1. From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
2. to Timothy, my genuine child in the faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord!
3. As I urged you when I was leaving for Macedonia, stay on in Ephesus to instruct certain people not to spread false teachings,
4. nor to occupy themselves with myths and interminable genealogies. Such things promote useless speculations rather than God’s redemptive plan that operates by faith.
5. But the aim of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.
6. Some have strayed from these and turned away to empty discussion.
7. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or the things they insist on so confidently.
8. But we know that the law is good if someone uses it legitimately,
9. realizing that law is not intended for a righteous person, but for lawless and rebellious people, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers,
10. sexually immoral people, practicing homosexuals, kidnappers, liars, perjurers – in fact, for any who live contrary to sound teaching.
11. This accords with the glorious gospel of the blessed God that was entrusted to me.
12. I am grateful to the one who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me faithful in putting me into ministry,
13. even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief,
14. and our Lord’s grace was abundant, bringing faith and love in Christ Jesus.