3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach different doctrine, 4 nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which promote disputes rather than God's administration in faith.

5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith. 6 Some have swerved from these and have turned aside to fruitless discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

8 We know, however, that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 knowing this, that the law is not laid down for the righteous, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their father and mother, for murderers of men, 10 for the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, which was entrusted to me.

12 I am grateful to the one who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me trustworthy, putting me into service, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received 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 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the foremost. 16 But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, {Christ Jesus}^d might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life.

17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only {wise}^e God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

18 This command I entrust to you, child Timothy, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, so that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.