1
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,
2
To Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
3
As I urged you when I went into Macedonia--remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
4
nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.
5
Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,
6
from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk,
7
desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.
8
But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully,
9
knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10
for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine,
11
according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.
12
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,
13
although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
14
And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
15
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.