King James Version KJV
English Standard Version ESV
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
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Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
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To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 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,
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As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine,
4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
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nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.
5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
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The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
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Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion,
7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
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desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.
8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
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Now we know that the law is good, if one uses 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,
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understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers,
10 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;
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the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,
11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
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in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.
12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
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I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,
13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
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though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,
14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
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and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15 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.
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The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
16 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.
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But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
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To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
18 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;
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This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,
19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
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holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith,
20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.
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among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.