Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus our hope, ² to Timothy, genuine child in the faith: Grace, mercy, peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Stay On In Ephesus To Turn Certain “Law-Teachers” From Worthless Talk To Love

³ Just as I urged you to stay-on in Ephesus while I was proceeding to Macedonia, do so in order that you might command^[a] certain ones not to be teaching-different-doctrines, ⁴ nor paying-attention-to myths^[b] and endless genealogies, which cause speculations rather than a stewardship^[c] of ^[d] God, which is by^[e] faith. ⁵ And the goal of your command^[f] is love from a pure heart and good conscience and sincere faith, ⁶ having departed^[g] from which things some turned-aside into worthless-talk^[h]— ⁷ wanting to be Law-teachers, not understanding either the things which they are saying or about what things they are speaking-confidently.

The Law Is Useful When It Is Used Properly: To Correct The Ungodly

⁸ Now we know that the Law is good^[i] if one is using it lawfully, ⁹ knowing this: that law is not laid-down^[j] for a righteous one but for lawless ones and rebellious ones, ungodly ones and sinful ones, unholy ones and profane^[k] ones, father-thrashers^[l] and mother-thrashers, man-slayers^[m], ¹⁰ sexually-immoral ones, homosexuals^[n], slave-traders^[o], liars, perjurers^[p], and if any other thing is contrary to healthy^[q] teaching ¹¹ in accordance with the good-news of the glory of the blessed God which I was entrusted.