1 Timothy 1:1–20

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God^a our Savior^b and of Christ Jesus our hope,^c

²To 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

³As 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 doctrinesⁱ any longer ⁴or 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. ⁵The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart^m and a good conscienceⁿ and a sincere faith.^{o 6}Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. ⁷They 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

⁸We know that the law is good^r if one uses it properly. ⁹We 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, ¹⁰for 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

¹²I 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.^{a 14}The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly,^b along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.^c

¹⁵Here is a trustworthy saying^d that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners^e—of whom I am the worst. ¹⁶But for that very reason I was shown mercy^f so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience^g as an example for those who would believe^h in him and receive eternal life.^{i 17}Now to the King^j eternal, immortal,^k invisible,^l the only God,^m be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.ⁿ

The Charge to Timothy Renewed

¹⁸Timothy, my son,^o I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you,^p so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well,^{q 19}holding on to faith and a good conscience,^r which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.^{s 20}Among them are Hymenaeus^t and Alexander,^u whom I have handed over to Satan^v to be taught not to blaspheme.