1 Timothy 1

1 Timothy · Chapter 1

1 Timothy 1:10

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.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
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;for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teachingfor fornicators, for abusers of themselves with men, for menstealers, for liars, for false swearers, and if there be any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine;

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

This verse finishes a list of wrongdoings that begins in verse 9. Paul says the law is good if used lawfully. It is aimed not at the righteous but at people who do such things, and at anything else 'contrary to sound doctrine.' He writes this to correct would-be 'teachers of the law' in Ephesus who did not understand what they taught. 1 Timothy 1:71 Timothy 1:81 Timothy 1:91 Timothy 1:10

Commonly taken out of context

How it’s often usedPulled out alone as a list for condemning particular groups of people, especially in debates about sexuality.

In contextIn its setting, the list shows what the law is rightly used for, against teachers who misused it. Paul goes straight on to call himself the chief of sinners, saved by mercy. The verse sits within a message of grace to sinners, not apart from it. 1 Timothy 1:71 Timothy 1:81 Timothy 1:91 Timothy 1:151 Timothy 1:16

SpeakingPaul the apostle, who names himself at the start of the letter. Many critical scholars think a follower wrote in Paul's name; others defend Paul's authorship. 1 Timothy 1:11 Timothy overview

ToTimothy, Paul's younger co-worker and 'own son in the faith,' whom Paul left at Ephesus to stop certain people from teaching other doctrine. 1 Timothy 1:21 Timothy 1:31 Timothy overview

Also involvedThe false teachers who misused the law, and the kinds of wrongdoers the law is meant to confront: the sexually immoral, those described by a rare word about sex between males, kidnappers or slave-dealers, liars, and perjurers. 1 Timothy 1:61 Timothy 1:71 Timothy 1:10Strong's G4205Strong's G0733Strong's G0405Strong's G5583Strong's G1965

Paul lists behaviors that show what the law is for. He then widens it to 'any other thing' that opposes healthy teaching. That teaching agrees with the gospel entrusted to him. 1 Timothy 1:91 Timothy 1:101 Timothy 1:11Strong's G5198Strong's G0480

The letter is addressed to Timothy in Ephesus. Ephesus was a wealthy port city and capital of the Roman province of Asia, known for its temple of Artemis. Where Paul wrote from is not stated, possibly Macedonia. 1 Timothy overview1 Timothy 1:3

ACHAIAASIAGALATIAAegean SeaEphesusLaodiceaMiletusPhilippiThessalonicaCorinth

The eventsPaul had asked Timothy to stay in Ephesus when Paul went on into Macedonia. Some there had turned aside to 'vain jangling,' meaning empty talk. 1 Timothy 1:31 Timothy 1:6

WrittenTraditional view: about AD 62-64, between Paul's two Roman imprisonments. Scholarly view: many critical scholars date it around AD 80-110, while others hold to the earlier date. 1 Timothy overview

HereThe list supports Paul's point against false teachers. The law is meant to expose real wrongdoing, not to fuel fables, endless genealogies, and arguments. The goal of his charge is love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:41 Timothy 1:51 Timothy 1:71 Timothy 1:81 Timothy overview

In the whole of ScriptureRight after the list, Paul calls himself a former blasphemer and persecutor who received mercy. He says 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.' The letter ties sound teaching to godly living. 1 Timothy 1:131 Timothy 1:151 Timothy 1:161 Timothy overview

For readersHealthy teaching shows up in how people live. The same chapter that names sins also holds out mercy to the worst of sinners as a pattern for all who believe. 1 Timothy 1:101 Timothy 1:151 Timothy 1:16Strong's G5198

Christians read this differently

The word behind 'them that defile themselves with mankind' is rare. It appears only here and in 1 Corinthians 6:9, and its exact sense is debated. Many traditions read it as condemning sex between males in general, noting it joins the words for 'male' and 'bed,' echoing Leviticus 18:22. Other Christians argue it refers to a narrower, exploitative practice. Strong's G0733Leviticus 18:221 Corinthians 6:9

