1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus our hope,
2To Timothy, my true son in faith: May you have grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so you can order certain people not to teach a different doctrine.
4Tell them not to pay attention to myths and endless family histories. These things lead to arguments rather than carrying out God's work, which is done through faith.
5The purpose of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith.
6Some people have missed this goal and have turned away to meaningless talk.
7They want to be teachers of the law, but they don't understand what they are saying or what they are so strongly claiming.
8We know that the law is good if someone uses it correctly.
9Understand this: the law is not meant for people who do right, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and disrespectful, for those who murder their fathers or mothers, and for killers.
10It is for those who are sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders, for liars, for those who give false testimony, and for anything else that goes against sound teaching.
11I preach the Good News of the glorious blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who gave me strength. He considered me faithful and appointed me to serve him,
13even though I used to speak against him, persecute him, and treat him with contempt. But God showed me mercy, because I acted ignorantly and without faith.
14Our Lord's grace was incredibly abundant, bringing faith and love through Christ Jesus.
15This is a trustworthy saying, deserving of complete acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and I am the worst of them all.
16However, I received mercy so that in me, the worst sinner, Jesus Christ could show his complete patience. This serves as an example for all who would believe in him and receive eternal life.
17To the eternal King, who is immortal, invisible, and the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
18Timothy, my son, I am giving you this instruction, keeping in mind the prophecies that were made about you. May you use them to fight the good fight,
19holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some people have rejected these things and, as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.
20Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan so they may learn not to speak against God.