1 Timothy 1:8

1 Timothy 1:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
• New International Version (NIV)We know that the law is good if one uses it properly.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully,
• New King James Version (NKJV)But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully,

Context of 1 Timothy 1:8

6Some people have left these qualities behind and have turned to useless discussions. 7They want to be experts in Moses’ Teachings. However, they don’t understand what they’re talking about or the things about which they speak so confidently. We know that the laws in Moses’ Teachings are good if they are used as they were intended to be used. 9For example, a person must realize that those laws are not intended for people who have God’s approval. Laws are intended for lawbreakers and rebels, for ungodly people and sinners, for those who think nothing is holy or sacred, for those who kill their fathers, their mothers, or other people. 10Laws are intended for people involved in sexual sins, for homosexuals, for kidnappers, for liars, for those who lie when they take an oath, and for whatever else is against accurate teachings.

1 Timothy 1:8 word by word

Οἴδαμεν δὲ ὅτι καλὸς ὁ νόμος ἐάν τις αὐτῷ νομίμως χρῆται,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• we knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• the lawὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
• goodκαλόςkalos · goodG2570
• ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• a manτιςtis · oneG5100
• useχράωchraomai · to useG5530
• itαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• lawfullyνομίμωςnomimōs · lawfullyG3545

Cross-references for 1 Timothy 1:8

• Deuteronomy 4:6Faithfully obey these laws. This will show the people of the world your wisdom and insight. When they hear about all these laws, they will say, “What wise and insightful people there are in this great nation!”
• Nehemiah 9:13You came from heaven to Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven. You gave them fair rules, trustworthy teachings, and good laws and commandments.
• Psalms 19:7The teachings of the Lord are perfect. They renew the soul. The testimony of the Lord is dependable. It makes gullible people wise.
• Psalms 119:96I have seen a limit to everything else, ⌞but⌟ your commandments have no limit.
• Romans 7:12So the laws in Moses’ Teachings are holy, and the commandment is holy, right, and good.
• Romans 7:18I know that nothing good lives in me; that is, nothing good lives in my corrupt nature. Although I have the desire to do what is right, I don’t do it.
• Romans 12:2Don’t become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants—what is good, pleasing, and perfect.
• Galatians 3:21Does this mean, then, that the laws given to Moses contradict God’s promises? That’s unthinkable! If those laws could give us life, then certainly we would receive God’s approval because we obeyed them.
• 2 Timothy 2:5Whoever enters an athletic competition wins the prize only when playing by the rules.

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 1:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8But 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, Romans 7:12-16; : The law is holy; and the commandment is holy, just, and good; see the note on Romans 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…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8But 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 anyone 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…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-11Verses 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6-11Paul now explains the false teachers' ideas and uses their own topics against them.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. 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…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Timothy 1:8

• Law

In the dictionaries

• Acceptation
• Blasphemer
• Charity
• Heed
• Immortal
• Save
• Law in the New Testament
• Temperance; Temperate

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings