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¹ This is from, Paul, a cowboy on a special task from God through Jesus Christ who is our hope and how we are able to hold on when life gets rank.

² To my son in faith Timothy, may you ride in peace, mercy, and grace from God as you gather the strays and remnants.

Timothy Is Told How to Handle Counterfeit Cowboys

³ Don't forget what I told you when I was going to Macedonia. I told you to stay in Ephesus to battle the counterfeit cowboys who were teaching something other than faith in Jesus. ⁴ You'll also have to contend with those who try to rebrand God's chosen people with made-up stories. Also keep a watch out for those who think they are better than everyone else because they have fancy pedigrees. Such people don't have faith, they just like to talk. Such talks lead to endless arguments that don't lead people down the narrow trail. ⁵ The goal of the new code of Christ is to love. The only way to do this is with a pure heart, a clean conscience, and an authentic faith. ⁶ Some have gone rogue and don't want to ride for the Lord, they just want to hear themselves talk. ⁷ They say they are "teachers of the Code", but they don't know anything more'n a fencepost. They talk big, but they ain't got no salt to back it up.

⁸ The code of Moses wasn't a bad thing when it was taken in context of showing people just how much we need God's help. ⁹ But it wasn't intended to bash believers with, it was to show how ornery and rebellious cowboys were by nature. No one accidentally follows God. We are all ungodly and full of sin. But these people hold nothing sacred. They'd kill their own moms and dads if it'd save their own hides. ¹⁰ The code of Moses was for them and the perverts, slave traders, liars and swindlers, and anyone else who doesn't do what they should. ¹¹ What they should do is leave their sorry ways behind and follow God. That's what God told me and so that's what I tell everyone else.

Paul Didn't Get What He Deserved

¹² I'm thankful Jesus chose me to ride for his brand. He has made me strong and trustworthy in the duties he's appointed me. ¹³ Even though I once cursed Jesus's name, in word and deed, ¹⁴ I didn't get what I deserved. Instead, Jesus poured out his grace all over me and it transformed itself within me into unending love and faith.

¹⁵ Listen to this, it's the best thing you'll hear all day, "Jesus came to save the scoundrels and outlaws." And understand, there weren't never a worse one than me. ¹⁶ But God took the worst of the worst and showed him mercy. He made me into who I am today. If he can do that for me, imagine what he could do with someone else who wasn't near as bad. Heaven wasn't made for the saints, but for every sinner who's been saved. ¹⁷ We don't brag about what we've become. We brag about what God has done. It's him who gets the credit. He is the Boss, the King Forever, the one who is never seen, but always there; he alone is God. Amen.

Timothy's Duty

¹⁸ Listen to me, my son. I'm going to give you some advice. What was spoken over you so long ago wasn't a lie. Use what was said as your strength and your shield in the battle to come. ¹⁹ Tie hard and fast to your faith in Christ. Don't do anything that will make you lose sleep at night. Some cowboys think their sorry deeds don't go unnoticed, but it weighs heavy on their hearts. They might still be in the saddle, but their faith was left for the buzzards on the trail a long way back. ²⁰ Hymenaeus and Alexander are great examples of this. I threw them out of the crew for talking bad about the Boss. Now they ride for Satan's brand—the forked tail. I hope a minute in his crew will change their hearts.