| NET Bible | English Standard Version |
| 1From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, | 1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, |
| 2to Timothy, my genuine child in the faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord! | 2To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. |
| 3As I urged you when I was leaving for Macedonia, stay on in Ephesus to instruct certain people not to spread false teachings, | 3As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, |
| 4nor to occupy themselves with myths and interminable genealogies. Such things promote useless speculations rather than God's redemptive plan that operates by faith. | 4nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. |
| 5But the aim of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. | 5The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. |
| 6Some have strayed from these and turned away to empty discussion. | 6Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, |
| 7They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or the things they insist on so confidently. | 7desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. |
| 8But we know that the law is good if someone uses it legitimately, | 8Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, |
| 9realizing that law is not intended for a righteous person, but for lawless and rebellious people, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, | 9understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, |
| 10sexually immoral people, practicing homosexuals, kidnappers, liars, perjurers--in fact, for any who live contrary to sound teaching. | 10the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, |
| 11This accords with the glorious gospel of the blessed God that was entrusted to me. | 11in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. |
| 12I am grateful to the one who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me faithful in putting me into ministry, | 12I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, |
| 13even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, | 13though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, |
| 14and our Lord's grace was abundant, bringing faith and love in Christ Jesus. | 14and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. |
| 15This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners"--and I am the worst of them! | 15The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. |
| 16But here is why I was treated with mercy: so that in me as the worst, Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life. | 16But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. |
| 17Now to the eternal king, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen. | 17To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. |
| 18I put this charge before you, Timothy my child, in keeping with the prophecies once spoken about you, in order that with such encouragement you may fight the good fight. | 18This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, |
| 19To do this you must hold firmly to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck in regard to the faith. | 19holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, |
| 20Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme. | 20among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. |
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