1 Timothy 1

Greetings from Paul

1This letter is from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, appointed by the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus, who gives us hope.

2I am writing to Timothy, my true son in the faith.

May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.

Warnings against False Teachings

3When I left for Macedonia, I urged you to stay there in Ephesus and stop those whose teaching is contrary to the truth. 4Don’t let them waste their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees. These things only lead to meaningless speculations,#1:4a Greek in myths and endless genealogies, which cause speculation. which don’t help people live a life of faith in God.#1:4b Greek a stewardship of God in faith.

5The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. 6But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions. 7They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don’t know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently.

8We know that the law is good when used correctly. 9For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders. 10The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders,#1:10 Or kidnappers. liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching 11that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God.

Paul’s Gratitude for God’s Mercy

12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, 13even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. 14Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.

15This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. 16But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. 17All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.

Timothy’s Responsibility

18Timothy, my son, here are my instructions for you, based on the prophetic words spoken about you earlier. May they help you fight well in the Lord’s battles. 19Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked. 20Hymenaeus and Alexander are two examples. I threw them out and handed them over to Satan so they might learn not to blaspheme God.

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1 Timothy 1

Greeting

1Paul, #See 2 Cor. 1:1an apostle of Christ Jesus #Titus 1:3; [Rom. 16:26] by command of #See Luke 1:47God our Savior and of Christ Jesus #Col. 1:27our hope,

2To Timothy, #Titus 1:4my true child in the faith:

# 2 Tim. 1:2; 2 John 3; [ Jude 2 ] Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Warning Against False Teachers

3 # [ Titus 1:5 ] As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not #ch. 6:3; [Gal. 1:6, 7]to teach any different doctrine, 4nor #ch. 4:7; 2 Tim. 4:4; Titus 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16to devote themselves to myths and endless #Titus 3:9genealogies, which promote #ch. 6:4speculations rather than the stewardship#1:4 Or good order from God that is by faith. 5The aim of our charge is love #2 Tim. 2:22that issues from a pure heart and #1 Pet. 3:16, 21a good conscience and #Rom. 12:9; 2 Tim. 1:5a sincere faith. 6Certain persons, by #ch. 6:21swerving from these, have wandered away into #Titus 1:10vain discussion, 7desiring to be teachers of the law, #[ch. 6:4; Col. 2:18]without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

8Now we know that #Rom. 7:16the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9understanding this, that the #Gal. 5:23law 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, 10the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers,#1:10 That is, those who take someone captive in order to sell him into slavery liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to #2 Tim. 4:3; [ch. 6:3; 2 Tim. 1:13; Titus 1:13; 2:2]sound#1:10 Or healthy doctrine, 11in accordance with #[2 Cor. 4:4] the gospel of the glory of #ch. 6:15the blessed God #Titus 1:3; See Rom. 2:16; Gal. 2:7with which I have been entrusted.

Christ Jesus Came to Save Sinners

12I thank him #Acts 9:22; Phil. 4:13who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, #See 2 Cor. 3:6appointing me to his service, 13though formerly I was a blasphemer, #See Acts 8:3persecutor, and insolent opponent. But #1 Cor. 7:25; 2 Cor. 4:1I received mercy #See Acts 3:17because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14and #Rom. 5:20the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the #[Luke 7:47, 50]; See 1 Thess. 1:3faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15The saying is #ch. 3:1; 4:9; 2 Tim. 2:11; Titus 3:8; [Rev. 22:6] trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus #Matt. 9:13; See John 3:17; Rom. 4:25came into the world to save sinners, #[1 Cor. 15:9]of whom I am the foremost. 16But 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. 17To #[Ps. 10:16; Rev. 4:9, 10] the King of the ages, #ch. 6:15, 16; Rom. 1:23immortal, #John 1:18; Col. 1:15; Heb. 11:27; 1 John 4:12invisible, #Jude 25the only God, #1 Chr. 29:11be honor and glory forever and ever.#1:17 Greek to the ages of ages Amen.

18This charge #2 Tim. 2:2I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with #ch. 4:14the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may #1 Cor. 9:7; 2 Cor. 10:4; 2 Tim. 2:3, 4; [ch. 6:12]wage the good warfare, 19#[ch. 3:9] holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have #[ch. 6:9]made shipwreck of their faith, 20among whom are #2 Tim. 2:17Hymenaeus and #2 Tim. 4:14Alexander, whom I #See 1 Cor. 5:5have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to #Acts 13:45blaspheme.

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