1 Timothy 1
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 going to Macedonia, stay in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach a different doctrine,
4 or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which lead to disputes rather than to God's plan, which is by faith.
5 The aim of this instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith.
6 Some have wandered away from these and turned to empty talk.
7 They want to be teachers of the Law, though they understand neither what they say nor what they so confidently assert.
8 We know that the Law is good, if someone uses it properly,
9 understanding this: the Law is not laid down for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreverent, those who kill their fathers or mothers, and murderers,
10 those who practice sexual immorality, men who have sex with men, kidnappers, liars, those who swear falsely, and anything else that opposes sound teaching.
11 This teaching accords with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, which was entrusted to me.
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who strengthened me, because he considered me faithful and appointed me to serve.
13 I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man; but I received mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.
14 And the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15 This saying is trustworthy and worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
16 But for this reason I received mercy: so that in me, the foremost, Jesus Christ might show all his patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life.
17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
18 I entrust this instruction to you, Timothy, my child, in keeping with the prophecies previously made about you, so that by them you may fight the good fight,
19 holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected this and suffered shipwreck in the faith.
20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I handed over to Satan so that they may learn not to blaspheme.
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