• Correcting False Teaching

  • 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope,
  • 2 To Timothy, my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
  • 3 Just as I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, to remain on at Ephesus so that you would instruct certain people not to teach strange doctrines,
  • 4 nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to useless speculation rather than advance the plan of God, which is by faith, so I urge you now.
  • 5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from a sincere faith.
  • 6 Some people have strayed from these things and have turned aside to fruitless discussion,
  • 7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.
  • 8 But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully,
  • 9 realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and worldly, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers,
  • 10 for the sexually immoral, homosexuals, slave traders, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching,
  • 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.

  • Paul’s Testimony

  • 12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service,
  • 13 even though I was previously a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;
  • 14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.
  • 15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost.
  • 16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost sinner Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
  • 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
  • 18 This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight,
  • 19 keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.
  • 20 Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.