1 Timothy 1

1 [I], Paul, [am writing this letter. You know that] I am an apostle. I [represent] Christ Jesus because God and Christ Jesus commanded me to do it. God is the one who saved us, and Jesus is the one for whom we are confidently waiting [to return].

PAUL, a legate of Jesus the Messiah, by the command of God our life-giver, and of the Messiah, Jesus our hope;

2 [You], Timothy, [are like] [MET] a true son [to me] because [you] trusted [in Christ after I told you about him]. [I pray/desire that] God, who is our Father, and Christ Jesus, who is our Lord, will [continue to act] kindly and mercifully to you, and [that they will give you inner] peace.

to Timothy, my true son in the faith: grace and mercy and peace, from God our Father, and the Messiah, Jesus our Lord.

3 [I urge you now], just like I urged you when I was going to Macedonia [province], that you remain there in Ephesus [city]. Stay there so that you may command certain persons [who teach other believers] that they not teach false [doctrines].

When I was going into Macedonia, I requested thee to remain at Ephesus, and to charge certain persons not to teach different doctrines;

4 And tell people to not continually give their attention to stories [that tell about our ancestors], stories in which there are (genealogies/lists of our ancestors’ names) that [seem to be] endless. [You must command your congregation not to think that these stories are valuable], because [whenever people think] that, they [just] start arguing about things uselessly, instead of [teaching] God’s plan, which [is concerned with] what we believe (OR, which [we know because] we trust [in Christ]).

and not to throw themselves into fables and stories about genealogies, of which there is no end, which produce contention rather than edification in the faith of God.

5 [Teach them] to have pure desires [MTY] and [so to know that God] approves of what they do, and to sincerely believe [the true teaching]. By doing that, [they will] love [God well].

Now the end of the command is love, which is from a pure heart, and from a good conscience, and from true faith.

6 There are some people who have turned away from these true teachings. As a result, they [just] discuss what is useless.

But from these some have strayed, and have turned aside to vain words;

7 They desire to teach the laws [that God gave to Moses], but they do not understand what they are really saying, or the things about which they (confidently speak/say that they understand well).

because they wished to be teachers of the law, while they understood not what they speak, nor the thing about which they contend.

8 We know that the laws [that God gave to Moses are] good if people consider correctly [what God intended them for].

Now, we know, that the law is a good thing, if a man conduct himself in it, according to the law,

9 We must remember that God did not give Moses those laws in order [to condemn] righteous people. By those laws he [condemns people who act as though there were no] laws and who refuse to obey [anyone. He condemns] those who do not revere God and those who sin habitually. [By them he condemns] those who refuse to perform rituals that are pleasing to God and who show no respect for religion. [He condemns] those who murder their fathers and who murder their mothers and who murder [other] people.

he knowing that the law was not established for the righteous, but for the evil, and the rebellious, and the ungodly, and the sinful, and the perverse and for the impure, and for smiters of their fathers and smiters of their mothers, and for murderers,

10 [He condemns] those who are sexually immoral and those who are homosexuals. [He condemns] those who kidnap/steal people [in order to make them slaves]. [He condemns] those who lie and those who promise something strongly but do not do what they promised. He condemns every other action that is contrary to our true teaching.

and for whoremongers, and for copulators with males, and for the stealers of free people, and for liars, and for violators of oaths, and for whatever is contrary to sound doctrine,

11 This is what we teach people when we tell them the glorious/wonderful message about Christ that our awesome God [has revealed] and that he gave to me to teach.

namely that of the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I am intrusted.

12 I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord who enabled me to do this work, because he considered that I could be trusted. So he appointed me in order that I [would serve him].

And I thank him who strengthened me, even our Lord Jesus the Messiah; who accounted me faithful, and appointed me to his ministry;

13 Formerly I said evil things [about him], I caused [his people] to suffer, and I acted very cruelly toward them. But [Christ acted] in a kind way toward me since I (acted ignorantly/did not know that I was doing wrong) because I did not believe [in him].

me I say, who before was a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and a reviler; but I obtained mercy, because I did it while ignorant and without faith.

14 Our Lord kindly did for me what I did not deserve, so that I now believe [in Christ Jesus] and I love others (OR, him) [because I belong to him].

And in me the grace of our Lord abounded, and faith and love, which is in Jesus the Messiah.

15 [Something that all we believers] say is certainly true and is worthy for us to fully accept is that Christ Jesus came into the world in order to save sinful people [so that God would not punish them for their sins]. As for me, I [consider that I have sinned] more than all others.

Faithful is the declaration, and worthy to be received, that Jesus the Messiah came into the world to give life to sinners, of whom I was the primary.

16 Yet Christ Jesus acted mercifully to me in order that he might demonstrate [to people that he is perfectly patient with them]. He did that by his being patient with me, one who has sinned worse than everyone else. He wanted what he did for me (to be an example/to demonstrate his patience) to people who would [later] believe in him, and as a result would live forever. (aiōnios g166)

But for this cause had he mercy on me, that in me first Jesus the Messiah might display all his long suffering, for an example to them who were to believe on him unto life eternal. (aiōnios g166)

17 I desire that people will honor and praise the only [true] God forever! Even though no one can see him, he is the King who rules for all time, who will never die! (Amen!/That is true!) (aiōn g165)

And to the king eternal, incorruptible, and invisible, the sole God, be honor and glory for ever and ever! Amen. (aiōn g165)

18 Timothy, you [are like] [MET] a son [to me]. So, (based on/in accordance with) what [someone] previously (prophesied/told what God revealed to them) about you, I am instructing you [to strongly oppose those who teach false doctrines. You should oppose them like] [MET] a soldier (fights strongly against/opposes) [those who attack his countrymen].

This injunction I commit to thee, my son Timothy, according to the former predictions concerning thee, that in them thou mightest war this good warfare,

19 Continue to believe [the true teaching] and do only what you know to be right! Remember that some people have (pushed aside/rejected) the true teaching. As a result, they no longer believe [MET] what is true.

in faith and a good conscience; for they who have repudiated this, have become destitute of faith;

20 Among the ones who have done that are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I put in the hands of Satan, in order that [when Satan punishes them] they may learn not to teach wrong teaching.

like Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I have delivered up to Satan, that they may learn not to be blasphemers.