The New Testament

The New Testament › 1 Timothy

1 Timothy 1

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus our hope, 2to Timothy, my true child in faith: grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

3As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach differently 4or devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These produce speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is exercised in faith. 5The goal of this command is love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith. 6Some have missed the mark in these things and turned aside into empty talk, 7wanting to be teachers of the law, although they understand neither what they say nor the things they assert so confidently.

8Now we know that the law is good if someone uses it lawfully, 9understanding this: the law is not laid down for a righteous person but for the lawless and rebellious, the ungodly and sinners, the unholy and profane, those who kill their fathers or mothers, murderers, 10the sexually immoral, men who have sex with males, those who kidnap people for slavery, liars, those who swear falsely, and whatever else is opposed to healthy teaching, 11in keeping with the good news of the glory of the blessed God, which was entrusted to me.

12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who strengthened me, because he considered me faithful and appointed me to service, 13even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man. But I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14and the grace of our Lord overflowed with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost. 16But for this reason I was shown mercy: so that in me, the foremost, Christ Jesus might display his complete patience as a pattern for those who would believe in him for eternal life. 17Now to the King of the ages, incorruptible, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for the ages of ages. Amen.

18I entrust this command to you, Timothy, my child, in keeping with the prophecies previously made about you, so that through them you may wage the good campaign, 19holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have pushed the latter aside and shipwrecked their faith. 20Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I handed over to Satan so that they might be disciplined not to blaspheme.

Translation notes 7

1:3–4 — “Remain in Ephesus.” The Greek begins “Just as I urged you…” and never formally completes that construction. The draft makes the renewed instruction explicit. “Stewardship from God” can also be understood as “God's ordering of affairs” or “God's plan.”

1:9 — “Kill their fathers or mothers.” The terms can also refer to striking or assaulting one's parents. The context supports serious violations of the law; the exact degree of violence is uncertain.

1:10 — “Men who have sex with males.” The rare Greek term concerns male sexual conduct. Its precise scope is disputed; proposals restrict it to exploitation, prostitution, or sex with boys. This draft does not insert those restrictions or use a modern label for sexual orientation. Fuller evidence and limits are in the study notes.

1:10 — “Kidnap people for slavery”; “healthy teaching.” The first term concerns taking or trading people as slaves. The second is often rendered “sound doctrine”; the health image returns in 6:3–4, where the opposing teacher is described as sick.

1:15–16 — “Foremost.” The language puts the speaker first among sinners; “worst” expresses the force but loses the repeated first-place wording.

1:17 — “Ages of ages.” The conventional meaning is “forever and ever.” The draft retains the repeated age language alongside “King of the ages.”

1:20 — “Handed over to Satan.” The stated purpose is corrective discipline. The verse does not spell out the procedure.