1 Timothy · Chapter 1

[ edit] Poul, apoſtle of Criſt Jheſu, vp þe comaundement of God oure ſauyour, and Jheſu Criſt oure hope, to Tymoþe, bylouyd ſone in þe feiþ, grace and mercy and pees, of God þe fadir, and Jheſu Criſt, oure Lord. As I preiede þee, þat þou ſchuldiſt dwelle at Epheſy, whanne I wente to Macedonye, þat þou ſchuldiſt denounce to ſumme, þat þei ſchulden not teche oþere weye, neþir ȝyue tent to fablis and genologies wiþouten endes, þe whiche ȝyuen queſtiouns, more þan edificacioun of God, þat is in þe feiþ. Forſoþ þe ende of comaundement is charite of clene herte, and good conſcience, and feiþ not feyned.

Fro whiche þingis ſum men erringe, ben turned to gidere into veyn ſpeche; willinge for to be techeris of þe lawe, not vndirſtondinge, neþir what þingis ben ſpokun, neþer of what þingis þei affermen.

Forſoþ we witen for þe lawe is good, if ony man vſe it lawefully; witinge þis þing, þat þe lawe is not put to a iuſt man, but to vniuſt and not ſuget, to vnpitouſe men and ſynneris, to curſide men and defoulid, to ſleeris of fadir, and ſleeris of modir, to men ſleeris, and fornycatours, to hem þat treſpaſſen wiþ malis aȝens kynde, ſilleris, or ſteleris, or draweris awey, of men, leſyngmongeris and forſworn, and if ony oþir þing is contrarie to holſum teching, þat is vp þe euangelie of þe glorie of bleſſid God, þe which goſpel is bitakun to me.

I do þankingis to him, þat comfortide me in Criſt Jheſu oure Lord, for he geſſide me feiþful, or trewe, puttinge me in myniſterie, þe which I firſt was a blasfeme, or diſpiſer of God, and purſuwer, and ful of wrongis. But I haue getun þe mercy of God, for I vnknowyng dide in vnbileue. Soþli þe grace of oure Lord ouer habounde, wiþ feiþ and loue þat is in Criſt Jheſu. A trewe worde and worþi al reſceyuyng, for Criſt Jheſu caam into þis world for to make ſynful men ſaaf, of whiche I am þe firſte. But þerfore I haue getyn mercy, þat Criſt Jheſu ſchulde ſchewe in me firſt al pacience, to þe enfoormyng of hem þat ben to bileuynge to him into euere laſtynge lyf.

Forſoþ to þe kyng of worldis, vndeedly and inuiſyble God aloone, honour and glorie into worldis of worldis. Amen. I comende, or bitake, þis preſept, or biddyng, to þee, þou ſone Tymoþe, vp prophecies bifore goynge in þee, þat þou fiȝte, or holde, in hem a good knyȝþood, hauynge feiþ and good conſcience, þe which ſum men caſtynge a wey, periſcheden a boute þe feiþ. Of which is Emyneus and Aliſaundre, whom I bitook to Saþanas, þat þei lerne for to not blaſpheme.