1 Timothy 1:3-11

New International Reader's Version

Paul Warns Timothy to Oppose False Teachers

³ Timothy, stay there in Ephesus. That is what I told you to do when I went into Macedonia. I want you to command certain people not to teach things that aren’t true. ⁴ And command them not to spend their time on stories that are made up. They must not waste time on family histories that never end. These things only lead to fights about ideas. They don’t help God’s work move forward. His work is done by faith. ⁵ Love is the purpose of my command. Love comes from a pure heart. It comes from a good sense of what is right and wrong. It comes from faith that is honest and true. ⁶ Some have turned from these teachings. They would rather talk about things that have no meaning. ⁷ They want to be teachers of the law. And they are very sure about that law. But they don’t know what they are talking about.

⁸ We know that the law is good if it is used properly. ⁹ We also know that the law isn’t made for godly people. It is made for those who break the law. It is for those who refuse to obey. It is for ungodly and sinful people. It is for those who aren’t holy and who don’t believe. It is for those who kill their fathers or mothers. It is for murderers. ¹⁰ It is for those who commit sexual sins. It is for those who commit homosexual acts. It is for people who buy and sell slaves. It is for liars. It is for people who tell lies in court. It is for those who are a witness to things that aren’t true. And it is for anything else that is the opposite of true teaching. ¹¹ True teaching agrees with the good news about the glory of the blessed God. He trusted me with that good news.