The Peculiar Case of the Inserted “also” (1 Tim 1:9)

But the point I want to make really has to do with the next verse. “We also know that the law is made not for the righteousa but for lawbreakers” (NIV). Verse 9 is actually a subordinate clause, but many translations feel the need to split long Greek sentences into shorter English sentences. V 9 begins with εἰδὼς τοῦτο and so “we also” is added to make it into a sentence.

The problem with the insertion of “also” is that it sounds like Paul is making two different statements, one in verse 8 and one in verse 9. However, verse 9 is an explanation of verse 8. The legitimate use of the law is when the Ephesians understand that its function does not apply to the righteous but to the lawbreakers.

The position I took in my commentary is that Paul is thinking of the prohibitive function of the law and not its other uses. He is referring to the “thou shalt not” force of the law. What apparently is happening in Ephesus is that the false teaching were applying the "thou shalt not" function of the law even to righteous people, which we know from elsewhere in Paul is not a legitimate use of the Mosaic law.

The law was given as a custodian until the time of Christ, and this prohibitive function can still guide the unrighteous, but not the righteous. I assume the “also” was added because the translators wanted to start verse 9 with a new sentence, but it was an unfortunate decision.

I know long Greek sentences have to be broken into multiple English sentences, but when subordinate constructions are turned into independent sentences, we often lose the connections that exist in the grammar helping us to understand the meaning of the passage.

This is why everyone needs to have some acquaintance with Greek.