1 Timothy 1

¹Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by [the] command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

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

³As I urged you on my departure to Macedonia, you should stay on at Ephesus to instruct certain men not to teach false doctrines

⁴[or] devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculation rather than [the] stewardship of God’s [work], which [is] by faith.

⁵The goal of [our] instruction is [the] love [that comes] from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.

⁶Some have strayed from [ these ways ] [and] turned aside to empty talk.

⁷They want to be teachers of the law, [but] they do not understand what they are saying [or] [that] which they so confidently assert.

⁸Now we know that the law [is] good, if one uses it legitimately.

⁹We realize that law is not enacted for [the] righteous, but for [the] lawless and rebellious, for [the] ungodly and sinful, for [the] unholy and profane, for killers of father [or] mother, for murderers,

¹⁰for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders [and] liars [and] perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching

¹¹that agrees with the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.

¹²I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, that He considered me faithful [and] appointed [me] to service.

¹³I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent [man]; yet because I had acted in ignorance [and] unbelief, I was shown mercy.

¹⁴And the grace of our Lord overflowed [to me], along with [the] faith and love that [are] in Christ Jesus.

¹⁵[This is a] trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am [the] worst.

¹⁶But for this very reason I was shown mercy, so that in me, [the] worst [ of sinners ], Christ Jesus might display [His] perfect patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life.

¹⁷Now to [the] King eternal, immortal, [and] invisible, [the] only God, [be] honor and glory forever [and] ever. Amen.

¹⁸Timothy, [my] child, I entrust you with this command in keeping with the previous prophecies about you, so that by them you may fight the good fight,

¹⁹holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected [and thereby] shipwrecked [their] faith.

²⁰Among [them] are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.