1 Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ by the appointment of God our Saviour, and the Lord Jesus Christ our hope,
2 to Timothy my true son in the faith, be grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father, and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 As I exhorted thee to stay at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge certain persons not to teach other doctrine,
4 nor attend to fables and endless genealogies, which occasion debates, rather than pious edification in the faith:
5 so do, and acquaint them that the end of that charge is charity, out of a pure heart, and a good conscience, and faith unfeigned:
6 from which some having swerved are turned aside to vain discourses;
7 desiring to be teachers of the law, though they neither understand what they say, nor what things they assert.
8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
9 knowing this, that a law does not lie against a righteous person, but against the lawless and unruly, the impious and wicked, the unholy and profane,
10 parricides, murderers, whoremongers, sodomites, kidnappers, liars, false-swearers, and if there be any thing else contrary to that sound doctrine,
11 which is according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I was intrusted.
12 And I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord, who gave me ability for the work, that He accounted me faithful, having put me into the ministry,
13 who before was a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and an oppressor. But I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief: and the grace of our Lord superabounded,
14 with faith and love in Christ Jesus.
15 It is a truth highly to be believed, and worthy to be received by all, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners:---of whom I am one of the chief.
16 But for this end I obtained mercy, that in me a chief sinner Jesus Christ might display his long-suffering, for an example to those who should afterwards believe on Him to eternal life.
17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
18 This charge I commit to thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which before came on thee, that by them thou mightest war a good warfare,
19 having faith and a good conscience, which some putting away have made shipwreck concerning the faith:
20 of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.