Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge.
Summary: This passage is an extremely blunt warning against turning our back on the Lord.
One of the things that I find interesting about the Bible is not so much what it says, but what is not said. For example, an Old Testament prophet might be given a prophecy, but we, the readers, are not told what it is. Then later, when the prophet delivers the message, we hear the rest of the story (1 Kings 14:1-20).
In this letter to Timothy, Paul, an Apostle, is writing to his “true son in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2). You might think of Timothy as a kind of Junior Apostle. Because he had worked so closely with Paul for so many years, they had developed a common understanding of many topics.
When Paul writes, “Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge,” we suspect that Timothy clearly understands what he means. For our part, we have to look to the rest of Scripture to understand God’s message here.
First of all, what does Paul mean by “their first pledge?”
Let’s return to 1 Timothy 5:9-10:
“No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.”
This list describes the characteristics of a woman who has pledged themselves to be a servant of the Living God.* Obviously, the text doesn’t spell that out for us, but the description is clearly of a person devoted to the Lord. This devotion is their “first pledge.” They have promised themselves to Jesus Christ exclusively.
In the following verses, Paul describes women whose priority is their own pleasure. These are not people fully devoted to the Lord or his Church.
So what does it mean to “bring judgment on themselves”?
It is one thing to be a new believer who still struggles with their sinful nature. It is another to be a devoted servant of the Lord and turn away to follow the desires of the flesh.
The word Paul used in Greek is “kríma.” It does not mean “to make a judgment,” instead, it describes a judgment that has already been made, and the result is condemnation and damnation.†
This is serious stuff.
Application: Don’t play games with God.
Food for Thought: How does Paul’s statement in this passage fit with your understanding of God’s Grace, Mercy, and his calling for us to be part of his “vine”? (See John 15:5-6)
*See Exodus 20:3-17, Micah 6:8, Matt 22:39, John 13:13-17, and Matthew 25:35-36.
†”G2917 – krima – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (NIV).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 21 Jun, 2026. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2917/niv/mgnt/0-1/>.
How does Paul’s statement in this passage fit with your understanding of God’s Grace, Mercy, and his calling for us to be part of his “vine”? (See John 15:5-6)
That the Grace and Mercy offered to us by God, through the sacrifice of Christ at the cross, is so we can be restored to Him. Restoration means that mankind once walked with God, but through our rebellion our sin separated us from Him. Christ came and paid the debt of sin, so that God no longer sees our sin, but Christ that lives within us. When we accept His gift through faith, and call Christ our Lord, we are called children of God, and sanctified through Christ. We walk again with God through Christ. Christ transforms our life as we surrender our sinful nature to Him.
Ephesians 2:4-5
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
2 Corinthians 5:18-19
18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
If we continue to pursue sin and gratify our sinful nature after we claim Him as our Lord, then it means we are no longer placing our faith in Him. We cannot abide in Him if we do not have faith in Him. We bring judgement on ourselves because we withhold our faith. We cannot say we believe in Christ, have faith in Christ, and then pursue sin. Sin then abides in us, and not Christ in us. Abide means endure, dwell, and persist. Abide in Him, and He abides in us.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
1 John 3:6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.
1 John 2:6 Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
Hebrews 10:26-29
26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?
Thank you, Chris.
Excellent response and well documented.
I personally do not think this passage refers to losing our salvation if we are sincere believers. I do think this type of scenario could happen quite a bit today, especially for us in the US who tend to get complacent and lazy in our faith.
The context is, of course, referring to widows who are “on the list.” If they make a sacred vow to celibacy but then go back on it they break faith. Krima has a wide range of meanings. It can refer to temporal judgement and even refer to church discipline.
While I know it is a debated passage, I don’t think it is referring to a loss of salvation due to breaking faith with God. I personally don’t think that is what this context refers to here.
John 5: 24: “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
John 10: 27 – 29: My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all ; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
Hebrews 13: 5: Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”
Brother Rich,
Thank you for your comment today. I completely agree with your statement, “I personally do not think this passage refers to losing our salvation if we are sincere believers.”
Thanks again for sharing your view on this important topic!!
How does Paul’s statement in this passage fit with your understanding of God’s Grace, Mercy, and his calling for us to be part of his “vine”? (See John 15:5-6)
God, by the power of His Holy Spirit has been and today continues calling to all mankind by word, circumstances, and conviction.
Brothers and sisters will also be sent to us with His message of truths, at His appointed time.
And we have the work of The Holy Spirit, John 16:8, And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.
God has always known all who will choose rebellion and all who will choose righteousness before we were created and could have simply created all who would choose righteousness. However it is important to God that we each have full, eternal knowledge of our choosing or rejecting salvation thru Jesus Christ.
So what does it mean to “bring judgment on themselves”?
People who choose life apart from God, live according to their own standards are in fact bringing judgement upon themselves.
Philippians 4:6-7, Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Isaiah 41:10, Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
1 Corinthians 10:13, No temptation[a] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[b] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
Thank you, Ron!
Great comment and verses!