1 Timothy 1

1 Timothy · Chapter 1

1 Timothy 1:4

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
4Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.or devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculation rather than the stewardship of God’s work, which is by faith.neither to give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questionings, rather than a dispensation of God which is in faith; so do I now.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

This verse finishes the sentence begun in verse 3. Paul had asked Timothy to stay in Ephesus and order certain people not to teach a different doctrine, and not to give their attention to myths and endless genealogies. These things breed disputes instead of serving God's work, which is carried out by faith. 1 Timothy 1:31 Timothy 1:4

Commonly taken out of context

How it’s often usedSometimes quoted as a general ban on family-history or genealogy research.

In contextPaul is aiming at teachers in Ephesus who used myths and endless genealogies to spin religious speculation in place of the faith. The text does not say exactly what these genealogies were, and it does not address ordinary family records. 1 Timothy 1:31 Timothy 1:41 Timothy 1:7Strong's G6027

SpeakingPaul the apostle, who names himself as the writer. 1 Timothy 1:11 Timothy overview

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

Also involvedThe "some" in Ephesus who were teaching other doctrine. They wanted to be teachers of the law but did not understand what they were saying (1:6-7). 1 Timothy 1:31 Timothy 1:61 Timothy 1:7

Timothy is to stop these teachers from occupying themselves with myths and endless genealogies. Such things produce speculation and argument rather than building up God's work in faith. Paul then says the goal of his charge is love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:41 Timothy 1:5Strong's G3454Strong's G1076Strong's G6027

The problem was in the church at Ephesus, a wealthy port city and capital of the Roman province of Asia. Paul had gone to Macedonia and may have written from there, though the letter does not say. 1 Timothy 1:31 Timothy overview

ACHAIAASIAGALATIAAegean SeaEphesusLaodiceaMiletusPhilippiThessalonicaCorinth

The eventsPaul gave this charge after he left Timothy in Ephesus and went on to Macedonia. 1 Timothy 1:3

WrittenTraditional view: about AD 62-64, between Paul's first and second 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 wants Timothy to shut down teaching that leads to pointless debate. He calls it "vain jangling," meaning empty talk. Teaching should serve love, a good conscience, and sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:41 Timothy 1:51 Timothy 1:6

In the whole of ScriptureThe verse opens the letter's section on confronting false teaching. It reflects a main theme of the letter: sound teaching produces godly living. Paul gives similar warnings about fables and genealogies to Timothy and to Titus. 1 Timothy overviewTitus 3:9Titus 1:141 Timothy 4:7

For readersTest any teaching by what it produces. Does it build faith and love, or only fuel speculation and argument? 1 Timothy 1:41 Timothy 1:51 Timothy 6:31 Timothy 6:5

  • fables / mythsμῦθος
    Greek · muthos · G3454

    The word came to mean fiction or a made-up story, the opposite of a true account. Paul is contrasting invented tales with the truth of the faith. Strong's G34542 Peter 1:16

  • endlessἀπέραντος
    Greek · aperantos · G0562

    It means interminable, never reaching an end. The trouble is speculation that goes on and on and never arrives at anything. Strong's G0562

  • questions / speculationsἐκζήτησις
    Greek · ekzētēsis · G6027

    The word means a questioning or a subject for dispute. It shows that the harm is in the arguments these topics stir up. Strong's G6027

  • godly edifying / stewardshipοἰκονομία
    Greek · oikonomia · G3622

    The KJV says "godly edifying," but the Greek word here means stewardship or administration. The contrast is with God's ordered work, or plan, carried out by faith. Strong's G3622Strong's G23161 Timothy 1:4

Takeaway

Paul tells Timothy to stop teaching that runs on myths and endless genealogies, because it breeds argument rather than serving God's work. Faithful teaching aims at love, a good conscience, and sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:41 Timothy 1:5

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

Ephesus: The church at Ephesus
Priscilla and Aquila taught there, and Paul stayed about three years, teaching daily in the school of Tyrannus. Saying farewell to its elders, he warned that from among themselves men would arise "speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." Acts 18:24-26Acts 19:9-10Acts 20:17Acts 20:29-31
Ephesus: Decades later
Revelation's letter to Ephesus praises the church for testing those who claimed to be apostles and finding them false, but rebukes it for leaving its first love. Revelation 2:1-7

