1 Timothy 1

1 From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the appointment of God, our Savior, and Christ Jesus, our hope.

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

2 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.

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

3 I beg you, as I did when I was on my way into Macedonia, to remain at Ephesus; so that you may instruct certain people there not to teach new and strange doctrines,

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

4 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.

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

5 The object of all instruction is to call forth that love which comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.

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

6 And it is because they have not aimed at these things that the attention of certain people has been diverted to unprofitable subjects.

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

7 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.

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

8 We know, of course, that the Law is excellent, when used legitimately,

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

9 by one who recognizes that laws were not made for good people, 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,

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,

10 for the immoral, for perverts, for slave traders, for liars, for perjurers, and for whatever else is opposed to sound Christian teaching –

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

11 as is taught in the glorious good news of the ever-blessed God, with which I was entrusted.

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

12 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,

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

13 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;

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

14 and the loving kindness of our Lord was boundless, and filled me with that faith and love which come from union with Christ Jesus.

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

15 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!

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

16 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 afterward to believe on him and attain eternal life. (aiōnios g166)

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)

17 To the eternal King, ever-living, invisible, the one God, be ascribed honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (aiōn g165)

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

18 This, then, is the charge that I lay on you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with what was predicted of you – Fight the good fight in the spirit of those predictions,

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,

19 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.

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

20 Hymenaeus and Alexander are instances – the men whom I delivered over to Satan so that they might be taught not to blaspheme.

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