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Instructions in Doctrine and Living

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

To (G)Timothy, (H)my genuine child in the faith: (I)Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and (J)Christ Jesus our Lord.

As I exhorted you when going to (K)Macedonia, [a]remain on at (L)Ephesus so that you may command certain ones not to (M)teach a different doctrine, nor to [b]pay attention to (N)myths and endless (O)genealogies, which give rise to mere (P)speculation rather than furthering (Q)the stewardship from God which is by faith. But the goal of our (R)command is love (S)from a pure heart and a (T)good conscience and an unhypocritical (U)faith. For some, straying from these things, 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, knowing this, 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)godless, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for (AD)sexually immoral persons, for (AE)homosexuals, for (AF)kidnappers, for (AG)liars, for (AH)perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to (AI)sound teaching, 11 according to (AJ)the gospel of the glory of (AK)the blessed God, with which I have been (AL)entrusted.

12 I am grateful to (AM)Christ Jesus our Lord, who has (AN)strengthened me, because He regarded me faithful, (AO)putting me into service, 13 even though I was formerly 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 in Christ Jesus. 15 (AU)It is a trustworthy saying and 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)was shown mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Christ Jesus might (AZ)demonstrate all His patience as an example for those [c]who are going to believe upon Him for eternal life. 17 Now to the (BA)King of the [d]ages, (BB)immortal, (BC)invisible, the (BD)only God, (BE)be honor and glory [e]forever and ever. Amen.

18 This (BF)command I entrust to you, Timothy, (BG)my child, in accordance with the (BH)prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may (BI)fight the good fight, 19 keeping (BJ)faith and a good conscience, which some, having rejected, suffered shipwreck in regard to [f](BK)their faith. 20 [g]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 1:3 Lit to remain
  2. 1 Timothy 1:4 Or occupy themselves with
  3. 1 Timothy 1:16 Or destined to
  4. 1 Timothy 1:17 Or eternal
  5. 1 Timothy 1:17 Lit to the ages of the ages
  6. 1 Timothy 1:19 Lit the
  7. 1 Timothy 1:20 Lit Of

Greeting

From Paul, who is an apostle of Jesus Christ by 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 from Christ Jesus our Lord.

Timothy’s purpose in Ephesus

When I left for Macedonia, I asked you to stay behind in Ephesus so that you could instruct certain individuals not to spread wrong teaching. They shouldn’t pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. Their teaching only causes useless guessing games instead of faithfulness to God’s way of doing things. The goal of instruction is love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. Because they missed this goal, some people have been distracted by talk that doesn’t mean anything. They want to be teachers of Law without understanding either what they are saying or what they are talking about with such confidence. Now we know that the Law is good if used appropriately. We understand this: the Law isn’t established for a righteous person but for people who live without laws and without obeying any authority. They are the ungodly and the sinners. They are people who are not spiritual, and nothing is sacred to them. They kill their fathers and mothers, and murder others. 10 They are people who are sexually unfaithful, and people who have intercourse with the same sex. They are kidnappers,[a] liars, individuals who give false testimonies in court, and those who do anything else that is opposed to sound teaching. 11 Sound teaching agrees with the glorious gospel of the blessed God that has been trusted to me.

Thanksgiving

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength because he considered me faithful. So he appointed me to ministry 13 even though I used to speak against him, attack his people, and I was proud. But I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and without faith. 14 Our Lord’s favor poured all over me along with the faithfulness and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 This saying is reliable and deserves full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I’m the biggest sinner of all. 16 But this is why I was shown mercy, so that Christ Jesus could show his endless patience to me first of all. So I’m an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life. 17 Now to the king of the ages, to the immortal, invisible, and only God, may honor and glory be given to him forever and always! Amen.

Importance of faith and a good conscience

18 Timothy, my child, I’m giving you these instructions based on the prophecies that were once made about you. So if you follow them, you can wage a good war 19 because you have faith and a good conscience. Some people have ruined their faith because they refused to listen to their conscience, 20 such as Hymenaeus and Alexander. I’ve handed them over to Satan so that they can be taught not to speak against God.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 1:10 Or slave dealers