1 Timothy 1

1 Timothy · Chapter 1

1 Timothy 1:7

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
7Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or that which they so confidently assert.desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say, nor whereof they confidently affirm.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

Paul is describing certain people in Ephesus who had drifted from love, a pure heart, and sincere faith into empty talk. They wanted to be teachers of the law, yet they did not understand their own words or the things they insisted on. 1 Timothy 1:51 Timothy 1:61 Timothy 1:7

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 had left to lead the church at Ephesus. 1 Timothy 1:21 Timothy 1:31 Timothy overview

Also involvedThe "some" in Ephesus who taught other doctrine, gave heed to fables and endless genealogies, and turned aside to "vain jangling" (empty talk). Timothy was to charge them to stop. 1 Timothy 1:31 Timothy 1:41 Timothy 1:6

Paul exposes the would-be teachers. They wanted the role of teaching the law but lacked understanding. They spoke with great confidence about things they did not grasp. Paul then affirms that the law itself is good when it is used rightly. 1 Timothy 1:71 Timothy 1:8Strong's G2309Strong's G1226

Ephesus, a wealthy port city and capital of the Roman province of Asia, where Timothy was leading the church. The letter does not say where Paul wrote it from, though he had gone to Macedonia. 1 Timothy overview1 Timothy 1:3

ACHAIAASIAGALATIAAegean SeaEphesusLaodiceaMiletusPhilippiThessalonicaCorinth

The eventsThis happened after Paul urged Timothy to stay in Ephesus while Paul went on to Macedonia. 1 Timothy 1:3

WrittenTraditional view: about AD 62-64, by Paul, between his Roman imprisonments. Scholarly view: many critical scholars date it around AD 80-110 and see it as written in Paul's name by a follower; others defend Paul's authorship and the earlier date. 1 Timothy overview

HerePaul explains what is wrong with the false teachers so Timothy can confront them. Their teaching produced questions and arguments rather than the godly building up that comes by faith. 1 Timothy 1:31 Timothy 1:41 Timothy overview

In the whole of ScriptureThe aim of the command is love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith. The problem was not the law, which is good if used lawfully, but teachers who misused it without understanding. This fits the letter's theme that sound teaching and godly living belong together. 1 Timothy 1:51 Timothy 1:81 Timothy overview

For readersWanting to teach and speaking confidently do not make someone a sound teacher. Elsewhere Scripture warns against the same pattern: those who teach others but not themselves, and those proud yet "knowing nothing." 1 Timothy 1:7Romans 2:211 Timothy 6:4

  • teachers of the lawνομοδιδάσκαλος
    Greek · nomodidaskalos · G3547

    The word means a teacher of the law. Besides this verse, the New Testament uses it only in Luke 5:17 and Acts 5:34. Strong's G3547

  • affirmδιαβεβαιόω
    Greek · diabebaioō · G1226

    The word means to affirm confidently or insist. The point is not that they were unsure, but that they were very sure about things they did not understand. Strong's G12261 Timothy 1:7

  • understandingνοέω
    Greek · noeō · G3539

    This verb means to perceive with the mind. Their failure was a lack of real understanding, both of their own words and of their subject. Strong's G3539

Takeaway

Paul warns that a desire to teach, joined with confident talk, is dangerous without real understanding. Good teaching aims at love, a pure heart, and sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:51 Timothy 1:7

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
desiringθέλοντεςthelontesG2309
to will/desire

θέλω (thelō) θέλω (the strengthened form ἐθέλω is found in Hom., and is the more frequently in Attic; see Rutherford, NPhr., 415f.), [in LXX for חפץ ,אבה; with neg., מאן pi., etc. ;] to will, be willing, wish, desire (more frequently than βούλομαι, which see, in vernac. and late Gk., also in MGr.; for various views as to its relation to β., see Thayer, 286; but see also BL, §24, see word): absol., Rom.9:16, 1Co.4:19 12:18, Jas.4:15; τ. θεοῦ θέλοντος, Act.18:21; with accusative of thing(s), Mat.20:21, Mrk.14:36, Jhn.15:7, Rom.7:15, 16 1Co.4:21 7:36, Gal.5:17; with inf., Mat.5:40, Mrk.10:43, Jhn.6:21, 67 R …

to beεἶναιeinaiG1511
to exist

εἶναι (einai) εἰμί, with various uses and significations, like the English verb to be. I. As substantive verb. 1. Of persons and things, to be, exist: Act.17:28, Jhn.1:1, 8:58, 17:5, al; ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν (for past ptcp.), Rev.1:4, 8, 4:8, 11:17, 16:5 (see Swete, Ap., 5; M, Pr., 228); τὰ (μὴ) ὄντα, Rom.4:17, 1Co.1:28. 2. Of times, events, etc., to be, happen, take place: Mat.24:3, Mrk.14:2, 15:42, Luk.21:23, Jhn.4:6, 23, 5:10, al. …

teachers of the Law,νομοδιδάσκαλοι,nomodidaskaloiG3547
teacher of the law

νομοδιδάσκαλος (nomodidaskalos) νομο-διδάσκαλος, -ου, ὁ a teacher of the law: Luk.5:17, Act.5:34, 1Ti.1:7 (NT and eccl. only; cf. νομοδείκτης, -διδάκτης, Plut.).† SYN.: γραμματεύς, q.v (AS)

