1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Saviour and of Christ Jesus our hope,2To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Timothy charged to oppose false teachers
3As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer4or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work – which is by faith.5The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.6Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk.7They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.8We know that the law is good if one uses it properly.9We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers,10for the sexually immoral, for those practising homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers – and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine11that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
The Lord’s grace to Paul
12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service.13Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.14The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.15Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst.16But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
The charge to Timothy renewed
18Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well,19holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.20Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
1 Timothy 1
English Standard Version
Greeting
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, (Lu 1:47; Ro 16:26; 2Co 1:1; Col 1:27; Tit 1:3)2To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. (2Ti 1:2; Tit 1:4; 2Jo 1:3; Jud 1:2)
Warning Against False Teachers
3As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, (Ga 1:6; 1Ti 6:3; Tit 1:5)4nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship[1] from God that is by faith. (1Ti 4:7; 1Ti 6:4; 2Ti 4:4; Tit 1:14; Tit 3:9; 2Pe 1:16)5The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (Ro 12:9; 2Ti 1:5; 2Ti 2:22; 1Pe 3:16; 1Pe 3:21)6Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, (1Ti 6:21; Tit 1:10)7desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. (Col 2:18; 1Ti 6:4)8Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, (Ro 7:16)9understanding this, that the 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, (Ga 5:23)10the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers,[2] liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound[3] doctrine, (1Ti 6:3; 2Ti 1:13; 2Ti 4:3; Tit 1:13; Tit 2:2)11in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. (Ro 2:16; 2Co 4:4; Ga 2:7; 1Ti 6:15; Tit 1:3)
Christ Jesus Came to Save Sinners
12I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, (Ac 9:22; 2Co 3:6; Php 4:13)13though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, (Ac 3:17; Ac 8:3; 1Co 7:25; 2Co 4:1)14and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. (Lu 7:47; Lu 7:50; Ro 5:20; 1Th 1:3)15The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. (Mt 9:13; Joh 3:17; Ro 4:25; 1Co 15:9; 1Ti 3:1; 1Ti 4:9; 2Ti 2:11; Tit 3:8; Re 22:6)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 the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.[4] Amen. (1Ch 29:11; Ps 10:16; Joh 1:18; Ro 1:23; Col 1:15; 1Ti 6:15; Heb 11:27; 1Jo 4:12; Jud 1:25; Re 4:9)18This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, (1Co 9:7; 2Co 10:4; 1Ti 4:14; 1Ti 6:12; 2Ti 2:2; 2Ti 2:3)19holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, (1Ti 3:9; 1Ti 6:9)20among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. (Ac 13:45; 1Co 5:5; 2Ti 2:17; 2Ti 4:14)