| Berean Study Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, | 1This letter is from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, appointed by the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus, who gives us hope. |
| 2To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. | 2I am writing to Timothy, my true son in the faith. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace. Warnings against False Teachings |
| 3As I urged you on my departure to Macedonia, you should stay on at Ephesus to instruct certain men not to teach false doctrines | 3When I left for Macedonia, I urged you to stay there in Ephesus and stop those whose teaching is contrary to the truth. |
| 4or devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculation rather than the stewardship of God’s work, which is by faith. | 4Don’t let them waste their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees. These things only lead to meaningless speculations, which don’t help people live a life of faith in God. |
| 5The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith. | 5The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. |
| 6Some have strayed from these ways and turned aside to empty talk. | 6But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions. |
| 7They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or that which they so confidently assert. | 7They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don’t know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently. |
| 8Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it legitimately. | 8We know that the law is good when used correctly. |
| 9We 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, | 9For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders. |
| 10for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching | 10The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching |
| 11that agrees with the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted. | 11that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God. Paul’s Gratitude for God’s Mercy |
| 12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, that He considered me faithful and appointed me to service. | 12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, |
| 13I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy. | 13even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. |
| 14And the grace of our Lord overflowed to me, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. | 14Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus. |
| 15This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst. | 15This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. |
| 16But 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. | 16But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. |
| 17Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. | 17All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen. Timothy’s Responsibility |
| 18Timothy, 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, | 18Timothy, my son, here are my instructions for you, based on the prophetic words spoken about you earlier. May they help you fight well in the Lord’s battles. |
| 19holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and thereby shipwrecked their faith. | 19Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked. |
| 20Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme. | 20Hymenaeus and Alexander are two examples. I threw them out and handed them over to Satan so they might learn not to blaspheme God. |
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