1 Timothy 1

1 Pavl an Apostle of Iesvs Christ, by the commandement of God our Sauiour, and of our Lord Iesus Christ our hope,

From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the appointment of God, our Saviour, and Christ Jesus, our hope.

2 Vnto Timotheus my naturall sonne in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father, and from Christ Iesus our Lord.

To Timothy, my true child in the faith: May God, the Father, and Christ Jesus, our Lord, bless you, and be merciful to you, and give you peace.

3 As I besought thee to abide still in Ephesus, when I departed into Macedonia, so doe, that thou mayest warne some, that they teach none other doctrine,

I beg you, as I did when I was on my way into Macedonia, to remain at Ephesus; so that you may instruct certain people there not to teach new and strange doctrines,

4 Neither that they giue heede to fables and genealogies which are endles, which breede questions rather then godly edifying which is by fayth.

nor to devote their attention to legends and interminable genealogies, which tend to give rise to argument rather than to further that divine plan which is revealed in the faith.

5 For the end of the commandement is loue out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith vnfained.

The object of all instruction is to call forth that love which comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.

6 From the which things some haue erred, and haue turned vnto vaine iangling.

And it is because they have not aimed at these things that the attention of certain people has been diverted to unprofitable subjects.

7 They would be doctours of the Law, and yet vnderstande not what they speake, neither whereof they affirme.

They want to be teachers of the Law, and yet do not understand either the words they use, or the subjects on which they speak so confidently.

8 And we knowe, that the Law is good, if a man vse it lawfully,

We know, of course, that the Law is excellent, when used legitimately,

9 Knowing this, that the Lawe is not giuen vnto a righteous man, but vnto the lawles and disobedient, to the vngodly, and to sinners, to the vnholy, and to the prophane, to murtherers of fathers and mothers, to manslayers,

by one who recognises that laws were not made for good people, but for the lawless and disorderly, for irreligious and wicked people, for those who are irreverent and profane, for those who ill-treat their fathers or mothers, for murderers,

10 To whoremongers, to buggerers, to menstealers, to lyers, to the periured, and if there be any other thing, that is contrary to wholesome doctrine,

for the immoral, for perverts, for slave traders, for liars, for perjurers, and for whatever else is opposed to sound Christian teaching –

11 Which is according to the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, which is committed vnto me.

as is taught in the glorious good news of the ever-blessed God, with which I was entrusted.

12 Therefore I thanke him, which hath made me strong, that is, Christ Iesus our Lord: for he counted me faithfull, and put me in his seruice:

I am thankful to Christ Jesus, our Lord, who has been my strength, for showing that he thought me worthy of trust by appointing me to his ministry,

13 When before I was a blasphemer, and a persecuter, and an oppresser: but I was receiued to mercie: for I did it ignorantly through vnbeliefe.

though I once used to blaspheme, and to persecute, and to insult. Yet mercy was shown me, because I acted in ignorance, while still an unbeliever;

14 But the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and loue, which is in Christ Iesus.

and the loving kindness of our Lord was boundless, and filled me with that faith and love which come from union with Christ Jesus.

15 This is a true saying, and by all meanes worthy to be receiued, that Christ Iesus came into the worlde to saue sinners, of whom I am chiefe.

How true the saying is, and worthy of the fullest acceptance, that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”! And there is no greater sinner than I!

16 Notwithstanding, for this cause was I receiued to mercie, that Iesus Christ should first shewe on me all long suffering vnto the ensample of them, which shall in time to come beleeue in him vnto eternall life. (aiōnios g166)

Yet mercy was shown me for the express purpose that Christ Jesus might exhibit in my case, beyond all others, his exhaustless patience, as an example for those who were afterwards to believe on him and attain eternal life. (aiōnios g166)

17 Nowe vnto the King euerlasting, immortall, inuisible, vnto God onely wise, be honour and glorie, for euer, and euer, Amen. (aiōn g165)

To the eternal King, ever-living, invisible, the one God, be ascribed honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (aiōn g165)

18 This commandement commit I vnto thee, sonne Timotheus, according to the prophecies, which went before vpon thee, that thou by them shouldest fight a good fight,

This, then, is the charge that I lay on you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with what was predicted of you – Fight the good fight in the spirit of those predictions,

19 Hauing faith and a good conscience, which some haue put away, and as concerning faith, haue made shipwracke.

with faith, and with a clear conscience; and it is because they have thrust this aside, that, as regards the faith, some have wrecked their lives.

20 Of whom is Hymeneus, and Alexander, whom I haue deliuered vnto Satan, that they might learne not to blaspheme.

Hymenaeus and Alexander are instances – the men whom I delivered over to Satan so that they might be taught not to blaspheme.