Updated on

Read 1 Timothy Chapter 1

Up and down arrows move from one verse to the next.

1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;

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

3As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

4Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

5Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

6From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;

7Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

8But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;

9Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

10For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

11According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

12And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

13Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

14And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

15This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

16Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

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

18This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

19Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

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

You are readingKing James Version

Explanation

1 Timothy 1

In short

Paul writes to Timothy, a younger church leader, telling him to stop false teachers from spreading wrong ideas in the church at Ephesus. Paul then shares his own story: he once persecuted Christians but God showed him mercy, and he wants Timothy to know that God's law is good when used rightly, and that Christ came to save sinners.

What the text says

Paul opens by calling himself an apostle, sent by God and Jesus Christ (verse 1), and addresses Timothy as his child in the faith (verse 2). In verse 3, Paul mentions he asked Timothy to stay in Ephesus and stop some people from teaching false ideas. Verses 4 to 7 describe the problem: these teachers focus on stories and endless family lists that raise questions instead of building faith. The real point of God's command is love from a clean heart and good conscience (verse 5).

Verses 8 and 9 say God's law is good when used correctly, meant to stop lawless and sinful people, not righteous ones. Verse 10 lists types of sinners the law addresses. Paul then shares his own past in verses 12 to 14: he says Jesus gave him strength and made him faithful, though he once spoke against God and hurt believers. He obtained mercy because he acted in ignorance. Verse 15 states a trustworthy saying: Christ came to save sinners, and Paul counts himself chief among them. Verse 16 explains God showed him mercy to display Christ's patience as an example to future believers. Verses 18 to 20 return to Timothy's task: to fight a good fight with faith and good conscience, holding to the prophecies about him.

Takeaways

  • Paul sends Timothy to fix false teaching by teachers who talk much but understand little.
  • The law is not made for the righteous but for the lawless, and love from a clean heart is the true aim.
  • Paul's own conversion from persecutor to faithful servant shows Christ's patience toward sinners.

Explanation written with the help of AI. The Bible text above is not changed. Context and interpretation are flagged as such; always come back to the text itself.