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,[#1:3 Lit to remain]

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.[#1:4 Or occupy themselves with]

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.[#1:16 Or destined to]

¹⁷Now to the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.[#1:17 Or eternal; #1:17 Lit to the ages of the ages]

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.[#1:19 Lit the]

²⁰Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.[#1:20 Lit Of]