‘Now we appreciate that the law is good, provided someone is making use of it lawfully’, (I Timothy 1 v 8). Paul makes a similar statement to the one recorded in chapter seven of his letter to the Romans. He counters any idea that he is suggesting that divine law is bad in and of itself. Not at all, the law is good. But he adds a qualification. Divine law is good ‘provided someone is making use of it lawfully’. He says that the problem is that good divine law can be made use of unlawfully, it can be used in a way that is not according to the rules. It can be used in inappropriate circumstances, and he goes on to explain what he means.
‘Appreciating this, that law is not lying outstretched for the equitable and righteous’, (I Timothy 1 v 9a). He states an important principle that Christians have to appreciate with regard law in general. Law is not set out for the righteous, for the morally upright. Now we have understand what Paul is saying here. Paul is making one of his general statements, stating a general principle. Law – any law, civil law, religious law and so on – is not laid out for the righteous – for the innocent, morally upright or judicially approved. The context in which Paul makes this statement is that of Sinai Covenant law and Christians. Christians are righteous, not because of their own speech and labours towards godly behaviour, but because they are placed in union with the Messiah who fulfils all the requirements of Covenant law on their behalf. Christians are not placed under the written codes of Covenant law but under God’s free gift, they are not placed under the Levitical system but into a royal priesthood.
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