1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Saviour, and Christ Jesus our hope;
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
2 unto Timothy, my true child in faith: Grace, mercy, peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
2 To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 As I exhorted thee to tarry at Ephesus, when I was going into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge certain men not to teach a different doctrine,
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer
4 neither to give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questionings, rather than a dispensation of God which is in faith; (so do I now).
4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than Gods work--which is by faith.
5 But the end of the charge is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfeigned:
5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
6 from which things some having swerved have turned aside unto vain talking;
6 Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk.
7 desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say, nor whereof they confidently affirm.
7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.
8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully,
8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly.
9 as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and unruly, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
9 We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers,
10 for fornicators, for abusers of themselves with men, for menstealers, for liars, for false swearers, and if there be any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine;
10 for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers--and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine
11 according to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
11 that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
12 I thank him that enabled me, (even) Christ Jesus our Lord, for that he counted me faithful, appointing me to (his) service;
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.
13 though I was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: howbeit I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief;
13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.
14 and the grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15 Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief:
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.
16 howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me as chief might Jesus Christ show forth all his longsuffering, for an ensample of them that should thereafter believe on him unto eternal life.
16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, (be) honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
18 This charge I commit unto thee, my child Timothy, according to the prophecies which led the way to thee, that by them thou mayest war the good warfare;
18 Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight,
19 holding faith and a good conscience; which some having thrust from them made shipwreck concerning the faith:
19 holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith.
20 of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I delivered unto Satan, that they might be taught not to blaspheme.
20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.