Certain persons, by (A)swerving from these, have wandered away into (B)vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, (C)without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

Now we know that (D)the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the (E)law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers,[a] liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to (F)sound[b] doctrine, 11 in accordance with (G)the gospel of the glory of (H)the blessed God (I)with which I have been entrusted.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 1:10 That is, those who take someone captive in order to sell him into slavery
  2. 1 Timothy 1:10 Or healthy

Some individuals have wandered away from these things into empty arguments and useless discussions, wanting to be teachers of the Law [of Moses], even though they do not understand the terms they use or the subjects about which they make [such] confident declarations.

Now we know [without any doubt] that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully and appropriately, understanding the fact that law is not enacted for the righteous person [the one in right standing with God], but for lawless and rebellious people, for the ungodly and sinful, for the irreverent and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for sexually immoral persons, for homosexuals, for [a]kidnappers and slave traders, for liars, for perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 1:10 I.e. those who exploit other people for evil or selfish reasons.

But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions. They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don’t know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently.

We know that the law is good when used correctly. For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders. 10 The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders,[a] liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching 11 that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:10 Or kidnappers.