1 Timotheus

1 Timothy 1 – Skeptic's Annotated Bible answered

A response and reply to the notes on 1 Timothy 1 in the Skeptic's Annotated Bible (SAB).

King James Version

SAB comment

My comment

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;

"Paul"
Although First Timothy (1:1) claims to have been written by Paul, many scholars believe that it was written after his death.¹

The assumption that Paul did not write this letter, has to begin with the belief that what Scripture says it not true, as this verse clearly says Paul wrote it. So it's a position starting from unbelief. To the particulars: the authorship has never been doubted, until the 19th century. The arguments are mainly of a linguistical nature. Dr. Daniel B. Wallace discusses and dismisses all arguments of the doubters, in a conclusive manner in my opinion.

2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

"Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies."
If we follow this advice we would ignore most of the Bible -- especially the genealogies found in Gen.10, 1 Chr.1-9, Mt.1, and Lk.3.

See On genealogy.

5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;

7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

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

9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

Homosexuals (those "that defile themselves with mankind") are included on the list of lawless, disobedient, unholy, and profane people. So are "menstealers". Does this mean that God disapproves of slavery?
Does God approve of slavery?

Homosexuality is condemned from Old to New Testament.
On slavery, abolitionists certainly thought so that the Bible opposes slavery. But see the other verses where the author of the SAB reads a contradiction.

11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The invisible God
Can God be seen?

No, God cannot be seen as this verse clearly says. See the verses where the author of the SAB reads something different such as Gen. 12:7 or Matthew 18:10.

18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

"Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme."
Apparently (see 2 Tim.2:16-18 and 4:14-15) their "blasphemy" was disagreeing with Paul.

The reader who actually takes the exertion to click on the link provided by the authors of the SAB to 2 Tim. 2:16-18 will be surprised to learn that Hymenaeus and Alexander did not just disagree with Paul, but with clear teachings in the Old Testament. The things Paul mentions:

Having profane and vain talk, getting worse and worse.
Saying that the resurrection had already happened.

And yes, Alexander opposed what Paul said, 2 Tim. 4:14-15, but as what Paul said was none different than the Old Testament and the teachings of Christ, it wasn't about Paul.
John Gill has this to say on delivering over to Satan:

not by excommunication, which is the act of a church, and not of a single person; but by an apostolical power he had of delivering the bodies of men into the hands of Satan, by him to be tortured and afflicted, in order to bring them to a sense of their sins, and as a chastisement and correction for them, and a token of God's displeasure at them

So the author of the SAB has misread the delivery over to Satan as been given to Satan with body and soul and that for eternity. That's not the Biblical definition, which is given in 1 Cor. 5:5:

To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.