The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Timothy — Section 37

,--a, of whom many classes are mentioned. These are grouped with reference to the two tables of the Law. Under the head of breakers of the first table, i.e. the unrighteous toward God, are given six classes in pairs. There are the lawless and unruly. With aggravation, they refuse ro be under law, making their own pleasure their law. There are the ungodly and sin11NS. 'l'hey have thrown off all awe of God. There are the unholy and profane. Instead of being consecrated ro God, they trample on holy things. lf the division of commandments had been followed, the classes would have been deniers of God, idolaters, the profane, sabbath-brea.kers. Generally, it is disregard of what is Divine that is brought out under this head. Under the second head, of hreakers of the second table, i.e. the unrighteous roward man, are given eight cl119ses, six of them in pairs. Here the division of commandments is followed. There are murderers of fatl.ers and murderers of mothers. "Smiters" is preferred by 110me. These are the breakers of the fifth commandment with the greatest aggravation. Next by il'.<10lf st&nds the class of man-slayers. These are the hreakers of the sixth commandment. 'l'ht}re &re fornicators and abuserti of themselves with men. These workers of abomina- tion IN'e the breakers of the seventh commandment. Next by itself stands the class of men-stealers. The apostle puts the man-stealer as the most flagrant of all breakers of the eighth commandment. No theft of a man's goods can be compared with that most atrocious act which steals the man himself, and robs him of that freo will which is the first gift of his Creator. .And of this crime all are guilty who, whether directly or indirectly, are engaged in, or uphold, from whatever pretence, the making or keeping of ~laves. There are liars and false swearers. These are the breakers of the ninth oommandment. He does not go on ro the breakers of the tenth commandment, but concludes with the greatest inclusiveness, " .And if there be any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine" (i.e. not morbid, 88 the teaching of the mystical interpreters). The apostle's position is that the Law is made for all these unrighteous persons. But for things being in an abnormal state there would not have been the writing down of so plain duties in the ten commandments, especially in the form, " Thou shalt not." The Law is made for sinners, in being intended ro hold up before them a proper representation of righteousness, by which, if they are convicted, they should also feel shut up ro the righteousness which is by faith. Has the Law, then, no use for the Christian ':' Only in so far 119 he is not Christianized. It is of use in keeping him under grace as the source of his security e.nd happiness. And it is of use in so far as it holds up a representation of righteousneBB that reaches beyond his attainment. The truth is well brought out in one of the symbolical books of the Lutherans. ".Although the Law wBB not made for the righteous (88 the apostle testifies, 1 Tim. i 9), yet this is not ro be understood 119 if the righteous might live without law; for the Divine Law is written upon their hearts. The true e.nd genuine meaning, therefore, of Paul's words iR, that the Law cannot bring those who have been reconciled ro God through Christ under its curse, and that its restraint cannot be irksome to the renewed, since they delight in the Law of God after the inner man. But believers are not completely and perfectly renewed in this life; e.nd though their sins are covered by the absolutely perfect obedience of Christ, so as not to be imputed to believers ro their condemnation, and though the mortification of the old Adam and the renovati?n in the spirit of their mind has been begun by the Holy Spirit, yet the ol.d Adam still remains in nature's powers and affections." V. AccoRDANOE· WITB TBK GOSPEL. "According to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust." The gospel may be presented either in relation to man, or in relation to God. In relation to man, the gospel is manifold. It is a gospel of peace; it quiets the guilty conscience. It is a gospel of purity; it purifies the heart. It is a gospel of comfort; it imparts to us a strong consolation under all the ills of this life. It is a gospel of hope; it opens up to us beyond this bounded life the boundless prospect of the life everlasting. In relation ro God, too, the gospel is manifold. It is the g°'pEII. of a righteous God; it is a satisfaction of Divine justice. It ill the gospel of a gracious God; it is e.n overflow of Divine mercy and compassion. It is the gospel of a wise God; it is the application of Divine intelligence to a very difTicult problem. It is the gospel of an almighty God; it is an agency charged with Divine power. It is here the gospel, not of a righteous God, not of a gr~ioWI God, not of " wise God, not of an almi~hty God, but of a blesl!ed God. .And CB. L 1-20.] THE FIRS'r EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY. 25