Instructions in Doctrine and Living

1 Paul, ^(A)an apostle of ^(B)Christ Jesus ^(C)according to the commandment of ^(D)God our Savior, and of ^(E)Christ Jesus, our ^(F)hope,

² To ^(G)Timothy, ^(H)my genuine child in the faith: ^(I)Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and ^(J)Christ Jesus our Lord.

³ As I exhorted you when going to ^(K)Macedonia, ^[a]remain on at ^(L)Ephesus so that you may command certain ones not to ^(M)teach a different doctrine, ⁴ nor to ^[b]pay attention to ^(N)myths and endless ^(O)genealogies, which give rise to mere ^(P)speculation rather than furthering ^(Q)the stewardship from God which is by faith. ⁵ But the goal of our ^(R)command is love ^(S)from a pure heart and a ^(T)good conscience and an unhypocritical ^(U)faith. ⁶ For some, straying from these things, have turned aside to ^(V)fruitless discussion, ^7 (W)wanting to be ^(X)teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.

⁸ But we know that ^(Y)the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, ⁹ knowing this, that ^(Z)law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and ^(AA)rebellious, for the ^(AB)ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and ^(AC)godless, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, ¹⁰ for ^(AD)sexually immoral persons, for ^(AE)homosexuals, for ^(AF)kidnappers, for ^(AG)liars, for ^(AH)perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to ^(AI)sound teaching, ¹¹ according to ^(AJ)the gospel of the glory of ^(AK)the blessed God, with which I have been ^(AL)entrusted.

¹² I am grateful to ^(AM)Christ Jesus our Lord, who has ^(AN)strengthened me, because He regarded me faithful, ^(AO)putting me into service, ¹³ even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a ^(AP)persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was ^(AQ)shown mercy because ^(AR)I acted ignorantly in unbelief; ¹⁴ and the ^(AS)grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the ^(AT)faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. ^15 (AU)It is a trustworthy saying and deserving full acceptance: that ^(AV)Christ Jesus came into the world to ^(AW)save sinners, among whom ^(AX)I am foremost. ¹⁶ Yet for this reason I ^(AY)was shown mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Christ Jesus might ^(AZ)demonstrate all His patience as an example for those ^[c]who are going to believe upon Him for eternal life. ¹⁷ Now to the ^(BA)King of the ^[d]ages, ^(BB)immortal, ^(BC)invisible, the ^(BD)only God, ^(BE)be honor and glory ^[e]forever and ever. Amen.

¹⁸ This ^(BF)command I entrust to you, Timothy, ^(BG)my child, in accordance with the ^(BH)prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may ^(BI)fight the good fight, ¹⁹ keeping ^(BJ)faith and a good conscience, which some, having rejected, suffered shipwreck in regard to ^[f](BK)their faith. ^20 [g]Among these are ^(BL)Hymenaeus and ^(BM)Alexander, whom I have ^(BN)handed over to Satan, so that they will be ^(BO)taught not to blaspheme.