1 Timothy 1 · Verse 5

1 Timothy 1:5

Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
1 Timothy 1:5, King James Version

1 Timothy 1:5 in other translations

BSBThe goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.
WEBBut the goal of this command is love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith,
ASVBut the end of the charge is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfeigned:
YLTAnd the end of the charge is love out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned,
DARBYBut the end of what is enjoined is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and unfeigned faith;
BBEBut the effect of the order is love coming from a clean heart, and a knowledge of what is right, and true faith:
WebsterNow the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

What does 1 Timothy 1:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
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 1Ti 1:4; 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 He 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).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 5. Now the end of the commandment. Rom 10:4. In order that Timothy might fulfil the design of his appointment, it was necessary that he should have a correct view of the design of the law. The teachers, to whom he refers, insisted much on its obligation and importance; and Paul designs to say that he did not intend to teach that the law was of no consequence, and was not, when properly understood, obligatory. Its nature and use, however, was not correctly understood by them, and hence it was of great importance for Timothy to inculcate correct views of the purpose for which it was given. The word "commandment" here, some have understood of the gospel, (Doddridge ;) others of the particular command which the apostle here gives to Timothy, (Benson, Clarke, and Macknight ;) but it seems more naturally to refer to all that God had commanded--his whole law. As the error of these teachers arose from improper views of the nature and design of law, Paul says that that design should be understood. It was not to produce distinctions and angry contentions, and was not to fetter the minds of Christians with minute and burdensome observances, but it was to produce love.

Is charity. On the meaning of this word, 1Cor 13:1.

Out of a pure heart. The love which is genuine must proceed from a holy heart. The commandment was not designed to secure merely the outward expressions of love, but that which had its seat in the heart.

And of a good conscience. A conscience free from guilt. Of course there can be no genuine love to God where the dictates of conscience are constantly violated, or where a man knows that he is continually doing wrong. If a man wishes to have the evidence of love to God, he must keep a good conscience. All pretended love, where a man knows that he is living in sin, is mere hypocrisy.

And of faith unfeigned. Undissembled confidence in God. This does seem to be intended specifically of faith in the Lord Jesus, but it means that all true love to God, such as this law would produce, must be based on confidence in him. How can any one have love to him who has no confidence in him? Can we exercise love to a professed friend in whom we have no confidence? Faith, then, is as necessary under the law as it is under the gospel.

(a) "of the commandment" Rom 13:8,10, Gal 5:14 (*) "charity" "Love" (b) "pure heart" 2Ti 2:22

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 Now the end of the commandment is charity - These genealogical questions lead to strife and debate; and the dispensation of God leads to love both to God and man, through faith in Christ. These genealogical questions leave the heart under the influence of all its vile tempers and evil propensities; Faith in Jesus purifies the heart. No inquiry of this kind can add to any thing by which the guilt of sin can be taken away; but the Gospel proclaims pardon, through the blood of the Lamb, to every believing penitent. The end, aim, and design of God in giving this dispensation to the world is, that men may have an unfeigned faith, such as lays hold on Christ crucified, and produces a good conscience from a sense of the pardon received, and leads on to purity of heart; Love to God and man being the grand issue of the grace of Christ here below, and this fully preparing the soul for eternal glory. He whose soul is filled with love to God and man has a pure heart, a good conscience, and unfeigned faith. But these blessings no soul can ever acquire, but according to God's dispensation of faith. The paraphrase and note of Dr. Macknight on this verse are very proper: "Now the scope of the charge to be given by thee to these teachers is, that, instead of inculcating fables and genealogies, they inculcate love to God and man, proceeding from a pure heart, and directed by a good conscience, and nourished by unfeigned faith in the Gospel doctrine. The word παραγγελια denotes a message or order, brought to one from another, and delivered by word of mouth. The charge here meant is that which the apostle ordered Timothy to deliver to the teachers in Ephesus; for he had said, 1Tim 1:3 : I had besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, ἱνα παραγγειλῃς, that thou mightest charge some: here he tells him what the scope of this charge was to be." Of faith unfeigned - Πιστεως ανυποκριτου· A faith not hypocritical. The apostle appears to allude to the Judaizing teachers, who pretended faith in the Gospel, merely that they might have the greater opportunity to bring back to the Mosaic system those who had embraced the doctrine of Christ crucified. This Is evident from the following verse.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Timothy 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.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 Timothy 1:5 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.

τὸto<the>G3588
δὲdeAndG1161
τέλοςtelosthe goalG5056
τῆςtēs<the>G3588
παραγγελίαςparangeliasof [our] instructionG3852
ἐστὶνestinisG1510
ἀγάπηagapēloveG26
ἐκekout ofG1537
καθαρᾶςkatharasa pureG2513
καρδίαςkardiasheartG2588
καὶkaiandG2532
συνειδήσεωςsuneidēseōsa conscienceG4893
ἀγαθῆςagathēsgoodG18
καὶkaiandG2532
πίστεωςpisteōsa faithG4102
ἀνυποκρίτου,anupokritousincere,G505

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

Cross references for 1 Timothy 1:5

  • 1 Timothy 1:19

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

  • Galatians 5:22

    But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

  • 2 Timothy 2:22

    Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

  • Galatians 5:13-14

    For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

  • 2 Timothy 1:5

    When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

  • Mark 12:28-34

    And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. …

  • 2 Timothy 1:3

    I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;

  • 1 Peter 3:16

    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 Peter 1:22

    Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

  • 2 Peter 1:7

    And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

  • Romans 10:4

    For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

  • 1 Peter 3:21

    The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the end.
Ro 10:4; 13:8-10; Ga 5:13,14,22; 1Jo 4:7-14
charity.
Mr 12:28-34; Ro 14:15; 1Co 8:1-3; 13:1-13; 14:1; 1Pe 4:8; 2Pe 1:7
a pure.
Ps 24:4; 51:10; Jer 4:14; Mt 5:8; 12:35; Ac 15:9; 2Ti 2:22; Jas 4:8
1Pe 1:22; 1Jo 3:3
a good.
19; 3:9; Ac 23:1; 24:16; Ro 9:1; 2Co 1:12; 2Ti 1:3; Tit 1:15; Heb 9:14
Heb 10:22; 13:18; 1Pe 3:16,21
faith.
Ga 5:6; 2Ti 1:5; Heb 11:5,6; 1Jo 3:23

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

Context

  • 1 Timothy 1:4

    Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

  • 1 Timothy 1:5

    Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

  • 1 Timothy 1:6

    From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;

Read all of 1 Timothy 1

1 Timothy 1:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Pues el fin del mandamiento es la caridad nacida de corazón limpio, y de buena conciencia, y de fe no fingida:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Or la fin de l’ordonnance, c’est l’amour qui procède d’un cœur pur et d’une bonne conscience et d’une foi sincère,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Das Endziel des Gebotes aber ist: Liebe aus reinem Herzen und gutem Gewissen und ungeheucheltem Glauben,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Finis autem præcepti est caritas de corde puro, et conscientia bona, et fide non ficta.