5 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. ² And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us,^(A) a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. ³ But sexual immorality^(B) and any impurity^(C) or greed^(D) should not even be heard of^[a] among you, as is proper for saints. ⁴ Coarse and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks. ⁵ For know and recognize this: Every sexually immoral^(E) or impure^(F) or greedy^(G) person, who is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdom^(H) of the Messiah and of God.

Light versus Darkness

⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath^(I) is coming on the disobedient because of these things.^{[b] 7} Therefore, do not become their partners. ⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light^(J) in the Lord. Walk as children of light^(K)— ⁹ for the fruit of the light^[c] results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth^(L)— ¹⁰ discerning^(M) what is pleasing^(N) to the Lord. ¹¹ Don’t participate in the fruitless^(O) works of darkness, but instead expose them. ¹² For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. ¹³ Everything exposed by the light is made clear,^{(P) 14} for what makes everything clear is light. Therefore it is said:

Consistency in the Christian Life

¹⁵ Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise— ¹⁶ making the most of the time,^[e](T) because the days are evil. ¹⁷ So don’t be foolish, but understand^(U) what the Lord’s will^(V) is. ¹⁸ And don’t get drunk^(W) with wine,^(X) which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit:^(Y)

Wives and Husbands

²² Wives,^(AA) submit^[f](AB) to your own husbands^(AC) as to the Lord, ²³ for the husband is the head of the wife^(AD) as Christ is the head^(AE) of the church. He is the Savior of the body.^{(AF) 24} Now as the church submits to Christ, so wives are to submit to their husbands in everything. ²⁵ Husbands, love your wives,^(AG) just as Christ loved^(AH) the church and gave Himself^(AI) for her ²⁶ to make her holy, cleansing^[g] her with the washing of water by the word. ²⁷ He did this to present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless.^{(AJ) 28} In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, ³⁰ since we are members of His body.^[h]

³² This mystery^(AM) is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church. ³³ To sum up, each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband.

Greeting

1 Paul,^(A) an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command^(B) of God our Savior^(C) and of Christ Jesus our hope:^(D)

² To Timothy,^(E) my true son in the faith.

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the^[a] Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

False Doctrine and Misuse of the Law

³ As I urged you when I went to Macedonia,^(F) remain in Ephesus^(G) so that you may instruct certain people^(H) not to teach different doctrine ⁴ or to pay attention to myths^(I) and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan,^(J) which operates by faith. ⁵ Now the goal of our instruction is love^(K) that comes from a pure heart,^(L) a good conscience,^(M) and a sincere faith.^{(N) 6} Some have deviated from these and turned aside to fruitless discussion. ⁷ They want to be teachers of the law, although they don’t understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on. ⁸ But we know that the law is good,^(O) provided one uses it legitimately. ⁹ We know that the law is not meant for a righteous person, but for the lawless and rebellious,^(P) for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and irreverent, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers, ¹⁰ for the sexually immoral^(Q) and homosexuals,^(R) for kidnappers,^[b] liars,^(S) perjurers, and for whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching^{(T) 11} based on the glorious gospel^(U) of the blessed God,^(V) which was entrusted to me.^(W)

Paul’s Testimony

¹² I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened^(X) me, because He considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry— ¹³ one who was formerly a blasphemer,^(Y) a persecutor,^(Z) and an arrogant man.^(AA) But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in 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^(AB) and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world^(AC) to save sinners”^(AD)—and I am the worst of them.^{(AE) 16} But I received mercy^(AF) for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate His extraordinary patience^(AG) as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life.^{(AH) 17} Now to the King^(AI) eternal,^(AJ) immortal,^(AK) invisible, the only^[c] God,^(AL) be honor^(AM) and glory^(AN) forever and ever. Amen.^(AO)

Engage in Battle

¹⁸ Timothy, my son, I am giving you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies^(AP) previously made about you, so that by them you may strongly engage in battle, ¹⁹ having faith^(AQ) and a good conscience.^(AR) Some^(AS) have rejected these and have suffered the shipwreck of their faith. ²⁰ Hymenaeus^(AT) and Alexander^(AU) are among them, and I have delivered them to Satan,^(AV) so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.

