¹⁹ keeping ^(A)faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to ^[a](B)their faith.

^20 [a]Among these are ^(A)Hymenaeus and ^(B)Alexander, whom I have ^(C)handed over to Satan, so that they will be ^(D)taught not to blaspheme.

Apostasy

4 But ^(A)the Spirit explicitly says that ^(B)in later times some will ^[a]fall away from the faith, paying attention to ^(C)deceitful spirits and ^(D)doctrines of demons, ² by means of the hypocrisy of liars ^(E)seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, ³ men who ^(F)forbid marriage and advocate ^(G)abstaining from foods which ^(H)God has created to be ^(I)gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.

³ If anyone ^(A)advocates a different doctrine and does not ^[a]agree with ^(B)sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine ^(C)conforming to godliness, ⁴ he is ^(D)conceited and understands nothing; but he ^[b]has a morbid interest in ^(E)controversial questions and ^(F)disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, ⁵ and constant friction between ^(G)men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who ^(H)suppose that ^[c]godliness is a means of gain. ^6 (I)But godliness actually is a means of ^(J)great gain when accompanied by ^(K)contentment.

²⁰ O ^(A)Timothy, guard ^(B)what has been entrusted to you, avoiding ^(C)worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”— ²¹ which some have professed and thus ^(D)gone astray ^[a]from ^(E)the faith.

^(F)Grace be with you.