1st Timothy Chapter 1 verse 7 Holy Bible
desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say, nor whereof they confidently affirm.
read chapter 1 in ASV
Desiring to be teachers of the law, though they have no knowledge of what they say or of the statements which they make so certainly.
read chapter 1 in BBE
desiring to be law-teachers, not understanding either what they say or concerning what they [so] strenuously affirm.
read chapter 1 in DARBY
Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
read chapter 1 in KJV
read chapter 1 in WBT
desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say, nor about what they strongly affirm.
read chapter 1 in WEB
willing to be teachers of law, not understanding either the things they say, nor concerning what they asseverate,
read chapter 1 in YLT
1st Timothy 1 : 7 Bible Verse Songs
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 7. - Though they understand for understanding. A.V.; confidently affirm for affirm, A.V. Teachers of the Law (νομοδιδάσκαλοι. as Luke 5:17; Acts 5:34). This, again, distinctly marks the Jewish origin of these heretics. Though they understand, etc. So our Lord rebuke,1 the scribes and teachers of the Law in his day: "Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God;" "Ye do greatly err" (Matthew 22:29; Mark 12:27; Matthew 12:7, etc.; compare, too, Romans 2:17-24). They confidently affirm (διαβεβαιοῦνται). Elsewhere in the New Testament only in Titus 3:8, "I will that thou affirm confidently." So in classical Greek, "to maintain strongly," "to be positive." This was right in the minister of Christ declaring Divine truth, but very wrong in these vain janglers. The nature of their confident assertions is apparent from what follows - they spoke of the Law, but not lawfully.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(7) Desiring to be teachers of the law.--"Desiring," though they really were not. They coveted the respect and influence which was ever paid to the acknowledged teachers of the Law of Moses; but these men utterly failed to understand the real spiritual meaning of that Law which they pretended to teach. Similar pretenders in a neighbouring Church, some years later, received from another Apostle--St. John--a stern rebuke for such pretensions. "I know," wrote St. John to the Christians of Smyrna, "the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan" (Revelation 2:9).Understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.--A wise teacher must understand what he teaches, and must, at the same time, be clear in his own mind that what he teaches is true.The false teachers are here charged (1) with not understanding the wild fables and traditions upon which their teaching was based, and (2) with not comprehending the things whereof they make their assertions: that is, they had no real belief in those great truths which really underlie that Law with which they were meddling.
