1 Timothy 1:3-11
New American Standard Bible
3 Just as I urged you [a]upon my departure for (A)Macedonia, to remain on at (B)Ephesus so that you would instruct certain people not to (C)teach strange doctrines, 4 nor to [b]pay attention to (D)myths and endless (E)genealogies, which give rise to useless (F)speculation rather than (G)advance [c]the plan of God, which is by faith, so I urge you now. 5 But the goal of our [d](H)instruction is love (I)from a pure heart, from a (J)good conscience, and from a sincere (K)faith. 6 Some people have strayed from these things and have turned aside to (L)fruitless discussion, 7 (M)wanting to be (N)teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.
8 But we know that (O)the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 realizing the fact that (P)law is not made for a righteous person but for those who are lawless and (Q)rebellious, for the (R)ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and (S)worldly, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the [e](T)sexually immoral, (U)homosexuals, [f](V)slave traders, (W)liars, (X)perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to (Y)sound teaching, 11 according to (Z)the glorious gospel of (AA)the blessed God, with which I have been (AB)entrusted.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Timothy 1:3 Lit while going to
- 1 Timothy 1:4 Or occupy themselves with
- 1 Timothy 1:4 I.e., prob. the plan of salvation
- 1 Timothy 1:5 Lit commandment
- 1 Timothy 1:10 Or fornicators
- 1 Timothy 1:10 Or kidnappers
1 Timothy 1:3-11
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Warning against False Teachers
3 I urge you, as I did when I was on my way to Macedonia, to remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach different teachings(A) 4 and not to occupy themselves with myths and endless genealogies that promote speculations rather than the divine training[a] that is known by faith.(B) 5 But the aim of such instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith.(C) 6 Some people have deviated from these and turned to meaningless talk, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make assertions.
8 Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it legitimately; 9 this means understanding that the law is laid down not for the righteous but for the lawless and disobedient, for the godless and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their father or mother, for murderers,(D) 10 the sexually immoral, men who engage in illicit sex,[b] slave traders, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching(E) 11 that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I was entrusted.
Read full chapter
1 Timothy 1:3-11
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
3 As I desired thee to remain at Ephesus when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some not to teach otherwise,
4 Not to give heed to fables and endless genealogies: which furnish questions rather than the edification of God, which is in faith.
5 Now the end of the commandment is charity, from a pure heart, and a good conscience, and an unfeigned faith.
6 From which things some going astray, are turned aside unto vain babbling:
7 Desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither the things they say, nor whereof they affirm.
8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully:
9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for the just man, but for the unjust and disobedient, for the ungodly, and for sinners, for the wicked and defiled, for murderers of fathers, and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 For fornicators, for them who defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and whatever other thing is contrary to sound doctrine,
11 Which is according to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, which hath been committed to my trust.
Read full chapter
1 Timothy 1:3-11
The Message
Self-Appointed Experts on Life
3-4 On my way to the province of Macedonia, I advised you to stay in Ephesus. Well, I haven’t changed my mind. Stay right there on top of things so that the teaching stays on track. Apparently some people have been introducing fantasy stories and fanciful family trees that digress into silliness instead of pulling the people back into the center, deepening faith and obedience.
5-7 The whole point of what we’re urging is simply love—love uncontaminated by self-interest and counterfeit faith, a life open to God. Those who fail to keep to this point soon wander off into dead ends of gossip. They set themselves up as experts on religious issues, but haven’t the remotest idea of what they’re holding forth with such imposing eloquence.
8-11 It’s true that moral guidance and counsel need to be given, but the way you say it and to whom you say it are as important as what you say. It’s obvious, isn’t it, that the law code isn’t primarily for people who live responsibly, but for the irresponsible, who defy all authority, riding roughshod over God, life, sex, truth, whatever! They are cynical toward this great Message I’ve been put in charge of by this great God.
* * *
Read full chapterNew American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Public Domain (Why are modern Bible translations copyrighted?)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson