1 Timothy 1 KJV
Warning Against False Teachers
1 Timothy Chapter 1: Warning Against False Teachers
The chapter introduces the first of the Pastoral Epistles' distinctive 'faithful sayings' creedal formula in verse 15, framing Christ's incarnation explicitly as a mission to save sinners rather than affirm the righteous, a formulation that recurs to structure later theological summaries in 2 Timothy and Titus.
1aul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
9 Knowing 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,
10 For 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;
11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
16 Howbeit 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.
17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
18 This 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;
19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.
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Did You Know?
The chapter introduces the first of the Pastoral Epistles' distinctive 'faithful sayings' creedal formula in verse 15, framing Christ's incarnation explicitly as a mission to save sinners rather than affirm the righteous, a formulation that recurs to structure later theological summaries in 2 Timothy and Titus.
Paul's autobiographical reference to his former blasphemy and violence as a persecutor (v.13) is paired with the unique claim that he obtained mercy because he acted 'ignorantly in unbelief,' offering an early rationale that distinguishes pre-conversion opposition to the church from willful apostasy.
The directive to 'deliver unto Satan' Hymenaeus and Alexander (v.20) echoes the disciplinary language of 1 Corinthians 5 but applies it specifically to false teachers whose 'shipwreck' of faith involves public repudiation of core doctrine, suggesting an established early practice of remedial excommunication tied to preserving sound teaching.
Verse 9's catalog of those 'for whom the law is made' opens with the striking pair 'murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers,' reflecting both Jewish Decalogue expansion and Roman legal rhetoric against parricide, thereby grounding the law's ongoing moral function in culturally resonant categories of extreme disorder.
The greeting's pairing of 'God our Saviour' with 'Christ Jesus our hope' (v.1) deploys salvation language otherwise rare outside the Pastorals, subtly positioning Christ as the realized embodiment of eschatological expectation while countering speculative genealogies with a concrete soteriological focus.
Commentary & Study Notes Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871) ยท Public Domain by the commandment of God โ the authoritative injunction, as well as the commission, of God. In the earlier Epistles the phrase is, "by the will of God." Here it is expressed in aโฆ
Classic verse-by-verse commentary on 1 Timothy 1 from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown (1871). Covers: Address: paul's design in having left timothy at ephesus, namely, to check false teachers; True use of the law; Harmonizing with the gospel; God's grace in calling paul, once a blasphemer, to experience and to preach it; Charges to timothy.
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- by the commandment of God โ the authoritative injunction, as well as the commission, of God. In the earlier Epistles the phrase is, "by the will of God." Here it is expressed in a manner implying that a necessity was laid on him to act as an apostle, not that it was merely at his option. The same expression occurs in the doxology, probably written long after the Epistle itself [ALFORD] (Ro 16:26). God our Saviour โ The Father (1Ti 2:3; 4:10; Lu 1:47; 2Ti 1:9; Tit 1:3; 2:10; 3:4; Jude 25). It was a Jewish expression in devotion, drawn from the Old Testament (compare Ps 106:21). our hope โ (Col 1:27; Tit 1:2; 2:13).
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- my own son โ literally, "a genuine son" (compare Ac 16:1; 1Co 4:14-17). See Introduction. mercy โ added here, in addressing Timothy, to the ordinary salutation, "Grace unto you (Ro 1:7; 1Co 1:3, &c.), and peace." In Ga 6:16, "peace and mercy" occur. There are many similarities of style between the Epistle to the Galatians and the Pastoral Epistles (see Introduction); perhaps owing to his there, as here, having, as a leading object in writing, the correction of false teachers, especially as to the right and wrong use of the law (1Ti 1:9). If the earlier date be assigned to First Timothy, it will fall not long after, or before (according as the Epistle to the Galatians was written at Ephesus or at Corinth) the writing of the Epistle to the Galatians, which also would account for some similarity of style. "Mercy" is grace of a more tender kind, exercised towards the miserable, the experience of which in one's own case especially fits for the Gospel MINISTRY. Compare as to Paul himself (1Ti 1:14, 16; 1Co 7:25; 2Co 4:1; Heb 2:17) [BENGEL]. He did not use "mercy" as to the churches, because "mercy" in all its fulness already existed towards them; but in the case of an individual minister, fresh measures of it were continually needed. "Grace" has reference to the sins of men; "mercy" to their misery. God extends His grace to men as they are guilty; His "mercy" to them as they are miserable [TRENCH]. Jesus Christ โ The oldest manuscripts read the order, "Christ Jesus." In the Pastoral Epistles "Christ" is often put before "Jesus," to give prominence to the fact that the Messianic promises of the Old Testament, well known to Timothy (2Ti 3:15), were fulfilled in Jesus.
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