Final Exhortations

13 Let brotherly love^(A) continue. ² Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.^{(B) 3} Remember the prisoners, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily.^{[a] 4} Marriage must be respected by all, and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge immoral people and adulterers.^{(C) 5} Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you.^{(D)[b] 6} Therefore, we may boldly say:

⁷ Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.^{(F) 8} Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.^{(G) 9} Don’t be led astray by various kinds of strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established by grace and not by foods, since those involved in them have not benefited.^{(H) 10} We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle do not have a right to eat.^{(I) 11} For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the most holy place by the high priest^(J) as a sin offering are burned outside the camp.^{(K) 12} Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the gate,^(L) so that He might sanctify^[d] the people by His own blood. ¹³ Let us then go to Him outside the camp, bearing His disgrace.^{(M) 14} For we do not have an enduring city here; instead, we seek the one to come.^{(N) 15} Therefore, through Him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips that confess His name.^{(O) 16} Don’t neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.^{(P) 17} Obey your leaders^[e] and submit to them, for they keep watch^(Q) over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. ¹⁸ Pray for us; for we are convinced that we have a clear conscience, wanting to conduct ourselves honorably in everything.^{(R) 19} And I especially urge you to pray^[f] that I may be restored to you very soon.

Benediction and Farewell

²⁰ Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep^(S)—with the blood of the everlasting covenant,^{(T) 21} equip^[g] you with all that is good to do His will, working in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ. Glory belongs to Him forever and ever.^[h](U) Amen.

²² Brothers, I urge you to receive this message of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. ²³ Be aware that our brother Timothy has been released. If he comes soon enough, he will be with me when I see you. ²⁴ Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who are from Italy greet you. ²⁵ Grace be with all of you.^(V)

Following Christ

4 Therefore, since Christ suffered^[a] in the flesh,^[b] equip^[c] yourselves also with the same resolve^[d]—because the one who suffered in the flesh has finished^(A) with sin^[e]— ² in order to live the remaining time in the flesh, no longer for human desires,^[f] but for God’s will.^{(B) 3} For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the pagans choose to do:^[g] carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires,^(C) drunkenness, orgies,^(D) carousing, and lawless idolatry. ⁴ So they are surprised that you don’t plunge with them into the same flood^[h] of wild living—and they slander you. ⁵ They will give an account to the One who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.^{(E) 6} For this reason the gospel was also preached to those who are now dead,^(F) so that, although they might be judged by men in the fleshly^(G) realm,^[i] they might live^(H) by God in the spiritual realm.^[j]

End-Time Ethics

⁷ Now the end of all things is near;^(I) therefore, be serious and disciplined^(J) for prayer. ⁸ Above all, maintain an intense love^(K) for each other, since love covers a multitude of sins.^{(L)[k] 9} Be hospitable^(M) to one another without complaining. ¹⁰ Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others,^(N) as good managers of the varied grace of God. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, it should be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, it should be from the strength God provides,^(O) so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

Christian Suffering

¹² Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal^[l] comes among you to test you as if something unusual were happening to you.^{(P) 13} Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of the Messiah,^(Q) so that you may also rejoice with great joy at the revelation^(R) of His glory. ¹⁴ If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ,^(S) you are blessed, because the Spirit^(T) of glory and of God rests on you.^{[m] 15} None of you, however, should suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a meddler.^{[n] 16} But if anyone suffers as a “Christian,” he should not be ashamed but should glorify God in having that name. ¹⁷ For the time has come for judgment^(U) to begin with God’s household,^(V) and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?

¹⁹ So those who suffer according to God’s will should, while doing what is good, entrust themselves^(X) to a faithful Creator.