1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus our hope, 2 to Timothy, a true child in faith: grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

3 When I was going to Macedonia, I urged you to remain in Ephesus, so that you might command certain people not to teach a different doctrine 4 or devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which produce speculations rather than God's stewardship that is by faith. 5 The aim of the command is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith. 6 Some, having strayed from these things, have turned aside into empty talk, 7 wanting to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say nor the things they assert so confidently.

8 Now we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 9 knowing this: the law is not laid down for a righteous person, but for the lawless and rebellious, the ungodly and sinners, the unholy and profane, those who kill their fathers and those who kill their mothers, murderers, 10 the sexually immoral, men who have sex with men, slave traders, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is opposed to sound teaching, 11 according to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, with which I was entrusted.

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who strengthened me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to ministry, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man. But I received mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed beyond measure with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost. 16 But for this reason I received mercy, so that in me, the foremost, Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for those who would believe in him for eternal life. 17 Now to the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

18 I entrust this command to you, my child Timothy, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, so that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 holding faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected that conscience and suffered shipwreck concerning the faith. 20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I handed over to Satan so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.