1 Timothy 1
The full text of 1 Timothy 1 in the Trinity Bible Version — clear modern English, translated from the original Greek. Free to read.
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 As I urged you when I was leaving for Macedonia, stay on in Ephesus so that you can command certain people not to teach a different doctrine,
4 or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote speculation rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.
5 The goal of this command is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.
6 Some have wandered away from these and turned aside to meaningless talk,
7 wanting to be teachers of the law, though they do not understand either what they are saying or the things they so confidently assert.
8 Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully,
9 understanding this: that the law is not laid down for a righteous person but for the lawless and rebellious, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreverent, those who kill their fathers or mothers, murderers,
10 the sexually immoral, men who have sex with men, slave traders, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching,
11 in keeping with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, with which I was entrusted.
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service—
13 even though I was once a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man. But I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief,
14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost.
16 But for this very reason I was shown mercy, so that in me, the foremost, Christ Jesus might display his perfect patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life.
17 Now to the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
18 Timothy, my child, I am entrusting you with this command, in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by them you may fight the good fight,
19 holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have shipwrecked their faith.
20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
Translation notes (6)
- 1 Timothy 1:1a The Greek kat' epitagēn, 'by the command,' emphasizes divine authority for Paul's apostleship. The phrase 'our hope' (tēs elpidos hēmōn) refers to Christ Jesus as the object and source of Christian hope.
- 1 Timothy 1:4a The Greek oikonomian theou, 'stewardship from God', refers to God's divine arrangement or plan for humanity. Some manuscripts read oikodomian theou, 'edification from God'.
- 1 Timothy 1:9a The Greek dikaiō nomos ou keitai, 'law is not laid down for the righteous,' is clarified by the subsequent list of vices. The terms patrolōais kai mētrolōais, 'father-killers and mother-killers,' and androphonois, 'murderers,' reflect the Decalogue's prohibitions.
- 1 Timothy 1:10a The Greek word arsenokoitais is a rare compound, literally meaning 'male-bedders,' which echoes the Greek wording of Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13. Its precise meaning is debated, but here it refers to the act named in those Old Testament verses.
- 1 Timothy 1:15a The Greek pistos ho logos kai pasēs apodochēs axios means 'faithful is the word and worthy of full acceptance'. The declaration that Christ Jesus came to save sinners is presented as a foundational truth.
- 1 Timothy 1:20a The Greek verb paredōka (παρέδωκα), rendered here as 'handed over', indicates a decisive act of delivering someone to an authority. The phrase 'to be taught' translates the Greek paideuthōsin (παιδευθῶσιν), suggesting a disciplinary action intended to correct behavior rather than merely to inform.
About this translation
The Trinity Bible Version (TBV) is a new translation of the Bible prepared by Trinity Bible — rendered from the original Greek and faithful to the earliest and most reliable manuscripts. Finished in 2026, it is the most modern English Bible translation you can read today, and it is available only through Trinity Bible. All 66 books, including 1 Timothy, are free to read on this site.
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