BOOK 54 OF 66 · PAULINE EPISTLES · KING JAMES BIBLE

1 Timothy 1

1 Timothy book home•Chapter 1 of 6•20 verses

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1 Timothy 1 Overview

Paul charges Timothy to stop false teaching, myths, genealogies, and misuse of the law. The goal of the commandment is charity from a pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith. Paul explains that the law is good when used lawfully, celebrates Christ’s mercy toward him as the chief of sinners, and entrusts Timothy with a charge to war a good warfare.

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Before you read 1 Timothy 1

Coming from

2 Thessalonians 3 closes with orderly work, discipline of disorderly believers, and the Lord’s peace.

In this chapter

Leads into

Paul instructs the church to pray for all people, including kings and authorities, because God desires people to be saved and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all. He then gives instructions about men praying and women’s modesty, learning, and teaching authority in the church.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Paul does not oppose law itself; he opposes ignorant misuse and says the law is good if used lawfully.

His testimony shows salvation by Christ’s mercy toward a blasphemer and persecutor, not by his former religious zeal.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Sound doctrine should produce love

The goal is not endless speculative controversy.

The law must be used lawfully

False teachers can mishandle true revelation.

Christ came to save sinners

Paul makes his own rescue an example of longsuffering mercy.

Ministry requires guarding faith and conscience

Timothy must not shipwreck either.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Acts 9:1–19

Paul’s former persecution and Christ’s mercy are narrated in his conversion.

Galatians 3:19–24

Paul explains the law’s purpose without making it a means of justification.

Titus 3:3–7

Another pastoral epistle grounds salvation in mercy rather than works.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not make the law the means of justification

Paul distinguishes lawful use from false teaching.

Do not use ‘chief of sinners’ to glorify sin

Paul glorifies Christ’s mercy.

Do not confuse maintaining a good conscience with earning eternal life

It concerns faithful ministry after salvation.

Read 1 Timothy 1 watching for…

False-teaching subjects Timothy must stop.

The goal of the commandment.

Who the law is for.

Paul’s before-and-after testimony.

The imagery of warfare and shipwreck.

Chapter outline4 sections

1-7Paul greets Timothy and charges him to stop false teaching and vain disputes 8-11The law is good when used lawfully and agrees with the glorious gospel 12-17Paul gives thanks that Christ saved and appointed him despite his former unbelief and persecution 18-20Timothy is charged to war a good warfare while holding faith and a good conscience

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Knowing 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,

For 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;

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

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

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

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

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

Howbeit 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.

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

This 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;

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

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