1 Timothy 1:8

Law. Because these would-be teachers (v. 7) spun their unprofitable myths out of the Jewish law and perverted the solemn verities of the gospel, Paul now presents the “law” in its proper perspective. He does not want his criticism of the “teachers of the law” (v. 7) to be misconstrued as a depreciation of the “law” itself. That Paul here includes moral precepts is evident from vs. 9, 10, which summarize various principles of the Decalogue (cf. Ex. 20:1-17).

Good. Gr. kalos, “excellent.” The “law” is “good” in the sense that it meets well the purpose for which it was designed.

Lawfully. That is, as it was intended to be used. To treat it as a mere set of rules to be argued about, or as a subject for profitless philosophical discussion (see vs. 3—7), or as a means of salvation (see on Rom. 3:20; cf. Rom. 4:14; Gal. 3:17, 19-25; 5:4) perverts and abuses the law. For a discussion of the eternal nature and purpose of the moral law see on Rom. 3:31.