1 Timothy 1 · Verse 8

1 Timothy 1:8

But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
1 Timothy 1:8, King James Version

1 Timothy 1:8 in other translations

BSBNow we know that the law is good, if one uses it legitimately.
WEBBut we know that the law is good if a person uses it lawfully,
ASVBut we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully,
YLTand we have known that the law is good, if any one may use it lawfully;
DARBYNow we know that the law is good if any one uses it lawfully,
BBEWe are conscious that the law is good, if a man makes a right use of it,
WebsterBut we know that the law is good, if a man useth it lawfully;

What does 1 Timothy 1:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
8. But--"Now we know" (Ro 3:19; 7:14). law is good--in full agreement with God's holiness and goodness. if a man--primarily, a teacher; then, every Christian. use it lawfully--in its lawful place in the Gospel economy, namely, not as a means of a "'righteous man" attaining higher perfection than could be attained by the Gospel alone (1Ti 4:8; Tit 1:14), which was the perverted use to which the false teachers put it, but as a means of awakening the sense of sin in the ungodly (1Ti 1:9, 10; compare Ro 7:7-12; Ga 3:21).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 8. But we know that the law is good. We admit this; it is that which we all concede. This declaration is evidently made by the apostle to guard against the supposition that he was an enemy of the law. Doubtless this charge would be brought against him, or against any one who maintained the sentiments which he had just expressed. By speaking thus of what those teachers regarded as so important in the law, it would be natural for them to declare that he was an enemy of the law itself, and would be glad to see all its claims abrogated. Paul says that he designs no such thing. He admitted that the law was good. He was never disposed for one moment to call it in question. He only asked that it should be rightly understood and properly explained. Paul was never disposed to call in question the excellency and the utility of the law, however it might bear on him or on others. Comp. Rom 7:12, and Acts 21:21-26.

"If a man use it lawfully". In a proper manner; for the purposes for which it was designed. It is intended to occupy a most important place, but it should not be perverted. Paul asked only that it should be used aright, and, in order to this, he proceeds to state what is its true design.

(e) "law is good" Rom 7:12

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 8 But we know that the law is good - The law as given by God, is both good in itself and has a good tendency. This is similar to what the apostle had asserted, Rom 7:12-16 : The law is holy; and the commandment is holy, just, and good; see the note on Rom 7:12, etc. If a man use it lawfully - That is, interpret it according to its own spirit and design, and use it for the purpose for which God has given it; for the ceremonial law was a schoolmaster to lead us unto Christ, and Christ is the end of that law for justification to every one that believes. Now those who did not use the law in reference to these ends, did not use it lawfully - they did not construe it according to its original design and meaning.

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…

Read the full comment on 1 Timothy 1:5-11 →

1 Timothy 1:8 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.

ΟἴδαμενOidamenWe know
δὲdenowG1161
ὅτιhotithatG3754
καλὸςkalosgood [is]G2570
ὁhotheG3588
νόμοςnomoslawG3551
ἐάνeanifG1437
τιςtisoneG5100
αὐτῷautōitG846
νομίμωςnomimōslawfullyG3545
χρῆται,chrētaishall use,G5530

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

Cross references for 1 Timothy 1:8

  • Romans 7:12-13

    Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

  • Romans 7:16

    If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

  • Psalms 19:7-10

    The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

  • 2 Timothy 2:5

    And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

  • Galatians 3:21

    Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

  • Psalms 119:127-128

    Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.

  • Psalms 119:96-105

    I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad. מ MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. …

  • Nehemiah 9:13

    Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments:

  • Romans 7:22

    For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

  • Romans 12:2

    And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

  • Romans 7:18

    For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

  • Deuteronomy 4:6-8

    Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the law.
De 4:6-8; Ne 9:13; Ps 19:7-10; 119:96-105,127,128; Ro 7:12,13,16
Ro 7:18,22; 12:2; Ga 3:21
lawfully.
2Ti 2:5

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

Context

  • 1 Timothy 1:7

    Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

  • 1 Timothy 1:8

    But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;

  • 1 Timothy 1:9

    Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

Read all of 1 Timothy 1

1 Timothy 1:8 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Sabemos empero que la ley es buena, si alguno usa de ella legítimamente;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais nous savons que la loi est bonne, si quelqu’un en use légitimement,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wir wissen aber, daß das Gesetz gut ist, wenn jemand es gesetzmäßig gebraucht,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Scimus autem quia bona est lex si quis ea legitime utatur: