Greeting and Charge Against False Teaching
Study note
Paul identifies himself as an apostle by the command of God and greets Timothy as his true son in the faith. The immediate concern is false teaching in Ephesus, where certain individuals had become obsessed with myths and endless genealogies that produced speculation rather than advancing God's work. Paul clarifies that the goal of sound instruction is love flowing from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and sincere faith, qualities the false teachers had abandoned in favor of empty talk.
1 This letter is from Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ. I was given this mission by God our Savior and by the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our hope. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
2 Dear Timothy, you are like a true son to me in the faith. May God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace. Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
3 When I left for Macedonia, I asked you to stay in Ephesus. I needed you there to stop certain people from spreading wrong teachings. As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
4 Tell them to quit wasting time on made-up stories and never-ending family trees. Those things only start arguments and do nothing to advance God's plan, which works through faith. Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
5 The whole point of what I am telling you is love -- the love that flows from a clean heart, a clear conscience, and an honest faith. Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
6 Some people have wandered away from these things and gotten lost in pointless chatter. From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
7 They want to be experts on God's law, but they have no clue what they are talking about, even though they speak as if they do. Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
The Proper Use of the Law
Study note
Paul affirms that the law is good when used properly. Its purpose is not to burden the righteous but to restrain the lawless and expose sin in all its forms, from violence and sexual immorality to lying and oath-breaking. Everything that contradicts sound doctrine, which accords with the glorious gospel entrusted to Paul, is corrected by the proper application of the law.
8 We know that the law is a good thing when it is used the way it was meant to be used. But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers. Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 It was also written for those who commit sexual sin. It is for men who sleep with men. It is for those who kidnap and sell others. It is for liars and oath breakers. It is for anyone who goes against God's teaching. For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
11 This teaching lines up with the wonderful good news of our glorious God, the good news that he trusted me to share. According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
Paul's Testimony of Grace
Study note
Paul interrupts his instructions with a deeply personal testimony. He who was once a blasphemer, persecutor, and violent man received mercy because he acted in ignorance. The grace of the Lord overflowed to him with faith and love in Christ Jesus. He presents the trustworthy saying that Christ came to save sinners, calling himself the worst of them. His conversion serves as a display of Christ's unlimited patience, an example for all future believers. This prompts a doxology praising the eternal, immortal, invisible King.
12 I am so thankful to Christ Jesus our Lord for giving me the strength to do this work. He considered me trustworthy and put me into his service. And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
13 I used to insult God, chase down believers, and hurt people. But God showed me mercy because I was acting out of ignorance and did not yet believe. Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
14 The grace of our Lord completely filled my life. Along with it came the faith and love that belong to Christ Jesus. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
15 Here is something you can count on: Christ Jesus came into the world to rescue sinners. And out of all of them, I was the worst. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
16 However, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
17 All honor and glory belong to God forever and ever! He is the King who rules for all time, who cannot die, who cannot be seen -- the one and only wise God. Amen. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Timothy's Charge to Fight the Good Fight
Study note
Paul returns to his personal charge to Timothy, grounding it in earlier prophecies made about Timothy's calling. Armed with these prophetic words, Timothy is to wage spiritual warfare by holding firmly to faith and a good conscience. Paul warns by citing Hymenaeus and Alexander, who rejected these and shipwrecked their faith, resulting in Paul handing them over to Satan for corrective discipline.
18 Timothy, my son, I am passing these instructions on to you. They match up with what the prophets once said about you. Let those words be your battle cry as you fight the good fight. This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
19 Keep holding on to your faith and a clean conscience. Some people threw those things away, and their faith crashed and sank. Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
20 Hymenaeus and Alexander are two of them. I handed them over to Satan so they would learn the hard way to stop speaking against God. Of whom is Hymenæus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.