When I was on my way to Macedonia, I urged you to stay in Ephesus so that you could instruct certain people to stop teaching false doctrine

The goal of this instruction is love that flows from a pure heart, from a clear conscience, and from a sincere faith.

Of course, we know that the Law is good if a person uses it legitimately,

that is, if he understands that the Law is not intended for righteous people but for lawbreakers and rebels, for ungodly people and sinners, for those who are unholy and irreverent, for those who kill their fathers, their mothers, or other people,

that agrees with the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.

I thank the Messiah Jesus, our Lord, who gives me strength, that he has considered me faithful and has appointed me to his service.

and the grace of our Lord overflowed toward me, along with the faith and love that are in the Messiah Jesus.

This is a trustworthy saying that deserves complete acceptance: To this world Messiah came, sinful people to reclaim.

I am the worst of them. But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the worst sinner, the Messiah Jesus might demonstrate all of his patience as an example for those who would believe in him for eternal life.

Timothy, my child, I am instructing you in keeping with the prophecies made earlier about you, so that by following them you may continue to fight the good fight

These include Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I handed over to Satan so that they may learn not to blaspheme.

for kings, and for everyone who has authority, so that we might lead a quiet and peaceful life with all godliness and dignity.

He must not be a recent convert, so that he won't become arrogant and fall into the Devil's condemnation.

in case I am delayed, so that you may know how to behave in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

Now the Spirit says clearly that in the last times some people will abandon the faith by following deceitful spirits, the teachings of demons,

If you continue to point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good servant of the Messiah Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith and the healthy teaching that you have followed closely.

This is a trustworthy saying that deserves complete acceptance.

To this end we work hard and struggle, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, that is, of those who believe.

Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy when the elders laid their hands on you.

Think on these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress.

Continue to give these instructions, so that they may be blameless.

As for those who keep on sinning, rebuke them in front of everyone so that the rest will also be afraid.

In the same way, good actions are obvious, and those that are not cannot remain hidden.

All who are under the yoke of slavery should regard their own masters as deserving of the highest respect, so that the name of God and our teaching may not be discredited.

and incessant conflict between people who are depraved in mind and deprived of truth. They think that godliness is a way to make a profit.

But people who want to get rich keep toppling into temptation and are trapped by many stupid and harmful desires that plunge them into destruction and ruin.

By doing this they store up a treasure for themselves that is a good foundation for the future, so that they can keep their hold on the life that is real.