1 Timothy 1

1 Timothy · Chapter 1

1 Timothy 1:11

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
11According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.that agrees with the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.according to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

This verse ends a long sentence that starts in verse 8. Paul says the law is good when used rightly: it targets wrongdoing and whatever is 'contrary to sound doctrine.' Verse 11 says that this sound teaching agrees with the gospel God entrusted to Paul. 1 Timothy 1:81 Timothy 1:91 Timothy 1:101 Timothy 1:11

SpeakingPaul the apostle, who names himself at the start of the letter. 1 Timothy 1:11 Timothy overview

ToTimothy, Paul's younger co-worker and 'own son in the faith,' whom Paul left at Ephesus. 1 Timothy 1:21 Timothy 1:31 Timothy overview

Also involvedThe false teachers at Ephesus. They wanted to be 'teachers of the law' but did not understand what they were saying. 1 Timothy 1:31 Timothy 1:61 Timothy 1:7

Paul sets the gospel as the measure of sound teaching. He calls it the gospel 'of the glory of the blessed God' and says God placed it in his trust. That leads straight into his thanks that Christ counted him faithful despite his past. 1 Timothy 1:101 Timothy 1:111 Timothy 1:121 Timothy 1:13Strong's G1391Strong's G4100

The letter was sent to Ephesus, a wealthy port city and capital of the Roman province of Asia. The letter does not say where it was written from, but Paul had gone on to Macedonia. 1 Timothy overview1 Timothy 1:3

ACHAIAASIAGALATIAAegean SeaEphesusLaodiceaMiletusPhilippiThessalonicaCorinth

The eventsPaul had left Timothy at Ephesus when he went on to Macedonia. He now writes to help Timothy confront false teaching. 1 Timothy 1:31 Timothy overview

WrittenTraditional view: Paul wrote it around AD 62-64, between his two Roman imprisonments. Scholarly view: many critical scholars date it around AD 80-110 and think a follower wrote it in Paul's name, while others defend Paul's authorship and the earlier date. 1 Timothy overview

HerePaul ties the right use of the law to the gospel. This answers would-be law teachers who were spreading other doctrine. 1 Timothy 1:31 Timothy 1:71 Timothy 1:81 Timothy 1:11

In the whole of ScriptureA major theme of the letter is that sound teaching produces godly living. Paul elsewhere also speaks of the gospel as 'committed' to him, so he presents it as a trust he holds, not something he made up. 1 Timothy overviewGalatians 2:7Titus 1:31 Corinthians 9:17

For readersReaders are pointed to the gospel as the standard for judging teaching. Paul's own story right after this verse, a persecutor who obtained mercy, shows what that gospel is: 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.' 1 Timothy 1:111 Timothy 1:131 Timothy 1:151 Timothy 1:16

  • gloryδόξα
    Greek · doxa · G1391

    The Greek reads literally "the gospel of the glory of the blessed God," which the KJV renders "glorious gospel." The word means glory, honour, or praise. Strong's G13911 Timothy 1:11

  • blessedμακάριος
    Greek · makarios · G3107

    This is makarios, 'blessed, happy.' It is the same word used in the Beatitudes ('Blessed are...'). Here it describes God himself, as it does again in 6:15. Strong's G31071 Timothy 6:15

  • was entrustedπιστεύω
    Greek · pisteuō · G4100

    This is a form of the verb for 'believe' or 'trust.' Here it means Paul was entrusted with the gospel, like a steward holding something that belongs to God. Strong's G41001 Timothy 1:121 Corinthians 9:17

Takeaway

This verse is not a free-standing slogan. It says that sound teaching, including the right use of the law, is measured by the gospel that shows the glory of the blessed God, and that this gospel was entrusted to Paul. 1 Timothy 1:81 Timothy 1:101 Timothy 1:11

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

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
according toκατὰkataG2596
according to

κατά (kata) κατά (bef. a vowel κατ᾽, καθ᾽; on the frequently neglect of elision, see Tdf., Pr., 95; WH, App., 146a), prep. with genitive, accusative, down, downwards. I. C. genitive (WM, §47, k; Bl., §42, 2). 1. C. genitive of thing(s), in local sense; (a) down, down from: Mat.8:32, Mrk.5:13, Luk.8:33, 1Co.11:4; (b) throughout (late usage; Bl, l.with): κ. ὅλης κ.τ.λ., Luk.4:14 23:5, Act.9:31 10:37; (with) in a peculiar adjectival phrase: ἡ κ. βάθους, deep or extreme poverty, 2Co.8:2. 2. C. genitive of person(s), usually in hostile sense; …

gospelεὐαγγέλιονeuangelionG2098
gospel

εὐαγγέλιον (euangelion) εὐαγγέλιον, -ου, τό [in LXX for בְּשׂוֹרָה, 2Ki.4:10 18:22 18:25 * ;] 1. in cl., (a) a reward for good tidings (Hom.; pl., LXX, 2Ki.4:10); (b) in pl., εὐ. θύειν, to make a thank-offering for good tidings (Xen., al.). …

