Journal: Reformed Baptist Theological Review
Volume: RBTR 01:1 (Jan 2004)
Article: First Timothy 1:8-11 And The Utility Of The Decalogue
Author: Richard C. Barcellos

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First Timothy 1:8-11 And The Utility Of The Decalogue

Richard C. Barcellos

Richard C. Barcellos is one of the pastors of Palmdale Reformed Baptist Church, Palmdale, CA.

In this article, we will examine 1 Tim. 1:8–11 with the goal of determining if Paul’s list of sinners found there reflects both the content and order of the first nine commandments of the Decalogue. This is George W. Knight, III’s thesis in his The Pastoral Epistles: A Commentary on the Greek Text.1 The scope of Dr. Knight’s comments on this text was intentionally limited and suggestive due to space constraints. The goal of this essay is to build on his seminal work and to show that his basic thesis can be supported from the text itself, as well as from other, broader considerations. Assuming the validity of Dr. Knight’s exegesis, this text supplies a strong argument for the perpetuity of the Decalogue (including the 4^th commandment) under the New Covenant and for the function of the Decalogue as summarily containing the fundamental law of God applicable to all men (i.e., Moral Law). This has major implications for Christian ethics and accords with historic Reformed theology as represented in The Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) and The Second London Baptist Confession of Faith (1677/1689).

Concerning Dr. Knight’s thesis, John Stott recently said, “This reconstruction is certainly ingenious and may be correct although it has to be declared unproved.”2 This study attempts to build on Dr. Knight’s work and, indeed, to prove its validity.3

Exegetical Considerations

In 1 Tim. 1:8–11, we read:

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But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.4

In considering this passage, six questions will form the outline for its exposition. 1. Why does Paul bring up the issue of the law? 2. What does Paul say about the law? 3. To whom is Paul referring in v...