1 Timothy 1
New Testament for Everyone
True teaching about the truth
1 Paul, an apostle of Messiah Jesus according to the command of God our savior and Messiah Jesus our hope, 2 to Timothy, my true child in faith: grace, mercy and peace from God the father and Messiah Jesus our Lord.
3 This is my charge to you, just as it was when I went to Macedonia: stay in Ephesus, so that you can tell the relevant people not to teach anything different, 4 or to cling on to myths and endless genealogies. That sort of thing breeds disputes rather than the instruction in faith that comes from God. 5 The goal of such instruction is love—the love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience and sincere faith. 6 Some people have wandered off from these things and turned aside to foolish talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law; but they don’t understand either what they’re talking about or the things about which they pronounce so confidently.
The purpose of the law
8 We know, after all, that the law is good—if someone uses it lawfully! 9 We recognize that the law is not laid down for people who are in the right, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the godless and sinners, the unholy and worldly, for people who kill their father or mother, for murderers, 10 fornicators, practicing homosexuals, slave traders, liars, perjurers, and those who practice any other behavior contrary to healthy teaching, 11 in accordance with the gospel of the glory of God the blessed one that was entrusted to me.
Paul as an example of God’s saving grace
12 I thank Messiah Jesus our Lord, who gave me strength. He regarded me as trustworthy by appointing me to his service— 13 even though I used to say blasphemous things against him, and persecuted his people violently! But I received mercy, because in my unbelief I didn’t know what I was doing. 14 And the grace of our Lord was more than enough for me, with the faith and love that are in Messiah Jesus. 15 Here is a word you can trust, which deserves total approval: “Messiah Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I’m the worst of them! 16 But this was why I received mercy: so that in me, precisely as the worst, Messiah Jesus could demonstrate the full scale of his patience, and make me a pattern for those who were going to believe in him and so attain the life of the age to come. 17 To the King of the ages, the one and only God, immortal and invisible, be honor and glory to the ages of ages, Amen!
The battle of faith
18 I am giving you this command, Timothy my child, in accordance with the prophecies which were made about you before, so that, as they said, you may fight the glorious battle, 19 holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected conscience, and their faith has been shipwrecked. 20 I include Hymenaeus and Alexander in that category. Indeed, I have handed them over to the satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.
1 Timothy 1
King James Version
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what 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 a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.
1 Timothy 1
English Standard Version
Greeting
1 Paul, (A)an apostle of Christ Jesus (B)by command of (C)God our Savior and of Christ Jesus (D)our hope,
2 To Timothy, (E)my true child in the faith:
(F)Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Warning Against False Teachers
3 (G)As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not (H)to teach any different doctrine, 4 nor (I)to devote themselves to myths and endless (J)genealogies, which promote (K)speculations rather than the stewardship[a] from God that is by faith. 5 The aim of our charge is love (L)that issues from a pure heart and (M)a good conscience and (N)a sincere faith. 6 Certain persons, by (O)swerving from these, have wandered away into (P)vain discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, (Q)without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.
8 Now we know that (R)the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 understanding this, that the (S)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 those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers,[b] liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to (T)sound[c] doctrine, 11 in accordance with (U)the gospel of the glory of (V)the blessed God (W)with which I have been entrusted.
Christ Jesus Came to Save Sinners
12 I thank him (X)who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, (Y)appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, (Z)persecutor, and insolent opponent. But (AA)I received mercy (AB)because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and (AC)the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the (AD)faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is (AE)trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus (AF)came into the world to save sinners, (AG)of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To (AH)the King of the ages, (AI)immortal, (AJ)invisible, (AK)the only God, (AL)be honor and glory forever and ever.[d] Amen.
18 This charge (AM)I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with (AN)the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may (AO)wage the good warfare, 19 (AP)holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have (AQ)made shipwreck of their faith, 20 among whom are (AR)Hymenaeus and (AS)Alexander, whom I (AT)have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to (AU)blaspheme.
Footnotes
- 1 Timothy 1:4 Or good order
- 1 Timothy 1:10 That is, those who take someone captive in order to sell him into slavery
- 1 Timothy 1:10 Or healthy
- 1 Timothy 1:17 Greek to the ages of ages
1 Timothy 1
Modern English Version
Salutation
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the command of God our Savior, and of the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,
2 To Timothy, my true son in the faith:
Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
Warning Against False Doctrine
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, continue to remain at Ephesus so that you might command some to teach no other doctrine, 4 nor pay attention to fables and endless genealogies, which cause debates rather than godly edifying, which is in faith. 5 Now the goal of this command is love from a pure heart, and from a good conscience, and from sincere faith. 6 From this, some have lost their way and turned aside to empty talk, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, and understanding neither what they say nor what they affirm.
8 But we know that the law is good if someone uses it lawfully. 9 And we know that the law is not given for a righteous person, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and the profane, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for sodomites, for slave traders, for liars, for perjurers, and for anything else that is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
Thankfulness for Mercy
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful and appointed me to the ministry. 13 I was previously a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and an insolent man. But I was shown mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord overflowed with the faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, first, Jesus Christ might show all patience, as an example to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life. 17 Now to the eternal, immortal, invisible King, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever. Amen.
18 This command I commit to you, my son Timothy, according to the prophecies that were previously given to you, that by them you might fight a good fight, 19 keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. 20 Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.