Greeting

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

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

Warnings Against False Teachings

3Just as I urged you to remain in Ephesus as I traveled into Macedonia, that you should command certain people not to teach differently,

4nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.

5Now the goal of the commandment is love out of a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,

6from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to futile talk,

7desiring to be teachers of the law, not understanding either what they say or what they affirm.

8But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully,

9knowing this: that the law is not laid down for the righteous, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for killers of fathers and killers of mothers, for murderers,

10for fornicators, for homosexuals, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is opposed to sound doctrine,

11according to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, with which I was entrusted.

Paul's Gratitude for God's Mercy

12And I give thanks to the One who empowers me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because He considered me faithful, putting me into the ministry,

13I, who was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I was shown mercy, because, being ignorant, I did it in unbelief,

14and the grace of our Lord superabounded with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

15Faithful is this word, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

16However, because of this I was shown mercy, so that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, as a pattern for those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.

17Now to the King of the Ages, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Fight the Good Fight

18This charge I commit to you, my son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that you may war by them the good warfare,

19having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,

20of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I handed over to Satan so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.