He puts Timothy in mind of his charge and blesses God for the mercy he
himself had received.
1:1. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the commandment of
God our Saviour and Christ Jesus our hope:
1:2. To Timothy, his beloved son in faith. Grace, mercy and peace, from
God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord.
1:3. As I desired thee to remain at Ephesus when I went into Macedonia,
that thou mightest charge some not to teach otherwise:
1:4. Not to give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which furnish
questions rather than the edification of God which is in faith.
1:5. Now the end of the commandment is charity from a pure heart, and a
good conscience, and an unfeigned faith.
1:6. From which things some, going astray, are turned aside unto vain
babbling:
1:7. Desiring to be teachers of the law: understanding neither the
things they say, nor whereof they affirm.
1:8. But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully.
1:9. Knowing this: That the law is not made for the just man but for the
unjust and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the wicked
and defiled, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for
manslayers,
The law is not... He means, that the just man doth good, and avoideth
evil, not as compelled by the law, and merely for fear of the punishment
appointed for transgressors; but voluntarily, and out of the love of God
and virtue; and would do so, though there were no law.
1:10. For fornicators, for them who defile themselves with mankind, for
menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and whatever other thing
is contrary to sound doctrine:
1:11. Which is according to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God
which hath been committed to my trust.
1:12. I give him thanks who hath strengthened me, even to Christ Jesus
our Lord, for that he hath counted me faithful, putting me in the
ministry:
1:13. Who before was a blasphemer and a persecutor and contumelious. But
I obtained the mercy of God, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
1:14. Now the grace of our Lord hath abounded exceedingly with faith and
love, which is in Christ Jesus.
1:15. A faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ
Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the chief.
1:16. But for this cause have I obtained mercy: that in me first Christ
Jesus might shew forth all patience, for the information of them that
shall believe in him unto life everlasting.
1:17. Now to the king of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be
honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1:18. This precept, I commend to thee, O son Timothy: according to the
prophecies going before on thee, that thou war in them a good warfare,
1:19. Having faith and a good conscience, which some rejecting have made
shipwreck concerning the faith.
1:20. Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I have delivered up to
Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.