  • soundὑγιαίνω
    Greek · hugiainō · G5198

    The word means 'healthy' and is used elsewhere of physical good health. 'Sound doctrine' is teaching that produces spiritual health, a phrase repeated in the letters to Timothy and Titus. Strong's G51982 Timothy 4:31 Timothy 6:3

  • menstealersἀνδραποδιστής
    Greek · andrapodistēs · G0405

    The word means a slave-dealer or kidnapper, from a term for a slave captured in war. The list condemns taking and trading human beings. Strong's G0405

  • them that defile themselves with mankindἀρσενοκοίτης
    Greek · arsenokoitēs · G0733

    The word is a compound glossed "sodomite." In the New Testament it occurs only here and in 1 Corinthians 6:9. Strong's G07331 Corinthians 6:9

  • whoremongersπόρνος
    Greek · pornos · G4205

    The word can mean a male prostitute. In the New Testament it usually means a fornicator, someone who commits sexual immorality, not only a man who uses prostitutes. Strong's G4205

Takeaway

Paul names real wrongs to show what God's law is for, and measures them against sound doctrine. He then points to Christ, who came to save sinners, with Paul himself as the pattern of that mercy. 1 Timothy 1:101 Timothy 1:111 Timothy 1:151 Timothy 1:16

Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-22.

The world around the text

Behind this verse

Kidnapping for the slave trade
Free people were kidnapped and sold as slaves. The Law of Moses made stealing a man to sell him a capital crime. Exodus 21:16Deuteronomy 24:7

About AD 62-64. Roman emperor: Nero (AD 54-68). Where Timothy was when Paul wrote. A port city on the west coast of today's Turkey and the greatest market of the province of Asia.

Who ruled
  • Roman emperorNeroAD 54-68

    Emperor over the whole Roman world, including Ephesus, Macedonia and Judea. When Paul appealed to Caesar as a Roman citizen, the Caesar was Nero. Paul tells Timothy to have prayers made "for kings, and for all that are in authority." Acts 25:10-12Acts 28:161 Timothy 2:1-2Suetonius, NeroTacitus, Annals 13-16

  • Governor of the province where Ephesus stoodThe proconsul of AsiaOne-year terms

    Asia was governed by a proconsul, a former consul appointed by the Senate for a year at a time, who heard cases in the province's leading cities. During the riot in Ephesus the town clerk reminded the crowd that "the law is open, and there are deputies" (proconsuls). Acts 19:38-39Strabo, Geography 17.3.25

  • Jewish client kingHerod Agrippa IIc. AD 50-90s

    Ruled territories north and east of Galilee under Rome and had the right to appoint the high priest in Jerusalem. He heard Paul's defense with Festus and told him, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." Acts 25:13Acts 26:28Josephus, Antiquities 20.179, 20.203

  • Roman governors of JudeaFestus, Albinus and Florusc. AD 59-66

    Porcius Festus sent Paul to Rome and died in office around AD 62. Lucceius Albinus (62-64) and Gessius Florus (64-66) followed; Josephus blames Florus's greed and brutality for pushing Judea into revolt. Acts 24:27Acts 25:12Josephus, Antiquities 20.197-203, 20.252-258Josephus, Jewish War 2.271-308

  • King of ParthiaVologases Ic. AD 51-78

    Ruler of the Parthian empire east of the Euphrates, Rome's one great rival. He fought Rome over Armenia until a settlement in AD 63 let his brother Tiridates rule Armenia as Rome's client. Tacitus, Annals 15.1-17, 15.24-31Cassius Dio, Roman History 62.19-23

What was happening, AD 58 to AD 68
  1. AD 58-63
    WarRome and Parthia fight over Armenia

