1 Timothy 1 · Verse 19

1 Timothy 1:19

Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
1 Timothy 1:19, King James Version

1 Timothy 1:19 in other translations

BSBholding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and thereby shipwrecked their faith.
WEBholding faith and a good conscience, which some having thrust away made a shipwreck concerning the faith,
ASVholding faith and a good conscience; which some having thrust from them made shipwreck concerning the faith:
YLThaving faith and a good conscience, which certain having thrust away, concerning the faith did make shipwreck,
DARBYmaintaining faith and a good conscience; which last some, having put away, have made shipwreck as to faith;
BBEKeeping faith, and being conscious of well-doing; for some, by not doing these things, have gone wrong in relation to the faith:
WebsterHolding faith and a good conscience; which some having put away, concerning faith have made shipwreck:

What does 1 Timothy 1:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
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."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 19. 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 ought to 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. 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 men 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. Men 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 men would keep a good conscience, the way to a steady belief in the gospel would be easy. If men 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.

(b) "Holding faith". "1Timm 3:9

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 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 Eph 6:13, etc., (note), and 1Thes 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Timothy 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…

Read the full comment on 1 Timothy 1:18-20 →

1 Timothy 1:19 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἔχωνechōnholdingG2192
πίστινpistinfaithG4102
καὶkaiandG2532
ἀγαθὴνagathēna goodG18
συνείδησιν,suneidēsinconscience,G4893
ἥνhēnwhichG3739
τινεςtinessomeG5100
ἀπωσάμενοιapōsamenoihaving cast awayG683
περὶpericoncerningG4012
τὴνtēntheG3588
πίστινpistinfaithG4102
ἐναυάγησαν,enauagēsancaused a shipwreck,G3489

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Timothy 1:19

  • 1 Timothy 3:9

    Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

  • Revelation 3:10

    Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

  • 1 Peter 3:15-16

    But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

  • 1 Timothy 6:9

    But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

  • Titus 1:9

    Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

  • Hebrews 3:14

    For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

  • 1 Corinthians 11:19

    For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

  • 2 Timothy 3:1-6

    This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; …

  • 2 Timothy 4:4

    And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

  • 2 Peter 2:1-3

    But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

  • Revelation 3:8

    I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

  • Hebrews 6:4-6

    For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Holding.
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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Timothy 1:18

    This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

  • 1 Timothy 1:19

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

  • 1 Timothy 1:20

    Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Read all of 1 Timothy 1

1 Timothy 1:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Manteniendo la fe y buena conciencia, la cual echando de sí algunos, hicieron naufragio en la fe:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		gardant la foi et une bonne conscience, que quelques-uns ayant rejetée, ils ont fait naufrage quant à la foi;
German
Elberfelder 1871		indem du den Glauben bewahrst und ein gutes Gewissen, welches etliche von sich gestoßen und so, was den Glauben betrifft, Schiffbruch gelitten haben;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		habens fidem, et bonam conscientiam, quam quidam repellentes, circa fidem naufragaverunt: