1 Timothy 1 8

1 Timothy 1:8 kjv

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

1 Timothy 1:8 nkjv

But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully,

1 Timothy 1:8 niv

We know that the law is good if one uses it properly.

1 Timothy 1:8 esv

Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully,

1 Timothy 1:8 nlt

We know that the law is good when used correctly.

1 Timothy 1 verses

1 Timothy 1 8 Meaning

This verse establishes a crucial principle: the Mosaic Law, being a divine revelation, is intrinsically good. However, its goodness and efficacy are contingent upon its proper and legitimate application. It stands in direct contrast to the misinterpretations and abuses of the Law by false teachers, highlighting that the problem lies not with the Law itself, but with its perverted use by those who misunderstand its true divine purpose.

1 Timothy 1 8 Context

This verse is situated within Paul’s foundational instructions to Timothy regarding church governance and, specifically, confronting emerging false doctrines in the Ephesian church. Prior to verse 8, Paul had explicitly commanded Timothy to silence those who taught "different doctrine" (1 Tim 1:3) and devoted themselves to "myths and endless genealogies" (1 Tim 1:4). He identifies these individuals as "teachers of the law" who fundamentally misunderstand both what they speak and what they affirm (1 Tim 1:7). Verse 8 serves as Paul’s crucial clarification, drawing a stark distinction between the divine integrity of the Law and its harmful misapplication by these errant teachers. Historically, Jewish tradition and Hellenistic influences often converged in Ephesus, leading to syncretic practices and intellectual speculations that perverted the Law’s true purpose. Paul aims to re-establish the sound theological understanding that the Law itself is from God and inherently good, but its goodness only translates into proper benefit when utilized according to God's intended design, which involves defining sin and pointing to Christ, not acting as a means of salvation or as material for idle philosophical debate.

1 Timothy 1 8 Word analysis

• But (Δὲ - De): This conjunctive particle marks a transition, introducing a contrast or shift from the previous discussion. Here, it contrasts the erroneous understanding of the false teachers with the correct theological truth about the Law.

• we know (οἴδαμεν - oidamen): A verb indicating a shared, settled, and factual understanding. Paul uses this to affirm a truth already established and understood by sound believers, implying certainty and authority rather than mere opinion.

• that (ὅτι - hoti): A conjunction that introduces the content of what "we know," connecting the established truth to its specific details about the Law.

• the law (ὁ νόμος - ho nomos): Refers to the Mosaic Law given through Moses, encompassing all the divine commandments, statutes, and ordinances. It is seen as God's righteous revelation.

• is good (καλός - kalos): Meaning beautiful, morally excellent, inherently fine, beneficial, or fitting. This word affirms the Law's intrinsic moral perfection and divine origin; it is not flawed or evil in itself.

• if (ἐάν - ean): This conditional conjunction introduces a contingency. The Law's goodness becomes operative and beneficial only under the specified condition that follows.

• one uses (χρῆται - chrētai): Derived from chraomai, meaning "to employ, make use of, apply, or treat." This highlights the active engagement with the Law and signifies that its goodness is actualized in its proper handling or application.

• it (αὐτῷ - autō): A pronoun directly referring back to "the law," indicating the object being used.

• lawfully (νομίμως - nomimōs): An adverb meaning "according to law, properly, legitimately, or in a law-abiding manner." This is the pivotal qualifier. It specifies that the Law's goodness is realized only when it is applied according to its divine intention, not in a manner that contradicts or perverts its true purpose, such as legalism, speculation, or seeking justification by works.

• "But we know": This phrase asserts a confident, established truth within the realm of sound Christian doctrine, clearly distinguishing it from the uninformed and misguided assertions of the false teachers.

• "the law is good": This powerful affirmation underpins the divine origin and perfect moral quality of the Law, directly countering any perception that the Law itself is defective or leads to error.

• "if one uses it lawfully": This is the critical conditional clause that delineates the appropriate engagement with the Law. It shifts the focus from the Law's inherent quality to its functional utility, which is wholly dependent on proper application in line with God's ultimate redemptive plan and purposes. The term "lawfully" (νομίμως) here implies understanding and applying the Law within its covenantal context, under grace, where its function is to reveal sin and direct to Christ, not to offer a pathway to self-righteousness.

1 Timothy 1 8 Bonus section

The concept of "using the Law lawfully" implies an understanding of its historical progression within God's redemptive plan. It moves beyond a pre-Christ salvific function to a post-Christ revelatory and regulative role. The false teachers in Timothy’s context were possibly adopting an approach similar to legalistic Judaism, emphasizing externals or engaging in fanciful interpretations of genealogical lists (1 Tim 1:4), detaching the Law from its true purpose in a saving relationship with God. Paul's instruction asserts that the Law's validity is not found in its manipulation for intellectual debates or human achievement but in its divinely intended role to highlight sin (1 Tim 1:9-10) and, for believers, to serve as a guide for living righteously by the Spirit (Rom 8:4).

1 Timothy 1 8 Commentary

1 Timothy 1:8 is a concise theological affirmation of the Mosaic Law's intrinsic excellence. Paul is not advocating against the Law itself but correcting its abuse by false teachers who misunderstood its true function. The Law is "good" because it is a revelation of God's holy character and righteous will. Its goodness, however, is activated and made beneficial only "if one uses it lawfully." This "lawful" use contrasts with the practices of those in Ephesus who distorted the Law into speculative myths, a system for false righteousness, or a basis for rigid, external performance. Properly understood and applied, the Law reveals sin (Rom 3:20), exposes our need for God's grace, and serves as a moral guide for believers under the new covenant, where its righteous requirements are fulfilled by the Spirit's power (Rom 8:4). It is not a means to earn salvation, but rather illuminates what pleases God and demonstrates the depth of human fallenness, thus pointing us to Christ as the only solution.