Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Timothy 1:5

"But the end of the charge is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfeigned:" — 1 Timothy 1:5 (ASV)

The “goal” (GK 5465) of this instruction of Paul (and really, all of Paul’s teaching and preaching can be included here) is “love” (GK 27). The highest goal of true religion is the unselfish love of full loyalty to God and boundless goodwill to our fellow human beings. This must be our ultimate goal in life. This love comes “from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” Our hearts must be cleansed from self-centered thoughts if we are going to obey the two greatest commandments enunciated by Jesus (Matthew 22:37–40). Then we must maintain a good conscience if love is to function properly. And all this is based on “sincere” (lit., “unhypocritical”; GK 537) faith. All love comes from God, and it comes to us only as we are united to him by faith.