FIRST TIMOTHY

 

First Timothy 1

1 ¶ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the order of God our Savior, and Jesus Christ, our hope;

2 To Timothy, my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

3 When I went to Macedonia, I urged you to remain at Ephesus, and still do, so that you might warn certain people not to teach any other doctrine,

4 Nor to pay attention to Hebrew legends and endless genealogies, that promote controversy and doubt, instead of God’s work which is by faith.

5 ¶ Now the goal of our instruction is love flowing from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith:

6 Some having missed these things have turned aside to worthless jabber;

7 They want to be teachers of the law; but they do not know what they are talking about, or understand the things they so confidently assert.

8 Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully;

9 Understanding this, that the law is not meant for a righteous man, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the irreverent and profane, for those who strike or kill their fathers or mothers, for murders,

10 For those who sin sexually, for sodomites, for kidnapers and slave traders, for liars and perjurers, and for any other thing that is contrary to sound teaching;

11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, that has been committed to my trust.

12 ¶ And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has empowered me, that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

13 Even though I was formerly a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and violent: but I was shown mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

14 And the grace of our Lord was more than abundant bringing faith and love in Christ Jesus.

15 This is a trustworthy statement, worthy of complete acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am the worst.

16 However I was shown mercy for that very reason, that Jesus Christ might first show in me all his longsuffering, as an example for those who are going to trust in him for everlasting life.

17 Now to the eternal King, the immortal, invisible, and only wise God, be glory and honor for ever and ever. Amen.

18 ¶ I am giving you this assignment, son Timothy, in accordance with the prophecies made earlier about you, that by them you might fight a successful battle;

19 Having faith, and a clean conscience; which some by disregarding have made shipwreck of their faith:

20 Among whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered to Satan, so that they may learn not to blaspheme.

[Note: Verse 9 is explained by Romans 3:19-20. The law is God’s warning to the unrepentant, the gospel is His word of comfort to all who repent.]