Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
to Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Warning Against False Teachers
As I urged you when I was going into Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so that you can instruct certain people not to teach a different doctrine,
nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to useless speculation, rather than furthering the administration of God by trust.
Now the goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere trust.
Certain people have strayed away from these things and have turned aside to fruitless discussions,
wanting to be teachers of the law, but not understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they speak confidently.
But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully,
knowing this, that the law is not meant for a righteous person, but for the lawless and rebellious, the ungodly and sinners, the unholy and worldly-minded, those who kill their father or mother, murderers,
the sexually immoral, those who practice homosexuality, kidnappers, liars, perjurers, and if there is any other thing contrary to sound doctrine
that conforms to the glorious good news of the blessed God, which was entrusted to me.
Christ Jesus Came to Save Sinners
I give thanks to the one who has empowered me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he counted me faithful, appointing me to the ministry,
even though I was previously a blasphemer and a persecutor and an insolent man. But I received mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief,
but the grace of our Lord overflowed abundantly, along with the trust and love that are in Christ Jesus.
This statement is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.”
Nevertheless, I received mercy for this reason: so that in me, as the worst sinner, Jesus Christ could show his immense patience as a pattern for those who are going to believe in him for life in the age to come.
Now to the King of the ages, incorruptible, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Timothy, my child, I am giving you this command based on the prophecies previously spoken over you, so that by remembering them you can fight the good fight,
maintaining trust and a good conscience, which some have rejected and have caused a shipwreck concerning the faith.
Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I handed over to the Adversary, so that they will learn not to defame the faith.