1Verse 1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the command of God our Savior and Sovereign Jesus Christ+our hope,+Verse 2to Timothy, true son by faith: Grace, mercy, peace from God our+Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul refers to their last conversation
Verse 3You recall that I urged you to remain in Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, in order that you should command+certain persons to stop teaching a different doctrineVerse 4and occupying themselves with myths and endless genealogies,+which cause disputes rather than the godly training which is by faith.+Verse 5Now the goal of that command is love, out of a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith;+Verse 6some having strayed from these have been turned aside+to empty talk,Verse 7desiring to be teachers of the law, not understanding either what they say or the things that they affirm.+Verse 8Now we know that the law is good if one uses it correctly,Verse 9knowing that law is not made for a righteous person but for lawless and rebellious ones, for ungodly and sinners, for unholy and profane, for father-smiters and mother-smiters, for murderers,+Verse 10for fornicators, for sodomites,+for kidnappers,+for liars, for perjurers, and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrineVerse 11as defined by the Gospel+of the glory+of the blessed God, with which I was entrusted.+
The grace of God
Verse 12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who enables me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into a ministry;Verse 13I, who was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and arrogant; but I was shown mercy, because being ignorant+I did it in unbelief;Verse 14the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.+Verse 15Here is a trustworthy word, worthy of total acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am chief;Verse 16precisely for this reason I was shown mercy, that in me, the ‘chief’, Jesus Christ might display all his forbearance, as an example for those who are going to rely on Him into eternal life.+Verse 17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise,+be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Wage the good warfare
Verse 18Son Timothy, I am giving you this charge in accordance with the prophecies about you that lead the way,+that in them you may wage the good warfare,Verse 19holding on to faith and a good conscience+(which+some having rejected have suffered shipwreck concerning the Faith;Verse 20of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander—whom I have handed over to Satan that they may be taught+not to blaspheme).