    Roman armies under Corbulo took the Armenian capitals Artaxata and Tigranocerta. In AD 62 a second Roman army under Paetus surrendered at Rhandeia, and in AD 63 the two empires made peace. Tacitus, Annals 13.34-41, 14.23-26, 15.1-17, 15.24-31

  2. AD 60
    DisasterEarthquake destroys Laodicea

    Laodicea, about 150 km (95 miles) east of Ephesus in the same province, was ruined by an earthquake and rebuilt from its own wealth without help from Rome. Paul's letters mention the church there, and Revelation later quotes the city's boast, "I am rich." Tacitus, Annals 14.27Colossians 4:13-16Revelation 3:17

  3. AD 60-61
    WarBoudica's revolt in Britain

    Boudica, queen of the Iceni, led a rising that burned Camulodunum (Colchester), Londinium (London) and Verulamium before the Roman governor Suetonius Paulinus defeated her. Tacitus, Annals 14.29-39

  4. c. AD 60-62
    The churchPaul under guard in Rome

    Paul lived two whole years in Rome under house arrest, receiving visitors and preaching openly. The traditional date for 1 Timothy places it soon after his release. Acts 28:16Acts 28:30-31

  5. c. AD 61-63
    DiscoveryNero's expedition up the Nile

    Nero sent a party of soldiers to find the source of the Nile. They travelled far beyond Egypt and reached vast marshes they could not cross, likely the Sudd in today's South Sudan. The date is approximate. Seneca, Natural Questions 6.8.3-4Pliny, Natural History 6.181

  6. AD 62
    The churchJames, the Lord's brother, is killed in Jerusalem

    Festus died in office. Before the next governor arrived, the high priest Ananus had "James, the brother of Jesus who was called Christ" and others stoned. Ananus was removed after three months. Josephus, Antiquities 20.197-203Galatians 1:19Acts 15:13

  7. AD 62 or 63
    DisasterEarthquake hits Pompeii

    An earthquake badly damaged Pompeii and Herculaneum in Italy, seventeen years before Vesuvius buried them. Seneca dates it to AD 62; Tacitus to AD 63. Seneca, Natural Questions 6.1Tacitus, Annals 15.22

  8. c. AD 62
    DiscoveryHero of Alexandria's machines

    The engineer Hero of Alexandria, whose work is dated by an eclipse of AD 62 he describes, wrote up a steam-spun sphere (the aeolipile) and a coin-operated machine that dispensed water in temples. Hero, Pneumatics 1.21, 2.11Hero, Dioptra 35

  9. c. AD 63-64
    BuildingJerusalem's temple is finished

    Work on the temple Herod began around 20 BC was completed under Albinus, leaving some 18,000 workers without jobs. Six years later Roman armies destroyed it, as Jesus had foretold. Josephus, Antiquities 20.219-222John 2:20Luke 21:5-6

  10. July AD 64
    DisasterThe Great Fire of Rome

    Fire burned for days. Of Rome's fourteen districts, three were destroyed and seven badly damaged. Nero then built his vast Golden House on the cleared land. Tacitus, Annals 15.38-43Suetonius, Nero 31, 38

  11. AD 64
    The churchNero blames and kills Christians

    To end rumours that he had started the fire, Nero blamed the Christians of Rome. Tacitus records a "vast multitude" put to death, some torn by dogs and some burned as torches. Tacitus, Annals 15.44Suetonius, Nero 16.2

  12. AD 65
    RulersA plot against Nero fails

    The Pisonian conspiracy to kill Nero was betrayed. Among those forced to take their own lives was Seneca, Nero's former tutor and the brother of Gallio, the governor who dismissed the case against Paul in Corinth. Tacitus, Annals 15.48-74Acts 18:12-17

  13. AD 66
    WarThe Jewish revolt begins

    After Florus seized money from the temple treasury, Jerusalem rose against Rome and the daily sacrifice offered for the emperor was stopped. The war ended with Jerusalem and its temple destroyed in AD 70. Josephus, Jewish War 2.293-308, 2.409-410Luke 21:20-24

