1 Timothy 1: 18 – 20
I am giving you these instructions, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies made earlier about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, having faith and a good conscience. By rejecting conscience, certain persons have suffered shipwreck in the faith; among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have turned over to Satan, so that they may learn not to blaspheme.
Reflection
I was drawn to this passage by the shipwreck metaphor. Maybe this is because last year we sought some winter sun in Malta – and they are so not over Paul having been shipwrecked there! More recently, we toured around the rugged northern islands and inlets of Scotland, where many small-town museums have entire rooms filled with items retrieved from shipwrecks – cups, boots, bits of rigging, sometimes names and faces. We love a good wreck! It’s astonishing how much of the story can survive the sea.
Paul’s language here sounds harsh – turning people over to Satan isn’t exactly gentle. At heart, I think this is about consequences. He’s warning Timothy: keep hold of faith and a good conscience, because when we lose our bearings – when conscience is cast aside – we’re at risk of running onto the rocks. Maybe Paul isn’t writing people off but hoping that even shipwrecked faith can be salvaged.
What I find comforting is that the Bible knows about shipwrecks. It doesn’t pretend that faith is always smooth sailing. There are storms, rocks hidden under the surface, poor navigation, and bad choices. We can find ourselves off-course. Yet—Paul didn’t drown in Malta instead he was welcomed, warmed, and healed. The wreck wasn’t the end of his story.
So perhaps the real challenge in this passage isn’t about casting judgment on others but about cultivating our own steady course – steered by faith, yes, but also by conscience, compassion, and truth. That’s what keeps us afloat. For those who’ve run aground, may we be the shoreline – not shouting blame from the lighthouse, but walking the beach with kindness, ready to help recover what’s still worth saving.
Prayer
God of wreckage and rescue,
when we drift or founder, hold us fast.
When conscience is quieted or truth feels far,
tug us gently back to the deep current of your grace.
Help us steer by love,
and be a shoreline for others—
not judging from the rocks,
but walking alongside with warmth, welcome, and hope.
Thank you that even in the shipwreck,
you are not done with us yet.
Amen.