Common - I Timothy - 1

1:1  Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

1:2  to Timothy, my true child in the faith: grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

1:3  As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines,

1:4  nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than the divine training—which is by faith.

1:5  But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

1:6  For some men have wandered away from these things and turned aside to fruitless discussion,

1:7  wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.

1:8  But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully,

1:9  realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers

1:10  and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,

1:11  according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.

1:12  I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.

1:13  Even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor, I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;

1:14  and the grace of our Lord was overflowing for me, with the faith and love that are found in Christ Jesus.

1:15  It is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost.

1:16  But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience for an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life.

1:17  Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

1:18  I give you this command, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies once made about you, that by them you may fight the good fight,

1:19  holding faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and made shipwreck of their faith.

1:20  Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.