In this passage, Paul weaves together participles, relative pronouns, and metaphors to issue a stern warning about moral integrity and belief: ἔχων πίστιν καὶ ἀγαθὴν συνείδησιν, ἥν τινες ἀπωσάμενοι περὶ τὴν πίστιν ἐναυάγησαν from 1 Timothy 1:19. The grammar mirrors the danger Paul describes — a subtle drifting that leads to spiritual catastrophe. Let us unpack this verse phrase by phrase.
The Greek Text in Focus
ἔχων πίστιν καὶ ἀγαθὴν συνείδησιν, ἥν τινες ἀπωσάμενοι περὶ τὴν πίστιν ἐναυάγησαν (1 Timothy 1:19)
“Having faith and a good conscience, which some, having rejected, have suffered shipwreck in regard to the faith.”
Grammatical Highlights
- ἔχων — present active participle, masculine singular; describes the subject as “having” both faith and conscience.
- πίστιν — accusative feminine singular; object of the participle “having.”
- ἀγαθὴν συνείδησιν — also accusative; “a good conscience,” paired with faith as a double object.
- ἥν — relative pronoun, accusative feminine singular; refers to “conscience.”
- ἀπωσάμενοι — aorist middle participle, nominative masculine plural; “having rejected.”
- ἐναυάγησαν — aorist indicative active, third person plural; “they were shipwrecked.”
- περὶ τὴν πίστιν — prepositional phrase with accusative; “concerning the faith.”
Participial Framework: Character and Caution
The verse begins with the participle ἔχων, functioning adjectivally to describe the ideal minister or believer: one who possesses both πίστιν (faith) and ἀγαθὴν συνείδησιν (a good conscience). These are not just theological virtues — they are grammatically linked, showing how Paul views them as inseparable.
Later in the verse, ἀπωσάμενοι shifts to the plural, forming a contrast. Whereas the faithful person “has” these virtues, others have rejected one — conscience — with devastating results.
Relative Pronoun: Theological Precision
The relative pronoun ἥν points back to ἀγαθὴν συνείδησιν, not πίστιν. Greek gender makes this clear. Paul is saying it was the good conscience that was pushed aside — and in doing so, they damaged their faith. The order matters, and Greek grammar preserves this distinction even if the English translation must supply more words to do so.
Metaphor and Motion: Shipwrecked Faith
The final verb ἐναυάγησαν (“they were shipwrecked”) is a rare and vivid nautical metaphor. The preposition περὶ (“concerning,” “with regard to”) with the accusative τὴν πίστιν adds the sphere of damage: their wreckage was in relation to the faith. Greek allows this to be compact yet sharp: they did not merely drift off course — they were wrecked with respect to faith itself.
| Word | Form | Function | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| ἔχων | Present Participle Active, Masc. Sing. | Describes the subject | Having |
| πίστιν | Accusative Feminine Singular | Object of participle | Faith |
| ἀγαθὴν συνείδησιν | Accusative Adjective + Noun | Object of participle | A good conscience |
| ἥν | Accusative Feminine Singular (Relative) | Refers to “conscience” | Which |
| ἀπωσάμενοι | Aorist Middle Participle, Nom. Pl. | Subject of the main verb | Having rejected |
| ἐναυάγησαν | Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Plural | Main verb | They were shipwrecked |
| περὶ τὴν πίστιν | Preposition + Accusative | Defines scope of shipwreck | Concerning the faith |
The Compass of Conscience
In 1 Timothy 1:19, Paul teaches that the loss of a good conscience can unravel one’s faith entirely. The Greek grammar reinforces this with precision: the rejection is of conscience, and the resulting damage is to faith. The participial contrasts, relative pronoun clarity, and metaphor of nautical disaster blend to show how language can mirror theological cause and effect. Just as a compass keeps a ship true, conscience keeps faith afloat. The verse warns: abandon one, and you imperil the other.
