1 Timothy 1:5 5But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
Paul gives his answer (telos, goal or outcome) to the problems in Ephesus in simple terms in verse 5 by telling Timothy how he needed to approach these problems. His answer is given in one word that is modified by simple phrases in the genitive case. The simple answer is love (agapē). God defines love and is the source of love (John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Ephesians 5:25; 1 John 4:7). God’s will is for us to receive his love, which leads to our hearts being filled with love for others. We grow in love through the gracing of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:31; 13:13; Galatians 5:22). To love as God desires, the three following sources are needed.
The first is a pure heart. Heart (kardias) refers to the inner organ of the body but has a more figurative meaning in the Bible for the inner person where thoughts and decisions are made. The heart represents the spiritual part of us that responds to God’s gracious invitation. The heart becomes stained with sin and needs cleansing. Pure (katharas) describes the process of removing stain or defilement, in this case, the problem of sin. We can be purified through the sacrifice Jesus’ blood (Titus 2:14), which basically means that we are forgiven of sins, and the power of sin no longer needs to control us. When sin is removed, our inner most being can be filled with love through the Holy Spirit who is the agent of this cleansing.
Second, love comes from a good conscience. Conscience (syneidēseōs) occurs three more times in this letter (19; 3:9; 4:2) and is an important idea in other letters written by Paul. There are two parts to the word: “with” (syn) and “know” (oidon). The conscience is knowing something with another person, or basically agreeing with the position of another person. The conscience is the guide that tells us whether or not we are doing right or wrong, which is determined by God’s laws. To break the law should bring a sense of guilt if one’s conscience has not be hardened to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. A good conscience is one that listens to the Holy Spirit and follows the path of righteousness. Obedience to God’s laws comes from and demonstrates love.
Lastly, love is source by a sincere faith. Sincere (anypokritou) is the opposite of hypocrisy and describes something that is honest and genuine. This type of faith is not hesitant or artificial but fully trusts in God’s promises. Faith is often paired with love in Paul’s letters (in this letter, 1:14; 2:15; 4:12; 6:11). Faith is how we show that we love God.
All three qualities are related and help a person grow in love. A heart that has been purified by the Holy Spirit and the conscience that is obedience to the Holy Spirit will grow one’s faith. Faith is expressed by total consecration that results in a pure heart, and it is demonstrated by the obedience that comes from a good conscience.
For older posts, click here.