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 f Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

False Doctrine and Misuse of the Law

3 As I urged you when I went to Macedonia, g remain in Ephesus h so that you may instruct certain people i not to teach different doctrine 4 or to pay attention to myths j and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan, k which operates by faith. 5 Now the goal of our instruction is love l that comes from a pure heart, m a good conscience, n and a sincere faith. o 6 Some have deviated 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, p provided one uses it legitimately. 9 We know that the law is not meant for a righteous person, but for the lawless and rebellious, q 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 r and homosexuals, s for kidnappers, t liars, u perjurers, and for whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching v 11 based on the glorious gospel w of the blessed God, x which was entrusted to me. y

Paul’s Testimony

12 I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened z me, because He considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry— 13 one who 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. 14 And the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 This saying is trustworthy d and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world e to save sinners” f—and I am the worst of them. g 16 But I received mercy h for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate His extraordinary patience i as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life. j 17 Now to the King k eternal, l immortal, m invisible, the only n God, o be honor p and glory q forever and ever. * Amen. r

Engage in Battle

18 Timothy, my son, I am giving you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies s previously made about you, so that by them you may strongly engage in battle, 19 having faith t and a good conscience. u Some v have rejected these and have suffered the shipwreck of their faith. 20 Hymenaeus w and Alexander x are among them, and I have delivered them to Satan, y so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.