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
norμηδὲmēdeG3366
nor

μηδέ (mēde) μηδέ negative particle, related to οὐδέ as μή to οὐ, 1. as conic., continuing a negation or prohibition, but not, and not, nor: preceded by μή, Mat.6:25 22:29, Mrk.12:24, Luk.14:12, al.; ἵνα μή, Jhn.4:15; ὅπως μή, Luk.16:26; μηδέ . . . μηδέ, neither . . . nor, Mat.10:10, 1Co.10:8-9. 2. As adv., strengthening a negation, not even: Mrk.2:2, 1Co.5:11, al (AS)

to give heedπροσέχεινprosecheinG4337
to watch out

προσέχω (prosechō) προσ-έχω [in LXX for קָשַׁב hi., שָׁמַר ni., etc. ;] 1. to turn to, bring to (frequently ναῦν, expressed or understood, to bring to port, land; Hdt., al.). 2. τ. νοῦν, before dative, to turn one's mind to, attend to; in Xen. and later writers with νοῦν omitted (El., § 53, 1; 81, 1): Act.8:6 16:14, Heb.2:1, 2Pe.1:19; in sense of caring or providing for, Act.20:28; π. ἑαυτῷ, to give heed to oneself (M, Pr., 157; cf. Gen.24:6, Exo.10:28, al.): Luk.17:3 21:34, Act.5:35; id. before ἀπό (M, Pr., 102; B1., § 34, 11; 40, 3; see: βλέπω), Luk.12:1; (without dative) Mat.7:15 10:17 16:6, 11-12, Luk.20: …

to mythsμύθοιςmuthoisG3454
myth

μῦθος (muthos) μῦθος, -ου, ὁ [in LXX: Wis.17:4 A, Sir.20:19 * ;] 1. speech, con­versation. 2. (a) a story, narrative (Hom.); (b) later, opposite to λόγος (a true narrative) = Lat. fabula, a myth, fable, fiction: 1Ti.1:4 4:7, 2Ti.4:4, Tit.1:14, 2Pe.1:16.† SYN.. λόγος, q.v (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. …

to genealogiesγενεαλογίαιςgenealogiaisG1076
genealogy

γενεαλογία (genealogia) γενεαλογία, -ας, ἡ (see previous word); 1. the making of a pedigree. 2. a genealogy: pl., 1Ti.1:4, Tit.3:9 (see CGT, in l., and ib. Intr., xlix ff.; DB, ii, p. 141). † (AS)

endless,ἀπεράντοις,aperantoisG0562
endless

ἀπέραντος (aperantos) ἀπέραντος, -ον (περαίνω, to complete, finish) [in LXX: Job.36:26 (חֵקֶר אַיִן) 3Mac.20 * ;] endless, interminable: 1Ti.1:4.† (AS)

whichαἵτινεςaitinesG3748
who/which

ὅστις (hostis, hētis) ὅστις, ἥτις, ὅ τι (also written ὅ, τι and ὅτι; see LS, see word; WH, §411; Tdf., Pr., 111), in NT scarcely ever except in nom. (M, Pr., 91), the only instance of the oblique cases being found in ἕως ὅτου (see: ἕως), relative of indef. reference (related to simple ὅς as Lat. quisquis to qui), whoever, anyone who; (a) of an indef. person or thing: in general statements, Mat.5:39, 41 13:12, and freq., Luk.14:27, Gal.5:4, al.; in relative sentences, Mat.7:26, Luk.15:7, Php.3:7, al.; πᾶς, with indic., Mat.7:24 10:32; ὅ ἄν (ἐάν), with subjc., Mat.12:50 13:12, Jhn.14:13, 1Co.16:2, Gal.5:10, al.; …

speculationsἐκζητήσειςekzētēseisG6027
speculation

ἐκζήτησις (ekzētēsis) ἐκ-ζήτησις, -εως, ἡ (ἐκζητέω), a questioning (RV), subject for dispute: 1Ti.1:4.† (AS)

bringπαρέχουσινparechousinG3930
to furnish occasion

παρέχω (parechō) παρ-έχω [in LXX: Psa.30:7 (עָמַד hi.), etc. ;] I. Active voice., 1. to furnish, provide, supply; with ref. to incorporeal things, to afford, show, give, cause: with accusative, Act.22:2, 1Ti.1:4; with accusative and dative, Mat.26:10, Mrk.14:6, Luk.11:7 18:5, Act.16:16 17:31 28:2, Gal.6:17, 1Ti.6:17. 2. to present, offer: with accusative and dative, Luk.6:29; with prop. reflex. and accusative pred., to show or present oneself (see infr., and cf. B1., § 55, 1). II. Middle voice., 1. to supply, furnish or display of one's own part: with accusative and dative, Luk.7:4, Act.19:24, Col.4:1. …

