1 Timothy 5:12

Authorized King James Version

Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
ἔχουσαι
G2192
Having
to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or conditio
#2
κρίμα
G2917
damnation
a decision (the function or the effect, for or against ("crime"))
#3
ὅτι
G3754
because
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
#4
τὴν
G3588
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
#5
πρώτην
G4413
their first
foremost (in time, place, order or importance)
#6
πίστιν
G4102
faith
persuasion, i.e., credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of god or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon christ
#7
ἠθέτησαν·
G114
they have cast off
to set aside, i.e., (by implication) to disesteem, neutralize or violate

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing faith central to epistemology and the means by which humans receive divine revelation and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection