Greeting

1Paul, an apostle of ⁰Jesus Christ according to the command of God our Savior and ¹the Lord Jesus Christ our hope,

2to Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God ²our Father and ³Christ Jesus our Lord.

Warning Against False Teachers

3Just as I urged yoʋ when I was going to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so that yoʋ may charge certain people not to teach different doctrines

4or to occupy themselves with myths and endless genealogies, which promote disputes rather than the ⁴plan of God that operates by faith.

5The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith.

6Some have strayed from these and have turned aside to meaningless talk,

7desiring to be teachers of the law, although they do not understand what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

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

9We know that the law is not laid down for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their father or mother, for murderers,

10fornicators, homosexuals, slave traders, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is opposed to the sound teaching

11that conforms to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, which has been entrusted to me.

Paul's Testimony of God's Mercy

12I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, because he considered me to be faithful and appointed me to serve him,

13even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man. But I received mercy because I had ignorantly acted in unbelief,

14and the grace of our Lord abounded to me greatly with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

15This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

16But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost sinner, ⁵Jesus Christ might show complete patience, making me an example for those who would come to believe in him for eternal life.

17Now to the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only ⁶wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

18This charge I entrust to yoʋ, Timothy, my child, according to the prophecies once made about yoʋ, so that by them yoʋ may fight the good fight,

19having faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have shipwrecked their faith.

20Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan so that they may learn not to blaspheme.