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/>.
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