1 Timothy 1
1 This letter comes from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus appointed by the authority of God our Savior and Christ Jesus, who is our hope.
From Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the appointment of God, our Saviour, and Christ Jesus, our Hope.
2 I'm sending it to you Timothy. You are my true son because of your trust in God. May you have grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
To Timothy, my true Child in the Faith: May God, the Father, and Christ Jesus, our Lord, bless you, and be merciful to you, and give you peace.
3 When I was on my way to Macedonia I asked you to stay behind in Ephesus, so that you could speak with those who teach false ideas and insist that they stop.
I beg you, as I did when I was on my way into Macedonia, to remain at Ephesus; that you may instruct certain people there not to teach new and strange doctrines,
4 They shouldn't concern themselves with legends and never-ending obsessions about ancestry. Such ideas only lead to pointless debates, instead of understanding God as we trust in him.
nor to devote their attention to legends and interminable genealogies, which tend to give rise to argument rather than to further that divine plan which is revealed in the Faith.
5 The reason why I insist on this is so we may have love that comes from a pure heart, from a clear conscience and sincere trust in God.
The object of all instruction is to call forth that love which comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.
6 Some have deviated from these things, and have ended up talking nonsense.
And it is because they have not aimed at these things that the attention of certain people has been diverted to unprofitable subjects.
7 They have ambitions to be teachers of the law, but they have no idea what they're talking about or what they're so boldly announcing!
They want to be Teachers of the Law, and yet do not understand either the words they use, or the subjects on which they speak so confidently.
8 Now we recognize that the law is good if people use it properly.
We know, of course, that the Law is excellent, when used legitimately,
9 We also know that law isn't laid down for those who do what is good and right, but for those who are rebellious and ignore the law. It applies to people who have no use for God, who are sinful, who treat nothing as holy and are completely irreligious. It's for those who kill fathers and mothers, for murderers,
by one who recognises that laws were not made for good men, but for the lawless and disorderly, for irreligious and wicked people, for those who are irreverent and profane, for those who ill-treat their fathers or mothers, for murderers,
10 for those who are sexually immoral, homosexuals, kidnappers, liars, false witnesses—and anything else that's opposed to good teachings
for the immoral, for people guilty of sodomy, for slave-dealers, for liars, for perjurers, and for whatever else is opposed to sound Christian teaching —
11 as determined by the wonderful good news of our blessed God which he entrusted to me.
as is taught in the glorious Good News of the ever-blessed God, with which I was entrusted.
12 I'm just so grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord for the strength he's given me, and that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to work for him.
I am thankful to Christ Jesus, our Lord, who has been my strength, for showing that he thought me worthy of trust by appointing me to his ministry,
13 Even though I used to insult God, and persecuted and abused God's people, God showed me mercy because of my ignorance and unbelief.
though I once used to blaspheme, and to persecute, and to insult. Yet mercy was shown me, because I acted in ignorance, while still an unbeliever;
14 Our Lord in his grace filled me to overflowing with trust and love that comes from Christ Jesus.
and the loving-kindness of our Lord was boundless, and filled me with that faith and love which come from union with Christ Jesus.
15 You can trust this saying that everyone should accept: “Christ Jesus came to this world to save sinners,” and I'm the worst of them.
How true the saying is, and worthy of the fullest acceptance, that ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’! And there is no greater sinner than I!
16 For this reason I was shown mercy—since I'm the worst sinner, Jesus Christ could demonstrate his infinite patience as an example to those who choose to trust in him and gain eternal life. (aiōnios g166)
Yet mercy was shown me for the express purpose that Christ Jesus might exhibit in my case, beyond all others, his exhaustless patience, as an example for those who were afterwards to believe on him and attain Immortal Life. (aiōnios g166)
17 Honor and glory forever and ever to the eternal King, the immortal, invisible, and only God! Amen. (aiōn g165)
To the Immortal King, ever-living, invisible, the one God, be ascribed honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (aiōn g165)
18 These are the instructions I want to give to you, Timothy, my son, following the prophecies that brought you this far, so you can fight the good fight!
This, then, is the charge that I lay upon you, Timothy, my Child, in accordance with what was predicted of you — Fight the good fight in the spirit of those predictions,
19 Keep on trusting God and make sure you have a clear conscience. Some have refused to do this and have shipwrecked their trust in God.
with faith, and with a clear conscience; and it is because they have thrust this aside, that, as regards the Faith, some have wrecked their lives.
20 Hymenaeus and Alexander are such people, and I have “handed them over to Satan” to teach them not to misrepresent God.
Hymenaeus and Alexander are instances — the men whom I delivered over to Satan, that they might be taught not to blaspheme.
