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

Salutation

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

To Timothy, my true child[a] in the faith:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.(B)

Warning against False Teachers

I urge you, as I did when I was on my way to Macedonia, to remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach different teachings(C) and not to occupy themselves with myths and endless genealogies that promote speculations rather than the divine training[b] that is known by faith.(D) But the aim of such instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith.(E) Some people have deviated from these and turned to meaningless talk, desiring to be teachers of the law without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make assertions.

Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it legitimately; this means understanding that the law is laid down not for the righteous but for the lawless and disobedient, for the godless and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their father or mother, for murderers,(F) 10 the sexually immoral, men who engage in illicit sex,[c] slave traders, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching(G) 11 that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I was entrusted.

Gratitude for Mercy

12 I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful and appointed me to his service,(H) 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,(I) 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me[d] with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.(J) 15 The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost.(K) 16 But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience as an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible,[e] the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.[f] Amen.(L)

18 This charge I commit to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies made earlier about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight,(M) 19 having faith and a good conscience. By rejecting conscience, certain persons have suffered shipwreck in the faith;(N) 20 among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have turned over to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.(O)

Footnotes

  1. 1.2 Gk legitimate child
  2. 1.4 Gk the household management of God
  3. 1.10 Meaning of Gk uncertain
  4. 1.14 Gk lacks for me
  5. 1.17 Or unseen
  6. 1.17 Gk to the ages of the ages