| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope, | 1From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, |
| 2To Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ 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—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, | 3As I urged you when I was leaving for Macedonia, stay on in Ephesus to instruct certain people not to spread false teachings, |
| 4nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in 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. |
| 5Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, | 5But the aim of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. |
| 6from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, | 6Some have strayed from these and turned away to empty discussion. |
| 7desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they 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. |
| 8But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, | 8But we know that the law is good if someone uses it legitimately, |
| 9knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, | 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 fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, | 10sexually immoral people, practicing homosexuals, kidnappers, liars, perjurers--in fact, for any who live contrary to sound teaching. |
| 11according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust. | 11This accords with the glorious gospel of the blessed God that was entrusted to me. |
| 12And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, | 12I am grateful to the one who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me faithful in putting me into ministry, |
| 13although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in 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, |
| 14And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. | 14and our Lord's grace was abundant, bringing faith and love in Christ Jesus. |
| 15This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. | 15This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners"--and I am the worst of them! |
| 16However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting 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, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. | 17Now to the eternal king, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen. |
| 18This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, | 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. |
| 19having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, | 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. |
| 20of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn 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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