1 Timothy 1

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior and Christ Jesus our hope,

2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

to Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

3 As I urged you on my departure to Macedonia, you should stay on at Ephesus to instruct certain men not to teach false doctrines

As I urged you to do when I was leaving for Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so that you can command certain people not to teach a different doctrine.

4 or devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculation rather than the stewardship of God’s work, which is by faith.

Neither should they pay attention to stories and endless genealogies. These cause arguments rather than helping the plan of God, which is by faith.

5 The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.

Now the goal of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from a sincere faith.

6 Some have strayed from these ways and turned aside to empty talk.

Some people have missed the mark and have turned away from these things to foolish talk.

7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or that which they so confidently assert.

They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or what they so confidently affirm.

8 Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it legitimately.

But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully.

9 We realize that law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers,

We know this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for a lawless and rebellious people, for ungodly people and sinners, and for those who are godless and profane. It is made for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers,

10 for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching

for sexually immoral people, for homosexuals, for those who kidnap people for slaves, for liars, for false witnesses, and for whatever else is against faithful instruction.

11 that agrees with the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.

This instruction is according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, that He considered me faithful and appointed me to service.

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord. He strengthened me, for he considered me faithful, and he placed me into service.

13 I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy.

I was a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man. But I received mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief.

14 And the grace of our Lord overflowed to me, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

But the grace of our Lord overflowed with faith and love that is in Christ Jesus.

15 This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.

This message is reliable and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I am the worst of these.

16 But for this very reason I was shown mercy, so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His perfect patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life. (aiōnios g166)

But for this reason I was given mercy, so that in me, the foremost, Christ Jesus might demonstrate all patience. He did this as an example for those who would trust in him for eternal life. (aiōnios g166)

17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (aiōn g165)

Now to the king of the ages, the immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (aiōn g165)

18 Timothy, my child, I entrust you with this command in keeping with the previous prophecies about you, so that by them you may fight the good fight,

I am placing this command before you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that you might fight the good fight,

19 holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and thereby shipwrecked their faith.

holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have shipwrecked their faith.

20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

Such are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I gave over to Satan so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.