Read the Bible

Greeting

¹ Paul,^(C1) an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command^(C2) of God our Savior^(C3) and of Christ Jesus our hope:^(C4)

² To Timothy,^(C1) my true son in the faith.

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the^(F1) Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

False Doctrine and Misuse of the Law

³ As I urged you when I went to Macedonia,^(C1) remain in Ephesus^(C2) so that you may instruct certain people^(C3) not to teach false doctrine ⁴ or to pay attention to myths^(C1) and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan,^(C2) which operates by faith. ⁵ Now the goal of our instruction is love^(C1) that comes from a pure heart,^(C2) a good conscience,^(C3) and a sincere faith.^{(C4) 6} Some have departed from these and turned aside to fruitless discussion. ⁷ They want to be teachers of the law, although they don’t understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on. ⁸ But we know that the law is good,^(C1) provided one uses it legitimately. ⁹ We know that the law is not meant for a righteous person, but for the lawless and rebellious,^(C1) for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and irreverent, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers, ¹⁰ for the sexually immoral^(C1) and homosexuals,^(C2) for slave traders, liars,^(C3) perjurers, and for whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching^{(C4) 11} that conforms to the gospel^(C1) concerning the glory of the blessed God,^(C2) which was entrusted to me.^(C3)

Paul’s Testimony

¹² I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened^(C1) me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry— ¹³ even though I was formerly a blasphemer,^(C1) a persecutor,^(C2) and an arrogant man.^(C3) But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief, ¹⁴ and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ This saying is trustworthy^(C1) and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world^(C2) to save sinners”^(C3)—and I am the worst of them.^{(C4) 16} But I received mercy^(C1) for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience^(C2) as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life.^{(C3) 17} Now to the King^(C1) eternal,^(C2) immortal,^(C3) invisible, the only^(F1) God,^(C4) be honor^(C5) and glory^(C6) forever and ever. Amen.^(C7)

Engage in Battle

¹⁸ Timothy, my son, I am giving you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies^(C1) previously made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the good fight, ¹⁹ having faith^(C1) and a good conscience.^(C2) Some^(C3) have rejected these and have shipwrecked their faith. ²⁰ Among them are Hymenaeus^(C1) and Alexander,^(C2) whom I have delivered to Satan,^(C3) so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.