1 Timothy 1:10-11
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Paul lists "enslavers" right alongside sexual sins and lying, showing how deeply God hates the profound violation of treating other human beings as property. This isn't just about legal ownership, but about any system or act that strips people of their God-given dignity and autonomy.
the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is continuing his fierce denunciation of false teachers who are spreading harmful doctrines within the church. He lists various sins, not to suggest they are unforgivable, but to illustrate the kind of sinful lives that stand in direct opposition to the "sound doctrine" of the Gospel, which he contrasts with their twisted teachings. He's emphasizing that true faith leads to a life that aligns with God's truth, not one that indulges in behaviors contrary to it.
Paul throws a lot at us in this verse, from sexual sins to enslavers and liars. But is he just listing bad behaviors?
Paul isn't just compiling a "Top 10" of things to avoid. He's painting a picture of a life that is fundamentally opposed to God's truth.
The Opposite of Sound Doctrine
He uses these specific examples – the sexually immoral, those who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, and perjurers – to illustrate what 'contrary to sound doctrine' looks like in practice. These aren't random acts; they are expressions of a worldview and a way of living that reject God's design and truth.
What 'Sound Doctrine' Really Means
'Sound doctrine' isn't just a set of theological beliefs. It's the robust, healthy teaching that leads to a life pleasing to God. The sins listed here represent the opposite: the 'sick,' decaying behaviors that come from a heart far from Him.
Paul places liars and perjurers right alongside serious sexual sins and even enslavers. Why is dishonesty so significant?
This verse reveals the serious spiritual danger of dishonesty.
Lies Undermine God's Truth
God is truth. His Word is truth. To lie, or to swear falsely (perjure), is to directly oppose the very nature of God and His revealed will. It's a rejection of the objective reality God has established.
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The Foundation of Trust Shattered
Deception erodes trust, not just between people, but ultimately, between individuals and God. When we are dishonest, we are acting like the father of lies himself. This puts us in direct opposition to the integrity and faithfulness that characterize God's kingdom.
Understand the original words
pornos · Greek Noun/Adjective
Refers to those who engage in illicit sexual acts outside of God's design for marriage, a broad term for sexual sin.
arsenokoitēs · Greek Noun
The New Testament term for someone who engages in sexual relations with a person of the same gender, contrary to the creational design of marriage.
andrapodistēs · Greek Noun
Refers to slave-traders or those who forcibly kidnap or hold others in involuntary servitude.
hygiainousa didaskalia · Greek Noun phrase
Truthful teaching that is spiritually healthy, robust, and life-giving, directly opposed to heresy and false teaching.
euangelion · Greek Noun
The 'good news' regarding the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.
doxa · Greek Noun
Refers to the radiant majesty, honor, and character of God, which is displayed and revealed through His redemptive work.
makarios · Greek Adjective
One who is perfectly happy, content, and self-sufficient, possessing all attributes of perfection within Himself; the source of all joy.
pisteuo · Greek Verb
To be entrusted with a sacred duty, treasure, or message, implying stewardship, responsibility, and divine confidence in the one appointed.
The list of sins in 1 Timothy directly reflects the pervasive social and ethical challenges faced by Christians in the Greco-Roman world, including major cities like Corinth and Ephesus, where Paul and Timothy ministered.
c. 50-52 AD
Paul Founds Church in Corinth
During his second missionary journey, Paul spent about 18 months in Corinth, a major Roman port city known for its wealth, Gentile population, and rampant immorality. He likely wrote letters to the church there during or shortly after this period.
c. 55 AD
Paul Writes 1 Corinthians
In this letter, Paul directly addresses issues of sexual immorality and behavioral problems within the Corinthian church, showing these were pressing concerns.
c. 62 AD
Paul Imprisoned in Rome
Paul's first Roman imprisonment, mentioned at the end of Acts, provides a backdrop for his later pastoral letters.
c. 64 AD
Nero's Persecution Begins
The first major persecution of Christians by the Roman Empire began under Emperor Nero, creating a climate of fear and testing the resolve of believers.
c. 67 AD— this verse
Paul Writes 1 Timothy
During a period of relative freedom after his initial Roman imprisonment, Paul wrote this pastoral letter to his protégé Timothy, who was leading the church in Ephesus. Paul offers guidance on church leadership, doctrine, and conduct, warning against false teachings and immoral practices.
c. 90-95 AD
John Writes 1 John
The Apostle John also wrote a letter addressing issues of false doctrine and the need for righteous living, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by early churches.
This passage in the Old Testament Law explicitly lists male homosexual acts alongside other forbidden sexual practices, echoing the condemnation found in 1 Timothy.
Romans 1:26-27Paul details how rejecting God leads to unnatural passions, including sexual relations contrary to nature, directly paralleling the sins listed in 1 Timothy.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10This passage also lists various wrongdoings, including those related to sexual immorality and exploitation, that exclude people from the Kingdom of God, reinforcing the 'contrary to sound doctrine' theme.
Exodus 21:16This verse addresses the severe sin of kidnapping and enslaving people, connecting with the mention of 'enslavers' in 1 Timothy and showing it's an ancient and serious offense against God's people.
Paul lists "enslavers" right alongside sexual sins and lying, showing how deeply God hates the profound violation of treating other human beings as property. This isn't just about legal ownership, but about any system or act that strips people of their God-given dignity and autonomy.
Paul is continuing his fierce denunciation of false teachers who are spreading harmful doctrines within the church. He lists various sins, not to suggest they are unforgivable, but to illustrate the kind of sinful lives that stand in direct opposition to the "sound doctrine" of the Gospel, which he contrasts with their twisted teachings. He's emphasizing that true faith leads to a life that aligns with God's truth, not one that indulges in behaviors contrary to it.
Paul is continuing his fierce denunciation of false teachers who are spreading harmful doctrines within the church. He lists various sins, not to suggest they are unforgivable, but to illustrate the kind of sinful lives that stand in direct opposition to the "sound doctrine" of the Gospel, which he contrasts with their twisted teachings. He's emphasizing that true faith leads to a life that aligns with God's truth, not one that indulges in behaviors contrary to it.
"the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted." — Paul lists "enslavers" right alongside sexual sins and lying, showing how deeply God hates the profound violation of treating other human beings as property. This isn't just about legal ownership, bu…
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Last reviewed October 2026
