Add parallel Print Page Options

Salutation

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

To Timothy, my true child in the faith:[a]

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Warning against False Teachers

As I urged you when I was going to Macedo′nia, remain at Ephesus that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to occupy themselves with myths and endless genealogies[b] which promote speculations rather than the divine training[c] that is in faith; whereas the aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith. Certain persons by swerving from these have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make assertions.

Now we know that the law is good, if any one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 immoral persons, sodomites, kidnapers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 in accordance with the glorious gospel of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

Gratitude for Mercy

12 I thank him who has given me strength for this, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful by appointing me to his service, 13 though I formerly blasphemed and persecuted and insulted him; but I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. And I am the foremost of sinners; 16 but I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience for an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever.[d] Amen.

18 This charge I commit to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophetic utterances which pointed to you, that inspired by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting conscience, certain persons have made shipwreck of their faith, 20 among them Hymenae′us and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan[e] that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Footnotes

  1. 1.2 Timothy, son of a Greek father and a Jewish mother, was already a Christian when Paul met him (Acts 16.1). A close association ensued.
  2. 1.4 myths and endless genealogies: A reference to the Jewish legends and spurious pedigrees added by false Judaizers to the Biblical narratives; cf. the Book of Jubilees.
  3. 1 Timothy 1:4 Or stewardship, or order
  4. 1 Timothy 1:17 Greek to the ages of ages
  5. 1.20 delivered to Satan: A form of excommunication; see note on 1 Cor 5.5.

Greeting

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,

To Timothy, a (A)true son in the faith:

(B)Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

No Other Doctrine

As I urged you (C)when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may [a]charge some (D)that they teach no other doctrine, (E)nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. Now (F)the purpose of the commandment is love (G)from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from [b]sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to (H)idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.

But we know that the law is (I)good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is [c]contrary to sound doctrine, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the (J)blessed God which was (K)committed to my trust.

Glory to God for His Grace(L)

12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has (M)enabled me, (N)because He counted me faithful, (O)putting me into the ministry, 13 although (P)I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an [d]insolent man; but I obtained mercy because (Q)I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 (R)And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, (S)with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 (T)This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that (U)Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. 17 Now to (V)the King eternal, (W)immortal, (X)invisible, to [e]God (Y)who alone is wise, (Z)be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Fight the Good Fight

18 This [f]charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 20 of whom are (AA)Hymenaeus and (AB)Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to (AC)blaspheme.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 1:3 command
  2. 1 Timothy 1:5 Lit. unhypocritical
  3. 1 Timothy 1:10 opposed
  4. 1 Timothy 1:13 violently arrogant
  5. 1 Timothy 1:17 NU the only God,
  6. 1 Timothy 1:18 command