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1 Timothy 1
Contemporary English Version
1 Timothy 1
Contemporary English Version
1 From Paul.
God our Savior and Christ Jesus commanded me to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, who gives us hope.
2 (A) Timothy, because of our faith, you are like a son to me. I pray that God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ will be kind and merciful to you. May they bless you with peace!
Warning against False Teaching
3 When I was leaving for Macedonia, I asked you to stay on in Ephesus and warn certain people there to stop spreading their false teachings. 4 You needed to warn them to stop wasting their time on senseless stories and endless lists of ancestors. Such things only cause arguments. They don't help anyone to do God's work that can only be done by faith.
5 You must teach people to have genuine love, as well as a good conscience and true faith. 6 There are some who have given up these for nothing but empty talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the Law of Moses. But they don't know what they are talking about, even though they think they do.
8 We know the Law is good, if it is used in the right way. 9 We also understand it wasn't given to control people who please God, but to control lawbreakers, criminals, godless people, and sinners. It is for wicked and evil people, and for murderers, who would even kill their own parents. 10 The Law was written for people who are sexual perverts or who live as homosexuals or are kidnappers or liars or won't tell the truth in court. It is for anything else that opposes the correct teaching 11 of the good news the glorious and wonderful God has given me.
Being Thankful for God's Kindness
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me the strength for my work because he knew he could trust me. 13 (B) I used to say terrible and insulting things about him, and I was cruel. But Christ had mercy on me because I didn't know what I was doing, and I had not yet put my faith in him. 14 Christ Jesus our Lord treated me with undeserved grace and has greatly blessed my life with faith and love just like his own.
15 “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” This saying is true, and it can be trusted. I was the worst sinner of all! 16 But since I was worse than anyone else, God had mercy on me and let me be an example of the endless patience of Christ Jesus. He did this so that others would put their faith in Christ and have eternal life. 17 I pray that honor and glory will always be given to the only God, who lives forever and is the invisible and eternal King! Amen.
18 Timothy, my son, the instructions I am giving you are based on what some prophets[a] once said about you. If you follow these instructions, you will fight like a good soldier. 19 You will be faithful and have a clear conscience. Some people have made a mess of their faith because they didn't listen to their consciences. 20 Two of them are Hymenaeus and Alexander. I have given these men over to the power of Satan, so they will learn not to oppose God.
Footnotes
- 1.18 prophets: Probably the Christian prophets referred to in 4.14.
1 Timothy 1
King James Version
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
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
New International Version
1 Timothy 1
New International Version
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God(A) our Savior(B) and of Christ Jesus our hope,(C)
2 To Timothy(D) my true son(E) in the faith:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.(F)
Timothy Charged to Oppose False Teachers
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia,(G) stay there in Ephesus(H) so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines(I) any longer 4 or to devote themselves to myths(J) and endless genealogies.(K) Such things promote controversial speculations(L) rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart(M) and a good conscience(N) and a sincere faith.(O) 6 Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers(P) of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.(Q)
8 We know that the law is good(R) if one uses it properly. 9 We also know that the law is made not for the righteous(S) but for lawbreakers and rebels,(T) the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine(U) 11 that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.(V)
The Lord’s Grace to Paul
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength,(W) that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service.(X) 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor(Y) and a violent man, I was shown mercy(Z) because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.(AA) 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly,(AB) along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.(AC)
15 Here is a trustworthy saying(AD) that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners(AE)—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy(AF) so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience(AG) as an example for those who would believe(AH) in him and receive eternal life.(AI) 17 Now to the King(AJ) eternal, immortal,(AK) invisible,(AL) the only God,(AM) be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.(AN)
The Charge to Timothy Renewed
18 Timothy, my son,(AO) I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you,(AP) so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well,(AQ) 19 holding on to faith and a good conscience,(AR) which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.(AS) 20 Among them are Hymenaeus(AT) and Alexander,(AU) whom I have handed over to Satan(AV) to be taught not to blaspheme.
