

Holding. See on ver. 5 3:9 Tit 1:9 Heb 3:14 1Pe 3:15,16 Re 3:3,8,10

which. Php 3:18,19 2Ti 3:1-6 2Pe 2:1-3,12-22 Jude 1:10-13

concerning. 4:1,2 1Co 11:19 Ga 1:6-8 5:4 2Ti 4:4 Heb 6:4-6 1Jo 2:19

made. 6:9 Mt 6:27

1 Timothy Chapter 1 Verse 19

Alphabetical: a and conscience faith good have holding in keeping on regard rejected shipwreck shipwrecked so Some suffered their these to which

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