The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Timothy.
Chapter 1.
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Saviour,
and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope, unto Timothy, my own son in the faith,
grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father, and Jesus Christ our Lord.
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,
neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions,
rather than godly edifying, which is in faith, so do.
Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good
conscience, and of faith unfeigned.
From which some, having swerved, have turned aside unto vain jangling,
desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say,
nor whereof they affirm.
But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully, 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, for whoremongers,
for them that defile themselves with mankind, for men-stealers, for liars,
for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound
doctrine.
According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my
trust, and I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted
me faithful, putting me into the ministry, who was before a blasphemer, and a
persecutor, and injurious.
But I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly, in unbelief, and the grace of
our Lord was exceeding abundant, with faith and love, which is in Christ
Jesus.
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.
How be it for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show
forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them, which would hereafter believe on
him, to life everlasting.
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour
and glory for ever and ever.
Amen.
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,
holding faith and a good conscience, which some, having put away concerning
faith, have made shipwreck, of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have
delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.