1 P aul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to a command of God our Saviour, and of the Lord Jesus Christ our hope,

This letter is from Paul, a missionary of Jesus Christ. I am sent by God, the One Who saves, and by our Lord Jesus Christ Who is our hope.

2 t o Timotheus -- genuine child in faith: Grace, kindness, peace, from God our Father, and Christ Jesus our Lord,

I write to you, Timothy. You are my son in the Christian faith. May God the Father and Jesus Christ our Lord give you His loving-favor and loving-kindness and peace. Watch for False Teachers

3 a ccording as I did exhort thee to remain in Ephesus -- I going on to Macedonia -- that thou mightest charge certain not to teach any other thing,

When I left for the country of Macedonia, I asked you to stay in the city of Ephesus. I wanted you to stay there so you could tell those who are teaching what is not true to stop.

4 n or to give heed to fables and endless genealogies, that cause questions rather than the building up of God that is in faith: --

They should not listen to stories that are not true. It is foolish for them to try to learn more about their early fathers. These only bring more questions to their minds and do not make their faith in God stronger.

5 A nd the end of the charge is love out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned,

We want to see our teaching help you have a true love that comes from a pure heart. Such love comes from a heart that says we are not guilty and from a faith that does not pretend.

6 f rom which certain, having swerved, did turn aside to vain discourse,

But some have turned away from these things. They have turned to foolish talking.

7 w illing to be teachers of law, not understanding either the things they say, nor concerning what they asseverate,

Some of them want to be teachers of the Law. But they do not know what they are talking about even if they act as if they do. The Law Is Good

8 a nd we have known that the law good, if any one may use it lawfully;

We know the Law is good when it is used the way God meant it to be used.

9 h aving known this, that for a righteous man law is not set, but for lawless and insubordinate persons, ungodly and sinners, impious and profane, parricides and matricides, men-slayers,

We must remember the Law is not for the person who is right with God. It is for those who do not obey anybody or anything. It is for the sinners who hate God and speak against Him. It is for those who kill their fathers and mothers and for those who kill other people.

10 w horemongers, sodomites, men-stealers, liars, perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that to sound doctrine is adverse,

It is for those who do sex sins and for people who do sex sins with their own sex. It is for people who steal other people and for those who lie and for those who promise not to lie, but do. It is for everything that is against right teaching.

11 a ccording to the good news of the glory of the blessed God, with which I was entrusted.

The great Good News of our honored God is right teaching. God has trusted me to preach this Good News. Paul Gives Thanks to God

12 A nd I give thanks to him who enabled me -- Christ Jesus our Lord -- that he did reckon me stedfast, having put to the ministration,

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord for the power and strength He has given me. He trusted me and gave me His work to do.

13 w ho before was speaking evil, and persecuting, and insulting, but I found kindness, because, being ignorant, I did in unbelief,

Before He chose me, I talked bad about Christ. I made His followers suffer. I hurt them every way I could. But God had loving-kindness for me. I did not understand what I was doing for I was not a Christian then.

14 a nd exceedingly abound did the grace of our Lord, with faith and love that in Christ Jesus:

Then our Lord gave me much of His loving-favor and faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.

15 s tedfast the word, and of all acceptation worthy, that Christ Jesus came to the world to save sinners -- first of whom I am;

What I say is true and all the world should receive it. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners from their sin and I am the worst sinner.

16 b ut because of this I found kindness, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering, for a pattern of those about to believe on him to life age-during:

And yet God had loving-kindness for me. Jesus Christ used me to show how long He will wait for even the worst sinners. In that way, others will know they can have life that lasts forever also.

17 a nd to the King of the ages, the incorruptible, invisible, only wise God, honour and glory -- to the ages of the ages! Amen.

We give honor and thanks to the King Who lives forever. He is the One Who never dies and Who is never seen. He is the One Who knows all things. He is the only God. Let it be so. The Good Fight of Faith

18 T his charge I commit to thee, child Timotheus, according to the prophesies that went before upon thee, that thou mayest war in them the good warfare,

Timothy, my son, here is my word to you. Fight well for the Lord! God’s preachers told us you would.

19 h aving faith and a good conscience, which certain having thrust away, concerning the faith did make shipwreck,

Keep a strong hold on your faith in Christ. May your heart always say you are right. Some people have not listened to what their hearts say. They have done what they knew was wrong. Because of this, their faith in Christ was wrecked.

20 o f whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I did deliver to the Adversary, that they might be instructed not to speak evil.

This happened to Hymenaeus and Alexander. I gave them over to Satan to teach them not to speak against God.