Instructions in Doctrine and Living

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, our hope,

2To Timothy, my genuine child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

3As I exhorted you when going to Macedonia, [†]remain on at Ephesus so that you may command certain ones not to teach a different doctrine, 4nor to [†]pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the stewardship from God which is by faith. 5But the goal of our command is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and an unhypocritical faith. 6For some, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, 7wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.

8But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and godless, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10for sexually immoral persons, for homosexuals, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, 11according to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.

12I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He regarded me faithful, putting me into service, 13even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; 14and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15It is a trustworthy saying and deserving full acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost. 16Yet for this reason I was shown mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Christ Jesus might demonstrate all His patience as an example for those [†]who are going to believe upon Him for eternal life. 17Now to the King of the [†]ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory [†]forever and ever. Amen.

18This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may fight the good fight, 19keeping faith and a good conscience, which some, having rejected, suffered shipwreck in regard to [†]their faith. 20[†]Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.