(Tap footnote to read it. Old Testament quotations are underlined. "Love" with a caret ("^love") is agapé.1"agapé" The Greek words ἀγάπη (agapé, noun), and ἀγαπάω (agapaó; verb) are typically translated "love". However, unlike our English word "love" – which primarily speaks of affection and feelings – agapé centers on choice and behavior. It’s the "love" based on will, choice, behavior, and action; not feelings. (Feelings-based love is the Greek word φιλέω (phileó), which properly means "brotherly love/affection".) Thus, you could hate someone passionately and still treat him with "agapé". Agapé "love" is best understood as the pursuit of what is most beneficial to someone or something, regardless of the cost to yourself or the type of response received from the person or thing. It can also indicate a preference for someone or something over other things. )
Greeting and Warning about False Teaching
- Paul, an apostle of Jesus the Anointed according to the command of God our savior and of Jesus the Anointed, our hope;
- To Timothy, my true1“true” This Greek word more precisely means “legitimate” or “genuine”, sometimes with the sense of being dear because of this. It was used of a child born inside of wedlock, who was thus a “legitimate” child. child in the faith; grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Jesus the Anointed, our Lord.
- Just as I urged you to remain in Ephesus before traveling into Macedonia, so you should solemnly charge some men not to teach other doctrines,
- nor to pay attention to fables and endless genealogies, which bring meaningless controversies rather than the stewardship of God, the stewardship by faith.
- And the goal of this instruction is ^love from a pure heart, and a good conscience, and a sincere faith.
- From which some – having missed the mark – were turned away to worthless discussion,
- wanting to be teachers of the law but not understanding, neither what they say nor about what they confidently assert.
- Yet we *know that the law is good if someone uses it lawfully,
- *knowing this: that the law isn’t laid down for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and profane, the patricidal and matricidal, murderers,
- fornicators, men who sleep with other men,2“men who sleep with other men” is one word in Greek. It literally means “a man in bed with another man“, but is more properly “a man engaging in sexual activity with another man“. Male homosexuality is also mentioned in 1 Corinthians 6:9 (using the same word in a similar list), in Romans 1:27 by description, and in Leviticus 18:22, and Leviticus 20:13. Male homosexuality is always considered wicked in the Bible. In the Law, it was one of only three sexual sins which warranted the death penalty, the other two being adultery (a man having sex with another man’s wife) and bestiality. slavers and kidnappers,3“slavers and kidnappers” is one word in Greek. It properly refers to those who kidnap people and sell them into slavery. liars, perjurers, and any other thing which opposes sound teaching,
- according to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, with which I was entrusted.
- I have gratitude for the One who strengthened me – the Anointed Jesus our Lord – that He considered me faithful, having appointed me to service,
- though formerly being a blasphemer and a persecutor and violently insolent. But I was shown mercy because – being ignorant – I did it in unbelief.
- But the grace of our Lord greatly abounded with faith and ^love, which are in Jesus the Anointed.
- The saying is trustworthy and worthy of all acceptance: that Jesus the Anointed came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
- But I was shown mercy because of this, so that in me (the chief sinner) Jesus the Anointed might prove His perfect patience as an example to the men about to believe in Him for the life of ages.4“life of ages” is literal, and captures the duration as well as the quality of the life, which the traditional interpretation of “eternal life” doesn’t. The word translated “ages” (αἰώνιον) is the adjective form of the Greek word “αἰών” (aion), which is used – for example – in Matthew 24:3 “what are the signs of your coming and the end of the age?”.
- Now to the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God; be honor and glory through the ages of the ages.5“to the ages of the ages” is literal, often translated “forever and ever”. However, the traditional interpretation lacks the past element of a more literal translation. Further, the Greek word often translated “forever” here (αἰών, “aion”) literally means “age”, meaning a time span with a beginning and an end. It’s also used in Matthew 24:3 “what are the signs of your coming and the culmination (end) of the age?” Amen.
- I entrust this charge to you my child Timothy – according to the preceding prophecies concerning you – that by them you might wage the good war,
- having faith and a good conscience which some – having cast it away – shipwrecked concerning the faith.
- Among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I handed over to Satan so they might be taught through punishment6“they might be taught through punishment” is one word in Greek. It specifically refers to the training of children by “chastisement”; i.e. punishments/discipline to train them to behave correctly. not to blaspheme.
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