  14. AD 66-67
    BuildingNero tours Greece and starts a canal at Corinth

    Nero competed in the Greek games and broke ground for a canal across the Isthmus of Corinth. The work stopped after his death; the canal was finally cut in 1893. Suetonius, Nero 19, 22-24

  15. c. AD 67
    The churchPaul's death in Rome

    In his last letter Paul writes from prison that "the time of my departure is at hand." Early Christian tradition says he was beheaded in Rome under Nero. 2 Timothy 4:6-8Eusebius, Church History 2.25

  16. June AD 68
    RulersNero dies

    Facing revolt in the provinces and declared an enemy by the Senate, Nero took his own life. Four emperors ruled in turn during the following year before Vespasian took power. Suetonius, Nero 47-49Tacitus, Histories 1.2

The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then the ancient historians who wrote about these years (Tacitus, Suetonius, Josephus, Seneca, Pliny the Elder, Strabo, Cassius Dio). Dates are as those writers give them; approximate dates say so. Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
for the sexually immoral,πόρνοις,pornoisG4205
sexual sinner

πόρνος (pornos) πόρνος, -ου, ὁ [in LXX: Sir.23:16-18 * ;] 1. a male prostitute (Xen., al.). 2. a fornicator: 1Co.5:9-11 6:9, Eph.5:5, 1Ti.1:10, Heb.12:15 13:4, Rev.21:8 22:15.† (AS)

for homosexuals,ἀρσενοκοίταις,arsenokoitaisG0733
sodomite

ἀρσενοκοίτης (arsenokoitēs) ἀρσενοκοίτης, -ου, ὁ (ἄρσην, κοιτή), a sodomite: 1Co.6:9, 1Ti.1:10.† (AS)

for enslavers,ἀνδραποδισταῖς,andrapodistaisG0405
slave-trader

ἀνδραποδιστής (andrapodistēs) ἀνδραποδιστής, -οῦ, ὁ (ἀνδράποδον, a slave, captured in war) a slave-dealer, kidnapper: 1Ti.1:10 (see MM, VGT, see word).† (AS)

for liars,ψεύσταις,pseustaisG5583
liar

ψεύστης (pseustēs) ψεύστης, -ου, ὁ (ψεύδω), [in LXX: Psa.116:11 (כָּזַב), Pro.19:22 A N2 (כָּזָב), Sir.15:8 25:2 * ;] a liar: Jhn.8:44, 55, Rom.3:4, 1Ti.1:10, Tit.1:12, 1Jn.1:10 Jn 2:4 Jn 2:22 Jn 4:20 Jn 5:10 .† (AS)

for perjurers,ἐπιόρκοις,epiorkoisG1965
perjurer

ἐπίορκος (epiorkos) ἐπί-ορκος, -ον [in LXX: Zec.5:3 (שָׁבַע ni.) * ;] 1. of oaths, sworn falsely. 2. Of persons, perjured; as subst., a perjurer, false swearer: 1Ti.1:10.† (AS)

andκαὶkaiG2532
and

καί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. …

ifεἴeiG1487G
if

εἰ (ei) εἰ, conjunctive particle, used in conditions and in indirect questions. I. Conditional, if; 1. with indic, expressing a general assumption; (a) pres.: before indic, pres., Mat.11:14, Rom.8:25, al.; before imperat., Mrk.4:23 9:22, Jhn.15:18, 1Co.7:9, al.; before fut. indic., Luk.16:31, Rom.8:11, al.; before pf. or aor., with negation in apodosis, Mat.12:26, Rom.4:14, al.; similarly, before impf., Luk.17:6, Jhn.8:39; before quæst., Mat.6:23, Jhn.5:47 7:23 8:46, 1Pe.2:20; (b) fut.: Mat.26:33, 1Pe.2:20; (with) pf.: Jhn.11:12, Rom.6:5, al.; …