notμὴmēG3361
not

μή (mē) μή, subjective negative particle, used where the negation depends on a condition or hypothesis, expressed or understood, as distinct from οὐ, which denies absolutely. μή is used where one thinks a thing is not, as distinct from an absolute negation. As a general rule, οὐ negatives the indic, μή the other moods, incl, ptcp. [In LXX for אֵין ,אַיִן ,אַל ] I. As a neg. adv., not; 1. with ref. to thought or opinion: Jhn.3:18, Tit.1:11, 2Pe.1:9. 2. In delib. questions, with subjc. (M, Pr., 185): Mrk.12:14, Rom.3:8. …

understandingνοοῦντεςnoountesG3539
to understand

νοέω (noeō) νοιεω νοέω, -ῶ (νοῦς), [in LXX chiefly for בִּין, also for שָׂכַל hi., etc ;] 1. to perceive with the mind, understand (for the phrase νοῶν κ. φρονῶν, in wills, see MM, xvii): absol., Mat.16:9, Mrk.8:17; with accusative, Eph.3:4, 1Ti.1:7; with dative instr., τ. καρδίᾳ, Jhn.12:40; pass., Rom.1:20; before ὅτι, Mat.15:17 16:11, Mrk.7:18; with accusative and inf., Heb.11:8. 2. to think, consider: absol., Mat.24:15, Mrk.13:14, Eph.3:20; with accusative of thing(s), 2Ti.2:7 (cf. -εὐ, κατα-, μετα-, προ-, ὑπο-νοέω).† (AS)

neitherμήτεmēteG3383
neither

μήτε (mēte) μή-τε negative particle, differing from οὔτε as μή from οὐ, neither, nor: μήτε . . . μήτε, neither . . . nor, Mat.11:18, Luk.7:33 9:3, Act.23:12, 21 27:20, Heb.7:3; μὴ (μηδὲ) . . . μήτε . . . μήτε, Mat.5:34, 36, Mrk.3:20 T, Act.23:8, 2Th.2:2, 1Ti.1:7, Jas.5:12, Rev.7:1, 3.† (AS)

whatἃhaG3739
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. …

they are sayingλέγουσινlegousinG3004G
to say

λέγω (legō) λέγω, [in LXX very freq., chiefly for אמר; λέγει for נְאֻם, Gen.22:16, al. ;] 1. in Hom., to pick out, gather, reckon, recount. 2. In Hdt. and Att., to say, speak, affirm, declare: absol., Act.13:15, 24:10; before orat. dir., Mat.9:34, Mrk.3:11, Jhn.1:29, al.; before ὅτι recit., Mrk.3:21, Luk.1:24, Jhn.6:14, al.; accusative and inf., Luk.11:18, Jhn.12:29, al.; after another verb of speaking, προσφωνεῖν κ. λέγειν, Mat.11:17, al.; ἀπεκρίθη (ἐλάλησεν) λέγων (καὶ λέγει; Dalman, Words, 24 ff.), Mat.25:9, Mrk.3:33, 7:28, Luk.24:6, 7, al.; of unspoken thought, λ. ἐν ἑαυτῷ, Mat.3:9, Luk.3:8, al.; of …

norμήτεmēteG3383
neither

μήτε (mēte) μή-τε negative particle, differing from οὔτε as μή from οὐ, neither, nor: μήτε . . . μήτε, neither . . . nor, Mat.11:18, Luk.7:33 9:3, Act.23:12, 21 27:20, Heb.7:3; μὴ (μηδὲ) . . . μήτε . . . μήτε, Mat.5:34, 36, Mrk.3:20 T, Act.23:8, 2Th.2:2, 1Ti.1:7, Jas.5:12, Rev.7:1, 3.† (AS)

[that] aboutπερὶperiG4012
about

περί (peri) περί, prep. with genitive, accusative (in cl. also with dative; cf. M, Pr., 105f.), with radical sense round about (as distinct from ἀμφί, on both sides). I. C. genitive, 1. of place, about (poët.). …

whichτίνωνtinōnG5101
which?

τίς (tis) τίς, neut., τί, genitive, τίνος, interrog. pron., [in LXX for מָה ,מִי ;] in masc. and fem., who, which, what?; in neut., which, what?, used both in direct and in indirect questions. I. I. As subst., 1. 1. masc., fem.: τίς; who, what?, Mat.3:7 26:68; Mrk.11:28, Luk.9:9, al. mult.; with genitive partit., Act.7:52, Heb.1:5, al; before ἐκ (= genitive partit.), Mat.6:27, Luk.14:28, Jhn.8:46; = ποῖος, Mrk.4:41 6:2, Luk.19:3, Act.17:19, al.; = πότερος (M, Pr., 77), Mat.21:31 27:17, Luk.22:27, al.; = ὅς or ὅστις (rare in cl.; cf. Bl., §50, 5; M, Pr., 93), Act.13:25. …

they confidently assert.διαβεβαιοῦνται.¶diabebaiountaiG1226
to insist

διαβεβαιόω (diabebaioō) δια-βεβαιόομαι, -οῦμαι to affirm confidently: Tit.3:8; before περί, 1Ti.1:7 (Cremer, 140).† (AS)

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