1 P aul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope,

Paul, an apostle (special messenger) of Christ Jesus by appointment and command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus (the Messiah), our Hope,

2 T o Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

To Timothy, my true son in the faith: Grace (spiritual blessing and favor), mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

3 A s I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines,

As I urged you when I was on my way to Macedonia, stay on where you are at Ephesus in order that you may warn and admonish and charge certain individuals not to teach any different doctrine,

4 n or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith.

Nor to give importance to or occupy themselves with legends (fables, myths) and endless genealogies, which foster and promote useless speculations and questionings rather than acceptance in faith of God’s administration and the divine training that is in faith ( in that leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence)—

5 B ut the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

Whereas the object and purpose of our instruction and charge is love, which springs from a pure heart and a good (clear) conscience and sincere (unfeigned) faith.

6 F or some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion,

But certain individuals have missed the mark on this very matter have wandered away into vain arguments and discussions and purposeless talk.

7 w anting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.

They are ambitious to be doctors of the Law (teachers of the Mosaic ritual), but they have no understanding either of the words and terms they use or of the subjects about which they make dogmatic assertions.

8 B ut we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully,

Now we recognize and know that the Law is good if anyone uses it lawfully,

9 r ealizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers

Knowing and understanding this: that the Law is not enacted for the righteous (the upright and just, who are in right standing with God), but for the lawless and unruly, for the ungodly and sinful, for the irreverent and profane, for those who strike and beat and murder fathers and strike and beat and murder mothers, for manslayers,

10 a nd immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching,

impure and immoral persons, those who abuse themselves with men, kidnapers, liars, perjurers—and whatever else is opposed to wholesome teaching and sound doctrine

11 a ccording to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.

As laid down by the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service,

I give thanks to Him Who has granted me strength and made me able, Christ Jesus our Lord, because He has judged and counted me faithful and trustworthy, appointing me to the ministry.

13 e ven though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;

Though I formerly blasphemed and persecuted and was shamefully and outrageously and aggressively insulting, nevertheless, I obtained mercy because I had acted out of ignorance in unbelief.

14 a nd the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.

And the grace (unmerited favor and blessing) of our Lord flowed out superabundantly and beyond measure for me, accompanied by faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

15 I t is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.

The saying is sure and true and worthy of full and universal acceptance, that Christ Jesus (the Messiah) came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost.

16 Y et for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.

But I obtained mercy for the reason that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might show forth and display all His perfect long-suffering and patience for an example to those who would thereafter believe on Him for eternal life.

17 N ow to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Now to the King of eternity, incorruptible and immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever (to the ages of ages). Amen (so be it).

18 T his command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight,

This charge and admonition I commit in trust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with prophetic intimations which I formerly received concerning you, so that inspired and aided by them you may wage the good warfare,

19 k eeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.

Holding fast to faith ( that leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence) and having a good (clear) conscience. By rejecting and thrusting from them, some individuals have made shipwreck of their faith.

20 A mong these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.

Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan in order that they may be disciplined not to blaspheme.