This verse is part of a letter written by the Apostle Paul to his protégé Timothy, who was leading the church in Ephesus. In this verse, Paul is urging Timothy to hold fast to his faith and to maintain a good conscience, or sense of right and wrong. He warns that some people have "put away" their faith and have suffered spiritual ruin as a result, or as the King James Version puts it, have "made shipwreck" of their faith. This is a metaphor for spiritual destruction, which implies that abandoning one's faith and moral principles can have severe consequences.
Paul goes on to name two individuals in the following verse (1 Timothy 1:20) who had made shipwreck of their faith: Hymenaeus and Alexander. Paul states that he had delivered them over to Satan so that they may learn not to blaspheme. This is a strong statement, but it shows the seriousness with which Paul viewed the abandonment of one's faith and the need for discipline and correction.
The overall message of this verse and the surrounding passage is to encourage Timothy to persevere in his faith and to avoid being led astray by false teachers or by his own doubts and fears. It is a call to hold onto the truth and to maintain a clear conscience, even in the face of opposition or persecution.
In summary, it emphasizes the importance of faith and a good conscience in the Christian life, and warns against the dangers of abandoning one's faith or moral convictions. It also reminds us that spiritual destruction can be a consequence of such abandonment.
1 Timothy 1:19. Holding faith and a good conscience; which some having thrust away made a shipwreck concerning the faith.