1Paul , an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Saviour , and Christ Jesus our hope ; 2unto Timothy , my true child in faith : Grace , mercy , peace , from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord . 3As I exhorted thee to tarry at Ephesus , when I was going into Macedonia , that thou mightest charge certain men not to teach a different doctrine , 4neither to give heed to fables and endless genealogies , which minister questionings, rather than a dispensation of God which is in faith ; so do I now . 5But the end of the charge is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfeigned:
The Nature of False Teachings
6from which things some having swerved have turned aside unto vain talking; 7desiring to be teachers of the law , though they understand neither what they say , nor whereof they confidently affirm . 8But we know that the law is good , if a man use it lawfully , 9as knowing this , that law is not made for a righteous man , but for the lawless and unruly, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers , for manslayers, 10for fornicators , for abusers of themselves with men , for menstealers, for liars , for false swearers, and if there be any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine ;
Paul's Personal Testimony
11according to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God , which was committed to my trust . 12I thank him that enabled me , even Christ Jesus our Lord , for that he counted me faithful , appointing me to his service ; 13though I was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor , and injurious : howbeit I obtained mercy , because I did it ignorantly in unbelief; 14and the grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus . 15Faithful is the saying , and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief : 16howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy , that in me as chief might Jesus Christ show forth all his longsuffering , for an ensample of them that should thereafter believe on him unto eternal life .
The Charge to Timothy
17Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God , be honor and glory for ever and ever . Amen. 18This charge I commit unto thee, my child Timothy , according to the prophecies which led the way to thee, that by them thou mayest war the good warfare ; 19holding faith and a good conscience ; which some having thrust from them made shipwreck concerning the faith : 20of whom is Hymenæus and Alexander; whom I delivered unto Satan , that they might be taught not to blaspheme.