Verse Lens · Expanded explanation
1 Timothy 1:19 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 19. 19Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
This verse defines the struggle as holding faith and good conscience and warns that rejecting conscience wrecks faith.
Read It With
- 1 Timothy 1:18–20
Read 1 Timothy 1:19 with 1:18–20. This verse defines the struggle as holding faith and good conscience and warns that rejecting conscience wrecks faith. The complete unit establishes this movement: Timothy must wage the good campaign by holding faith and a good conscience, learning from shipwrecked examples, while severe discipline is described with a stated corrective aim.
Why This Verse Appears Here
The letter moves from received mercy to responsible correction while making conscience inseparable from doctrinal faithfulness. Within that movement, this verse defines the struggle as holding faith and good conscience and warns that rejecting conscience wrecks faith.
Follow the Context
- The charge is entrusted in keeping with prior prophecies about Timothy.
- Timothy is to wage the good campaign through faith and good conscience.
- Rejecting conscience has produced shipwreck concerning faith.
- Hymenaeus and Alexander exemplify the danger.
- Their delivery to Satan is presented as discipline toward learning not to blaspheme.
Phrase-by-Phrase Explanation
“made shipwreck”
In plain language: The image describes collapse when conscience is thrust away.
defines the struggle as holding faith and good conscience and warns that rejecting conscience wrecks faith. Sound belief and moral integrity must remain together.
Why it matters: The wording carries interpretive or ethical risk that requires the full unit and its stated limits.
How certain? strongWhat This Verse Is Not Saying
The metaphor does not authorize abandoning people in crisis or declaring every failure irreversible.
What Remains True
Sound belief and moral integrity must remain together.
How It Can Shape Life
- Treat ethical misconduct as relevant to teaching credibility.
Teach It Back
Explain how 1 Timothy 1:19 contributes to 1 Timothy 1:18–20. Include what the surrounding verses add, the stated uncertainty, and what this verse does not authorize.
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Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read 1 Timothy 1:18–20 — Fight Faithfully without Throwing Away ConscienceSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact reader-facing KJV wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.
Exact location: 1 Timothy 1:18–20, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: Greek wording, clause relationships, morphology targets, and base text for original-language discussion.
Exact location: Faithlife SBLGNT repository, data/sblgnt/text/1Tim.txt, 1:18–20
Open the 1 Timothy Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — 1 Timothy with translators' and textual notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2005–2026 online edition
Supports: Verse-level syntax, KJV-era wording, textual alternatives, and interpretive notes.
Exact location: NET Bible official 1 Timothy PDF, 1:18–20 translation and attached translator, study, and textual notes
Open the official NET 1 Timothy PDF ↗