1 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of our Father, our Savior, and of Christ Jesus our hope, 2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Guard the Father's Household
3 As I urged you when I was leaving for Macedonia, stay on at Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach any different doctrine, 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than our Father's stewardship that comes through faith. 5 The aim of our command is love that flows from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. 6 Some have wandered away from these and turned aside to meaningless talk, 7 wanting to be teachers of the law, though they don't understand what they are saying or the things they speak about so confidently.
8 Now we know that the law is good, as long as it is used lawfully, 9 understanding this: that the law is not laid down for the righteous but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and irreverent, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 the sexually immoral, those who practice homosexuality, slave traders, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, 11 in keeping with the glorious gospel of our blessed Father, with which I have been entrusted.
The Father's Mercy Came to the Worst
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, because he counted me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man. But I was shown mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me, with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am the worst. 16 But for this reason I was shown mercy, so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his perfect patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life. 17 Now to the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only Father, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. a a v17 Here the FHB keeps the wording "the only God" rather than "our Father" because this is a worship cry — its sweeping, formal praise of the one eternal King is the very thing being expressed.
Fight the Good Fight
18 Timothy, my child, I am entrusting this charge to you in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by them you may fight the good fight, 19 holding on to faith and a good conscience. By rejecting these, some have shipwrecked their faith, 20 among them Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.