⁵ The aim of our charge is love ^(A)that issues from a pure heart and ^(B)a good conscience and ^(C)a sincere faith. ⁶ Certain persons, by ^(D)swerving from these, have wandered away into ^(E)vain discussion, ⁷ desiring to be teachers of the law, ^(F)without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

⁸ Now we know that ^(G)the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, ⁹ understanding this, that the ^(H)law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, ¹⁰ the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers,^[a] liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to ^(I)sound^[b] doctrine, ¹¹ in accordance with ^(J)the gospel of the glory of ^(K)the blessed God ^(L)with which I have been entrusted.

Christ Jesus Came to Save Sinners

¹² I thank him ^(M)who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, ^(N)appointing me to his service, ¹³ though formerly I was a blasphemer, ^(O)persecutor, and insolent opponent. But ^(P)I received mercy ^(Q)because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, ¹⁴ and ^(R)the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the ^(S)faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ The saying is ^(T)trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus ^(U)came into the world to save sinners, ^(V)of whom I am the foremost. ¹⁶ But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. ¹⁷ To ^(W)the King of the ages, ^(X)immortal, ^(Y)invisible, ^(Z)the only God, ^(AA)be honor and glory forever and ever.^[c] Amen.

Flee Sexual Immorality

^12 (A)“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. ^13 (B)“Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one ^(C)and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but ^(D)for the Lord, and ^(E)the Lord for the body. ¹⁴ And ^(F)God raised the Lord and ^(G)will also raise us up ^(H)by his power. ¹⁵ Do you not know that ^(I)your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! ¹⁶ Or do you not know that he who is joined^[a] to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, ^(J)“The two will become one flesh.” ¹⁷ But he who is joined to the Lord ^(K)becomes one spirit with him. ^18 (L)Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin^[b] a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person ^(M)sins against his own body. ¹⁹ Or ^(N)do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? ^(O)You are not your own, ^20 (P)for you were bought with a price. ^(Q)So glorify God in your body.

A Tree and Its Fruit

^15 (A)“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ^(B)ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ You will recognize them ^(C)by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ So, ^(D)every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. ^19 (E)Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus you will recognize them ^(F)by their fruits.

I Never Knew You

^21 (G)“Not everyone who ^(H)says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will ^(I)enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who ^(J)does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ^22 (K)On that day ^(L)many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not ^(M)prophesy in your name, and cast out demons ^(N)in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ ^23 (O)And then will I declare to them, ‘I ^(P)never knew you; ^(Q)depart from me, ^(R)you workers of lawlessness.’