⁷ desiring to be teachers of the law, ^(A)without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

⁸ Now we know that ^(B)the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, ⁹ understanding this, that the ^(C)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 ^(D)sound^[b] doctrine, ¹¹ in accordance with ^(E)the gospel of the glory of ^(F)the blessed God ^(G)with which I have been entrusted.

¹⁸ This charge ^(A)I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with ^(B)the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may ^(C)wage the good warfare, ^19 (D)holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have ^(E)made shipwreck of their faith, ²⁰ among whom are ^(F)Hymenaeus and ^(G)Alexander, whom I ^(H)have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to ^(I)blaspheme.

Some Will Depart from the Faith

4 Now ^(A)the Spirit expressly says that ^(B)in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to ^(C)deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, ² through the insincerity of ^(D)liars whose consciences are seared, ^3 (E)who forbid marriage and ^(F)require abstinence from foods ^(G)that God created ^(H)to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. ⁴ For ^(I)everything created by God is good, and ^(J)nothing is to be rejected if it is ^(K)received with thanksgiving, ⁵ for it is made holy ^(L)by the word of God and prayer.

A Good Servant of Christ Jesus

^6 (M)If you put these things before the brothers,^[a] you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have ^(N)followed. ⁷ Have nothing to do with irreverent, ^(O)silly myths. Rather ^(P)train yourself for godliness; ⁸ for while ^(Q)bodily training is of some value, godliness ^(R)is of value in every way, as ^(S)it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. ⁹ The saying is ^(T)trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. ¹⁰ For to this end we toil and strive,^[b] because we have our hope set on the living God, ^(U)who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

³ If anyone ^(A)teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with ^(B)the sound^[a] words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching ^(C)that accords with godliness, ^4 (D)he is puffed up with conceit and ^(E)understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for ^(F)controversy and for ^(G)quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, ⁵ and constant friction among people ^(H)who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, ^(I)imagining that godliness is a means of gain. ⁶ But ^(J)godliness ^(K)with contentment is great gain, ⁷ for ^(L)we brought nothing into the world, and^[b] we cannot take anything out of the world. ⁸ But ^(M)if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. ⁹ But ^(N)those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, ^(O)into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that ^(P)plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of ^(Q)all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.