Greeting
1 Paul, a an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command b of God our Savior c and of Christ Jesus our hope: d
2 To Timothy, e my true son in the faith.
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the A Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
False Doctrine and Misuse of the Law
3 As I urged you when I went to Macedonia, f remain in Ephesus g so that you may instruct certain people h not to teach false doctrine 4 or to pay attention to myths i and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan, j which operates by faith. 5 Now the goal of our instruction is love k that comes from a pure heart, l a good conscience, m and a sincere faith. n 6 Some have departed from these and turned aside to fruitless discussion. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, although they don’t understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on. 8 But we know that the law is good, o provided one uses it legitimately. 9 We know that the law is not meant for a righteous person, but for the lawless and rebellious, p for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and irreverent, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral q and homosexuals, r for slave traders, liars, s perjurers, and for whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching t 11 that conforms to the gospel u concerning the glory of the blessed God, v which was entrusted to me. w
Paul’s Testimony
12 I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened x me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry— 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer, y a persecutor, z and an arrogant man. a But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 This saying is trustworthy b and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world c to save sinners” d—and I am the worst of them. e 16 But I received mercy f for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience g as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life. h 17 Now to the King i eternal, j immortal, k invisible, the only B God, l be honor m and glory n forever and ever. Amen. o
Engage in Battle
18 Timothy, my son, I am giving you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies p previously made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the good fight, 19 having faith q and a good conscience. r Some s have rejected these and have shipwrecked their faith. 20 Among them are Hymenaeus t and Alexander, u whom I have delivered to Satan, v so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.