Greeting

1Paul,a an apostle of Christ Jesus by the commandb of God our Saviorc and of Christ Jesus our hope:d

2To Timothy,a my true son in the faith.

Grace, mercy, and peace from God theA Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

False Doctrine and Misuse of the Law

3As I urged you when I went to Macedonia,a remain in Ephesusb so that you may instruct certain peoplec not to teach false doctrine 4or to pay attention to mythsa and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan,b which operates by faith. 5Now the goal of our instruction is lovea that comes from a pure heart,b a good conscience,c and a sincere faith.d 6Some have departed from these and turned aside to fruitless discussion. 7They want to be teachers of the law, although they don’t understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on. 8But we know that the law is good,a provided one uses it legitimately. 9We know that the law is not meant for a righteous person, but for the lawless and rebellious,a for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and irreverent, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10for the sexually immorala and males who have sex with males,b for slave traders, liars,c perjurers, and for whatever else is contrary to the sound teachingd 11that conforms to the gospela concerning the glory of the blessed God,b which was entrusted to me.c

Paul’s Testimony

12I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengtheneda me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry —  13even though I was formerly a blasphemer,a a persecutor,b and an arrogant man.c But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief, 14and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15This saying is trustworthya and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the worldb to save sinners”c — and I am the worst of them.d 16But I received mercya for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patienceb as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life.c 17Now to the Kinga eternal,b immortal,c invisible, the onlyA God,d be honore and gloryf forever and ever. Amen.g

Engage in Battle

18Timothy, my son, I am giving you this instruction in keeping with the propheciesa previously made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the good fight, 19having faitha and a good conscience,b which somec have rejected and have shipwrecked the faith. 20Among them are Hymenaeusa and Alexander,b whom I have delivered to Satan,c so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.