1 Paul, *See 2 Cor. 1:1an apostle of Christ Jesus *Titus 1:3;[Rom. 16:26] by command of *See Luke 1:47God our Savior and of Christ Jesus *Col. 1:27our hope,

2 To Timothy, *Titus 1:4my true child in the faith:

*2 Tim. 1:2;2 John 3;[Jude 2]Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

3 *[Titus 1:5] As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not *ch. 6:3;[Gal. 1:6,7]to teach any different doctrine, 4 nor *ch. 4:7;2 Tim. 4:4;Titus 1:14;2 Pet. 1:16to devote themselves to myths and endless *Titus 3:9genealogies, which promote *ch. 6:4speculations rather than the stewardship*1:4 Or good order from God that is by faith. 5 The aim of our charge is love *2 Tim. 2:22that issues from a pure heart and *1 Pet. 3:16,21a good conscience and *Rom. 12:9;2 Tim. 1:5a sincere faith. 6 Certain persons, by *ch. 6:21swerving from these, have wandered away into *Titus 1:10vain discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, *[ch. 6:4;Col. 2:18]without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

8 Now we know that *Rom. 7:16the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 understanding this, that the *Gal. 5:23law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers,*1:10 That is, those who take someone captive in order to sell him into slavery liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to *2 Tim. 4:3;[ch. 6:3;2 Tim. 1:13;Titus 1:13;2:2]sound*1:10 Or healthy doctrine, 11 in accordance with *[2 Cor. 4:4] the gospel of the glory of *ch. 6:15the blessed God *Titus 1:3;See Rom. 2:16;Gal. 2:7with which I have been entrusted.

12 I thank him *Acts 9:22;Phil. 4:13who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, *See 2 Cor. 3:6appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, *See Acts 8:3persecutor, and insolent opponent. But *1 Cor. 7:25;2 Cor. 4:1I received mercy *See Acts 3:17because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and *Rom. 5:20the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the *[Luke 7:47,50]; See 1 Thess. 1:3faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is *ch. 3:1;4:9;2 Tim. 2:11;Titus 3:8;[Rev. 22:6] trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus *Matt. 9:13;See John 3:17;Rom. 4:25came into the world to save sinners, *[1 Cor. 15:9]of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To *[Ps. 10:16;Rev. 4:9,10] the King of the ages, *ch. 6:15,16;Rom. 1:23immortal, *John 1:18;Col. 1:15;Heb. 11:27;1 John 4:12invisible, *Jude 25the only God, *1 Chr. 29:11be honor and glory forever and ever.*1:17 Greek to the ages of ages Amen.

18 This charge *2 Tim. 2:2I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with *ch. 4:14the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may *1 Cor. 9:7;2 Cor. 10:4;2 Tim. 2:3,4;[ch. 6:12]wage the good warfare, 19 *[ch. 3:9] holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have *[ch. 6:9]made shipwreck of their faith, 20 among whom are *2 Tim. 2:17Hymenaeus and *2 Tim. 4:14Alexander, whom I *See 1 Cor. 5:5have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to *Acts 13:45blaspheme.