1 Timothy 1

King James Version (1769) · Tap a verse to see it in context

About this chapter

AI-assisted, sourced

Paul greets Timothy and reminds him why he left him at Ephesus: to "charge some that they teach no other doctrine" and to stop them giving heed to "fables and endless genealogies." Paul says the law is good when used lawfully, then tells how Christ showed mercy to him, once "a blasphemer, and a persecutor," as a pattern for all who would believe. He closes by charging Timothy to "war a good warfare," holding faith and a good conscience, unlike Hymenaeus and Alexander. 1 Timothy 1:3 1 Timothy 1:4 1 Timothy 1:8 1 Timothy 1:13 1 Timothy 1:16 1 Timothy 1:18 1 Timothy 1:19 1 Timothy 1:20

Who, where, when, and the key verses

Who

Paul, "an apostle of Jesus Christ," writes to Timothy, "my own son in the faith." The chapter also speaks of some who desire "to be teachers of the law" without understanding it, and names Hymenaeus and Alexander among those who "have made shipwreck" concerning faith. 1 Timothy 1:1 1 Timothy 1:2 1 Timothy 1:7 1 Timothy 1:19 1 Timothy 1:20

Where

Paul had asked Timothy to "abide still at Ephesus" while Paul went into Macedonia. Ephesus was a wealthy port city and capital of the Roman province of Asia. 1 Timothy 1:3 Ephesus Macedonia 1 Timothy overview

When

Traditionally about AD 62-64, after Paul's first Roman imprisonment. Many critical scholars date the letter later, around AD 80-110. 1 Timothy overview

How it fits

As the letter's opening, this chapter sets out the problem Timothy is to face: false teaching in the church. Chapter 2 follows with "I exhort therefore," turning to prayer "for all men." 1 Timothy 1:3 1 Timothy 2:1 1 Timothy overview

Key verses

Verse 5
It states the goal of Paul's charge: "charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned." The false teachers swerved from this. 1 Timothy 1:5 1 Timothy 1:6
Verse 15
"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." Luke 19:10 says the same of the Son of man: he "is come to seek and to save that which was lost." 1 Timothy 1:15 Luke 19:10 Mark 2:17
Verse 19
Faith and a good conscience are to be held together; some who "put away" a good conscience "have made shipwreck" concerning faith. 1 Timothy 1:19

Takeaway

Hold to sound teaching whose aim is love from a pure heart, and remember that if Christ saved Paul, the chief of sinners, his mercy reaches anyone who will believe. 1 Timothy 1:5 1 Timothy 1:15 1 Timothy 1:16

Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a separate AI reader. Updated 2026-10-28.

Greeting

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.

Stop the false teaching

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.

Mercy shown to the chief of sinners

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.

Fight the good fight

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.