Articles
The Aim of Our Charge - 1 Tim. 1:5
The Aim of Our Charge - 1 Tim. 1:5
5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:5 (ESV)
One of the major emphases in the letters to Timothy and Titus is correct teaching. Much of the letter points out the follies of the false teachers/teaching (1:4–10, 19b–20; 4:1–3, 7; 6:3–10, 20–21). Paul informed us that grace TEACHES us (Titus 2:10-11).
In his last letter, he reminds Timothy that all Scripture is inspired and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness that we may be complete, thoroughly furnished unto every good work (2Tim. 3:15-17). Doctrine is obviously of utmost importance to God's people.
Yet, as Paul begins his letter to Timothy he writes that the "aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith" (1:5). I stand in awe of the balance of the scriptures. So many people are simply unbalanced in what they emphasize in life. Some do stress purity of doctrine while somewhat ignoring application and character. Others will emphasize love while underplaying the content of teaching. Why do so many end up with such an either / or concept? The Bible doesn't.
Paul lays before us the very basis of love that God seeks in His people; "it issues from" (ESV) 1) a pure heart, 2) good conscience, and 3) sincere faith.
pure heart. The heart is the center of a man: his mind and his emotions. Hence we are to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Such love is to be 'unmixed', a singleness of purpose and devotion.
good conscience The conscience sits in judgment upon our thoughts and actions according to what we know/think is right or wrong. The conscience must be educated, hence it correlates directly with the teaching and doctrine that we have received. Such teaching then allows the conscience to condemn or approve our thoughts / actions. A good conscience can be found in those who, like Paul, always strive to do what they know is right (cp. Acts 23:1; 24:16).
sincere faith One aspect of faith is believing things to be true, and such belief is based upon WHAT we believe. We are not just 'to believe', but we are to believe certain things. Again, what we learn and are taught becomes the foundation of what we believe and trust. Teaching that does not produce such faith is not sound (healthy) teaching.
This is the foundation of the love that should be produced in the lives of those who are grounded in sound teaching. Does it describe you?
Hugh DeLong
