Greeting

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

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

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 false doctrine or to pay attention to myths(I) and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan,(J) which operates by faith. 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) Some have departed from these and turned aside to fruitless discussion. They want to be teachers of the law, although they don’t understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on. But we know that the law is good,(O) provided one uses it legitimately. 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 males who have sex with males,(R) for slave traders, liars,(S) perjurers, and for whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching(T) 11 that conforms to the gospel(U) concerning the glory 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 even though I 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[b] 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 recalling them you may fight the good fight, 19 having faith(AQ) and a good conscience,(AR) which some(AS) have rejected and have shipwrecked the faith. 20 Among them are Hymenaeus(AT) and Alexander,(AU) whom I have delivered to Satan,(AV) so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.

Footnotes

  1. 1:2 Other mss read our
  2. 1:17 Other mss add wise

Greeting

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, to Timothy, my true child in the faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Instructions for Timothy in Ephesus

Just as I urged you when I[a] traveled to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus, so that you may instruct certain people not to teach other doctrine, and not to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which cause useless speculations rather than God’s plan that is by faith. But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a faith without hypocrisy, from which some have deviated, and have turned away into fruitless discussion, wanting to be teachers of the law, although they[b] do not understand either the things which they are saying or the things concerning which they are speaking confidently.

But we know that the law is good, if anyone makes use of it lawfully, knowing this, that the law is not given for a righteous person but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and totally worldly, for the one who kills his father and the one who kills his mother, for murderers, 10 sexually immoral people, homosexuals, kidnappers, liars, perjurers, and whatever[c] else is opposed to sound teaching, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God that I was entrusted with.

Paul’s Thankfulness for the Mercy Shown to Him

12 I give thanks[d] to the one who strengthens me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me faithful, placing me into ministry,[e] 13 although I[f] was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, but I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord abounded with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and worthy of all acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But because of this I was shown mercy, in order that in me foremost, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his total patience, for an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life. 17 Now to the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, to the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever[g]. Amen.

Paul’s Charge to Timothy

18 I am setting before you this instruction, Timothy my child, in accordance with the prophecies spoken long ago about you, in order that by them you may fight the good fight, 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some, because they[h] have rejected these, have suffered shipwreck concerning their faith, 20 among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, in order that they may be taught not to blaspheme.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 1:3 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“traveled”) which is understood as temporal
  2. 1 Timothy 1:7 Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“understand”) which is understood as concessive
  3. 1 Timothy 1:10 Literally “if anything”
  4. 1 Timothy 1:12 Literally “I have thankfulness”
  5. 1 Timothy 1:12 Or “service”
  6. 1 Timothy 1:13 Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was”) which is understood as concessive
  7. 1 Timothy 1:17 Literally “to the ages of the ages”
  8. 1 Timothy 1:19 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“have rejected”) which is understood as causal