The First Epistle of Paul to Timothy

Setting forth a perfect pattern of a true Pastor, whose office especially consisteth in teaching, 4 he warneth him that vain questions set apart, he teach those things, 5 which further charity and faith: 12 and that his authority be not condemned, 14 he showeth what an one he is made through the grace of God.

Paul [a]an Apostle of Jesus Christ, by the [b]commandment of God our Savior, and of our Lord Jesus Christ our hope,

Unto Timothy my natural son in the faith: Grace, [c]mercy, and peace from God our Father, and from Christ Jesus our Lord.

[d]As I besought thee to abide still in Ephesus, when I departed into Macedonia, so do, that thou mayest warn some, that they teach none other doctrine,

[e]Neither that they give heed to fables and [f]genealogies which are endless, which breed questions rather than godly edifying which is by faith.

(A)[g] For the end of the [h]commandment is [i]love out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.

[j]From the which things some have erred, and have turned unto vain jangling.

[k]They would be doctors of the Law, and yet understand not what they speak, neither whereof they affirm.

[l]And we know, that the Law is good, if a man use it lawfully.

[m]Knowing this, that the Law is not given unto a [n]righteous man, but unto the lawless and disobedient, to the ungodly, and to [o]sinners, to the unholy, and to the profane, to murderers of fathers and mothers, to manslayers,

10 To whoremongers, to buggerers, to menstealers, to liars, to the perjured, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to wholesome doctrine,

11 [p]Which is according to the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, [q]which is committed unto me.

12 [r]Therefore I thank him which hath made me [s]strong, that is, Christ Jesus our Lord: for he counted me faithful, and put me in his service:

13 When before I was a [t]blasphemer, and a persecutor, and an oppressor: but I was received to mercy: for I did it ignorantly through unbelief.

14 But the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant [u]with faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus.

15 [v]This is a [w]true saying, and by all means worthy to be received, that (B)Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

16 Notwithstanding for this cause was I received to mercy, that Jesus Christ should first show on me all long suffering unto the ensample of them, which shall in time to come believe in him unto eternal life.

17 [x]Now unto the king everlasting, immortal, invisible, unto God [y]only wise, be honor, and glory, for ever, and ever, Amen.

18 [z]This commandment commit I unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies, which went before upon thee, that thou [aa]by them shouldest fight a good fight,

19 Having [ab]faith and a good conscience, [ac]which some have put away, and as concerning faith, have made shipwreck.

20 Of whom is Hymenaeus, and Alexander, (C)[ad]whom I have [ae]delivered unto Satan, that they might [af]learn not to blaspheme.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 1:1 First of all, he avoucheth his own free vocation, and also Timothy’s, that the one might be confirmed by the other: and therewithal he declareth the sum of the Apostolical doctrine, to wit, the mercy of God in Christ Jesus apprehended by faith, the end whereof is yet hoped for.
  2. 1 Timothy 1:1 Or, ordinance.
  3. 1 Timothy 1:2 There is as much difference betwixt mercy and grace, as is betwixt the effect, and the cause: For grace is that free good will of God, whereby he chose us in Christ, and mercy is that free justification which followeth it.
  4. 1 Timothy 1:3 This whole Epistle consisteth in admonitions, wherein all the duties of a faithful Pastor are lively set out. And the first admonition is this, that no innovation be made either in the Apostle’s doctrine itself, or in the manner of teaching it.
  5. 1 Timothy 1:4 The doctrine is corrupted not only by false opinions, but also by vain and curious speculations: the declaration and utterance whereof can nothing help our faith.
  6. 1 Timothy 1:4 He noteth out one kind of vain question.
  7. 1 Timothy 1:5 The second admonition is, that the right use and practice of the doctrine must be joined with the doctrine. And that consisteth in pure charity, and a good conscience, and true faith.
  8. 1 Timothy 1:5 Of the Law.
  9. 1 Timothy 1:5 There is neither love without a good conscience, nor a good conscience without faith, nor faith without the word of God.
  10. 1 Timothy 1:6 That which he spake before generally of vain and curious controversies, he applieth to them, which pretending a zeal of the Law, dwelled upon outward things, and never made an end of babbling of foolish trifles.
  11. 1 Timothy 1:7 There are none more unlearned, and more impudent in usurping the name of holiness, than foolish sophistical babblers.
  12. 1 Timothy 1:8 The taking away of an objection. He condemneth not the Law, but requireth the right use and practice of it.
  13. 1 Timothy 1:9 He indeed escapeth the curse of the Law, and therefore doth not abhor it, who fleeing and eschewing those things which the Law condemneth, giveth himself with all his heart to observe it: and not he that maketh a vain babbling of outward and curious matters.
  14. 1 Timothy 1:9 And such a one is he, whom the Lord hath endued with true doctrine, and with the holy Ghost.
  15. 1 Timothy 1:9 To such as make an art as it were of sinning.
  16. 1 Timothy 1:11 He setteth against fond and vain babbling, not only the Law, but the Gospel also, which condemneth not, but greatly commendeth the wholesome doctrine contained in the commandments of God, and therefore he calleth it a glorious Gospel, and the Gospel of the blessed God, the virtue whereof these babblers knew not.
  17. 1 Timothy 1:11 A reason why neither any other Gospel is to be taught than he hath taught in the Church, neither after any other sort, because there is no other Gospel besides that which God committed to him.
  18. 1 Timothy 1:12 He maintaineth of necessity his Apostleship against some that did carp at his former life, debasing himself, even to hell, to advance Christ’s only mercy, wherewith he abolished all those his former doings.
  19. 1 Timothy 1:12 Which gave me strength, not only when I had no will to do well, but also when I was wholly given to evil.
  20. 1 Timothy 1:13 These are the preparative works which Paul braggeth of.
  21. 1 Timothy 1:14 He proveth this change by the effects, for that, that he that was a profane man, is become a believer: and he that did most outrageously persecute Christ, burneth now in love towards him.
  22. 1 Timothy 1:15 He turneth the reproach of the adversaries upon their own head, showing that this singular example of the goodness of God, redoundeth to the commodity of the whole Church.
  23. 1 Timothy 1:15 Worthy to be believed.
  24. 1 Timothy 1:17 He breaketh out into an exclamation, even for very zeal of mind, for that he cannot satisfy himself in amplifying the grace of God.
  25. 1 Timothy 1:17 See John 17:3.
  26. 1 Timothy 1:18 The conclusion of both the former fatherly admonitions, to wit, that Timothy striving manfully against all lets, being called to the ministry according to many prophecies which went before of him, should both maintain the doctrine which he had received, and keep also a good conscience.
  27. 1 Timothy 1:18 By the help of them.
  28. 1 Timothy 1:19 Wholesome and sound doctrine.
  29. 1 Timothy 1:19 Whosoever keep not a good conscience, do lose also by little and little the gift of understanding: which he proveth by two most lamentable examples.
  30. 1 Timothy 1:20 Such as fall from God, and his religion, are not to be suffered in the Church, but rather ought to be excommunicated.
  31. 1 Timothy 1:20 Cast out of the Church, and so delivered them to Satan.
  32. 1 Timothy 1:20 That by their smart they might learn what it is to blaspheme.

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