1Paul, Ac 13:9 an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command Rm 16:26; Ti 1:3 of God our Savior 1Tm 2:3; Ti 1:3; 2:10; 3:4; Jd 25 and of Christ Jesus our hope: 1Co 15:19; Col 1:27; 1Th 1:3; 1Pt 1:3,13

2To Timothy, Ac 16:1; 20:4; 1Co 4:17; 16:10 my true son in the faith.

3As I urged you when I went to Macedonia, Ac 16:9 remain in Ephesus Eph 1:1 so that you may instruct certain people Jd 4 not to teach different doctrine

4or to pay attention to myths 1Tm 4:7; 2Tm 4:4; Ti 1:14; 2Pt 1:16 and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan, Eph 1:10; 3:2,9; Col 1:25 which operates by faith.

5Now the goal of our instruction is love Rm 13:10 that comes from a pure heart, Ps 24:4; 2Tm 2:22; 1Pt 1:22 a good conscience, Ac 23:1; 24:16; Rm 9:1; 2Co 1:12; 1Tm 1:19; 3:9; Heb 10:22; 1Pt 3:21 and a sincere faith. 2Tm 1:5

6Some have deviated from these and turned aside to fruitless discussion.

7They want to be teachers of the law, although they don’t understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on.

8But we know that the law is good, Rm 7:12,16 provided one uses it legitimately.

9We know that the law is not meant for a righteous person, but for the lawless and rebellious, Ti 1:6,10; Heb 2:8 for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and irreverent, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers,

10for the sexually immoral 1Co 5:9 and homosexuals, Gn 19:5; Rm 1:27; 1Co 6:9 for kidnappers, Or slave traders liars, Jn 8:44 perjurers, and for whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching 1Tm 6:3; 2Tm 1:13; Ti 1:9; 2:1

11based on the glorious gospel 2Co 4:4 of the blessed God, 1Tm 6:15 which was entrusted to me. Lv 6:4; Lk 12:48; 1Co 9:17; Gl 2:7; 1Th 2:4; 1Tm 1:11; 6:20; 2Tm 1:12,14; Ti 1:3

12I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened Ac 9:22; Php 4:13 me, because He considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry —

13one who was formerly a blasphemer, Ac 6:11; 2Tm 3:2; 2Pt 2:11 a persecutor, Php 3:6 and an arrogant man. 1Co 15:8 But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief.

14And the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

15This saying is trustworthy 1Tm 3:1; 4:9; 2Tm 2:11; Ti 3:8 and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world Jn 3:17; 12:46; 18:37; 1Jn 4:9 to save sinners” Mk 2:17; Lk 19:10; Rm 11:4 — and I am the worst of them. 1Co 15:9

16But I received mercy Lk 1:50 for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate His extraordinary patience Ex 34:6; Rm 2:4 as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Jn 12:25; Ac 13:48

17Now to the King Ps 47:7 eternal, Ps 90:2 immortal, 1Co 9:25 invisible, the only Other mss add wise God, Jn 5:44; 1Co 8:6; Eph 4:6; 1Tm 2:5; 6:15; Jd 25 be honor 2Pt 1:17; Rv 5:12 and glory Mk 10:37 forever and ever. Amen. Php 4:20; 1Tm 6:16; Rv 22:21

18Timothy, my son, I am giving you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies 1Co 13:2; 1Tm 4:14; 2Tm 1:6 previously made about you, so that by them you may strongly engage in battle,

19having faith Eph 3:12; 6:16; Col 1:23; 2:5; 1Th 5:8; 1Tm 3:13; 6:12; 2Tm 4:7; 1Jn 5:4 and a good conscience. Heb 10:22 Some 2Tm 2:18; Jd 4 have rejected these and have suffered the shipwreck of their faith.

20Hymenaeus 2Tm 2:17 and Alexander 2Tm 4:14 are among them, and I have delivered them to Satan, 1Co 5:5 so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.