gloryδόξηςdoxēsG1391
glory

δόξα (doxa) δόξα, -ης, ἡ (δοκέω), [in LXX very frequently for כָּבוֹד, also for הוֹד ,פִּפְאֶרֶת, etc., 25 words in all ;] in cl., 1. expectation, judgment, opinion (4Ma.5:18). 2. opinion, estimation in which one is held, repute; in NT, always good opinion, hence reputation, praise, honour, glory: Luk.14:10, Jhn.12:43, Heb.3:3; opposite to αἰσχύνη, Php.3:19; to ἀτιμία, 2Co.6:8; δ. κ. τιμή, Rom.2:7, 10 1Pe.1:7, 2Pe.1:17; ζητεῖν, Jhn.5:44 7:18 8:50, 1Th.2:6; λαμβάνειν, Jhn.5:41, 2Pe.1:17, Rev.5:12; διδόναι δ. τ. θεῷ (cf. נָתַן כָּבוֹד לַיהוָֹה, Jer.13:16, al.), Luk.17:18, Jhn.9:24, Act.12:23, Rom.4:20, …

blessedμακαρίουmakariouG3107
blessed

μακάριος (makarios) μακάριος, -α, -ον (collat. form of poët. μάκαρ, in Hom., Hes., chiefly of the gods and the departed), [in LXX for אֹשֶׁר ;] blessed, happy (DCG, i, 177, 213): θεός (δυνάστης), 1Ti.1:11 6:15; ἐλπίς, Tit.2:13; esp. in congratulations, usually with the omission of the copula (M, Pr., 180; B1., § 30, 3), μ. ὁ, Mat.5:3 ff., Luk.6:20 ff. Jhn.20:29, Rev.1:3, al.; before ptcp., Luk.1:45, al.; ὅς, Mat.11:6, Luk.7:23, Rom.4:7-8; ὅτι, Mat.13:16, al.; ἐάν, Jhn.13:17, 1Co.7:40; compar., μ. . . . μᾶλλον, Act.20:35; -ώτερος, 1Co.7:40 SYN.: εὐλογητός, q.v (AS)

God,θεοῦ,theouG2316
God

θεός (theos) θεός, -οῦ, ὁ, ἡ (Act.19:37 only; see M, Pr., 60, 244), late voc., θεέ (Mat.27:46; cf. Deu.3:24, al.), [in LXX chiefly for אֱלֹהִים, also for אֵל and other cognate forms, יהוה, etc. ;] a god or deity, God. 1. In polytheistic sense, a god or deity: Act.28:6, 1Co.8:4, 2Th.2:4, al.; pl., Ac. 14:11 19:26, Gal.4:8, al. 2. Of the one true God; …

with whichὃhoG3739
which

ὅς (hos, hē) ὅς, ἥ, ὅ, the postpositive article (ἄρθρον ὑποτακτικόν). I. As demonstr. pron. = οὗτος, ὅδε, this, that, also for αὐτός, chiefly in nom.: ὅς δέ, but he (cf. ἦ δὲ ὅς, frequently in Plat.), Mrk.15:23, Jhn.5:11; ὃς μὲν . . . ὃς δέ, the one . . . the other, Mat.21:35, 22:5, 25:15, Luk.23:33, Act.27:14, Rom.14:5, 1Co.11:21, 2Co.2:18, Ju 22; neut., ὃ μὲν . . . ὃ δέ, the one . . . the other, some . . . some, Mat.13:8, 23, Rom.9:21; ὃς (ὃ) μὲν . . . (ἄλλος (ἄλλο)) . . . ἕτερος, Mrk.4:4, Luk.8:5, 1Co.12:8-10; οὓς μέν, absol., 1Co.12:28; ὃς μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, Rom.14:2. …

was entrustedἐπιστεύθηνepisteuthēnG4100
to trust (in)

πιστεύω (pisteuō) πιστεύω, [in LXX chiefly for אמן hi. ;] 1. intrans., to have faith (in), to believe; in cl., with accusative, dative, in NT also with prep, (on the significance of the various constructions, see M, Pr., 67f.; Vau. on Rom.4:5; Ellic. on 1Ti.1:16; Abbott, JV, 19-80): absol., Mat.24:23, 26 Mrk.13:21, 1Co.11:18; with accusative of thing(s), Act.13:41, 1Co.13:7; with dative of person(s) (to believe what one says), Mrk.16:[13, 14], 1Jn.4:1; τ. ψεύδει, 2Th.2:11; περί . . . ὅτι, Jhn.9:18; esp. and most frequently with reference to religious belief: absol., Mat.8:13, Mrk.5:36, Luk.8:50, Jhn.11:40, al …

I myself.ἐγώ.¶egōG1473
I/we

ἐγώ (egō) ἐγώ, genitive, etc., ἐμοῦ, ἐμοί, ἐμέ (enclitic μου, μοι, με), pl. ἡμεῖς, -ῶν, -ῖν, -ᾶς, of person(s) pron. I. (a) The nom. is usually emphatic, when expressed as subjc, as in Mat.3:11, Mrk.1:8, Luk.3:16, al. But often there is no apparent emphasis, as Mat.10:16, Jhn.10:17; ἰδοὺ ἐ. (= Heb. הִנֵּנִי, cf. 1Ki.3:8), Act.9:10; ἐ. (like Heb. אֲנִי), I am, Jhn.1:23 (LXX), Act.7:32 (LXX). …

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