1 Timothy 1

This is the first chapter of 1 Timothy. It opens the letter with a greeting and explains why Paul left Timothy in Ephesus, thereby revealing the purpose of the letter as a whole.

Outline

• Verses 1–2 Paul wishes grace, mercy, and peace to Timothy, "my own son in the faith."
• Verses 3–7 When Paul went into Macedonia, he had Timothy remain in Ephesus to restrain other doctrines, fables, and endless genealogies. He states that the end of the commandment (that is, the goal of instruction and charge) is charity out of a pure heart, a good conscience, and faith unfeigned.
• Verses 8–11 The law is good if it is used lawfully. The law was not made for a righteous man but for the lawless.
• Verses 12–17 Paul confesses that he was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor but obtained mercy. He then declares that he is the chief of sinners and concludes with a doxology (an ascription of praise to God).
• Verses 18–20 Paul charges Timothy to war a good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. He states that he has delivered Hymenaeus and Alexander, who have made shipwreck concerning the faith, unto Satan.

Key Verses

• 1 Timothy 1:5 "Now the end of the commandment is charity": summarizes the goal of instruction as love.
• 1 Timothy 1:15 "Sinners; of whom I am chief": brings together the gospel of salvation and Paul's personal confession in a single sentence.

People and Places

• Paul: the apostle who wrote the letter.
• Timothy: Paul's fellow worker and the recipient of the letter.
• Ephesus: the city in Asia Minor where Timothy stayed and ministered.
• Macedonia: a region in northern Greece, to which Paul departed.
• Hymenaeus: a man who departed from the faith. His name also appears in 2 Timothy 2:17.
• Alexander: mentioned together with Hymenaeus. Opinions differ on whether he is the same person as Alexander the coppersmith in 2 Timothy 4:14.

Points to Consider

• The letter has traditionally been accepted as one of the Pastoral Epistles written by Paul. Since the modern period, some scholars have proposed later authorship on the basis of its vocabulary and the form of church organization it reflects.
• The text does not specify what the "fables and endless genealogies" were. Some view them as Jewish genealogical speculation, while others see them as early Gnostic thought.
• Some interpreters hold that the list of sins in verses 9–10 corresponds to the order of the second half of the Ten Commandments. This passage is frequently cited in discussions of law and gospel. The translation and interpretation of "them that defile themselves with mankind" in verse 10 are treated in 1 Timothy 1:9–10.
• The persecution mentioned in verse 13 connects with Paul's conversion in Acts 9. Many interpreters read the delivering "unto Satan" in verse 20, together with 1 Corinthians 5:5, as church discipline involving removal from the community.

In the Korean Church

Verse 15, "sinners; of whom I am chief," is frequently quoted in sermons and testimonies.