ratherμᾶλλονmallonG3123H
more

μᾶλλον (mallon) μάλα adv., [in LXX for אֲבָל, 3Ki.1:43, Dan LXX 10:21, al.; compar. for מ, Num.13:32 (31), al.; μᾶλλον ἠ (מ), Gen.19:9, al.; superlat., 2Ma.8:7, 4Ma.4:22 12:9 15:4 ;] I. Pos., very, very much, exceedingly (cl.; LXX ut supr.; in NT its place is taken by λίαν, σφόδρα, etc.). II. Compar., μᾶλλον. 1. Of increase, more; with qualifying words: πολλῷ, Mrk.10:48, Luk.18:39, Rom.5:15, 17, Php.2:12, al.; πόσῳ, Luk.12:24, Rom.11:12, al.; τοσούτῳ . . . ὅσῳ, Heb.10:25. …

thanἢēG2228
or

ἤ (ē) ἤ, disjunctive and comparative particle (Bl., §36, 12; 77, 11); 1. disjunctive, or; (a) between single words: Mat.5:17 Mrk.6:56, Luk.2:24, Jhn.6:19, Rom.1:21, al.; (b) before a sentence expressing a variation, denial or refutation of a previous statement, frequently in interrog. form: Mat.7:4, 9 Mrk.12:14, Luk.13:4, Rom.3:29 6:3 9:21, 1Co.6:9, 16 9:6, 2Co.11:7; ἤ . . . ἤ, either . . . or, Mat.6:24, Luk.16:13, 1Co.14:6; …

stewardshipοἰκονομίανoikonomianG3622
management

οἰκονομία (oikonomia) οἰκονομία, -ας, ἡ (οἰκονομέω), [in LXX: Isa.22:19, 21 (מַצָּב, מֶמְשָׁלָה)* ;] 1. prop. (Plat., Arist.), the office of οἰκονόμος, stewardship: Luk.16:2-4. 2. In later writers (Plut., al.; see AR on Eph.1:10; MM, xviii), generally, administration, dispensation: 1Co.9:17, Eph.1:10 3:2, 9, Col.1:25, 1Ti.1:4.† (AS)

of GodθεοῦtheouG2316
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; …

inἐνenG1722
in/on/among

ἐν (en) ἐν, prep, (the most frequently of all in NT), with dative (= Heb. בְּ, Lat. in, with abl.). I. Of place, with dative of thing(s), of person(s), in, within, on, at, by, among: ἐν τ. πόλει, Luk.7:37; τ. οφθαλμῷ, Mat.7:3; τ. κοιλίᾳ, Mat.12:40; τ. ὄρει, 2Pe.1:18; τ. θρόνῳ, Rev.3:21; τ. δεξιᾷ τ. θεοῦ, Rom.8:34; ἐν ἡμῖν Abbott-Smith has ὑμῖν., Luk.1:1; of books, ἐν τ. βιβλίῳ, Gal.3:10; τ. νόμῳ, Mat.12:5, al.; ἐν τοῖς τ. Πατρός, in my Father's house (RV; cf. M, Pr., 103), Luk.2:49; trop., of the region of thought or feeling, ἐν τ. καρδίᾳ (-αις), Mat.5:28, 2Co.4:6, al.; τ. συνειδήσεσιν, 2Co.5:11; af …

faith.πίστει.pisteiG4102G
faith

πίστις (pistis) πίστις, -εως, ἡ (πείθω), [in LXX chiefly for אֱמוּנָה ;] 1. in active sense, faith, belief, trust, confidence, in NT always of religious faith in God or Christ or spiritual things: Mat.8:10, Luk.5:20, Act.14:9, Rom.1:8, 1Co.2:5, 2Co.1:24, 1Ti.1:5, al.; with genitive obj., Mrk.11:22, Act.3:16, Rom.3:22, Gal.2:16, Eph.3:12, Jas.2:1, al.; with prep., ἐν, Rom.3:25, Gal.3:26, Eph.1:15, Col.1:24, 1Ti.1:14 3:13, 2Ti.1:13 3:15, 2Pe.1:1; εἰς, Act.20:21 24:24 26:18, Col.2:5, 1Pe.1:21; πρός, 1Th.1:8, Phm 5; ἐπί, with accusative Heb.6:1; ἐν τῇ π. στήκειν (εἶναι, μένειν), 1Co.16:13, 1Co.13:5, 1Ti.2:15; ὑ …

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