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I am Paul. I am an apostle of Christ Jesus. God and Christ Jesus told me to be an apostle. God is our Saviour, and Christ is the one who gives us hope.

Timothy, you are my true son because you believe the way I do. I ask God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord to show you love and kindness, and give you peace.

When I went to the country of Macedonia, I asked you to stay in the city of Ephesus. I wanted you to tell some of the teachers not to teach wrong things.

Tell them not to use stories that are not true, and long histories of names. These things often make people quarrel. These things do not make people believe and follow God's way.

Here is what teachers should aim at. God's people should love each other with a love which comes from a clean heart, a clear mind, and true faith.

Some teachers have not tried to do these things and so they talk about things that do no good.

They want to teach the law. But they do not understand what they say. And they do not know what they are trying to prove.

We know that the law is good when anyone uses it in the right way.

He must understand that the law was not made for the man who lives right. It was made for those who do not want any laws over them, and for those who will not obey. It was made for those who do not respect God, and those who are bad people. It was made for those who do not respect anything that is holy or belongs to God. It was made for those who beat their fathers or mothers, and for those who kill people.

10 It was made for those who use sex in the wrong way and for men who have sex with other men. It was made for those who steal people, for those who tell lies, for those who make a promise that is not true, and for any other thing that is not right.

11 The wonderful good news of God teaches what is right. Praise him! And he has trusted me to tell this good news.

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who gave me power to tell the good news. I thank him because he believed he could trust me, and he chose me for this work.

13 There was a time when I did not respect him. I troubled his people. I said wrong things about him. But he was very kind to me, because I did not know what I was doing and I did not believe in him.

14 Our Lord showed me much love and kindness. I believed in him and had the love which comes from Christ Jesus.

15 These are true words and everyone should believe them. `Christ Jesus came into the world to save bad people.' And I am the worst of all.

16 Jesus Christ wanted to show that he is very, very patient. And so he was kind to me who was the worst. He did this so that others would believe in him and live for ever.

17 Give honour and praise for ever and ever to the one who is King for ever. He will never die. He cannot be seen. He is the only God. Yes, he is!

18 My son Timothy, here is what I tell you to do. And it is what the prophets said about you before. Remember their words, and fight like a good soldier.

19 Keep on believing. Do only what you know is right. Some people have not done that and they have stopped believing.

20 Hymenaeus and Alexander are among them. I have given them to Satan so that they will be punished and learn not to teach things that do not respect God.

Greeting

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

To Timothy, (E)my true child in the faith:

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

Warning Against False Teachers

(G)As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not (H)to teach any different doctrine, nor (I)to devote themselves to myths and endless (J)genealogies, which promote (K)speculations rather than the stewardship[a] from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love (L)that issues from a pure heart and (M)a good conscience and (N)a sincere faith. Certain persons, by (O)swerving from these, have wandered away into (P)vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, (Q)without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

Now we know that (R)the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the (S)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,[b] liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to (T)sound[c] doctrine, 11 in accordance with (U)the gospel of the glory of (V)the blessed God (W)with which I have been entrusted.

Christ Jesus Came to Save Sinners

12 I thank him (X)who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, (Y)appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, (Z)persecutor, and insolent opponent. But (AA)I received mercy (AB)because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and (AC)the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the (AD)faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is (AE)trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus (AF)came into the world to save sinners, (AG)of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To (AH)the King of the ages, (AI)immortal, (AJ)invisible, (AK)the only God, (AL)be honor and glory forever and ever.[d] Amen.

18 This charge (AM)I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with (AN)the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may (AO)wage the good warfare, 19 (AP)holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have (AQ)made shipwreck of their faith, 20 among whom are (AR)Hymenaeus and (AS)Alexander, whom I (AT)have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to (AU)blaspheme.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 1:4 Or good order
  2. 1 Timothy 1:10 That is, those who take someone captive in order to sell him into slavery
  3. 1 Timothy 1:10 Or healthy
  4. 1 Timothy 1:17 Greek to the ages of ages

Greeting

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,

To Timothy, a (A)true son in the faith:

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

No Other Doctrine

As I urged you (C)when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may [a]charge some (D)that they teach no other doctrine, (E)nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. Now (F)the purpose of the commandment is love (G)from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from [b]sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to (H)idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.

But we know that the law is (I)good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is [c]contrary to sound doctrine, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the (J)blessed God which was (K)committed to my trust.

Glory to God for His Grace(L)

12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has (M)enabled me, (N)because He counted me faithful, (O)putting me into the ministry, 13 although (P)I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an [d]insolent man; but I obtained mercy because (Q)I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 (R)And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, (S)with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 (T)This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that (U)Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. 17 Now to (V)the King eternal, (W)immortal, (X)invisible, to [e]God (Y)who alone is wise, (Z)be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Fight the Good Fight

18 This [f]charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 20 of whom are (AA)Hymenaeus and (AB)Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to (AC)blaspheme.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 1:3 command
  2. 1 Timothy 1:5 Lit. unhypocritical
  3. 1 Timothy 1:10 opposed
  4. 1 Timothy 1:13 violently arrogant
  5. 1 Timothy 1:17 NU the only God,
  6. 1 Timothy 1:18 command

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;

Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;

Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;

Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

15 This is a faithful 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 first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

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

To Timothy(D) my true son(E) in the faith:

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

Timothy Charged to Oppose False Teachers

As I urged you when I went into Macedonia,(G) stay there in Ephesus(H) so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines(I) any longer or to devote themselves to myths(J) and endless genealogies.(K) Such things promote controversial speculations(L) rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart(M) and a good conscience(N) and a sincere faith.(O) Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers(P) of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.(Q)

We know that the law is good(R) if one uses it properly. We also know that the law is made not for the righteous(S) but for lawbreakers and rebels,(T) the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine(U) 11 that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.(V)

The Lord’s Grace to Paul

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength,(W) that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service.(X) 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor(Y) and a violent man, I was shown mercy(Z) because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.(AA) 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly,(AB) along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.(AC)

15 Here is a trustworthy saying(AD) that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners(AE)—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy(AF) so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience(AG) as an example for those who would believe(AH) in him and receive eternal life.(AI) 17 Now to the King(AJ) eternal, immortal,(AK) invisible,(AL) the only God,(AM) be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.(AN)

The Charge to Timothy Renewed

18 Timothy, my son,(AO) I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you,(AP) so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well,(AQ) 19 holding on to faith and a good conscience,(AR) which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.(AS) 20 Among them are Hymenaeus(AT) and Alexander,(AU) whom I have handed over to Satan(AV) to be taught not to blaspheme.