anythingτιtiG5100
one

τις (tis) τις, neut., τι, genitive, τινός, enclitic indefinite pron., related to interrog. τίς as πού, πως, ποτέ to ποῦ, πῶς, πότε. I. As subst., 1. one, a certain one: Luk.9:49, Jhn.11:1, Act.5:25, al.; pl., τίνες, certain, some: Luk.13:1, Act.15:1, Rom.3:8, al. 2. someone, anyone, something, anything: Mat.12:29, Mrk.9:30, Luk.8:46, Jhn.2:25, Act.17:25, Rom.5:7, al.; = indef., one (French on), Mrk.8:4, Jhn.2:25, Rom.8:24, al.; pl., τινες, some, Mrk.14:4, al. II. II. As adj., …

otherἕτερονheteronG2087
other

ἕτερος (heteros) ἕτερος, -α, -ον, [in LXX chiefly for אַחֵר ;] distributive pron., prop. dual (BL, §13, 5; 51, 6), denoting the second of a pair, but in late Gk. encroaching on ἄλλος (M, Pr., 79f.); 1. of number, other; with art., the other; (a) of two, Luk.5:7 9:56, al.; opposite to ὁ πρῶτος, Mat.21:30; ὁ εἷς, Mat.6:24, Luk.7:41, Act.23:6, al.; ἕ. μὲν . . . ἕ. δέ, the one . . . the other: 1Co.15:40; the next: Luk.6:6 9:56 (sc. ἡμέρα, Xen.), Act.20:15 27:3; = ὁ πλησίον, one's neighbour: Rom.2:1 13:8, 1Co.6:1, al.; …

to soundὑγιαινούσῃhugiainousēG5198
be healthy

ὑγιαίνω (hugiainō) ὑγιαίνω (ὑγιής), [in LXX chiefly for שָׁלוֹם, and frequently in To ;] to be sound, healthy, in good health: Luk.5:31 7:10 15:27, 3Jo.2. In Past. Epp. (as also in cl.) metaphorically, ὑ. ἐν τ. πίστει, Tit.1:13 ; τ. πίστει, τ. ἀγάπῃ, τ. ὑπομονῇ, Tit.2:2; ἡ ὑγιαίνουσα διδασκαλία, 1Ti.1:10, 2Ti.4:3, Tit.1:9 2:1 ; λόγοι ὑγιαίνοντες, 1Ti.6:3, 2Ti.1:13.† (AS)

teachingδιδασκαλίᾳdidaskaliaG1319
teaching

διδασκαλία (didaskalia) διδασκαλία, -ας, ἡ (διδάσκω), [in LXX: Pro.2:17 (אַלּוּף), Isa.29:13 (לָמַד), Sir.24:33 39:8 * ;] teaching, instruction, in both active and objective senses, most frequently the latter: Rom.12:7 15:4, Eph.4:14, 1Ti.4:6, 13, 16 5:17 6:1, 3, 2Ti.3:10 3:16, Tit.2:7, 10; ὑγιαινοῦσα δ., 1Ti.1:10, 2Ti.4:3, Tit.1:9 2:1; pl., δ. τ. ἀνθρώπων, Col.2:22; δ. δαιμονίων, 1Ti.4:1, δ. διδάσκειν, Mat.15:9, Mrk.7:7" (LXX) (Cremer, 182).† SYN.: διδαχή (AS)

is opposedἀντίκειταιantikeitaiG0480
be an opponent

ἀντίκειμαι (antikeimai) ἀντί-κειμαι [in LXX for אָיַב, צוּר, שָׂטַן, etc. ;] 1. to lie opposite to. 2. to oppose, withstand, resist: with dative, Luk.13:17 21:15, Gal.5:17, 1Ti.1:10; as participial subst. (ὁ) ἀντικείμενος, 1Co.16:9, Php.1:28, 2Th.2:4, 1Ti.5:14 (Cremer, 746).† (AS)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.