1 Timothy 1
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
1 Timothy 1
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus our hope, 2 to Timothy, genuine child in the faith: Grace, mercy, peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Stay On In Ephesus To Turn Certain “Law-Teachers” From Worthless Talk To Love
3 Just as I urged you to stay-on in Ephesus while I was proceeding to Macedonia, do so in order that you might command[a] certain ones not to be teaching-different-doctrines, 4 nor paying-attention-to myths[b] and endless genealogies, which cause speculations rather than a stewardship[c] of [d] God, which is by[e] faith. 5 And the goal of your command[f] is love from a pure heart and good conscience and sincere faith, 6 having departed[g] from which things some turned-aside into worthless-talk[h]— 7 wanting to be Law-teachers, not understanding either the things which they are saying or about what things they are speaking-confidently.
The Law Is Useful When It Is Used Properly: To Correct The Ungodly
8 Now we know that the Law is good[i] if one is using it lawfully, 9 knowing this: that law is not laid-down[j] for a righteous one but for lawless ones and rebellious ones, ungodly ones and sinful ones, unholy ones and profane[k] ones, father-thrashers[l] and mother-thrashers, man-slayers[m], 10 sexually-immoral ones, homosexuals[n], slave-traders[o], liars, perjurers[p], and if any other thing is contrary to healthy[q] teaching 11 in accordance with the good-news of the glory of the blessed God which I was entrusted.
I Thank The Lord Jesus For Showing Mercy To Me And Appointing Me To Serve Him
12 I have gratitude to Christ Jesus our Lord, the One having strengthened me, because He regarded me trustworthy[r], having appointed me for service— 13 I formerly being a blasphemous one and a persecutor and violent[s] one! But I was shown-mercy because being ignorant, I acted in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and worthy of full acceptance— that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost[t]. 16 But for this reason I was shown-mercy: in order that in me, the foremost, Christ Jesus might demonstrate[u] all patience, for a pattern for the ones going to put-faith upon Him for eternal life. 17 Now to the King of the ages[v], to the immortal invisible only God, be honor and glory forever and ever, amen.
I Am Giving You This Instruction, My Child, So You Can Fight The Good Fight
18 I am depositing[w] this instruction[x] with you, my child Timothy, in accordance with the preceding[y] prophecies about you, in order that by them[z] you may fight the good fight, 19 having faith and a good conscience, which[aa] having pushed-aside[ab], some suffered-shipwreck with respect to the[ac] faith— 20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I handed-over to Satan in order that they may be trained not to blaspheme.
Footnotes
- 1 Timothy 1:3 Or, instruct, direct.
- 1 Timothy 1:4 Or, fables, tales.
- 1 Timothy 1:4 Or, arrangement, mode of operation.
- 1 Timothy 1:4 That is, proceeding from.
- 1 Timothy 1:4 Or, in the sphere of.
- 1 Timothy 1:5 Or, instruction.
- 1 Timothy 1:6 Or, deviated.
- 1 Timothy 1:6 Or, futile-talk, useless-talk, pointless-talk.
- 1 Timothy 1:8 That is, advantageous, useful.
- 1 Timothy 1:9 Or, set-in-place.
- 1 Timothy 1:9 Or, godless, irreligious.
- 1 Timothy 1:9 -thrashers. Or, -abusers, -assaulters, -killers. It depends on how extreme a violation of the fifth commandment Paul has in mind.
- 1 Timothy 1:9 Or, murderers.
- 1 Timothy 1:10 See 1 Cor 6:9.
- 1 Timothy 1:10 Or, man-stealers.
- 1 Timothy 1:10 Or, oath-breakers.
- 1 Timothy 1:10 Or, sound, correct.
- 1 Timothy 1:12 Or, faithful.
- 1 Timothy 1:13 Or, insolent.
- 1 Timothy 1:15 Or, first, chief.
- 1 Timothy 1:16 Or, display, show.
- 1 Timothy 1:17 Or, the King of eternity; the eternal King.
- 1 Timothy 1:18 Or, committing, entrusting.
- 1 Timothy 1:18 Or, command, as in v 5.
- 1 Timothy 1:18 That is, preceding Timothy’s ministry.
- 1 Timothy 1:18 Or, in them. That is, by following the contents of this instruction; or, in living out the prophecies.
- 1 Timothy 1:19 That is, a good conscience.
- 1 Timothy 1:19 Or, rejected.
- 1 Timothy 1:19 Or, their faith. That is, having ignored their conscience, they ran aground the Christian faith; or, their personal faith.
Contemporary English Version (CEV) 
Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society For more information about CEV, visit www.bibles.com and www.cev.bible.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
Disciples’ Literal New Testament (DLNT) 
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing