| Geneva Study Bible {4} Now the end of the {c} commandment is {d} charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: (4) The second admonition is, that the right use and practice of the doctrine must be joined with the doctrine. And that consists in pure charity, and a good conscience, and true faith. (c) Of the Law. (d) There is neither love without a good conscience, nor a good conscience without faith, nor faith without the word of God. People's New Testament 1:5 The end of the commandment is charity. The purpose of the charge (Revised Version) entrusted to you is love. See 1Ti 1:3. You must show these teachers that instead of teaching foolish fables they must inculcate love. The three things essential to a pure and holy love are: (1) A pure heart; (2) a good conscience; and (3) sincere faith. Wesley's Notes 1:5 Whereas the end of the commandment - of the whole Christian institution. Is love - And this was particularly the end of the commandment which Timotheus was to enforce at Ephesus, 1Tim 1:3,18. The foundation is faith; the end, love. But this can only subsist in an heart purified by faith, and is always attended with a good conscience. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 5. But-in contrast to the doctrine of the false teachers. the end-the aim. the commandment-Greek, "of the charge" which you ought to urge on your flock. Referring to the same Greek word as in 1Ti 1:3, 18; here, however, in a larger sense, as including the Gospel "dispensation of God" (see on [2463]1Ti 1:4; [2464]1Ti 1:11), which was the sum and substance of the "charge" committed to Timothy wherewith he should "charge" his flock. charity-LOVE; the sum and end of the law and of the Gospel alike, and that wherein the Gospel is the fulfilment of the spirit of the law in its every essential jot and tittle (Ro 13:10). The foundation is faith (1Ti 1:4), the "end" is love (1Ti 1:14; Tit 3:15). out of-springing as from a fountain. pure heart-a heart purified by faith (Ac 15:9; 2Ti 2:22; Tit 1:15). good conscience-a conscience cleared from guilt by the effect of sound faith in Christ (1Ti 1:19; 1Ti 3:9; 2Ti 1:3; 1Pe 3:21). Contrast 1Ti 4:2; Tit 1:15; compare Ac 23:1. John uses "heart," where Paul would use "conscience." In Paul the understanding is the seat of conscience; the heart is the seat of love [Bengel]. A good conscience is joined with sound faith; a bad conscience with unsoundness in the faith (compare Heb 9:14). faith unfeigned-not a hypocritical, dead, and unfruitful faith, but faith working by love (Ga 5:6). The false teachers drew men off from such a loving, working, real faith, to profitless, speculative "questions" (1Ti 1:4) and jangling (1Ti 1:6). Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 1:5-11 Whatever tends to weaken love to God, or love to the brethren, tends to defeat the end of the commandment. The design of the gospel is answered, when sinners, through repentance towards God and faith in Jesus Christ, are brought to exercise Christian love. And as believers were righteous persons in God's appointed way, the law was not against them. But unless we are made righteous by faith in Christ, really repenting and forsaking sin, we are yet under the curse of the law, even according to the gospel of the blessed God, and are unfit to share the holy happiness of heaven. | 
