| New International Version | NET Bible |
| 1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, | 1From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, |
| 2To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. | 2to Timothy, my genuine child in the faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord! |
| 3As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer | 3As I urged you when I was leaving for Macedonia, stay on in Ephesus to instruct certain people not to spread false teachings, |
| 4or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God's work--which is by faith. | 4nor to occupy themselves with myths and interminable genealogies. Such things promote useless speculations rather than God's redemptive plan that operates by faith. |
| 5The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. | 5But the aim of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. |
| 6Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. | 6Some have strayed from these and turned away to empty discussion. |
| 7They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm. | 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. |
| 8We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. | 8But we know that the law is good if someone uses it legitimately, |
| 9We also know that the 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, | 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, |
| 10for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers--and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine | 10sexually immoral people, practicing homosexuals, kidnappers, liars, perjurers--in fact, for any who live contrary to sound teaching. |
| 11that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me. | 11This accords with the glorious gospel of the blessed God that was entrusted to me. |
| 12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. | 12I am grateful to the one who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me faithful in putting me into ministry, |
| 13Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. | 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, |
| 14The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. | 14and our Lord's grace was abundant, bringing faith and love in Christ Jesus. |
| 15Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. | 15This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners"--and I am the worst of them! |
| 16But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. | 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. |
| 17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. | 17Now to the eternal king, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen. |
| 18Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, | 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. |
| 19holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith. | 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. |
| 20Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme. | 20Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme. |
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