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Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Saviour, and Christ Jesus our hope; unto Timothy, my true child in faith: Grace, mercy, peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

As I exhorted thee to tarry at Ephesus, when I was going into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge certain men not to teach a different doctrine, neither to give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questionings, rather than a [a]dispensation of God which is in faith; so do I now. But the end of the charge is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfeigned: from which things some having [b]swerved have turned aside unto vain talking; desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say, nor whereof they confidently affirm. But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully, as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and unruly, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for [c]murderers of fathers and [d]murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for abusers of themselves with men, for menstealers, for liars, for false swearers, and if there be any other thing contrary to the [e]sound [f]doctrine; 11 according to the [g]gospel of the glory of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

12 I thank him that [h]enabled me, even Christ Jesus our Lord, for that he counted me faithful, appointing me to his service; 13 though I was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: howbeit I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief; 14 and the grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 15 Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief: 16 howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me as chief might Jesus Christ show forth all his longsuffering, for an ensample of them that should thereafter believe on him unto eternal life. 17 Now unto the King [i]eternal, [j]immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory [k]for ever and ever. Amen.

18 This charge I commit unto thee, my child Timothy, according to the prophecies which led the way to thee, that by them thou mayest war the good warfare; 19 holding faith and a good conscience; which some having thrust from them made shipwreck concerning the faith: 20 of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I delivered unto Satan, that they might be taught not to blaspheme.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 1:4 Or, stewardship. See 1 Cor. 9:17.
  2. 1 Timothy 1:6 Greek missed the mark. 6:21; 2 Tim. 2:18.
  3. 1 Timothy 1:9 Or, smiters
  4. 1 Timothy 1:9 Or, smiters
  5. 1 Timothy 1:10 Greek healthful.
  6. 1 Timothy 1:10 Or, teaching
  7. 1 Timothy 1:11 Greek good tidings. See Mt. 4:23 margin.
  8. 1 Timothy 1:12 Some ancient authorities read enableth.
  9. 1 Timothy 1:17 Greek of the ages. Compare Heb. 1:2; Rev. 15:3.
  10. 1 Timothy 1:17 Greek incorruptible.
  11. 1 Timothy 1:17 Greek unto the ages of the ages.

Greeting

From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus our confidence.

To Timothy, a genuine child in faith.

Good will,[a] mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord are yours!

A Warning about False Teachers

When I was going to the province of Macedonia, I encouraged you to stay in the city of Ephesus. That way you could order certain people to stop teaching false doctrine and occupying themselves with myths and endless genealogies. These myths and genealogies raise a lot of questions rather than promoting God’s plan, which centers in faith.

My goal in giving you this order is for love to flow from a pure heart, from a clear conscience, and from a sincere faith. Some people have left these qualities behind and have turned to useless discussions. They want to be experts in Moses’ Teachings. However, they don’t understand what they’re talking about or the things about which they speak so confidently.

We know that the laws in Moses’ Teachings are good if they are used as they were intended to be used. For example, a person must realize that those laws are not intended for people who have God’s approval. Laws are intended for lawbreakers and rebels, for ungodly people and sinners, for those who think nothing is holy or sacred, for those who kill their fathers, their mothers, or other people. 10 Laws are intended for people involved in sexual sins, for homosexuals, for kidnappers, for liars, for those who lie when they take an oath, and for whatever else is against accurate teachings. 11 Moses’ Teachings were intended to be used in agreement with the Good News that contains the glory of the blessed God. I was entrusted with that Good News.

God’s Mercy to Paul

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord that he has trusted me and has appointed me to do his work with the strength he has given me. 13 In the past I cursed him, persecuted him, and acted arrogantly toward him. However, I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in my unbelief. 14 Our Lord was very kind [b] to me. Through his kindness he brought me to faith and gave me the love that Christ Jesus shows people.

15 This is a statement that can be trusted and deserves complete acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and I am the foremost sinner. 16 However, I was treated with mercy so that Christ Jesus could use me, the foremost sinner, to demonstrate his patience. This patience serves as an example for those who would believe in him and live forever. 17 Worship and glory belong forever to the eternal king, the immortal, invisible, and only God. Amen.

Guidelines for the Church

18 Timothy, my child, I’m giving you this order about the prophecies that are still coming to you: Use these prophecies in faith and with a clear conscience to fight this noble war. 19 Some have refused to let their faith guide their conscience and their faith has been destroyed like a wrecked ship.[c] 20 Among these people are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan in order to teach them not to dishonor God.

Footnotes

  1. 1:2 Or “Grace.”
  2. 1:14 Or “gracious.”
  3. 1:19 Verses 18 and 19 have been rearranged to express the complex Greek sentence structure more clearly in English.

Correcting False Teaching

Paul, (A)an apostle of (B)Christ Jesus (C)according to the commandment of (D)God our Savior, and of (E)Christ Jesus, who is our (F)hope,

To (G)Timothy, (H)my true [a]son in the faith: (I)Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and (J)Christ Jesus our Lord.

Just as I urged you [b]upon my departure for (K)Macedonia, to remain on at (L)Ephesus so that you would instruct certain people not to (M)teach strange doctrines, nor to [c]pay attention to (N)myths and endless (O)genealogies, which give rise to useless (P)speculation rather than (Q)advance [d]the plan of God, which is by faith, so I urge you now. But the goal of our [e](R)instruction is love (S)from a pure heart, from a (T)good conscience, and from a sincere (U)faith. Some people have strayed from these things and have turned aside to (V)fruitless discussion, (W)wanting to be (X)teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.

But we know that (Y)the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that (Z)law is not made for a righteous person but for those who are lawless and (AA)rebellious, for the (AB)ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and (AC)worldly, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the [f](AD)sexually immoral, (AE)homosexuals, [g](AF)slave traders, (AG)liars, (AH)perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to (AI)sound teaching, 11 according to (AJ)the glorious gospel of (AK)the blessed God, with which I have been (AL)entrusted.

Paul’s Testimony

12 I thank (AM)Christ Jesus our Lord, who has (AN)strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, (AO)putting me into service, 13 even though I was previously a blasphemer and a (AP)persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was (AQ)shown mercy because (AR)I acted ignorantly in unbelief; 14 and the (AS)grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the (AT)faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. 15 (AU)It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that (AV)Christ Jesus came into the world to (AW)save sinners, among whom (AX)I am foremost. 16 Yet for this reason I (AY)found mercy, so that in me as the foremost sinner Jesus Christ might (AZ)demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those [h]who would believe in Him for eternal life. 17 Now to the (BA)King [i]eternal, (BB)immortal, (BC)invisible, the (BD)only God, (BE)be honor and glory [j]forever and ever. Amen.

18 This (BF)command I entrust to you, Timothy, (BG)my [k]son, in accordance with the (BH)prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you (BI)fight the good fight, 19 keeping (BJ)faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to [l](BK)their faith. 20 [m]Among these are (BL)Hymenaeus and (BM)Alexander, whom I have (BN)handed over to Satan, so that they will be (BO)taught not to blaspheme.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 1:2 Or child
  2. 1 Timothy 1:3 Lit while going to
  3. 1 Timothy 1:4 Or occupy themselves with
  4. 1 Timothy 1:4 I.e., prob. the plan of salvation
  5. 1 Timothy 1:5 Lit commandment
  6. 1 Timothy 1:10 Or fornicators
  7. 1 Timothy 1:10 Or kidnappers
  8. 1 Timothy 1:16 Or destined to
  9. 1 Timothy 1:17 Lit of the ages
  10. 1 Timothy 1:17 Lit to the ages of the ages
  11. 1 Timothy 1:18 Or child
  12. 1 Timothy 1:19 Or the
  13. 1 Timothy 1:20 Lit Of